activism
Grassroots campaigns have proven instrumental in bringing about political, social or environmental change; you've got to start somewhere-might as well start here.
Into the Foray Rides a Dark Horse
They say the nature of a man is best judged by his actions and deeds. For Sam Jones—a mild tempered man who has seen first hand the wonton despair and despondency of ordinary citizens, day after day, languish in quiet desperation just clinging to the hope that one day soon their lives will take a sudden turn for the better—is about to make a decision that could very well alter the destinies of millions of Americans.
By Dr. Williams7 years ago in The Swamp
Dena Miller, From One White Woman to Another, Let Me Help You Understand Why The Squad: Congresswomen Pressley, Ohar, Ocasio-Cortez, and Tilab Are NOT Racist
I am a white woman. I grew up in a very well-to-do community wanting for nothing. My parents are very well educated. They also grew up in well-to-do communities. Neither they, myself, my siblings, nor my other relatives grew up in poverty or a culturally diverse region. I had every privilege one could hope for, which was a complete disadvantage in one single way: I grew up in a colorless world.
By Dr. Megan Babb7 years ago in The Swamp
Indigenous Peoples Are Under Attack
Indigenous struggles go under-reported, mostly because they are either outside of the mainstream media’s focus, or because topics that should be talked about as Indigenous issues are not labeled as such due to the colonial definitions of who counts as Indigenous. Just the inner workings of who is seen as Indigenous from our media, and who isn’t, is another in-depth article. From police killings of Native people during an “independence day” celebration to the concentration camps holding Indigenous peoples that mainstream media does not recognize as Indigenous peoples. The media often doesn’t tell the stories in the context that we need them to be told in. Removing or overlooking Indigenous identity from some of these stories aids in the erasure of our communities. From the Island of Hawaii and Borikén (Puerto Rico) to the settler-colonial borders and throughout Turtle Island (the "Americas”) our community is fighting to save the earth and our people.
By Andrea Perkins7 years ago in The Swamp
Democracy, Its Survival Is at Risk
Democracy—it's survival is at risk. July 2019 The British tax payers are funding, through the Economic and Social Research Council and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, ways to support and improve democracy around the world.
By Peter Rose7 years ago in The Swamp
Political Protests
Political protest When is it acceptable? Does it achieve anything? In some way or another, nearly all protests that involve groups of people are political, from a local gathering who want a road sign changed to international mass marches against climate change. All such protests are political, since they are demanding action by authorities.
By Peter Rose7 years ago in The Swamp
Conversion Therapy
If you are not part of the LGBT community, it is likely that you have never heard of conversion therapy. For those who are part of the community, it is a heartbreaking and devastating thing that has destroyed many lives. Today, we will explore what it is, and how it has impacted so many.
By Lorraine Woiak7 years ago in The Swamp
2 Years From Grenfell
Friday June 14, 2019. Two years since the horrific wildfire tragedy of Grenfell tower—a time for reflection has never been more haunting on the brain. Upon such reflection I’ve found myself trying to piece together the right words, or even the words that are just about adequate enough, to express how two years of government and public apathy have simply flown by. Finding in that time the word “tragedy” would become a sentimental and whitewashed concession for indicting our government with social negligence, and preventable slaughter of working class people of colour. Maybe you, like me, woke up this morning, and thought “wow, has it really been two years?” The world in recent times has been saturated with tragedy and sensationalism. Perhaps, this “tragedy” just fell to the wayside as they all do in a time so swiftly gratifying as this digital age. As they may forever do. And as the news cycle roles on, and the world makes a spectacle of more unnecessary horror, we may forget to ask ourselves if anything has ever even changed.
By Kofo Ajala7 years ago in The Swamp
The Labour Anti-Semitism Row: Israeli Lobbying, Zionism Stepping Stones, and Abusing the Holocaust
The BBC presenters seem to smile smugly as they read out more accusations of anti-semitism leveled at Corbyn’s Labour Party. The headlines morph and evolve as they are told over the United Kingdom’s rolling news networks. First of all the newsreader tells of “anti-Jewish” comments made by a Labour member. But when no one is found to argue against the vague accusations, the wording changes to anti-semitism. The BBC is being constantly lobbied by the Israeli government, they always have been under significant pressure from the Middle Eastern nation, but about a decade ago, they appeared to stop fighting back. Now we are bombarded with fake news stories where the wording has become like a giant sticky cobweb, capable of trapping the naive passer-by, but also the shrewdest linguists.
By Johnny Vedmore7 years ago in The Swamp
Veganism Could Save Our Planet
You’ve heard time and time again that, in order to save the environment, you should use less water, ride your bike more often, and recycle in order to conserve water, resources, and energy. What you may not know is that even if everyone stopped driving completely, took every measure to conserve water, and composted everything they are able to compost, the carbon dioxide levels still surpass what is considered a “safe” level, and way too much water is being used each day. You can thank the agriculture industry for these issues, which the government is trying to blame on simple tasks performed by people everyday. Most organizations that are made to support the prevention of deforestation, greenhouse gas build up, or overfishing do not even mention the effects of the agriculture industry on their websites; they fear that it will deter people from donating to their cause, and draw too much government attention. In many interviews done in the documentary Cowspiracy, their representatives admitted that the agriculture industry is producing the most problems to the environment, but do not list them on their site as significant of a problem as it actually is (Andersen). The agriculture industry is responsible for fifty-one percent of the greenhouse gas emissions at 32 billion (32,000,000,000) tons of carbon dioxide per year. Methods of transportation (cars, trains, airplanes, etc.) are what is most often blamed for the mass amounts of carbon dioxide, but they only produce thirteen percent of greenhouse gas emissions (Andersen, Cowspiracy). “Agriculture, food, and related industries contributed $992 billion to US gross domestic product (GDP) in 2015, a 5.5-percent share” (Ag and Food Sectors and the Economy). The government does not want us to realize how much damage the agriculture industry actually has on the world, because of how much money they are making off of animal products each year. The agriculture industry is destroying our ecosystem, and the people in it by creating a detrimental impact on our ecosystem, mass deforestation, and it's causing serious health problems that can lead to life threatening diseases.
By Kamari Grace7 years ago in The Swamp
The Moment of Kairos
Kairos: an ancient Greek word meaning the critical moment. The Greeks had two words that were related to time; one being 'chronos,' which refers to sequential time, and the other being 'kairos,' which refers to the proper or opportune moment for action.
By Danielle Dragani7 years ago in The Swamp
