Social Justice
Read about the newest efforts to overthrow systemic inequalities and address injustices in terms of wealth, opportunities, and privileges to make the world a better place.
The case for eliminating jaywalking laws
Most of us have probably looked both ways quickly before darting across the street outside of a sidewalk. Whether traffic was light or the crosswalk was simply too far away, jaywalking is a fairly common offense, but data from the California Racial and Identity Profiling Act (RIPA) shows that Black Read More...
Los Angeles County is dismissing 60,000 cannabis convictions
Los Angeles County has decided that it will dismiss nearly 60,000 cannabis convictions. Announced by District Attorney George Gascón, the policy is in line with California’s 2016 legalization of recreational marijuana. In addition to releasing individuals incarcerated for possession of a drug Read More...
Historic Indigenous water rights agreement finalized in Montana
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) are celebrating the long-awaited final approval of a $1.9 billion water rights settlement. Signed this week by US Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, the water compact resolves tribal claims to waterways throughout Western Montana and authorizes Read More...
Renewables provide more than just energy to Native American communities
Lack of resources and unclear regulatory oversight has slowed electrification on Native American Reservations, but some organizations believe the transition for renewable energy offers an opportunity to bring reliable, green, independent energy resources to reservations. Among these groups are Read More...
Swiss voters approve legalization of same-sex marriage
Switzerland is celebrating the legalization of same-sex marriage this week after a referendum resoundingly approved the measure. In a vote held on Sunday, 64.1 percent of Swiss voters confirmed the right of same-sex couples to marry and adopt children. Swiss lawmakers voted to expand the Read More...
Lorde uplifts New Zealand’s Indigenous language with new mini album
International star and New Zealander, Lorde, is paying tribute to her home country with new recordings of a set of songs off her latest album, “Solar Power,” in the country's Indigenous language, Māori. “Many things revealed themselves slowly to me while I was making this album, but the Read More...
Help your teen find purpose through activism and volunteering
All parents hope to raise empathetic and altruistic kids, but this can feel more difficult during the teenage years as kids begin to assert their independence. Research has shown that volunteer work and activism is good for our physical and mental health. This work can be particularly impactful for Read More...
Washington National Cathedral to retire Confederate-themed stained glass
Addressing racism in the 21st century often means confronting uncomfortable reminders of America’s history of slavery. The Washington National Cathedral is taking steps to confront its own legacy of oppression with the removal of stained glass depicting Confederate figures. The glass will be Read More...
New Illinois bill leads the nation in climate equality
Illinois has thrown a stake in the ground on climate change and equality and established a path towards a 100 percent clean energy future by 2050 with a new law. The bill, SB2408, received bipartisan support in both the Illinois House and Senate and takes on mitigating climate change, creating Read More...
New York is removing policing from city schools
In the wake of racial justice protests last summer, many schools are rethinking the relationship between educational spaces and policing. Following the removal of armed police officers from 33 school districts around the country, New York City’s school system will follow suit and begin to remove Read More...