Stephanie Broekarts Stephanie Broekarts

Riding elephants is out, washing them is in

With nearly 3,000 elephants living and working in camps, Thailand is the epicenter of elephant tourism. More visitors want to have an ‘responsible experience’ with these intelligent and social behemoths. But what is best for the elephants?

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Stephanie Broekarts Stephanie Broekarts

Thai female monks want recognition

Male monks dressed in orange robes are a familiar sight on the streets of Thailand. You’ll hardly see women in orange; ordaining them has been forbidden since 1928. One progressive female monk is changing that.

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Stephanie Broekarts Stephanie Broekarts

How sensory gardens help people with dementia blossom

On average, more than 90 percent of nursing home residents with dementia stay indoors during the day. This doesn’t only lead to a reduced quality of life, but also to emotional and behavioral problems.

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Stephanie Broekarts Stephanie Broekarts

Indonesian-Dutch youths reflect on Independence Day

Indonesia’s Independence Day, known locally as Tujuh Belasan – the seventeenth, is a public holiday. I spoke to Indonesian-Dutch youths on how they view their history and how they experience this day in the Netherlands.

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Stephanie Broekarts Stephanie Broekarts

Ancient wisdom from a young herbalist

“Look, you can use this plant if you have an insect bite or a small cut,” says Dave Achula. He's talking about ribwort plantain. He crushes the elongated leaves until moisture comes out and places it on his finger. Then, like some sort of green band aid, he wraps another leaf around it.

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Stephanie Broekarts Stephanie Broekarts

Who helps the toad cross the road?

Every spring millions of toads, as well as other amphibians, migrate from their winter hibernation spot to the water to reproduce. Hundreds of volunteers in The Netherlands help these animals cross the road safely.

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Stephanie Broekarts Stephanie Broekarts

Saying adieu to Bert

Three months ago my stepdad Bert was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer: CUP - carcinoma of unknown primary. He will pass away in a couple of days.

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Stephanie Broekarts Stephanie Broekarts

Hedgehogs in need of human help

It was love at first sight for Sylvia Schootman (69), when she visited a hedgehog shelter 23 years ago. She’s been a volunteer ever since, rehabilitating hedgehogs at the shelter as well as in her home in Scheveningen.

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Stephanie Broekarts Stephanie Broekarts

VR to ease pain and anxiety

Acute pain is a combination of physical damage and the interpretation of that by our brain. What if we can occupy and immerse the brain to the point that it has little room left to notice and experience pain? That’s where virtual reality comes in.

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Stephanie Broekarts Stephanie Broekarts

Dogs’ negative impact on nature

Our dogs are our best friends, but they also have a negative impact on nature - according to new research from the municipality of The Hague.

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Stephanie Broekarts Stephanie Broekarts

Forgetting, not forgotten.

Roos (59) is diagnosed with Alzheimer's in May 2020. The disease progresses quickly to the point where she can't live independently anymore.

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