Mixtape of the Revolution
Source: The New York Times
Protest songs often document or even fuel the desire for political change. This New York Times article examines the importance of music in the revolutions of the Arab Spring.
Current Events
Vicky Pryce: “Prison Clearly Does Not Work”
Source: The Guardian
Fresh from jail, the economist and author of Prisonomics explains why the system costs too much, locks up the wrong people, and does not prevent reoffending.
Fairy-Tale Adaptations: It’s Ever After, All Right
Source: NPR
Adaptations of fairy-tales are nothing new, but a few years ago, they started popping up on prime time television. What would the Brothers Grimm have thought? Check out this report to see what’s going on—and why.
India, Home of the Nonviolent Protest, Embraces More Extreme Dissent
Source: The New York Times
Protesters in India are taking novel approaches to the tradition of nonviolent resistance.
Slavery’s Last Stronghold
Source: CNN
The African country of Mauritania officially ended slavery in 1981; however, an estimated 10%–20% of the population is still enslaved. Read this article to find out more about the struggle to free the last slaves on earth.
We Don’t Have to Choose Between Fossil Fuels and Green Energy
Source: Smithsonian Magazine
Does America’s energy future depend on fossil fuels, such as oil and gas, or alternative energy, such as solar and wind power? According to author Michael Levi, Americans should embrace both forms of energy. Read this article to find out how Americans can find common ground on this important issue.
The Five Percent Problem
Source: Columbia University
Conflicts may be universal, but most can eventually be resolved. However, researchers estimate that about 5% of conflicts are so entrenched and complex that they seem impossible to solve. In this video series, Peter T. Coleman discusses examples of such conflicts, including how they started and what could possibly end them.
The War Over King’s Legacy
Source: Newsweek
Martin Luther King Jr.’s life ended before his work was complete, leaving others to interpret his intentions and delineate his legacy. Vern E. Smith and Jon Meacham discuss the history and the ongoing disagreements over who King was and what his work means today.
Manal al-Sharif: A Saudi Woman Who Dared to Drive
Source: TED Talks
Women are forbidden to drive in Saudi Arabia. Listen to the story of women’s right advocate Manal al-Sharif, who dared to challenge the system by posting a video of herself driving on YouTube.
Disobedient
Source: Tablet
The leader of nonviolent protests in the West Bank—a potential Palestinian Gandhi—is in an Israeli jail.