In recent years, debate over what is considered free speech on college campus has increased. This Q&A from the American Civil Liberties Union answers what kind of speech is and is not protected by the U.S. Constitution.
Tag Archives: Current Events
How the long history of leaderless movements helps us understand the ‘yellow vests’ protests
This article compares current protests in France to the Swing riots in 19th-centurty England. Both lack a leader and spread by word-of-mouth.
The myth of the modernizing dictator
In the 1920s and 1930s, many Americans thought Joseph Stalin would reform the Soviet Union. The author of this opinion piece believes it’s wishful thinking to believe that dictators will modernize their countries in ways that move them toward democracy.
Uganda’s Bobi Wine: ‘Tortured’ pop star MP returns home
Click this link to learn about Ugandan Member of Parliament (MP) Bobi Wine, a popular musician who got involved in politics to speak out against the oppressive and corrupt leadership of his country.
FEMA 101 — How It All Works
Anytime there’s a disaster in the United States, you’re sure to hear the acronym FEMA. Find out what this government agency does—and doesn’t—do.
The ‘maker movement’ creates D.I.Y. revolution
In recent years, increasing amounts of screen time have contributed to a growing sense of disconnection with the physical world—hence, the birth of the “maker movement,” or a return to hands-on creation. Read about how “makerspaces” are attracting people with different interests who all want to create things they can hold on to.
Crisis Guide: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
The longstanding conflict between Palestinians and Jews in Israel is deep-seated and complex, with each side characterizing the same events in vastly different ways. This video series from the Council on Foreign Relations provides a neutral, even-handed view of the history of the conflict.
There’s another way to build peace. And it doesn’t come from the top down.
Author and professor Severine Autesserre argues that building peace starts with individual communities.
Why Uber has only ‘a handful’ of woman drivers in Saudi Arabia, while local rival Careem claims more than 2,000
Saudi Arabia lifted its ban on women drivers in June 2018. Read how two large ride-sharing companies responded.
Classic protest film ‘The War at Home’ back in theaters
Inspired by current political protestors, documentary filmmaker Glenn Silber restored and redistributed his 1976 film about Vietnam War protests at the University of Wisconsin.
Extreme Events
Find out about the range of recent extreme weather events worldwide.
After Five Years of Living in Trees, a Protest Community Is Being Evicted
Environmental activitsts protesting the mining of Hambach Forest have clashed with the mining company for years and now face removal.
Editorial: Why Chicago violent crimes go unsolved
The Chiago Tribune editorial board argues that the first step to ending violence in Chicago neighborhoods is to start solving more cases.
The wind in my hair: one Iranian woman’s courageous struggle against being forced to wear the hijab
Activist Masih Alinejad has protested against wearing a hijab since she was a child. Click this link to learn about her online campaign to encourage Iranian women to resist the law that requires them to cover their hair in public.
Will Venezuela’s President Use the Mysterious Drone Attack to Seize More Power?
In August 2018, Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro survived an assassination attempt carried out by explosive drones. Some experts believe the incident will allow him to tighten the already powerful grip he has on his country.
17 Tips to Steer Kids of All Ages Through the Political Season
You probably already know that elections are decisions with long-term consequences. But when you’re too young to vote, how can you work toward what you consider the right choices?
Revolutionary Moments in Law Enforcement
Robin Washington draws parallels between modern protests and pre-Revolutionary War civil disobedience. Is de-escalation the answer?
Teaching Gandhi’s Nonviolent Principles in a Violent Time
In this interview, a youth educator at the Gandhi Institute describes how her organization applies a philosophy of principled nonviolence to its work with conflict resolution in schools.
Are Dictators on the Way Out or the Way Up?
Have elections, uprisings, and political protests across the globe led to a decline in authoritarian goverments in recent years? This article takes a look at worldwide trends and examines what happens when dictators are removed from power.
El Sueno: An Americano Project
Tom Kiefer, a former Border Patrol janitor, collected items confiscated from people trying to cross the Mexico-United States border. Look through the photos in the article to see the personal belongings of those who embarked on this dangerous journey.