Activism
My Weekend at the Camp Beagle Protest
Camp Beagle is a permanent vigil outside MBR Acres near Huntingdon, a facility that breeds beagle puppies for experimentation in laboratories. I spent a weekend at the camp, chatting with activists and taking part in a noisy demonstration. Here's my report.
How This Tiny New Jersey Town Is Saving Millions of Lives
Fortescue, NJ. The former weakfish capital of the world has a new moniker: "the horseshoe crab capital of the world." This tiny town has taken the lead in protecting the habitat and breeding grounds of the American horseshoe crab, allowing this life-saving creature to survive the impact of humans.
How To Donate Responsibly
To donate something instead of discarding it in the trash, keeps it out of a landfill. Your donation supports a community and can provide someone with a job.
Ask These Questions Before You Volunteer
Volunteering is important because it adds to humanity. It’s an opportunity to uplift communities locally and abroad.
Garden of Eden as Future Goal
In this article the Garden of Eden is connected to the current environmental issues. It is more of a philosophical than a scientific approach to climate change.
Why I’ll Never Eat at McDonald’s Again After the Carnage at the Travis Scott Concert
A mom and teacher explains why she feels betrayed by McDonald's after the death of 10 young people at the Travis Scott concert in Houston. The Golden Arches paid Scott 20 million in 2020 to collaborate on a $6 Meal Deal and merchandise despite a criminal record for inciting chaos at his concerts.
The Man Who Trained Flipper Now Fights Against Marine Mammal Captivity
In the 1960s, Ric O'Barry helped capture and train dolphins for the TV show Flipper. But since 1970, he's devoted his life to saving marine mammals from suffering that fate.
Astrid Lindgren - Children's Author and Activist
Astrid Lindgren was a Swedish children’s fiction author and, by default, a children’s rights activist. Both Astrid and her characters championed children. Her speech Never Violence changed legislation, and Sweden became the first country in the world to ban corporal punishment.
Why We Need to Continuously Fight for Freedom of Expression in the Digital Age
We all pay a price to live in a society. Nothing is free, not even freedom of speech. Human knowledge is social. It’s not enough to talk about freedom of speech; we have to express ourselves. Only then will we know how much it cost.
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: The World Is My Family
"Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" means "the world is one household". This is an old and esoteric Indian philosophical belief that basically asserts that the world is one family, which has its own mission for the survival and further progress of the species.
How Social Media Has Re-Shaped America
Social media can be a slippery slope. Are we gaining ground or losing ground?
What a Wonderless World: Why Do We Act as if Homophobia Is Here to Stay?
When can we start expecting to be accepted?
Why COVID Protests Should Be Clear in Purpose
Some claiming to protest against the Ontario government's ongoing closure of a range of small businesses due to the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic should examine their approach.
None of the Above: My Philosophy of Action on Social Justice Issues While Not Taking Extremes
I am reluctant to join factions or go along with media stereotypes. A movement needs to have a certain level of self-awareness.
Volunteering With Primates in Madrid: Rainfer Primate Rescue Centre
In the summer or 2019, I spent six weeks volunteering at Rainfer Primate Rescue Centre in Madrid. This article will look at the work that Rainfer does and the reality of volunteering with them.
The Negative Effect of Christian Missionaries in the Guna Yala
I spent almost a year living in the San Blas Islands of Panama, also known as the Guna Yala. There I saw some of the negative effects of missionaries on an ancient culture.
15 Items You Can Replace to Reduce Your Plastic Pollution
Our planet is drowning in plastic pollution. There are some steps you can take today to start reducing your plastic waste. In your home, office, and car, you have at least fifteen plastic items that can be replaced or repurposed.
A Showcase of Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi’s Activism
A gender expert, social entrepreneur, reform advocate, and social change philanthropy practitioner, Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi co-founded the first Africa-wide grant making fund, the African Women's Development Fund (AWDF), and served as the first Executive Director from 2001 – 2010.
Transgender Awareness Week: Why It Matters
The stigma and outright hatred and violence faced by trans populations still exists, but why? As Depeche Mode once said, "People are people."
The Rise of Veganism and Plant-Based Living in the COVID-19 Era
While it will take more time to see the true impact of the pandemic on sales and consumer interest in plant-based meat and cruelty-free products, if anything could quickly shift public opinion, it would be this kind of outbreak.
My Experience as an Enumerator During the 2020 Census
This is a personal account of my experience as a census enumerator. It's a rewarding job, but a lot of hard work.
How Protesting Can Make a Difference
Protesting, by itself, one time, won't make a difference. Protesting needs to be sustained and be supported to create systemic change. Here is how that works.
The Three Worst Ways to Help During a Hurricane or Natural Disaster
It's natural for people to want to help during hurricanes or natural disasters. Unfortunately, that help can sometimes cause more harm than good. These are the three worst ways someone can help during a natural disaster with recommendations for better channeling that motivation.
