Pussy Riot’s “Punk Prayer” Reminds Us to Cherish Freedom of Spirit—Not Just Speech
What we still have to learn from the world’s favorite riot grrrls.
Activism
Melodeego: The Hippest Bike-Powered Band in Town
Melodeego has been making music for the environment for years. Their songs include protests of the Keystone XL pipeline and other topics inspired by the anti-climate change movement.
Get Apocalyptic: Why Radical is the New Normal
Feeling anxious about life in a broken economy on a strained planet? Turn despair into action.
For a Future that Won’t Destroy Life on Earth, Look to the Global Indigenous Uprising
Idle No More is the latest incarnation of an age-old movement for life that doesn't depend on infinite extraction and growth. Now, armed with Twitter and Facebook, once-isolated groups from Canada to South America are exchanging resources and support like never before.
Marriage Equality for Minnesota? You Betcha!
In just six months, the “Land of Lakes” went from debating a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, to legalizing it this week. One proud resident on celebrating change in one of our more politically quirky states.
“Modified Social Benches”: An Experiment in Outdoor Socializing
An installation of creatively shaped benches in Belgium pushes the edge of urban sit-ability.
Mothers Day Cards that Actually Depict Our Moms
The reality of motherhood in America has little in common with the comfortable images portrayed in cards and on TV. A set of Mothers Day e-cards you can send for free shows moms that better reflect our diverse society.
Why Sharing News About Solutions Is a Revolutionary Act
Scary stories of kidnappings and explosions lead our news feeds, but it's the good news that helps break down the myth of our own powerlessness.
Marriage Equality Victories Show How Change Happens, One Step at a Time
Before 2004, no state allowed same-sex marriage. Today, it's legal in 12 states and the District of Columbia. If you want to see how political progress is made, look to the local level.
Would Smokey the Bear Get Arrested to Stop Fracking?
When artist Lopi LaRoe used Smokey the Bear imagery to encourage anti-fracking activism, the Forest Service threatened her with a lawsuit.
Not Your Father’s Union Movement: NYC’s Young Workers Committee
The Young Workers Committee of New York’s transit union was out on the streets in a vibrant march. This video shows the group rallying, taking over an official’s office, and using the Occupy-style “people’s mic.”
Rights, Not Riots: What Seattle’s May Day Was Really All About
The largest march on May Day in Seattle was about immigrant families and their supporters standing together for human rights. Not to be confused with the rowdiness that took place later in the day.
Star Trek’s George Takei: Putting Facebook Fame to Good Use
Famous for his role as Mr. Sulu on Star Trek, today George Takei uses the popularity of his kitchy humor to promote discussion about the rights of women and LGBT people.
Love Your Books? 4 Ways to Share Them With Others
From mobile libraries to tiny libraries, how to get others to read the books you love.
Newly Released Tim DeChristopher Finds a Movement Transformed by His Courage
Tim DeChristopher, who was just released from federal custody, is best known as the man who disrupted an auction of pristine public lands. But there’s more to his story than his role as “Bidder 70.”
Florida Farmworkers March 200 Miles for a Fairer Tomato
After marching halfway across the state of Florida, members of the Immokalee Coalition of Farmworkers got fired up at a rally in front of Publix headquarters in Lakeland, Fla. Here’s some of what they had to say.
Live from Denver: The Fight for a Stronger Media
A contingent from YES! is in Denver this week for the National Conference for Media Reform, where we’ll be hosting a panel on solutions journalism. Check out the conference’s livestream here.
Remembering Chinua Achebe, Nigeria’s Master Storyteller
The great Nigerian author and essayist Chinua Achebe died on Thursday in Boston. In this interview with Bill Moyers, first broadcast in 1988, he explains why “The storyteller has a different agenda from the emperor.”
Three Tactics for a Stronger Climate Movement
In January, the Sierra Club reversed a 121-year-old ban on civil disobedience to reflect the urgency of climate change. The move presents an opening for radical groups to try new tactics like the three discussed here.
Hugo Chavez: Friend of the Poor, Demagogue, or Both?
From 1999 to 2013, Hugo Chavez served as president of Venezuela. He leaves behind a mixed legacy that includes admirable efforts to empower the poor, but also a disturbing tendency toward authoritarianism.
Where Did International Women’s Day Come From?
Today, the world honors advancements for women’s rights—and it all started with a courageous group of garment workers.
Why You Don’t Frack With John Lennon’s Farm
When fracking hits close to home, Mark Ruffalo, Debra Winger, Yoko Ono, and other big names find common ground with small towns.
What the Oscars Can Teach Us About Elections That Work
Academy Award-winners are selected by algorithms that allow voters to rank candidates in order of preference, selecting backups if their first choices lose. What if we elected our leaders that way?
Behind the Kitchen Door: A Must-Read for Anyone Who Eats at Restaurants
Review: More than half of the nation’s worst-paid jobs are related to food. Saru Jayaraman’s new book dives into the explosive movement for better rights for those who plant, process, and cook the food we eat.
Largest Climate Rally in U.S. History Comes to Washington
What does it sound like when 40,000 people raise their voices for climate justice at once?
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