Children don't belong in cages

In the past three months, Indonesia has suffered a wave of catastrophic earthquakes, with a series of four hitting in late July and early August, killing hundreds of people and injuring thousands, and a deadly 7.5 earthquake and Tsunami hitting on September 28th, resulting in over 2,000 deaths.

Although news coverage of the battered country has waned, Indonesians still face a dire and urgent humanitarian crisis, with thousands injured, 1.5 million affected by the devastation, and more than 300,000 internally displaced and lacking shelter.

According to Worldvision.org, “The people affected by Indonesia’s 2018 earthquakes will need help for years as they rebuild their lives, homes, and communities.”

As the country grapples to deal with the crisis, hundreds of shocks continue to rattle the Indonesian islands, making the recovery process even harder.

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched by the Lombok Earthquake Relief Fund to gather donations for the victims of the earthquakes in Indonesia. Please consider helping this local organisation as it endeavors to save the lives of survivors and acquire supplies.

Image: IG @Roy_Sembalun (retrieved from GoFundMe website)

It is estimated that one sixth of people around the world live without access to electricity. This is particularly true in third world and poverty-stricken and developing countries. Such lack of access often exacerbates humanitarian crises of remote communities and hinders their ability to prosper.

Off-the-grid energy systems offer a solution to such problems. Yet, if not operated properly, such systems risk causing even further damage to the communities that utilise it and exacerbate pollution.

Gogla is a non-for-profit international group which facilitates the expansion of affordable, environmentally friendly off-the-grid electric systems, particularly in emerging and developing countries.

Gogla currently represents over 135 companies that deliver quality, affordable, and sustainable off the grid services to remote communities around the world, thereby improving their health, education, and employment opportunities. To date, Gogla members have transformed the lives of over 150 million people world-wide.

The organisation’s main methods of operation include connecting eligible member companies (which comply with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 7) with potential investors, doing advocacy work with local governments and influencers in order to promote policy that supports sustainable off-grid systems and foster an environment of awareness, as well as promoting “globally harmonized minimum quality standards” to ensure consumer protection and safety.

If either you or anyone you know takes an interest in becoming part of this socially and environmentally conscious energy movement, visit the Gogla website and learn about ways in which you can become part of this growing market.

Image: Gogla

Since his ascent to power in June 2017, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has presented himself as the kingdom’s ‘new face’ who will lead it into a bright future both economically and socially. Alas, over a year into his reign, it becomes clear that Saudi Arabia remains a hub of totalitarianism and oppression.

On October 2, Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, who was a Saudi national and a critic of the crown prince, was brutally murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.

Following three weeks of silence, the crown prince has publicly announced today that he regards the murder as a ‘heinous’ crime and that he vows to hold the culprits accountable.

Yet, it has been confirmed by Turkish authorities that two of the men responsible for Khashoggi’s murder were members of bin Salman’s personal security detail.

The crown prince’s record of ‘purging’, jailing, and torturing dissidents, journalists, and anyone whom he perceives to be a threat makes clear the fact that he was personally involved in orchestrating Khashoggi’s murder, and that his current statements are but lies.

Presently, there are 28 journalists and bloggers under arrest in Saudi Arabia, including Raif Badawi, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes, Alaa Brinji, who was sentenced to seven years in prison, and Iman al Nafjan, a blogger and women’s rights activist.

Reporters Without Borders have launched a campaign calling on the crown prince to assume responsibility over Khashoggi’s murder and immediately release the jailed journalists and bloggers.

Please express your solidarity by signing their petition.

It is the responsibility of the international community to do all in its power to pressure bin Salman to end his reign of terror and allow freedom of speech and expression in the Kingdom. His tyranny can no longer be overlooked.  

Out of Eden Walk is a decade-long, 21 thousand mile experiment in slow journalism launched by Paul Salopek. Starting off at the world’s oldest fossil site in Ethiopia in May 2013, Salopek began walking in the pathways of the first humans to migrate out of Africa and retracing their journey across the globe.

On the way, Salopek explores the major themes of our era, from climate change to mass migration, by giving a voice to those he meets along the journey who rarely make the news: villagers, nomads, traders, farmers, poets, artists, and soldiers. As he comes across locals in various countries, Salopek records their stories and testimonies in audio, video, and written form. By doing so, he provides us with a unique and unprecedented record of the global human experience- with all its challenges, character, and beauty- as we embark on a new millennium.

Five years, ten thousand miles, and 17 countries later, Salopek needs our support in order to complete the second half of his remarkable odyssey.

Please visit the website of the Out of Eden Walk nonprofit organization to either donate, volunteer, or otherwise support their effort to recreate our forefathers’ voyage and record the story of human society.

To learn more about and tune into Salopek journey, please visit The National Geographic’s Out of Eden Walk website, where you can witness the landscapes, see the faces, and listen to the voices he encounters.

