10 Ways Human Rights and Democracy Won in 2014 (Yeah, You Heard That Right)
Let’s be honest: It was a brutal year for human rights. But we still have victories worth celebrating.
Democracy
12 Hashtags That Changed the World in 2014
Slacktivism? Not so much. From #BlackLivesMatter to #BringBackOurGirls, this year's best hashtags around issues of social justice brought fresh voices into some of our most important conversations.
The New Economy Comes of Age: 7 Steps Toward Shared Prosperity
Democratic ownership, localized food production, and a shift to renewables are key principles in this growing movement to re-envision our economy.
An Insurance Policy for Climate Change? How Seed Banks Are Protecting the Future of Food
“While not every traditional variety tastes great or looks great, its genetics may be invaluable 50 or 100 years from now when the climate is different.”
An Indigenous View on #BlackLivesMatter
I was reminded over and over this week that black and indigenous communities of struggle are deeply connected through our experiences with colonialism, oppression, and white supremacy.
Why I Want to Burn Everything Down Right Now—And Why I’m Not Going To
What I learned from James Baldwin’s writing about race, in a moment of great anger.
Meet the Lobstermen Arrested for Blocking a Coal Freighter—and the DA Who Kept Them Out of Jail
Last spring, these men were in a small white lobster boat anchored to block the path of an oncoming freighter hauling 40,000 tons of coal. They didn't expect the district attorney to support them.
The Battle in Seattle, 15 Years On: How an Unsung Hero Kept the Movements United
A lead organizer of the protests against the World Trade Organization in 1999 remembers Tyree Scott, a quiet presence in the labor movement who urged unity when it mattered most.
Want to See How Governments Are Making Real Progress? Look to the Cities Tackling Our Biggest Problems
New energy is transforming our cities into hotbeds of democracy and progressive innovation.
Urban Comeback: How Cities Are Leading Us Into the Future
At a time when nations are gridlocked and corrupted by special interests, cities are taking on poverty, social isolation, and the climate crisis.
These 14 Teenage Inventors Built a Glove That Translates Sign Language—and Other Tech Solutions
What these kids came up with will leave you wondering what adults are even doing anymore.
Land, Co-ops, Compost: A Local Food Economy Emerges in Boston’s Poorest Neighborhoods
From kitchens that buy and sell locally grown food, to a waste co-op that will return compost to the land, new enterprises are building an integrated food network. It's about local people keeping the wealth of their land at home.
North Dakota Has a Unique Law Protecting Locally Owned Pharmacies—But This Ballot Measure Could Wipe It Out
In the far north of the Great Plains, you have to be a pharmacist to own a pharmacy. Next week, voters could overturn that rule—putting the state's thriving independent drugstores at risk.
Next Week Oregon, Alaska, and D.C. Vote on Recreational Pot—And It’s About More Than Just Getting High
If those three measures pass, more states will be added to the list of places where healing from the drug war can begin, places where people will no longer face jail time because of a little nugget in their pockets.
These Two Vets Walked Thousands of Miles to Heal Trauma and Raise Money
Two veterans trekked across America to leave behind the trauma of war and raise money for fellow vets. Now they want to offer the same healing experience to others like them.
Why You Need to Know About a Gross Thing Called #GamerGate—And the Women Who Fight It
We can learn a lot about the future of culture wars from a “movement” of video game players angry about efforts to make gaming more welcoming for women.
Denmark Becomes Second Country to Let Citizens Choose Their Gender Without Having Surgery
A new law allows transgender citizens to decide their own gender—and all it takes is a piece of paper.
Beating Climate Change by Retooling the Economy—The Story Begins in Navajo Country
A proposed community-owned solar project on an abandoned coal mine in Arizona illustrates how cooperative economomics make it possible to stop extracting fossil fuels—without leaving workers behind.
When Poverty Was the Enemy, Not the Poor
The poverty rate in the U.S. would be 15 percent higher if not for the War on Poverty and government anti-poverty programs since 1967.
Naomi Klein Tells YES!: People’s Climate March Is a “Glimpse of the Movement We Need”
Naomi Klein’s powerful new book explains why not only can the climate movement win—but it’s our best chance at overturning some of history’s greatest injustices.
A Wall Street Equity Firm Evicted My Family. We’re Still Searching for a Home
Our experience strengthened our resolve to fight for housing as a human right.
Photo Essay: Scenes from the Heart of the #FloodWallStreet Sit-In
There was more to #FloodWallStreet than a guy in a polar bear suit getting arrested. Here’s a gallery of lesser-known moments from the day’s events.
Why a Tiny Decrease in Unemployment Means a Big Pay Raise for the Poor
A sustained one-percentage-point decline in the unemployment rate is associated with a 9.4 percent rise in the wages of workers in the bottom quintile of the wage distribution.
Three Projects that Block Violence Against Women By Bringing Communities Together
These projects show how everyday people can address violence in our own communities by breaking through the silence to interrupt abuse.
7 Practical Ideas for Compassionate Communities, From Free College to Debt Relief
It's not hard to bring a little more equality into each others' lives.
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