[Focused on groups that center their activism upon achieving social and economic justice as well as peace/anti-war activism.]
Activism and Rhetoric: Theories and Contexts for Political Engagement ed. Seth Kahn & Jonghwa Lee. Routledge, 2011.
Alternatives ["Since 1971 Alternatives Journal has been Canada's informed voice of environmentalism to everyday readers. Our podcast complements AJ's bi-monthly peer-reviewed print issues. Segments will include contributor interviews, in depth discussions of feature articles, and an editorial overview of the current and upcoming issues."]
"The Art of Politics: A Primer for Community Self-Defense." Rolling Thunder #1 (Summer 2005)
The Authority Smashing! Hour ["The Authority Smashing! Hour is a daily anarchist radio show hosted by a group of AUTHORITY SMASHERS"]
Bankster [""Too big to fail" financial services institutions have crashed the U.S. economy, throwing millions out of work, collapsing retirement funds and college savings accounts, and forcing many hard-working Americans into homelessness and poverty. Due to the complexity of the financial issues and the lack of clear avenues for input, average citizens have had zero role in shaping the policy solutions being proposed by government and industry, even as we are stuck footing the bill for the largest Bankster bailout in history. If you want to rein-in the Banksters and make sure they never get a chance to do it again, join us. We want www.BanksterUSA.org to be your go-to site for updates on the financial services re-regulation fight in Congress and for progressive net-roots campaigning against the big boys on Wall Street. We are in a big hole and it is going to take big ideas to get us out of it. We will follow the debates in Congress and update our website with new information and concrete action items on a weekly basis. But we will also launch public education campaigns to put bigger reform ideas on the table, ideas like: •a new Glass-Steagall Act for a new century ("Break Up the Banks") •a financial transaction tax ("Repo the Dough"), and •credit allocation policies ("Putting Wall Street to Work for Main Street.") Sign up for our regular email alerts and action items under "Get Email Updates" above. Your voice is needed in these debates to ensure that the interests of Main Street are prioritized over the narrow, special interests of Wall Street. The www.BanksterUSA.org site and our larger Real Economy Project are part of the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD). CMD is a national organization based in Madison, Wisconsin. It was founded by John Stauber in 1993 as an independent, non-profit, non-partisan, public interest group. Lisa Graves became Executive Director of CMD in July, 2009. She previously served as a senior advisor in all three branches of the federal government, as a leading strategist on civil liberties advocacy for the ACLU and others, and as an adjunct professor at George Washington University Law School. Mary Bottari is responsible for the content on BanksterUSA and is the Director of the Real Economy Project for CMD. She formerly worked on global trade issues for Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch division and as Press Secretary for U.S. Senator Russ Feingold. CMD's mission includes promoting transparency and informed debate by exposing corporate spin and government propaganda. We work to inform and assist grassroots citizen activism in promoting economic justice, public health, ecological sustainability and human rights. CMD publishes SourceWatch.org, PRWatch.org, the Weekly Spin, and now BanksterUSA.org."]
Biggers, Jeff.
"Chained Ethnic Studies Students Take Over School Board in Tucson." Common Dreams (April 27, 2011)
Broke Spoke Community Bike Shop (Lexington, KY: 4 minute video, 2011)
Canonball ["Canonball was born as a space to discuss, critique and honor the works of female writers. As such, at the heart of our blog is a feminist book club, where, every few weeks, we chose a new book to read and write about together. While Canonball’s focus is on the experiences of reading and writing as women, we also write posts on movies, music, television and anything else that has us scrawling out essays on napkins during our lunch breaks – all from an intersectional feminist lens. The name Canonball comes from our desire to break down barriers to discussing gender and misogyny, while also challenging the prevailing (white, male) literary canon. People of all kinds who are committed to productive conversations about feminism are welcome here."]
Chan, John.
"Protests highlight the plight of migrant workers in China." World Socialist Web Site (June 17, 2011)
Consortium News ["Investigative reporting is to journalism what theoretical research is to science, having the potential to present new realities and shatter old paradigms – how people see and understand the world around them – which, in turn, can transform politics. That is why investigative journalism is so important to the health of a democracy. A dramatic set of new facts – as in Watergate or Iran-Contra – can overcome long-maintained lies and shake a corrupt government to its foundation. Investigative reporting also can strip away the pleasing façade of a deceptive leader or it can expose flaws in a “conventional wisdom” that is taking the nation in a dangerous direction. Done right, investigative journalism is a huge threat to powerful elites trying to manipulate a population. These are some of the reasons we have worked so hard over the past decade to keep Consortiumnews.com going. It is also why a greater capacity for producing independent investigative journalism is crucial for changing today’s U.S. political dynamic."]
