According to this article, 2024 is a critical year for democracy and human rights around the world, especially because many countries will be holding major elections this year.
Author Archives: Chandler Gifford
AI ‘companions’ promise to combat loneliness, but history shows the dangers of one-way relationships
At a time when health professionals are warning the public about the effects of loneliness and isolation, can Artificial Intelligence help? The author of this article sees limits to technology’s ability to promote human connection and fulfillment.
Celebrating the human rights wins of 2023
Wondering if there is any good news from the front lines of the struggle for freedom? Check out this list of human rights wins of 2023 from Amnesty International.
The writers who reached out across the divide
How can sharing experiences reduce conflict? Read this article to find out how two writers reached out and made a connection despite deep cultural divisions.
Activists turn backs on US officials as UN-backed human rights review of United States wraps up
Is the U.S. doing enough to protect human rights? Not according to a group of activists who held a silent protest at a recent United Nations hearing. Click here to learn more about the protest.
Finding common ground with anyone: A quick and easy guide
Click here for a helpful guide on finding common ground with others.
Activists say the human rights movement is failing
International human rights activists at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum expressed concerns about losing ground to dictators and oppressive governments across the world.
How Hair Discrimination Affects Black Women at Work
A recent study showed that in the workplace, Black women’s hairstyles are more likely to be perceived as unprofessional. This article suggests a few ways to address hair bias and discrimination.
Tales of Migration Explore Modern-Day Odysseys and ‘Hyphenated Identities’
Many contemporary authors are inspired to explore the themes of immigration. Often drawing from their own experiences, they write about meeting different kinds of people and reconciling the past with the future.
UN Says AI Poses ‘Serious Risk’ For Human Rights
Could artificial intelligence open the door to the loss of human rights and liberties? Officials at the United Nations are concerned about the threats that advances in AI could pose to human rights.
An 85-year Harvard study found the No. 1 thing that makes us happy in life: It helps us ‘live longer’
Researchers found that having positive relationships with the people in our lives is a key contributing factor to our overall health and happiness. Click here to learn more.
Everyday people were civil rights heroes, too. This is the story of one town’s fight
This article highlights the struggle for equality in the town of Oxford, North Carolina.
Citizen future: Why we need a new story of self and society
The authors of this article recommend major changes in the way we think about the individual and society.
Barbara Johns: The US’ forgotten civil rights hero
In 1951, 16-year-old Barbara Johns found herself in the middle of the fight to end segregation in American schools, an effort she compared to “reaching for the moon.”
‘I’m a Friendship Expert, This Is How Many Friends You Need’
What’s the best number of friends for a person to have? Click this link to hear from a professor whose research explores this very question.
When the United States Spoke French
During the Revolutionary War, France supplied the Americans with money, soldiers, and ammunition. Read about the strong ties that remained when the war ended.
Jack London Biography
In this biography, learn how Jack London’s adventurous life inspired his novels and stories.
Around the world, protesters take to the streets in solidarity with Iranian women
This article describes recent worldwide protests against the Iranian government’s oppression of women and girls.
Americans Are Getting Better at Cooperating With Strangers
Click this link to learn more about a recent study that suggests Americans have become more willing to cooperate with strangers over the past several decades.
The librarian who defied the Taliban
Meet Wahida Amiri, a librarian and book-lover forced to flee her homeland after she spoke out against the Taliban and demanded equal rights for Afghan women.