How We Shut Down the World Trade Organization
On November 30, 1999, a huge gathering of environmentalists, labor unions, and human rights activists gathered at the World Trade Organization’s meeting in Seattle to protest the WTO’s “free trade”
Economy
How to Shop Sustainably
By now, the word is out: fashion, particularly “fast fashion,” is killing our planet. Low-cost, cheaply made clothes that are designed to be worn briefly until styles change are terrible
Building a New Textile Economy
The worldwide textile industry’s enormous impact on human health, climate, and the environment is often overlooked in discussions of sustainability. Rebecca Burgess, a weaver and natural dyer, started her search
Bridges Only Work When Both Sides Cross Them
A new walkway connects two post-apartheid neighborhoods, but economic and racial equality are still out of reach.
The Lies We’re Told About Appalachia
The old exploitative images are indelible: out of work, White, needy. They obscure the region’s diversity and long tradition of activism.
The Phantom Promise: How Appalachia Was Sold on Prisons as an Economic Lifeline
As the coal industry declines, rural communities are seeking new economic stability—but prisons may not be the answer.
Resisting GMOs and Preserving Indigenous Culture in Rural Mexico
Thanks to a union of land cooperatives, people in Puebla have food sovereignty and education in Nahuatl instead of mega-projects and a Walmart.
The Key to Saving Family Farms Is in the Soil
Farmers adopting regenerative agricultural practices across the Midwest are restoring the health of the soil and of their rural economies.
While Supreme Court Waffles, Cities Stand Up for LGBT Workers’ Rights
No ruling, even from the highest court in the land, will invalidate state and city-level protections.
Converting Businesses to Cooperatives Just Got Easier
A coming wave of Baby Boomer retirements threatens the survival of many small businesses. This initiative is making employee-ownership a more viable option.
California Just Legalized Public Banks. Will the Rest of the Nation Follow Suit?
The new law promises to take taxpayer money back from Wall Street and reinvest it in communities.
“No Winners on a Dead Earth”: Why We Need a Climate Leader in 2020
The climate crisis is our common cause, and we’ll need to elect a president that is willing to take it on.
With a World “On Fire,” We Need More Than Inspiration
Naomi Klein’s new book “On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal” is essential reading, but does it go far enough in confronting the grim realities we truly face?
How to Get Out of the Debt Trap When Banks Won’t Help
In many rural areas, a lack of banking options has led to an increase in predatory lending. In eastern Kentucky, a new nonprofit is fighting back.
What Low-Wage Work Does to Us
A huge share of U.S. employment is in low-wage jobs where workers are pushed to their limits to maximize profits for massive corporations.
Can We Work Less and Save the Planet, Too?
Building a new world will require first reexamining—and dismantling—the cultural ethos of productivity that creeps into our lives every day.
A People’s History of Board Games
If games are a reflection of our values as a society, and can influence how we think and act, can we game our way to a better world?
You Can’t Put Capitalism Over Sustainability—and Other Lessons From China
Humanity’s existential crisis can be resolved only when we the people stand united behind a vision of the world we truly want.
Post-Soviet Co-ops: Mongolian Herders Borrow a Tool From the Recent Past
When capitalism supplanted communism in Mongolia, state-run co-ops disappeared and rural communities suffered. Now the herders are bringing back the practice for their own survival.
Will Banning Single-Family Zoning Make for More Affordable Homes?
Minneapolis effectively eliminated single-family zoning in order to undo decades of segregation and create more affordable housing options. Other states are watching closely.
How This Black Entrepreneur Went From Homelessness to Housing Others
With help from a business incubator, Tyrone Poole created a platform to help people on low incomes find housing.
How Southern Communities Tackle Summertime Food Scarcity
Without free and reduced school lunch programs during the summer, many children go hungry. Local organizations and churches are stepping up to help to narrow the food gap.
How to Make Public Space for People Living Out of RVs
For many people, living in their vehicles is the best they can do. Here’s how cities can help.
Why Economic Equality Won’t Fix Mental Health Care
Mental illness doesn’t discriminate based on your bank account, but treatment is much more difficult to access when you’re living in poverty.
8 Essential Steps to Radically Transform Our Economy
An economic system that serves everyone and the planet is necessary for our survival. Here are some guiding principles to get us there.
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