Trends in Global Grassroots Organizing: Spring 2021

Spring 2021

, The World

trends.we.net

in Global Grassroots Organizing #womensmonth

March 8 International Women's Day

March 20 - April 22

Rallies & Actions Starting on the Equinox

Women, Water, and the World Climate Collaboratory Environmental Community Activism Sense of Water Planet Heart World Peace Earth Day Celebration

Are We Becoming a Post-Truth Society?

Manifesting the Dream

A look back at MLK Manifesting the Dream Program & Events

CLIMATE CHANGE FACT SHEET

trends.we.net

Editor in Chief Robert Levine

Design & Production Angel Fullerton

Contributing Editor Angel Fullerton

Marketing Coordinator Alana Boyd

Publisher We, The World Rick Ulfik, Founder

WELCOME AND COMMENTARY

ARE WE BECOMING A "POST-TRUTH SOCIETY"?

By Rick Ulfik, Founder of We, The World at WE.net

Welcome to TRENDS Magazine! And thank you for whatever you are doing to support fact-based media in the public interest (like TRENDS) that does not knowingly distort the truth, disseminate false information, engage in hate speech or advocate for violence in any way for any reason. For some of my favorite examples of public interest news media please see my article on Page 46.

To me this is staggering and dangerous. It represents a distortion and disruption of the public's perception of reality. When information from reliable impartial sources is discredited by powerful politicians and others for political, monetary, or other reasons that don't serve the Common Good, then our whole cultural fabric of shared reality starts to fall apart.

Why is knowing and supporting reliable fact-based media so important? In the USA we are living during a time of extreme political polarization that is fueled by disinformation campaigns that are carried out for monetary, political, ideological, religious or other reasons.

Disinformation campaigns and the resulting extreme political polarization have already led to the unnecessary loss of hundreds of thousands of lives to COVID-19 as well as violence at the Capitol on January 6th - both with unfortunate ramifications for People of Color. And we are likely to see more in the future unless there is some kind of high profile mass public reckoning - Truth and Reconciliation - to address this cultural fracture. Reform of Major Media platforms and outlets, along with the giant Social Media Monopolies, is also essential. I touch on this in my Media article on Page 46.

This disinformation is being spread by an array of prominent politicians, online platforms and influencers, major cable and other TV news programs, as well as cultlike groups that employ psychological manipulation.

Taken together, the result is that many fear we are becoming a "Post-Truth Society". For example, though there is absolutely no evidence of "massive voter fraud" or other irregularities at levels that could have changed the official 2020 Election results, it has been estimated that 25% of adult Americans, more than 50 million people believe that Democrats stole the election - even though across the nation State Republican Election Officials, Courts, and multiple Republican judges, some of whom were appointed by Trump, say that the election was fairly carried out.

We, The World has developed the idea of Public Truth and Reconciliation Hearings. And we have proposed a Media Literacy and Communication Campaign as well that you can connect with us about.

Thank you again for checking out TRENDS Magazine!

You can submit your own Trend Report at any time, or respond to this or any of the articles, at trends.we.net And if you would like to support the magazine's non-profit Publisher We, The World then I and WE would be deeply grateful. You can go to https://WE.net/give Thank you!

Disclaimer While We, The World offers Trends in Global Grassroots Organizing as a public service to promote peace, sustainability and transformation, We, The World and our board, personnel, volunteers, organizers, members, advisors, supporters, partners, friends, allies and others connected with us do not necessarily endorse, support, and are not necessarily affiliated in any way with, the people, organizations, activities, values, strategies and ideas that appear here. We thank you for your efforts to create a world that works for all!

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Copyright © 2021 We, The World All Rights Reserved

Get Inspired, Informed and Involved with TRENDS! Whether you're a committed activist or new to the world of social change, Trends can deliver a mega-dose of optimism while connecting you to new and inspiring Change Agents working locally and globally for a better world.

About We, The World

Trends is focused on the 11 Campaigns For Change which developed from 11 Days of Global Unity. Together they form a comprehensive blueprint for global transformation.

Background & Overview We, The World (at WE.net) is a global coalition-building non-profit organization that annually connects and promotes thousands of socially conscious organizations and individuals to amplify their efforts and generate public awareness and action. Advisors and Supporters include Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Jane Goodall, Deepak Chopra, Bill McKibben, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Daniel Ellsberg, Marianne Williamson, Tavis Smiley, Patch Adams, Hazel Henderson and about 70 other visionary leaders from around the world.

Would you like to help us Inspire, Inform and Involve millions more people to create a better world? Here are 3 ways you can be part of this effort: Join the WE Team that creates Trends and does so many other things too! Sign up to become a Volunteer Coordinator here: we.net/partner Submit your own Trend Report for possible publication in Trends!

Tell us whose transformative work for social change inspires you including your own! Send to Trends@We.net Make a generous tax deductible contribution to help We, The World continue and expand our global networks of collaboration and action! Click here to make a secure donation or go to WE.net/donate to see an address where you can send a check.