Crow, Scott and Mike German.
"FBI to Expand Domestic Surveillance Powers As Details Emerge of Its Spy Campaign Targeting Activists." Democracy Now (June 14, 2011)
Crum, Travis.
Marchers scale Blair Mountain: Protesters rally at Labor's 'Gettysburg,' vow mountaintop-removal fight." West Virginia Gazette-Mail (June 11, 2011)
"Egypt Protests 2011." Global Voices (Archive of Citizen Media Reports)
Facing South ["Since our founding in 1970 by veterans of the civil rights movement, the Institute for Southern Studies has established a national reputation as an essential resource for grassroots activists, community leaders, scholars, policy makers and others working to bring lasting social and economic change to the region. The Institute draws attention to the national importance of the South and offers an exciting vision of the region-a place brimming with a capacity for progressive change that challenges its reputation as a monolithic, conservative stronghold. Throughout our history, the Institute has maintained a strong commitment to developing research and publication projects that directly support grassroots organizing, especially efforts for corporate and government accountability. It has also led the Institute to be involved in the launching of such organizations as the Brown Lung Association, Southerners for Economic justice, the Georgia Power Project, and the Gulf Tenants Leadership Development Project. The Institute has also examined the southern contribution to culture and social change, from gospel music and the blues to the civil rights movement and community organizing. ... Combining information power with people power, another South is possible!"]
Feministing ["Feministing is an online community for feminists and their allies. The community aspect of Feministing – our community blog, campus blog, comment threads, and related social networking sites – exist to better connect feminists online and off, and to encourage activism. We hope that the Feministing community will provide a forum for a variety of feminist voices and organizations."]
Friends Committee on National Legislation ["The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) fields the largest team of registered peace lobbyists in Washington, DC. Founded in 1943 by members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), FCNL staff and volunteers work with a nationwide network of tens of thousands of people from many different races, religions, and cultures to advocate social and economic justice, peace, and good government. FCNL is nonpartisan. FCNL is also the oldest registered ecumenical lobby in Washington, DC. The organization's legislative priorities and policies are set by a General Committee made up of some 220 Quakers from around the country. FCNL's multi-issue advocacy connects historic Quaker testimonies on peace, equality, simplicity, and truth with peace and social justice issues which the United States government is or should be addressing. We take the long term view of the world we seek, and the specific policies and legislative priorities we advocate. In our day-to-day lobbying work, we work to identify specific, practical steps individuals can take to persuade the federal government to advance our country toward our longer-term objectives."]
Gender Focus [Canada: Gender Focus looks at politics, pop culture, and current events from an anti-racist feminist perspective. We aim to showcase news and opinion relating to issues of social inequality, stereotyping and representations of marginalized groups in society, and the intersections between gender and public policy.]
Global Voices: Advocacy ["Global Voices Advocacy is a project of Global Voices Online. We seek to build a global anti-censorship network of bloggers and online activists throughout the developing world that is dedicated to protecting freedom of expression and free access to information online. The aim of this network is to raise awareness of online freedom of speech issues, and to share tools and tactics with activists and bloggers facing censorship on different parts of the globe. The network is meant not only to provide support to its members, but also to produce educational guides about anonymous blogging, anti-censorship campaigns, and online organizing. By collaborating with software developers, activists, and bloggers, the network hopes to design new and more appropriate tools to protect our rights on the Internet. The Director of Global Voices Advocacy is Sami ben Gharbia, a Tunisian free speech advocate and blogger based in the Netherlands. From China, John Kennedy contributes regular updates on citizen media and censorship. Additionally, dozens of volunteers contribute articles."]
Giroux, Henry A.
"Remembering Howard Zinn, Once Again." TruthOut (January 27, 2011)
GRIT TV ["Launched on May 12, 2008, GRITtv reaches millions of viewers weekly on Free Speech TV on Dish network (9415) and DirecTV (348) on cable and public television stations nationwide, and anytime, anywhere online. Distributed in multiple platforms, GRITtv is a daily, 30-minute discussion for people who want to make a difference. Incorporating viewer-submitted content, grassroots activism, and a positive, progressive message that aims to go beyond the one-way format of traditional media, GRITtv talks to the people commercial media ignore. Independent filmmakers and journalists, activists, and the smartest thinkers and doers of our time are part of the conversation, and you can be too."]
"Guide to Anti-War Websites." Guardian (2010)
In These Times [Chicago, IL: "In These Times is a nonprofit and independent newsmagazine committed to political and economic democracy and opposed to the dominance of transnational corporations and the tyranny of marketplace values over human values. In These Times is dedicated to reporting the news with the highest journalistic standards; to informing and analyzing movements for social, environmental and economic justice; and to providing an accessible forum for debate about the policies that shape our future."]
