by Maria Krasinski | 2 Mar 2023 | Ecologues, Environment, News Decoder Updates, Writing's on the Wall
The second of six monthly climate conversations, the event brought together three voices from education, activism and storytelling. Floriane Marié, Marie Cohuet and Maria Krasinski during Ecologues at the American Library in Paris, 23 February 2023. (Credit: American...
by Randall Mikkelsen | 2 Nov 2022 | Decoders, Environment, Europe, Writing's on the Wall
Big business is eager to show its environmental and social credentials. But how can you tell if a firm is genuine — or merely greenwashing? British cyclist Neah Evans sports a Shell plc logo on her jersey at a race near Paris, France, 16 October 2022. (AP...
by Paul Spencer Sochaczewski | 27 Sep 2022 | Decoders, Environment, Personal Reflections, Writing's on the Wall
I helped put nature conservation on the global agenda. But now I fear for Earth’s future. Will the next generation save us from disaster? Climate change, conceptual illustration (Photo by SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY via AP Images) This story by News Decoder...
by Alister Doyle | 29 Jun 2022 | Environment
Governments often set, then fail to meet, goals for fighting global warming. Do deadlines help? Or does “blah blah blah” of unkept vows hurt the planet? Climate activist Alizée tied herself to the net at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, France, 3 June 2022....
by Hanna Rahman | 18 Feb 2022 | Educators' Catalog, Hewitt, Human Rights, Student Posts, Women, Youth Voices
Transgender and queer immigrants can face hardship in detention and when settling in the U.S. Here’s a group that helps LGBTQIA+ migrants. Protesters at a rally jointly organized by the Queer Detainee Empowerment Project in New York on 4 July 2021. (Photo...
Relocating and integrating to a new country is difficult on its own, but individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex or asexual are even more vulnerable, particularly in immigrant detention centers. Hanna Rahman, a student at The Hewitt School in New York City, reports on one organization’s work to aid, empower and advocate for LGBTQIA+ detainees and undocumented individuals.
The Queer Detainee Empowerment Project (QDEP) provides health, educational, legal and emotional assistance to the LGBTQIA+ migrant community, making sure to involve the community in planning and activities. QDEP’s grassroots model and inclusive strategy inspired Rahman to consider her own perception of how community service is organized.
Exercise: Ask students to compare large aid organizations such as UNICEF or the UN High Commission for Refugees with smaller grassroots organizations like QDEP. How are they similar and how are they different? What do they think is a more effective and equitable approach to humanitarian assistance?