Copyright © 2021 We, The World All Rights Reserved

Mission The mission of We, The World is to maximize social change globally until we have a world that works for all.

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IN THIS ISSUE

Welcome and Commentary

02

Editor's Note

05

by Rick Ulfik

Activism Bulletin Board

06

UNITY Our Moment Of Choice

07

WOMEN Reshaping the Women's Campaign with Karen Palmer

International Women's Day

28

Unleashing the African Potential

30

with Angelina Gabaitse

Promoting Women...In Rural Areas

by Didier Nshimirimana

INTERDEPENDENCE Campaign for Interdependence

08

with Shannon CrossBear

Declaration of Interdependence

09

32

HerJustice.org

35

by Naureen Hossain

Women, Water, and the World GlobalWomensWater.org

Earth Month

10

Climate Change Fact Sheet

11

Sense of Water

by Shannon CrossBear

Climate Collaboratory

with Sue Blythe

The Corporation vs. The Consumer

by Anna Kroll

M.A.S.K. - Rethinking Community with Callum Cintron

16

FREEDOM

18

Are You The Key To My Hope?

by Yvette Dubel

The Myth Of The "Lost Cause"...

by Rick Ulfik

Creating An Alternative Economy That Works For All

21

by Jack Strasburg

Campaign for Health

22

40

42

44 46

DISARMAMENT It Is 100 Seconds To Midnight

HEALTH

38

HUMAN RIGHTS

14

ECONOMIC JUSTICE

31

WE Women Respond

by Shannon CrossBear

ENVIRONMENT

26

48

PEACE

with Kathryn Davis

CHILDREN & YOUTH International Children's Month

24

A Look Back At MLK Manifesting the Dream

49

Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.?

51

by Samuel Elliot

with Heidi Little

Visit

TRENDS.WE.NET to download this current issue

EDITOR'S NOTE

Robert Levine is Editor & Manager of Trends in Global Grassroots Organizing as well as a poet, essayist, activist, performer and yoga instructor in the New York area. His most recent book is Without Knowing Where We Are Going.

WE are so excited to share this issue of TRENDS in Global Grassroots Organizing, the first in four years. Since we last published in 2017, the planet has experienced dramatic, and traumatic, changes. WE have also seen amazing responses to these challenges with a dramatic growth in the number of social movements that have emerged and the number of people that have committed to work for social change. From Black Lives Matter to community organizing to take on the planetary climate crisis as well as the struggle to reverse economic inequality.

TRENDS is dedicated to chronicle those developments and the organizations and individuals that are the dynamic force behind them.

In this issue we will be featuring the Campaign on the Environment and the Campaign on Women to highlight International Women's

Day, which is March 8th, and Environmental Awareness Month, which starts of the vernal equinox and culminates in Earth Day. Our feature articles by two of our dedicated volunteers will focus on an organization providing valuable support to women in crisis and responsibility of corporations in the climate crisis. This issue also features information and articles on each the 11 Campaign Themes.

In this issue WE will present the reader with unique voices and perspectives. WE, THE WORLD is a coalition of people and organizations across the planet and we want to share that with you.

WE look forward to your thoughts and ideas as we travel together on Planet Earth as WE journey through the universe.

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RESOURCES

THE ACTION TOOLKIT: SUPPORT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

The upswell in grassroots organizing throughout the world and in the United States since the presidential election, is a sign of the growing awareness among people in all the nations across this planet that we can each make a difference in determining the direction of our nations and our planet.

There are amazing organizations working on a vast myriad of issues, along with so many inspired to generate many more to join in the ongoing evolutionary change to save our world and each other.

To support and inspire each other, WE, THE WORLD is initiating a new effort to generate the resources and the tools we can share with each other to organize our fellow travelers on our journey through the universe. This Action Toolkit is the inspired idea of Mahika Halepete, whose ideas and hard work were so critical in our launching the first issue of Trends.

The Action Toolkit can provide information and resources on how to perform outreach, to engage with organizations and individuals to raise critical funds, to reach out and share our ideas with like minded people, to advocate to elected officials, to motivate people to take action, and support each other to be active change agents.

Within WE, THE WORLD we are graced with so many talented and effective people and organizations that have been making positive change for years, if not decades.

Join us in developing this critical resource to encourage and support so many others working to make this a better world.

As the legendary community organizer Fred Ross so eloquently said, "a good organizer is a social arsonist who goes around setting people on fire." Work with us to light thousands, if not millions, of beacons of change.

Have recommendations or resources for taking action?

We encourage you to submit them on the activism bulletin board where they'll be seen by thousands and also be considered for the upcoming publication! http://trends.we.net/activism-bulletin-board/

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UNITY

OUR MOMENT OF CHOICE

By Kurt Johnson

Following on We.net's founder Rick Ulfik curating the new free e-book from Light on Light Publications with the Education Synergy Circle of the Evolutionary Leaders Circle (www.evolutionaryleaders.net)-- Universal Principles and Actions Steps (March at http://www.issuu.com/lightonlight) and We.net's 11 Days of Global Unity being featured in Light on Light's Our Moment of Choice special issue in 2020), Rick co-hosted the Our Moment of Choice second Special on VoiceAmerica in September 2020 (https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/125 569/our-moment-of-choice-2).