Image: Out of Eden Walk Nonprofit 

Plastic packaging waste is a huge problem around the world. Despite efforts in some European countries, such as plastic bottle deposit schemes or having to pay for plastic bags in the supermarket, the average EU citizen creates 31kg of plastic waste per year. The situation is most severe in Ireland, where 61kg of packaging is thrown away by the average Irish person, which is 9kg more than in the second most 'prolific' country, Luxembourg. The least waste is produced in Bulgaria, where a more managable 14kg is disposed of over the year.

The EU Parliament Environment Committee just voted in favor of adopting a series of great steps to strengthen a law reducing plastic pollution - but in the same breath installed a dangerous loophole: a legal definition of “single-use plastic” that could allow polluters to simply market their throwaway polluting plastic products as "reusable".

MEPs can propose additional changes before they all vote on the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive on October 23. They must fix this massive mistake, and resist industry pressure to weaken the law.

Tell the European Parliament to fix the proposed plastics law, so corporations radically reduce their single-use plastic pollution, and sea life can breathe again!

Credits: statista.com, sumofus

Regardless of how one voted in the Brexit referendum, people deserve a say on the final deal.

British people know today that they did not know about the consequences for them and effects that reach far beyond the UK itself.

"A final say by the people, for the people, is perhaps the most democratic move this entire fiasco will exhibit to date."

Join the petition here. 

Until January of this year, dozens of cities across the U.S. shipped many of their recyclable waste for processing centers in China. Alas, a rule change in China made it impossible for Americans to ship various types of plastics and paper, and the latter end up being dumped by municipalities into landfills.

Just to clarify: this means that the majority of material we toss in the recycling bin is actually getting recycled.

As American cities grapple to construct truly self-sufficient and effective recycling systems, various local municipalities took steps to encourage its population to reduce its footprint and handle waste in a responsible manner.

One such effort was taken by the New York City Sanitation Department (SDNY), which launched an initiative called the NYC Compost Project. The SDNY provides extensive information on the importance and benefits of composting organics, food scraps, and yard waste, as well as a user-friendly guide on how to create compost at home (either in the backyard or in small bins for those without outdoor access). The agency also holds composting information sessions and events throughout the five boroughs, and educates the public on how to use compose to improve the health of the city’s soil and increase local greening.

It also provides information on how to get compost, how to order bins, as well as a list of over 100 food scraps drop off sites across New York City.

In addition to becoming a grade-A composter, please consider reviewing this short guideline compiled by the New York Times’ Livia Albeck-Ripka, to learn about common recycling mistakes and how to increase the chances of getting your recyclable waste recycled.

Image: Wikimedia

Founded in 2002, CODEPINK is a women-led grassroots organization dedicated to ending U.S. wars and militarism, promote peace and human rights initiatives, and funnel federal and state money into “life affirming programs” and targets, such as healthcare, education, and green jobs.

While the organization isn’t restricted to women members, and warmly welcomes all types of supporters (whatever their gender identity or affiliation is), they set it as their primary goal to encourage women of all ages, professions, and backgrounds to rally together, promote peaceful and humane agenda, and oppose war.

Donning pink outfits (the group’s trademark), CODEPINK members operate across the U.S. and engage in satire, street theatre, and organized civil resistance demonstrations. They hold workshops and various types of events, and launch petitions to promote their different causes and directly impact government leaders and heads of corporations.   

The organization operates through a network of dedicated local organizers (they currently have 250 groups of local supporters across the United States), online supporters, and donors. They have sent expeditions to various conflict zones around the world and collaborate with 12 different international partners.

To learn more about their mission and work- visit CODEPINK’s website.

Consult their Action Calendar and Action Toolkit to learn about upcoming programs and events and learn about how you could support the group or get involved!

Image: CODEPINK website 

Following the historic decision of a California Superior Court jury ordering Monsanto to pay $289 million to Dewayne Lee Johnson for their weed killer’s role in causing his cancer, thousands of others have filed lawsuits against the corporation.

Monsanto’s popular weed killer, which has been scientifically proven to contain the chemical glyphosate, and has been marketed to the public as the brand Roundup, has been linked by a growing number of researchers to various types of cancer, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and leukemia.

Consumersafety.org, an organization committed to informing the public about potentially dangerous or problematic products (including drugs, medical devices, home repair products, and more), has launched a page dedicated to assisting people who were diagnosed with cancer after using Roundup.

The page offers extensive information regarding the history of the Monsanto cases, an overview of the science and research linking Roundup to cancer, and a guide that explains who may be eligible to file a lawsuit.

According to Consumer Safety, “Anyone who has used Monsanto’s Roundup and later been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma or another form of cancer may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Surviving family members may also be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit against Monsanto, should their loved one have passed away as a result of their cancer.”

Finally, Consumer Safety links visitors with attorneys who may conduct a free-of-charge assessment of their case and determine their eligibility and options.

If you or your loved ones were adversely affected by Roundup, please consider visiting their page for more information and guidance.

Image: Taken from video interview by Democracy Now!