Kentuckians for the Commonwealth ["KFTC has always articulated our theory or belief about what it will take to make systemic, lasting change through our description of the Goals of Organizing. These goals and their descriptions have grown over our history as our understanding and analysis have grown. It is important to remember that each goal influences and is influenced by the other eight. None stand effectively alone and they do not follow one another, but work as a system designed to create and hold fundamental change. KFTC strives to advance these goals through our strategies and model them as an organization. Help people participate – We have always believed that for a democracy to flourish, all people must be active and participate. A basic premise of our work is that all of us have a right and responsibility to participate in the decisions and process of our self-government. Empower individuals — We develop citizens into community leaders, helping people develop the skills to participate effectively! Members are urged to try new experiences, learn new skills and celebrate their growth and achievements. We teach leadership and organizing skills, and then give people the chance to practice these skills in a variety of ways. Overcome racism and other forms of discrimination – We have learned that the existence and exercise of oppression of any person or community creates the divisions and barriers that keep all of us from realizing our finest hopes and vision. We work to overcome the discrimination that creates and sustains these divisions in our society, our organization, and ourselves. Foster democratic values—We believe that all people are created equal, everyone deserves respect and equal opportunities. Kentuckians For The Commonwealth is shaped, directed and run by its membership. Our organization endeavors to become a model of the type of democracy we are working for in society. Challenge and change unjust institutions—Our members want to create a shared balance of power and equal enjoyment of benefits within our political, economic and social systems. We identify and tackle the root causes of social, political, and economic problems to create long-term, systemic change. Build organizations—We make sure that time and attention are given to building local community groups as well as the statewide group. We believe that strong organizations, founded on and adhering to strong principles, make it possible to achieve these other goals. Communicate a message of what is possible, shift our worldview – to have a better community, we must work for a better community. To work for a better community, we must believe a better community is possible. All of us are influenced by the messages that surround us every day. We work to develop and communicate new messages of what is possible on a large and small scale. Win issues that affect the common welfare—People want to give energy to an organization that deals with real concerns and shows tangible results. The issues that we tackle are chosen, actively addressed and solved by the membership. Have fun—KFTC is living proof that hard work is not all drudgery. We take the time to celebrate large and small victories, and publicly recognize individual and group achievements."]
Liberation News ["The Party for Socialism and Liberation is a working-class party of leaders and activists from many different struggles, founded to promote the movement for revolutionary change. Capitalism—the system in which all wealth and power is held by a tiny group of billionaires and their state—is the source of the main problems confronting humanity today: imperialist war, poverty, exploitation, layoffs, unemployment, racism, sexism, lesbian/gay/bi/trans oppression, environmental destruction, mass imprisonment, unionbusting and more. We are fighting for socialism, a system where the wealth of society belongs to those who produce it—the workers—and is used in a planned and sustainable way for the benefit of all. In place of greed, domination and exploitation, we stand for solidarity, friendship and cooperation between all peoples. The Party for Socialism and Liberation seeks to bring together leaders and organizers from the many struggles taking place across the country. The most crucial requirement for membership is the dedication to undertake this most important and most necessary of all tasks—building a new revolutionary workers’ party in the heart of world imperialism. At the same time as we aim for revolution in this country, we stand for defense of the existing workers’ states, the national liberation movements, and for workers and oppressed people around the world. The magnitude of our tasks will be matched by our determination to win."]
Manufacturing Consent (USA: March Achbar and Peter Wintonick, 1992)
Mason, Paul.
"Twenty reasons why it's kicking off everywhere." BBC (February 5, 2011)
"Mike Ferner of Veterans for Peace and Zach Choate of Iraq Veterans Against War on the 8th anniverary of the invasion of Iraq." Raising Sand Radio (March 18, 2011)
Mondoweiss ["Mondoweiss is a news website devoted to covering American foreign policy in the Middle East, chiefly from a progressive Jewish perspective. It has four principal aims: To publish important developments touching on Israel/Palestine, the American Jewish community and the shifting debate over US foreign policy in a timely fashion. To publish a diversity of voices to promote dialogue on these important issues. To foster the movement for greater fairness and justice for Palestinians in American foreign policy. To offer alternatives to pro-Zionist ideology as a basis for American Jewish identity. "]
Monthly Review ["In May 1949 Monthly Review began publication in New York City, as cold war hysteria gathered force in the United States. The first issue featured the lead article Why Socialism? by Albert Einstein. From the first Monthly Review spoke for socialism and against U.S. imperialism, and is still doing so today. From the first Monthly Review was independent of any political organization, and is still so today. The McCarthy era inquisition targeted Monthly Review's original editors Paul Sweezy and Leo Huberman, who fought back successfully. In the subsequent global upsurge against capitalism, imperialism and the commodification of life (in shorthand “1968”) Monthly Review played a global role. A generation of activists received no small part of their education as subscribers to the magazine and readers of Monthly Review Press books. In the intervening years of counter-revolution, Monthly Review has kept a steady viewpoint. That point of view is the heartfelt attempt to frame the issues of the day with one set of interests foremost in mind: those of the great majority of humankind, the propertyless."]
