How the Voters of One Small County May Have Stopped 48 Million Tons of Coal
In a council election unlike any other in the history of Whatcom County, voters sided with representatives believed to be against a proposed coal export facility.
Democracy
Four Signs that Regular Folks Can Still Win (and One That Shows the Power of Money)
Here are four cases in yesterday's election where people power won out over corporate interests. And one that went the other way.
Meet the Comic Book Artist Fighting Back Against Rape Culture
Comics artist Tess Fowler has a second great talent—communicating about misogyny through social media. Warning: This article contains accounts of sexual assault and may be triggering to some people.
What Were Morgan Stanley Reps Doing at a Fossil Fuel Divestment Forum?
As it turns out, they were leading a workshop on how to move billions of dollars in public and nonprofit funds to sustainable investments.
Dear Internet: Thanks for the Advice on Sex and Drinking. It’s Way Better than What We Get from Slate.
Are we starting to see a cultural shift in how our society thinks about rape? The huge online response to a Slate columnist who told women to avoid rape by not drinking suggests that it's starting to happen.
Concealed by Shutdown-Related Headlines, a Big Week in Food Politics
In case you were distracted by Tea Party antics this week, here's a rundown of important developments in GMOs, sustainable farming, and other food news.
Why the Corporate Media’s Climate Change Censorship Is Only Half the Story
Of course the media needs to start talking honestly about climate change. But there's more to the issue than just gloom and doom.
Is “Snowden Effect” Inspiring More Whistleblowers to Step Up?
For those in the intelligence community who want to come forward about government lawbreaking, Edward Snowden made it clear that they're not alone.
How Domestic Workers Won Their Rights: Five Big Lessons
After decades of exclusion, home care workers are finally covered by federal minimum wage laws. Anyone who works for social change can learn from how they did it.
Obama: Citizens United Helped Pave the Way to Shutdown
So unchecked campaign spending has played a role in today’s political chaos, and the Supreme Court’s ruling in McCutcheon v. FEC could make things way, way worse. Now here’s the good news.
Shutdown EPA Workers Clean Up River Anyway
In one of our favorite responses to the government shutdown, this group of EPA staffers in Georgia went DIY on a local creek.
What 11-Year-Olds Get—and Adults Forget—About Child Labor in Chocolate
Marie Hogan confronted Hershey’s about using children in its supply chain because she cares about other kids, fairness—and candy. Here’s what we can learn from her.
This Slam Poet Totally Nails Why Kids Learn Best in Their Native Language
With a string of powerful similes, poet Dylan Garity lets us know what life is like for Boston students who are trying to learn English.
Welcome to Commonomics: How to Build Local Economies Strong Enough for Everyone
In our new series, YES! Magazine investigates what it will take to strengthen our local economies for the benefit of all.
Why the Government Shutdown Is Not Anarchist Utopia
Real anarchists aren't just for abolition of the state. They're for a society in which ordinary people can freely and democratically govern themselves.
Brand New From Annie Leonard: The Story of Solutions
The final film in the “Story of Stuff” series asks, What if the goal of our economy wasn’t more, but better—better health, better jobs, and a better chance to survive on the planet?
6 Good Things Occupy Wall Street Made Possible (That You Probably Already Take for Granted)
Now that the encampments are gone, what do we have to show for our movement? As it turns out, quite a bit.
Occupy at Two: How a Flawed and Fleeting Utopia Changed the World
Author Rebecca Solnit brings you back to the encampments of Occupy, and to the months that forged new friendships, changed the horizons of possibility, and terrified elites.
Chevron Pollutes, Here’s What the People Did Back
The oil giant reputation it becoming notorious as shareholders, mayors, and indigenous people criticize its actions.
Detroit Bankrupt? Six Ways the Motor City Is Thriving
National media accounts of Detroit's bankruptcy miss the growing industries, strong communities, and policy changes laying the foundation's for the city's recovery.
The TPP Is Another Job Killing Trade Deal—So Why Are Both Parties Supporting It?
Factory owners in the United States say that the Trans-Pacific Partnership—which is being negotiated this week in Brunei—will force them to lay off workers. Yet opponents in Washington are few and far between.
“It’s Unstoppable”: Washington’s GMO-Labeling Campaign Picks Up Where California’s Left Off
If Initiative 522 succeeds, it could push manufacturers nationwide to begin labeling foods that contain genetically modified organisms.
Putting Workers on TV: MSNBC’s Chris Hayes on Bringing Labor to Prime Time
While the days when every city paper had a labor beat may be gone, Hayes is finding new ways to get the issues facing workers into the national conversation.
Can Crowdsourcing Help Save Dying Languages?
More than 3,000 of the world’s languages are at risk of dying out, but a new set of tools will help the linguists and advocates who defend them.
Voices from Turkey’s #OccupyGEZI Movement
Filmmaker Deniz Tarsus brings you into the occupation of Istanbul’s Gezi Park in this new short film.
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