How to Communicate During Disasters
What have we learned as public communicators during the spread of Covid-19? How could we have done our jobs better? Here are some recommendations.
Civil Disobedience: A Guide Toward Successful Movements
Civil disobedience is always an option, but many do not understand that civil disobedience requires everyone involved to take the proper steps in order for a movement to be successful. This list can help serve as a guide for proper steps to take for successful civil disobedience.
Discussing Politics in Polite Company: A Missed Crisitunity
Discussing politics or religion in polite company is asking for trouble. However, the consequences of avoiding political discussion could be much worse than the discomfort they cause; we'd be subjecting future society to increased political polarisation where leaders are unable to hear each other.
Ontario Teacher Job Action in 2019: My First Picket
I and other Ontario teachers took a stand against the unjust cuts that students are now paying the price for. The Ford government has introduced harmful policies that we will not stand for, including changing classroom sizes and making e-learning mandatory.
3 Easy Ways to Get Free or Low-Cost Publicity for Your Nonprofit
Whether you have a large communications staff and contracted PR vendors or are an army of one, there are ways to let the world know about the great work your nonprofit is doing. Here are three ways to earn free or low-cost publicity for your nonprofit organization.
8 Ways to Be Charitable Without Spending Money
We all want to do good, but it can be hard when you're short on time and money. Luckily, there are many ways to be charitable without spending either. Here are my top eight suggestions.
The Case for Civil Disobedience
When governments enact deeply unpopular policies, sometimes massive numbers of citizens come together and, through acts of defying the law, bring about change.
Five of the Most Famous Whistleblowers in American History
The American government has been changed by the actions of whistleblowers within government, whether their actions were seen as right or wrong at the time.
History of the Fight for Women's Right to Vote in the United States and the 19th Amendment
The year 2020 is the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment to the Constitution giving women the right to vote in the United States. Learn about the suffragists, including Susan B. Anthony, and the struggles for suffrage..
Woke and Hindsight: The Short-Term Memory of Generations When Changing History
As different as each generation is from each other, some things never change. And one similarity in particular is their ignorance of predecessors' contributions to social change.
Libertarians, Kaepernick, and the Boundaries of Order
Whether you love him or hate him, Kaepernick’s protests never involved throwing rocks through windows or fists at people’s faces, and libertarians appreciate that.
6 Best Practices for Charitable Giving
Thousands of charities across the globe launch appeals for donations year-round, but these efforts really pick up steam around Christmastime. The best recipient of your money, though, may not always be the one that’s flooding your inbox or popping up in your newsfeed.
Special Education in the Era of Betsy DeVos
There’s no doubt that Betsy DeVos, President Donald Trump’s secretary of education, is a polarizing figure within the country’s education community. But what about her effect on the special education community? There’s been some hits and misses and a lot of uncertainty.
No-Cost or Low-Cost Fundraising Ideas for Church Youth Groups
Is your youth group looking for ways to make money for your next mission trip or big event? Here are some of the best low or no-cost fundraising ideas.
4 Ways to Volunteer on a Budget
Being philanthropic is not exclusive to the wealthy. Here are some tips on how to help your community on a limited budget.
March for Our Lives in Orlando
What an experience it was to march for better gun safety laws in support of the Parkland School shooting victims. It was a historic protest. Here are my photos and feelings about the Orlando march.
The Women's March
The Women's March in D.C. 2017 was one of the most inspirational and meaningful days of my life.
How to Get Your Politician's Ear: Don’t Just Call
It’s not just about reaching your congressperson. It’s about organizing and communicating.
Photo Memories of the 2017 Orlando Women's March
Here are some photos and memories of the wonderful Women's Rally in Orlando, Florida in January 2017.
How Can Non-Profits Motivate and Retain Volunteers?
This article seeks to offer insights aimed at helping non-profits in motivating and retaining volunteers.
Essential Fundraising Tips for Non-Profits
The article below offers essential fundraising tips for non-profits.
The Ultimate Guide to Strategic Planning for Non-Profits
Some bloggers and practitioners say strategic planning is dead and buried. I differ with that view. How can one get to her destination without a plan?
Random Acts of Kindness: A List of Ways to Pay It Forward
Discover new ways to spread random acts of kindness to those around you.
To Kneel or Not to Kneel
Are minorities harassed and are their rights violated by the police? NFL players believe so... What do you think...?
4 Reasons You Can't Blame NFL Players for Kneeling During the National Anthem
Find out the real reason NFL Players are kneeling during our national anthem and why condemning them for doing so is more unpatriotic than the fact that they are kneeling.
Protest on Your Own Time: When Should We Take a Moral Stance?
NFL fans are furious over their favorite players using TV time to make their views known on the current race issue in America. Even the president has gotten involved. Why are people so upset?
To Kneel or Not to Kneel? That Is the Question
It's the issue dominating the media cycle. People are taking sides and the issue of athletes kneeling for the national anthem has sparked a national dialogue that is polarizing. Here's what I think.