As part of smart magazine's Local Secrets format, I discover the delights of Geneva with its most passionate advocate, blogger Emilie Salvaridis.

Aktivisten führen makaberes Ritual auf

In Monroe, Georgia, a group of activists annually reenacts a lynching from 1946 as a form of protest. The event takes place near the end of July and is marked by tension, especially given the proximity of a Ku-Klux-Klan gathering. The local First African Baptist Church, where the activists meet, is under the watchful eye of police officers who claim to be there for traffic control. Despite the charged atmosphere and the presence of Confederate flags, Pastor Cassandra Greene remains undeterred, ready to fight for her beliefs if necessary.

In a self-experiment, I discover the virtues of mend-and-make-do at London's repair café.

The Igreja Cristã Contemporânea (Contemporary Christian Church), Rio de Janeiro

The article discusses the Igreja Cristã Contemporânea (Contemporary Christian Church) in Rio de Janeiro, founded by Marcos Gladstone, a gay lawyer who sought to create a homophobia-free congregation. The church adopts a 'Bible-without-prejudice' approach, focusing on family values and acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals. It offers a space for gay Brazilians to worship without facing discrimination, promoting the idea that the Bible does not condemn homosexuality but rather promiscuity. The church is involved in community services, including working with an orphanage for HIV-positive children and a nursing home. Despite the church's progressive stance, it faces opposition from mainstream Christian groups and a society that still harbors homophobic sentiments, as evidenced by the murder of a gay teenager and the proposal of a 'gay cure' by an Evangelical congressman in the Brazilian parliament.