Moynihan, Colin and Scott Shane.
"For Anarchist, Details of Life as F.B.I. Target." The New York Times (May 29, 2011)
NEFAC [Northeastern Federation of Anarchist Communists: "NEFAC unofficially began over the summer of 1999 as a loose network between English-speaking anarcho-communists from New England and French-speaking anarcho-communists from Quebec who shared a mutual dissatisfaction with the state of the anarchist movement on both sides of the border. In April 2000, NEFAC was officially launched at a conference in Boston, MA. The federation is organized around the "platformist" principles of theoretical coherence, tactical unity, collective responsibility and federalism. Our membership is composed of collectives, affinity groups and individuals throughout the region. Our activity (either directly through the federation, or autonomously through our participation within larger grassroots coalitions) has included work in the anti-globalization movement, anti-war activism, international solidarity, prisoner support, workplace and community organizing, anti-fascist struggles, and anti-poverty work. The purpose of the federation is to connect this local activity to a larger strategy of social revolution, and, ultimately, a vision of a libertarian communist future. NEFAC is a directly democratic and federalist organization. We are also a membership organization, with dues and certain obligations to one and other. We have a straightforward constitution and members are expected to abide by it. Major decisions are made at bi-annual conferences where every member has one vote and no one has any more say than anyone else. Smaller decisions in between conferences are made by a Federal Council, a delegate council composed of representatives from each NEFAC member collective (supporter collectives are entitled an indicative vote). All delegates are directly accountable to their respective collective. Open debate is encouraged; we have no party line or party bosses. We are organized in this way because we believe that the structure of our federation should reflect the kind of society we want to live in: democratic, participatory, accountable, and anti-authoritarian."]
New Left Review [A 160-page journal published every two months from London, New Left Review analyses world politics, the global economy, state powers and protest movements; contemporary social theory, history and philosophy; cinema, literature, heterodox art and aesthetics. It runs a regular book review section and carries interviews, essays, topical comments and signed editorials on political issues of the day."]
Public Patent Foundation [NYC: "The Public Patent Foundation at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (“PUBPAT”) is a not-for-profit legal services organization whose mission is to protect freedom in the patent system."]
"Puerto Rico Student Protests 2010-2011." Global Voices (Ongoing Archive of Citizen Media Reports)
"Radical Contact List." Slingshot (Ongoing Archive)
Rage Against The Machine - Revolution In The Head And The Art Of Protest (USA: Chrome Dreams, 2010: 105 mins)
Reporters Without Borders ["... - defends journalists and media assistants imprisoned or persecuted for doing their job and exposes the mistreatment and torture of them in many countries. - fights against censorship and laws that undermine press freedom. - gives financial aid each year to 100 or so journalists or media outlets in difficulty (to pay for lawyers, medical care and equipment) as well to the families of imprisoned journalists. - works to improve the safety of journalists, especially those reporting in war zones."]
Robbins, Tim.
"Actor, Director Tim Robbins Takes Up Historic Vietnam War Protest in Production of The Trial of the Catonsville Nine." Democracy Now (August 27, 2009)
Sharp, Gene.
"The Most Influential American Thinker on Non-Violent Struggle You’ve Never Heard Of." Uprising Radio (February 17, 2011)
Stampler, Laura.
"Slutwalk Sweeps the Nation." Huffington Post (April 20, 2011)
Waldron, Travis.
"Kentucky Church Unanimously Votes To Stop Signing Marriage Licenses Until Gay Marriage Is Legalized." Think Progress (April 21, 2011)
Walgrave, Stefaan, et al, eds.
