Do Corporations Really Need More Rights? Why Fast Track for the TPP Is a Bad Idea
We can have democracy and a prosperous, just, and sustainable human future. Or we can have corporate rule. We cannot have both.
Economy
Craigslist Saved 5M Tons of Stuff From Landfills—And 4 Other New Stats on Local Economies
Exactly how much difference do “new economy” organizations make? Economists looked into it, and here are a few of their results.
What’s the True Impact of the Alternative Economy? Researchers Decide It’s Time to Find Out
Successful initiatives are investing in human relationships, not faceless call centers or centralized headquarters.
Students for Economic Pluralism, Unite! How College Kids Are Taking on the “High Priests” of Money
After years of work as a climate activist, Keith Harrington decided to get a degree in economics. Now, he’s working to transform the field.
Replace the Gospel of Money: An Interview With David Korten
What if we measured wealth in terms of life, and how well we serve it?
Local Food With a Big Twist: Oregon Super-Cooperative Takes Aim at the Corporate Food System
This co-op south of Portland wants to strengthen the local food system by helping local farmers cooperate instead of compete with one another.
What a Real-Life Rosie the Riveter Taught This Feminist Geek
Before meeting Geraldine, I’d assumed that most of the women from the 1940s were unaware of how capable they were. I was wrong.
Alaska Bolstered Its Economy and Curbed Inequality—By Paying Everyone Thousands in Oil Dividends Every Year
After 30 years, the practice of paying every resident—including children—at least $1,000 has made Alaska one of the least unequal states in America. Here's what the rest of us can learn.
Young Adults Love Walking, Biking, and Buses—11 Reasons That’s Good For Everyone
Buses, trains, bikes, and walking represent more than an efficient means of getting from one place to another. They move us toward a brighter future because of the many social and economic benefits they foster.
Community-Owned Energy: How Nebraska Became the Only State to Bring Everyone Power From a Public Grid
In this red state, publicly owned utilities provide electricity to all 1.8 million people. Here's how Nebraska took its energy out of corporate hands and made it affordable for everyday residents.
Forget Venture Capitalists—This Scrappy Composting Co-Op Found Another Way to Get Startup Money
The banking system makes it tough for local businesses to get their hands on startup money. But creative entrepreneurs are finding solutions.
How One Boston Neighborhood Stopped Gentrification in Its Tracks
Community land trusts create housing that is permanently affordable. And they also help new city farmers get land.
Six Ways the US Is Building a People-Powered Economy
Alternative business models such as worker-owned cooperatives are gaining ground, proving that a more just and sustainable future is possible.
What White People Can Do for Food Justice
Creator of Master Cooks Corps train-the-trainer program Chef Nadine Nelson says White people in the food movement should ask themselves: What are you doing to hold yourself accountable to people of color?
How to Hack City Money: Let 16 Year Olds Vote on Budgets, Get Banks to Invest Locally
In California and Ohio, two city governments are entrusting their citizens with budgeting and rewarding banks for valuing local communities.
This Rust-Belt Town’s Survival Strategy Is All About Giving Workers Control
Reading is one of Pennsylvania’s poorest cities. Can its residents turn things around by building a more democratic economy?
“They’re driven by love. And they’re fierce.” Naomi Klein on the Climate Heroes Who Inspire Her
From Native activists to urban youth, new leadership finds ways to deal with climate chaos.
Vermonters Lobby for Public Bank—And Win Millions for Local Investment Instead
Advocates didn’t get the public bank they wanted. But the compromise they reached in the end was still a rare and significant win over Wall Street banks.
Laid-Off Baltimore Workers Beat Disney in Court—And Ask All the Right Questions About Urban Development
By some estimates, the city of Baltimore has sunk more than $1.5 billion into its Inner Harbor. Workers and residents want their share too.
Owning Together Is the New Sharing
Companies and startups are aspiring toward an economy, and an Internet, that is more fully ours with the use of cooperatives, "commons-based peer production," and cryptocurrencies.
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.
Walking: The Secret Ingredient for Health, Wealth, and More Exciting Neighborhoods
It's been called "America's untrendiest trend." The evidence that millions of people are finally walking again is as solid as the ground beneath our feet.
How to Feast Sustainably During the Holidays
Stories in classic literature remind us that for most of our history, end-of-season gatherings celebrated local harvests. Can we find our way back?
Neighbors Helped This Immigrant-Owned Dry Cleaner in Boston Go Nontoxic—and Stay in Business
Organizations that aim to reduce the use of toxic chemicals have long focused on shutting down offending businesses. But this story from Boston shows another way.
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.
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