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.
The Problem with Plastic
The problem with plastic, if you haven’t already begun to notice in the past few decades, or since you’ve been alive, is that it is everywhere. The problem that lies with that is that it will be everywhere for a very, very, very long time. Centuries. Upwards of 500 years, everywhere. In fact, the first pieces of plastic ever created are still, in some form, on the Earth, either still floating along the oceans, at the bottom of the sea, or ingested by a fish some decades back, and was more than likely that fish's demise. Plastic kills—that’s the other problem with it. It is everywhere. You probably couldn’t move a couple few feet without becoming aware of a plastic in some form or another. Your garbage can sitting outside is made of it, your water bottle, even the one you’ve been using now that you take along to the gym every morning, is likely plastic. While it is reusable, it still is plastic, and it’ll be here long after you’ve gone from this Earth, and long after your kids and your kids' kids' kids have gone.
By Kira Zimney7 years ago in The Swamp
Medicare and the Millennial
As we age, we can expect a few things to happen. Hearing and eyesight tend to fade, we move a little slower, and we wear sweaters more often because we'll get cold a little easier. But what about the things you don't account for? Like when you lose your teeth and you can't afford dentures. How are you going to eat? Or that scab on your foot that just isn't healing, but you can't afford to buy the antibiotic the doctor prescribed. Will you not pay your electric bill to buy the medication? Or when your spouse's memory is going and they can no longer take care of themselves, but you're recovering from a recent surgery yourself and can't walk for the next six weeks. Who's going to take care of the both of you when your family lives a thousand miles away?
By Hali Moore7 years ago in The Swamp
What Happens When Students Go to School?
“If I don’t make it, I love you, and I appreciated everything you did for me.” In the moments that she thought would be her last, high school freshman Sarah Crescitelli texted these words to her parents. Given the severity of her tone, not to mention the dangerous implications behind the words she sent, you’re probably wondering where Sarah was, and how a young high schooler found themselves in a situation so grave. On February 14, 2018, Sarah Crescitelli woke up, and went to school. She went to school, and instead of learning, she spent the day hiding and crying in a storage closet. She spent the day listening to gunshots in the halls, haunted by the thought that any number of those bullets could have hit her best friends. She spent the day praying that she would have the chance to see another, all because a deranged man had access to a gun. She spent the day in pure terror, all because our politicians give more value to guns as opposed to the young, bright minds of America. Gun control has plagued America for far too long, and it is time that change is no longer just discussed among our politicians, but we bring to the world the change that we want to see.
By Mobin Khan7 years ago in The Swamp
Why We Need to Intervene in the Syrian Civil War, for the Sake of Humanity
'At least in heaven there's food.' A mother of a boy, no more than 5 years old exclaims; she has come to terms with her own son's death, she is waiting and longing for her son to pass, because at least then he'll be without pain, without the worry of survival, without the worry of finding enough food to survive the day. No mother should ever have to say, or even think these thoughts, and no child should ever suffer these harsh consequences to settle disputes they have played no part in—we need to intervene to save the innocent who have become the spilt blood on their leader's hands.
By Elliot Harris7 years ago in The Swamp
One Nation Under God
When you hear independence, liberty, and justice, what is the first image that pops into your head? For many, this is a simple question with a generic answer. Independence, being able to do what you want, not answering to anyone; come and go as you please. Liberty, the joy of being free, similarly to independence. And Justice, what about justice? Justice, being treated fairly, an eye for an eye.
By Chris Ricks7 years ago in The Swamp
Resist, Part 1
Saul Alinsky’s book, Rules for Radicals has been very influential in Western political circles in recent years. The book is all about putting together grassroots communities and suggests a range of approaches for activists to adopt, which can then be applied to a wide variety of situations.
By David Morrison7 years ago in The Swamp
7 Steps to Resist the Termination of TPS and All Other Political Adversities
*Content warning for mentions of sexual violence “A state of shock is not just what happens to us when something bad happens; [it’s] what happens to us when we lose our narrative, when we lose our story, when we become disoriented. What keeps us oriented and alert and out of shock is our [herstory]. So a period of crisis like the one we are in is a very good time to think about [herstory], to think about continuities, to think about roots. It’s a good time to place ourselves in the longer [humin] story of struggle. ”
By Detroit REPRESENT!7 years ago in The Swamp
White People Need to Speak Up!
White people need to speak up. Racism is running rampant in our country and it has got to stop. I’ve heard the counterarguments, “My family didn’t own slaves,” and, “Slavery was a long time ago, get over it.” Well, you can’t forgive someone for stomping on your foot if they are still stomping on your foot. Racism clearly still exists, whether the whites want to recognize it or not. This is not a problem created by people of color, and it can’t be fixed by them. The more blacks and other people of color protest racism, the more it seems to rear its ugly head. I don’t mean to say that they shouldn’t protest, by all means they should. But since whites, our ancestors, created the problem, we, as whites, should do everything we can to fix the problem. It’s not their problem to fix. It’s ours. It’s our bad behavior. What we allow is what will continue. Racism is ugly, hateful, stupid, and mean. Racism exists still, because whites need a scapegoat for their own insecurities and shortcomings. If you are racist, you are weak. Furthermore, if you don’t speak up against the problem, you are part of the problem. We need to create a better future for our children, all of our countries children.
By LittleFish BigPond7 years ago in The Swamp
Of Course a Sitting POTUS Can Be Indicted!
If I hear one more talking head, so-called expert, or congressperson say "Of course you can’t indict a sitting US President," my head is going to explode—the complacent leading the apathetic! For fuck's sake Americans, we are fast becoming the generation that Ben Franklin (one of the founders of this country) feared.
By The Disruptors7 years ago in The Swamp
Shut It Down!
I am not sure why is has taken me almost two years to tell this story. My first story got deleted. That's life. But this story is too important not to document. I want to take this time to write an open letter to the 45th President of the United States and his administration. I have so much anger against them. These are not just my feelings! I have black folks saying that they feel that white folks seem to carry themselves with an ego towards black folks, and even our elders! It has never felt tighter or more difficult to land a job as a Black women. Even if I am pursuing my college degree, the education system continues to teach in the format that benefits white and Asian folks at the expense of black student understanding. The administration seems to be getting passes for hate-speech on social media, stripping away immigrants' safety, the right to be able to serve in the military, our access to voting, and to safe homes to live in. This is such a violent culture!
By SAYHERNAME Morgan Sankofa7 years ago in The Swamp
Plastic Straw Bans
The plastic straw ban has everybody in frenzy mode because some of us need straws. California is closer to a ban on plastic straws at full-service restaurants. Some scientists hope the idea will spread across the United States just like the plastic bag ban. That particular ban caught on in a very fundamental way. The vote passed 45-20. California is a major trendsetter as history has proven. The plastic bag ban happened in 2014 from Governor Jerry Brown. The plastic bag ban has succeeded somewhat since cloth bags are an easy replacement but straws are more difficult to just phase out.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in The Swamp
