Peace and Justice

10 Hopeful Things That Happened in 2013 to Get You Inspired for What’s to Come
by Sarah van Gelder
Dec 27, 2013
Beyond the headlines of conflict and catastrophe, this year’s top stories offered us some powerful proof that the world can still change—for the better.
After This Indian Nun Witnessed a Woman’s Murder, She Saved Thousands More from Domestic Violence
by Christa Hillstrom
Dec 20, 2013
As India honors the first anniversary of the Delhi gang rape that rocked the nation, YES! talks with Sister Lucy Kurien—whose life was changed forever when she saw a young woman set on fire.
There’s More to Renisha McBride’s Shooting Than Racism: It’s About Our Culture of Gun Violence
by Larry Gabriel
Dec 18, 2013
As shooter Theodore Wafer appears in court this week, one Detroiter looks at why gun violence—whether it is black on black, white on black, or of any other color combination—is killing people and tearing families apart across the country.
Mandela's Spirit of Forgiveness
by David Korten
Dec 06, 2013
Those in Mandela's circle were united in their compassion for the architects of the Apartheid system.
This New Bill Could Put 2,500 More People In Prison: Meet the Organization Trying to Stop It
by Nur Lalji
Nov 27, 2013
"Violence is not simply shooting people. Violence is also poverty. It's also incarceration—putting people in prison is incredibly violent."
A Native Answer to "The Onion" (And 4 Other Great Things Happening on Reservations)
by Aura Bogado
Nov 25, 2013
Native people are crafting some seriously creative and progressive ways of life, from same-sex marriages in states that don't allow it to the revitalization of indigenous languages.
"Cowboys and Indians" Camp Together to Build Alliance Against Keystone XL
by Kristin Moe
Nov 22, 2013
At the Ponca Trail of Tears Spiritual Camp, tribal members and their ranchers are learning to understand each other as never before.
5 Solutions for a Kinder Cellphone
Nov 18, 2013
Forget smarter! This infographic depicts the lifecycle of a cellphone, and points out non-toxic, conflict-free mineral responsible design.
Dryhootch: A Milwaukee Coffeeshop Where Vets Help Vets Survive—At Home
by Ricardo Torres
Nov 14, 2013
Returning vets often struggle with relationships, housing, PTSD, and more. Dryhootch founders say the best mentors for people returning from our latest wars are other vets who have been through it before.
How a Small California Town Curbed a Teen Suicide Epidemic—By Talking About It
by Jane Braxton Little
Nov 11, 2013
Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death for 10- to 14-year-olds in rural America, and Native American kids are hit the hardest. After Indian Valley lost its sixth teenager, residents started talking about suicide out in the open—and it's working.
This 80-Year-Old Grandma Walked Hundreds of Miles to Retrace the Underground Railroad
by Katrina Rabeler
Nov 08, 2013
And 14 other grannies who are shaking up the world.
Can Fracking Showdown on Native Land Help Break Canada's Cycle of Colonialism?
by Leanne Simpson
Oct 23, 2013
When members of the Elsipogtog First Nation attempted to prevent seismic testing on their land that could lead to fracking, armed police appeared and violence ensued. Here, indigenous writer and academic Leanne Simpson puts the issue into context.
A Win for Indigenous History at Columbia University
by Nur Lalji
Oct 22, 2013
Students in Columbia's Native American Council think the University could do more to acknowledge indigenous history, and they're helping to make it happen.
Interactive Garment Industry Map
by Jing Fong
Oct 21, 2013
An interactive map of garment industry factories, designed in response to the Bangladesh disasters. Also explore a New York Times' Learning Network lesson, "Corporate Irresponsibility? Fashion’s Hidden Cost in Bangladesh’s Garment Industry."
Can Eminent Domain Be Used to Avert a Foreclosure Mess? This California City Thinks So
by Mark Andrew Boyer
Oct 18, 2013
Governments usually use eminent domain powers to displace people. But one hardscrabble Bay Area city is going to the mat to do just the opposite—stabilize its economy and keep residents where they are.