Beauty and Horror: Susan Crile
I’m thrilled to share the work of a thoughtful visual artist with you today: Susan Crile (susancrile.com). She has worked extensively on themes of conflict. Her series In Our Name depicts images of torture at the hand of U.S. forces. Her Abu Ghraib pieces show the now infamous photographs from that scandal in a different … Read more
Victoria’s Secret and the Fairness of Fair Trade
If there’s anything in this world that grosses me out, it’s slavery and the word “panties.” Maybe that’s why I’ve avoided discussing the recent news that a Fairtrade-certified cotton distributor allegedly sold products tainted with forced child labor to the lingerie retailer Victoria’s Secret. (Oh yeah, I also hate the word “tainted.”) No one has … Read more
Abolitionist Opportunities
The following opportunities came to me through the DC Stop Modern Slavery (DC SMS) newsletter. As the membership coordinator for DC SMS, I can help you get involved, join a team, or even start a chapter in a different metro region. Let me know if you’re interested in getting involved, or check out one of … Read more
What You May Not Know About South Sudan
Recently I was talking with a friend about how the world map has changed, and we got into a bitter discussion about South Sudan, which she was certain is not a country but some sort of state. Beer bottles flew, burly men burst into tears, and I screamed “You’ll be hearing about this on the … Read more
Guantanamo: Ten Years Later
Tomorrow Guantanamo turns 10, and all over the country protestors plan to mark the day with calls to close the prison center. In particular, activists will travel from around the United States to Washington, DC, for a rally and human chain meant to stretch from the White House to the Capitol. In the last 10 … Read more
Happy 2012!
I’m back from a short blogging break, and hoping you had a merry Christmas, a happy Chanukah and a lovely New Year celebration! Some highlights from break: Hearing Michael (my husband) and his dad sing Elvis and Johnny Cash at a New Year’s Eve karaoke night in Long Island. Michael and his dad rocking karaoke … Read more
Good News Friday
If there isn’t any other good news in the whole world, we have this: it’s holiday season! I’m half-Jewish and this year, along with beloved Christmas, I’ll be celebrating Hanukkah for the first time. Heck, I might even throw Festivus in there, too. On a related note, before I post some other good news below, … Read more
A Zagat for Bleeding Hearts
Next time your waiter brings you that side of fries, how do you know she hasn’t coughed a nasty stomach virus onto it? Who can a busboy talk to about having his wages stolen from him? When a line cook leaves work, does he have a place to call home? Earlier this month, Restaurant Opportunities … Read more
Good News Friday – Injury Edition
Related Links: Sands of Silence on IndieGoGo Amnesty’s Write for Rights Campaign – webpage Writeathon Resources/PDFs page Polaris Project Fellowships Change.org Job in France Other Change.org Job Opps Win-a-Trip with Nick Kristof Joanna on Twitter Extra for Your Weekend
Happier Holidays Part 3: The Jingle Mingle
(This is the third post in a series on enriching your holiday festivities with acts of generosity.) Friends from my time living in New York City and Ithaca will recognize the title of this post. Back when I was at NYU, some good friends threw an annual party called the Jingle Mingle. They filled up … Read more
