Raw & Unfiltered

When we think about climate change, Armenia may not be the first country that comes to mind. But in fact, Armenia is among the countries in Europe and Central Asia that is most vulnerable to climate change.

The young girl, who was almost “killed” by the stunning music of Komitas Vardapet on a beautiful spring day in Tbilisi, was Margarit Babayan, a 28-year-old mezzo-soprano, who later would become a renowned singer and a vocal teacher across Europe, and be remembered as the beloved friend and muse of Komitas Vardapet.

The fertility rate in Armenia is 1.6 births per woman. This year, five regions in the country registered mortality rates higher than their birth rates. The largest spike was in Lori marz. Experts say that the demographic rates are alarming.

Global trends demand new requirements in education and labor markets. To remain competitive, a country has to embark on creating, developing and implementing innovation while focusing, more than ever, on the development of a knowledge-based economy and pushing research and development forward. How will Armenia fare?

Are you interested in purchasing a home in Yerevan? If so, Harout Manougian offers some invaluable information and advice and more importantly, tips on how to avoid the inevitable pitfalls in an unregulated real estate market.

About a month ago, reports started coming in of storks covered in some kind of oil, causing serious harm to the birds. Sofia Bergmann writes about how immense community involvement unveiled a symbiotic relationship between residents and the stork so vital to the Ararat Valley.

What is medical waste and how should it be treated? Because of the cost involved in proper treatment, it is possible that potentially biohazardous waste is ending up in municipal dumps.

Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer among women in Armenia. Cost and access to treatment, lack of awareness and cultural stigmas are some of the reasons. A new mammography program aims to address these issues.

Armenia is set to have a new National Security Strategy. The current strategy, adopted in January 2007, had all the necessary components, but was outdated and remained a largely superficial and declarative document as many of the defined values and principles were not fully respected or promoted.

The 1986 Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident was considered the worst nuclear disaster in history. It exposed hundreds of thousands of people to high levels of radiation, killing dozens and affecting millions across Europe. Experts from all over the Soviet Union were sent to “liquidate” the effects of the radiation. Among them were several thousand Armenians.