You Need to Know: What Do Natural, Local and Organic Mean?
Today's consumers are increasingly concerned with where their food comes from, and demand for "organic," "local" and "natural" foods is on the rise. But what do those labels really mean? Are we getting...
View ArticleFinally, Signs of Momentum on Corporate Inversions
First it was Pfizer. Now it's Walgreens. These and a growing list of companies have made headlines as they consider shifting their headquarters overseas -- so-called corporate "inversions" -- so they...
View ArticleWhile Syria Burns
I had mixed emotions about the latest "good news" on humanitarian aid in Syria. The U.N. Security Council has passed a long overdue resolution that -- if implemented -- will save the lives of Syrians...
View ArticleYellowcake and Eat It Too: Why An Extension of Nuclear Talks with Iran Is...
The extension of negotiations over Iran's nuclear program represents a victory for diplomacy. It also gets the world closer to the dual goals of keeping Iran from developing a bomb while avoiding yet...
View ArticleWho Are We, Anyway?
Something extraordinary is happening at our southern border. Thousands of children, most unaccompanied by adult relatives, are crossing from Mexico and immediately turning themselves in to the Border...
View ArticleMaking Justice a Reality Where It Counts
Some years ago I sat in a courtroom in the central highlands of Guatemala, a member of a legal team representing victims of a massacre committed by the Guatemalan Army and paramilitaries in March 1982....
View ArticleFalse Accusations of Homophobia and Racism: Are They Libelous?
Is it libelous in 2014, when same-sex marriage is gaining both legal traction and cultural acceptance, to falsely accuse someone of being a homophobe? Thanks to a fading, two-decades-old catchphrase --...
View ArticleDEA Is Absolutely Losing the War on Marijuana Politics
This past Saturday, the LA Times published a fantastic article, “DEA may be losing the war on marijuana politics,” outlining the federal agency’s downfall from undisputed moral high ground to the wrong...
View ArticleHow Do We Respond to This Really Horrible Day?
What a horrible day. Israel has begun a ground offensive in Gaza, the White House is on lockdown, and a plane has been shot down in Ukraine. Today's news piles on an already shaking landscape of ISIS...
View ArticleFighting Back Against 'Hobby Lobby'
New York State has long been a leader in advancing women's equality, stretching back to the Seneca Falls Convention 166 years ago this weekend. Sadly, as we mark this important anniversary, hard-won...
View ArticleWhat's Up With Young People and Virginity? Not What You Think
Here's a shocker: Virginity is cooler than it used to be among teens and young adults. At least that's what entertainment giant MTV, creator of Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant, is hoping as it aired this...
View ArticleDe Blasio Sets the Pace for Political Leadership on Education
A newly elected politician can generally use his or her political capital on issues of their choice. A newly elected President Barack Obama spent much of his capital on passing the Stimulus Package...
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Governance Matters: Civil Society Voice and Performance at the World Cup
These days, a soccer World Cup is a multi-billion dollar project, with a number of financial "winners," such as FIFA, and many losers, given the development priorities that are sacrificed to build...
View ArticleBusting Three Myths About the Internet Tax Freedom Act's 'Grandfather Clause'
The Senate next week will likely consider its version of a bill to renew the Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA), a federal law prohibiting state and local governments from taxing the monthly Internet...
View ArticleSummer's Culture of Ignorance
Things often get crazy during an American summer. It was during the summer months, after all, that the Tea Party emerged. Maybe summer gives people more time to discuss the latest conspiracy theory....
View ArticleIs It Time for a National Sports Commission?
The United States is one of the few countries in the world that doesn't have a national, government-sponsored (at least to a degree) sports commission, sports ministry, or some other entity that plays...
View ArticleBlowback on the Border: America's Child Refugee Crisis
After three years of relative silence, the U.S. press has finally "discovered" the crisis of tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors piling up on the U.S. border. Although the coverage often began...
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Andrew Young's Choice
“None of us had any real education in social change. I was a biology major and a preacher. And yet we found ourselves in positions where we had to change the world . . . and what you will find is that...
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Child, Home, Neighborhood, Community and Conscience
Let me tell you a little about Matthew. Next fall, Matthew will enter fourth grade. His favorite food is pizza. He's always happy to jump on his trampoline or go for a swim. He can't wait to return to...
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