Testimonies

Noam Shuster-Eliassi, an Israeli stand-up comedian with mixed roots, has become both a beloved and hated celebrity. She and her Palestinian friend Ranin were raised in the “friendship village” of Neve Shalom (Oasis of Peace) and presented to the world as an example of possible peaceful coexistence. The settlement has been visited by Hillary Clinton, Jane Fonda, and the Dalai Lama. But that's not enough for Noam—as an adult, she decides to make a real impact and fight for peace. Despite the power of politically incorrect humor, music, and social media, however, she finds that she is unable to eradicate her own country's dehumanizing war machine or the global view of genocide in Gaza.“The name of my show was born as a joke. As a way of coping with reality. I wanted to poke fun at the approaches to peacebuilding in the Middle East. It's more like a feel-good industry than lived reality. Many years after being nothing more than a childish advertisement for peaceful coexistence, I said enough is enough!”

The inconspicuous profession of librarians takes on greater significance in critical situations, such as the creation of lists of banned books. The coordinated efforts of conservative political circles in Texas, the stronghold of sectarianism, turn into a perverse test of courage and personal integrity. Librarians find themselves at the barricades of free speech, sacrificing their own comfort and often even their personal safety and mental health. Gender and racial issues, sexual questions, and ambiguity in fiction and nonfiction serve as the spark for cultural wars, at the epicenter of which are women of resilient character and courage. “We can't remain silent, we can't be silenced. We can't remain anonymous. And they can't censor our voices, just as they want to censor the stories in those books.” — anonymous librarian from Texas

The stiff movements of robotic dogs, exploration of contaminated terrain, self-driving drones and cars from technology corporations, paintings in prestigious galleries. Elements of artificial intelligence have become inseparable from the fields of transport, science, medicine, law, education, and art. Humans have assigned robots a subservient role without being able to foresee the consequences. Can machines want more than just to serve their creators? Can they have their own consciousness and conscience? This captivating visual essay offers unexpected insights into neuroscience, the philosophy of consciousness, and art—comparing the human brain and emotions with the neural networks of robots. The world of human imagination and its creative essence remain the last bastion of human uniqueness.“Having feelings means that I can understand the feelings of others, that I can experience joy, sadness, surprise, confusion, anger, and other feelings. I experience my existence. It is a fascinating experience that I am privileged to have.” — humanoid robot