The World Says No To War: Demonstrations Against the War in Iraq. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, 2010. [Available in BCTC Library DS79.767 P76 W67 2010]
We Are Many ("There are so many voices and so many struggles scattered across the planet (and the internet). We are attempting to gather these voices "in unvanquishable number" into a site that can offer a platform and, we hope, inspiration for action. The obstacles activists face today, like those faced by workers and the oppressed in Shelley's day, are great. But our numbers are greater, and with solidarity and unity we can hope to begin to make changes in the systems we oppose. This site cannot be exhaustive, and that is not our intent. We are simply trying to offer a small sampling of the best radical audio and video sources we know of. We know that the internet provides vast opportunities to share information and ideas, but we do not believe that this can replace the real actions of real people. We encourage our visitors, friends, fellow-travelers, and comrades to take inspiration from the people included here into their own struggles for justice. The idea of this website first came from the annual Socialism conferences, packed with so many speakers and discussions and debates and our desire to share these discussions with others on a single platform. We had collected hundreds of talks and meetings over the years, but had never shared them in a coherent way. We hope you find this effort useful.")
Wilson, Rand.
"Rite Aid Workers’ Strike in Cleveland Sparks Nationwide Protest." In These Times (April 4, 2011)
WIMN ["Women In Media & News (WIMN), a national media analysis, education and advocacy group, was founded in 2001 by media critic and journalist Jennifer L. Pozner with guidance from a diverse team of directors and advisors including journalists, feminists, social justice activists and media reform advocates. ... WIMN works to increase women's presence in the public debate, emphasizing those who are least often heard, including women of color, low-income women, lesbians, youth and older women. WIMN analyzes representations of women in media; trains women's and social justice groups to hold media outlets accountable to the public interest; advocates for policy reform and structural change; and works with journalists to broaden the quantity and diversity of women's voices appearing in the media. WIMN promotes equity for women as subjects, sources and producers because accurate, diverse news and entertainment media are essential to a vibrant democracy and an informed public. Our Programs: We believe strongly that media is a women's issue, from content to production to policy. Complex problems require complex solutions, so WIMN's programs utilize multiple strategies: • Media Analysis: including articles, op-eds and studies written by WIMN's staff and board; a dynamic multimedia lecture series for high school and college campus groups on topics involving women, media, politics and pop culture; participation in conferences and public discussions; and WIMN's Voices, a media-monitoring group blog. • Media Education: including skills-building media training workshops for campus groups and community organizations across the United States, and the development of advocacy materials and resource guides for media activists. • Media Outreach: WIMN's POWER (Perspectives Of Women Expand Reporting) Sources Project works with journalists, editors and producers to improve the range and diversity of women's voices appearing in the media. • Media Reform: WIMN engages in ongoing coalition work, public awareness campaigns and other advocacy efforts to transform the media through structural changes in media policy. In 2006, this work will include the Afghan Women's Media Organizing Project, WIMN's strategic partnership with Women for Afghan Women."]
Women and Prison: A Site for Resistance ["Women and Prison: A Site for Resistance makes visible women's experiences in the criminal justice system. Documenting these stories is integral to this project of resistance. The stories are supported by a collection of resources, such as organizations, reports, essays, and links to a wide range of information on women and prison. The contents of this website are fluid and constantly changing. We expect to add stories, articles and resources on a regular basis. Your feedback and contributions are welcome. This site serves as a dedicated space for prisoners, those previously incarcerated, activists, students, academics, and everyone who strives for social justice. Through the use of this website, we hope to promote strategies and actions that challenge the system and the ways that it reproduces all forms of discrimination, violence, and social injustice in the treatment of women and their families. The invisibility of women's perspectives in discussions of the growing prison industrial complex constitute a serious gap, given that the numbers of women in this system are rising at an alarming rate. Moreover, by making women more visible, we expand the analysis, vision, and strategies being developed to seriously challenge the prison system. The incarceration of women is linked to a multitude of interconnected issues facing poor women, drug-addicted women, women of color, lesbians, and women in prostitution, including interpersonal and state violence, poverty, racism, reproductive rights, homophobia, harassment, lack of quality healthcare, homelessness, and more. Women and Prison: A Site for Resistance aims to make connections among these issues. By drawing attention to the interconnectedness of issues and strategies, we hope to further develop the grounds for coalition and alliance across organizations and movements."]
"Yemen Protests 2011." Global Voices (Ongoing Archive)
Yes Men Fix the World (USA: Andy Bichbaum and Mike Bonanno, 2010: 87 mins)
Zirin, Dave.
"Here Come Los Suns: Sports and Resistance to Arizona's SB 1070." Socialism 2010 Conference in Oakland, CA ---.
Not Just a Game: Power, Politics and American Sports. Media Education Foundation (2010: available online 62 mins)
Z Magazine ("Z is an independent monthly magazine dedicated to resisting injustice, defending against repression, and creating liberty. It sees the racial, gender, class, and political dimensions of personal life as fundamental to understanding and improving contemporary circumstances; and it aims to assist activist efforts for a better future.")
