In December 2017, a United Nations official suggested that the humanitarian crisis taking place in Myanmar could amount to genocide. So far, the international community has not responded strongly to the crisis. Click to learn more.
Tag Archives: Current Events
California’s wildfires are not “natural” — humans made them worse at every step
It’s not your imagination—California’s wildfires really are threatening more people and property than ever. Find out about the changes that are fueling the destruction.
Everything You Need to Know About Israel-Palestine
Conflict has long been part of life in Israel. Explore this card stack to find out why it’s so difficult to resolve.
Aung San Suu Kyi
The country of Myanmar has been ruled by military dictators for decades, but one woman has refused to be silenced. Learn about the story of Aung San Suu Kyi and her long struggle for democracy in Myanmar.
The Challenges and Opportunites of 21st Century Muckracking
In part of its 21st Century Muckrakers series, Nieman Reports, a foundation that seeks to advance the standards of journalism, outlines the obstacles and advantages of contemporary investigative reporting.
Why Street Protests Don’t Work
In this column, Moisés Naím argues that in order to effect change, a movement needs more than a large crowd inspired to gather by social media.
Our privacy is for sale, we have to accept that. But what’s the price tag?
Computer programs gather information about people based on every web site, news article, or item that they view or buy online. Using algorithms, computers can form a picture of each person’s personality better than a friend or family member. Read what you should know about protecting yourself and your privacy.
Welcome to the World’s Nicest Prison
Is the purpose of prison to punish or to reform? John D. Sutter highlights a controversial Norwegian prison that doesn’t feel like a prison at all—because its aim is not taking away freedom but instead creating good neighbors.
Canine combat vet guards Pentagon halls
Emmy is one of many veterans who have returned home from war, but she is different in one way: she’s a dog. Trained to sniff out bombs in Afghanistan, she now patrols the Pentagon, making sure it is safe.
Indian Country Diaries: Pow Wow Culture
Pow wows are events in which Native Americans can express their cultural heritage through dance and foster a sense of community. Traditional pow wows have been around for hundreds of years, but a newer kind of intertribal event has become popular recently. Read about how the two forms coexist in today’s pow wow culture.
Activist climbs a mountain to raise funds for youth peace center in Chicago
Activist Ja’Mal Green raises funds for nonprofit Majostee Allstars, which is converting an old bank building in the Aubrun Gresham neighborhood of Chicago into a community center.
Greenpeace faults many tech giants for environment impact
An October 2017 report by Greenpeace, an environmental group, rated the environmental impact of several tech companies. Many of them did not rate well.
Another Obama Decision Reversed? Now It’s About Food Safety.
This article documents the current disputes about the safety of workers in the meat processing and meat packing industry.
Natural disasters — statistics & facts
Get the big picture of types and impacts of natural disasters by clicking around this page. You’ll find graphs ranking disasters by type, location, damage done, and much more.
In a First, Gravitational Waves Linked to Neutron Star Crash
Imagine the elation at witnessing a cosmic event that occurred millions of years ago! That’s what happened in October this year when scientists announced the ripple effect (literally) of two neutron stars crashing into each other around 130 million years ago.
In Puerto Rico, a foundation changes course to rebuild after Maria
In Puerto Rico, a foundation that was originally set up to generate tourism and business has changed its mission to focus on aid relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. The aim is to rebuild homes, communities, and livelihoods for Puerto Ricans.
Check out the United Arab Emirates’ plans for building a Martian city—on Earth
Building a city on Mars is full of unknown risk. The United Arab Emirates plan to build a Martian city…on Earth…within the next ten years or so to plan for the real thing.
L.A. County formally replaces Columbus Day
Acknowledging the role European settlement in the Americas had on native people, the city of Los Angeles renamed the holiday to commemorate Christopher Columbus as “Indigenous Peoples Day.”
Health insurance can make a life or death difference, study says
The topic of health insurance may not seem very exciting, but it has a clear, documented impact on our lives.
Hashtag activism is fleeting
Columbia University graduate student Nick Donias argues that protest movements must move beyond slogans and hashtags in order to affect long-term change.