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.
Current Events
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.
Gene Sharp: How to Start a Revolution
Source: The Telegraph
What creates a more effective revolution—a gun or a book? The answer in this review of a documentary film might surprise you.
Hurricane Hunters Association
Source: Hurricane Hunters Association
Why would anyone fly a plane into one of the world’s most powerful storms? Visit this site to learn about “hurricane hunting” with the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron. Learn about its mission, its history, its people, its planes, and its role in saving lives. While you’re there, be sure to click on the “Cyberflight” link to experience a flight into Hurricane Dennis!
Can Architecture Help Solve the Israeli-Palestinian Dispute?
Source: Smithsonian Magazine
The city of Jerusalem has long been a sticking point in Middle East peace negotiations. Read this article to find out how architects Yehuda Greenfield-Gilat and Karen Lee Bar-Sinai are working to find a creative way to divide Jerusalem between Israel and Palestine.