For 2021 Light on Light, which hosts that Convergence series on Voice America is joining the "Our Moment of Choice" theme with that of the new novel Atlas Hugged by celebrated evolutionary biologist Dr. David Sloan Wilson. Atlas Hugged challenges Ayn Rand's infamous Atlas Shrugged, which became the icon for the ideologies of Greed is Good, Radical Selfishness and Tribalism. Rick, in his curation of Universal Principles and Action Steps, included a section on the views underpinning Atlas Hugged--- the "Prosocial World" view based on the global design principles of 2009 Nobel Prize winner Dr. Elinor Ostrom, with whom Dr. Wilson worked for many years.

The result will be a new VoiceAmerica series on The Convergence: "Our Moment of Choice: Atlas Shrugged or Atlas Hugged?".

The first of the series will be in March 2021.

After an introduction by the co-editors of Our Moment of Choice (www.ourmomentofchoice.com) the first segment will feature Dr. Wilson and Dr. David Korten (author of When Corporations Rule the World, The Great Turning, and founder of YES magazine). Then Mark Gerzon and Ben Rekhi will follow with a segment on their recent influential film: The Re-United States (https://reunitedstates.tv/).

The program then includes thought leaders from both the U.S. and Europe specializing also in this debate: Duane Elgin (Choosing Earth) and Jude Currivan (The Cosmic Hologram) followed by discussion with activists Terry Patten (New Republic of the Heart) and Anne-marie Voorhoeve (The Hague Center). The program concludes with a discussion of the needs and directions of a "New Story" for our world, with the coeditors of Our Moment of Choice and Lynnaea Lumbard, founder of New Stories and Great Transition Stories (https://newstories.org/; https://greattransitionstories.org/). It will be posted at VoiceAmerica in early March (https://www.voiceamerica.com/show/2610 /the-convergence).

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INTERDEPENDENCE

CAMPAIGN FOR INTERDEPENDENCE

By Shannon CrossBear

The WE Campaign for Interdependence promotes conscious interdependence, acknowledging that we are all connected through the web of life; expands awareness and action to protect and preserve our global commons; and honor indigenous wisdom.

Within the last year many had a heightened awareness of this interdependence as we collectively began to address the pandemic across our earth.

On this the upcoming 50th anniversary of Earth Day we are more aware than ever that our continued growth will require a reliance on the collective wisdom and understanding of our interdependence.

In the We Campaign for Interdependence we find all kinds of activities inter woven throughout the eleven campaigns.

As WE expands, so do all the opportunities to highlight and work in a way that acknowledges and celebrate the nature of our interdependence.

We cannot talk about interdependence and fail to recognize and support the work around the environment. Please check out the Campaign for the Environment and the Climate

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Collaboratory where we are helping to tell the story of the evolution to a WE society.

We cannot talk about Social Justice and neglect the work being done to address disparities. See what the WE is doing to reduce disparities, foster discussions that matter, and support systemic change. The future WE will be made of the youth and children and the theme for this year’s International Children’s Month and year- long platform is creating the WE. We have the opportunity to see interdependence, not only as necessary for survival but, additionally, as the source of our best life ever. Join us in the Campaign. Find your joy. Bring it to the conversation. Whether water or land, health or happiness, two legged or winged one there is place in the web of interdependence.

Shannon CrossBear is the Coordinator of WE Campaign for Interdependence. For more information go to we.we.net/interdependence

INTERDEPENDENCE

DECLARATION OF INTERDEPENDENCE Please join Dr. Jane Goodall, and thousands of others in signing the Global Declaration of Interdependence

Preamble

In acknowledgment of the many existing documents and efforts that promote peace, sustainability, global interconnectedness, reverence for life and unity, We, The World hereby offers the following Declaration of Interdependence as a guiding set of principles. It is inspired by the Earth Charter, the essential values of which represent those of the many peoples of the Earth.

Declaration

We, the people of planet Earth, In recognition of the interconnectedness of all life And the importance of the balance of nature, Hereby acknowledge our interdependence And affirm our dedication To life-serving environmental stewardship, The fulfillment of universal human needs worldwide, Economic and social well-being, And a culture of peace and nonviolence, To ensure a sustainable and harmonious world For present and future generations To sign the Global Declaration of Interdependence please go to we.we.net/declaration TRENDS.WE.NET | 9

ENVIRONMENT

EARTH MONTH: RALLIES & ACTIONS Celebrating Earth Month Worldwide:

March 20th (Equinox) - April 22nd (Earth Day) This year a variety of organizations, with people around the world, are celebrating Earth Month. Earth Month is a convergence of events and activities starting with the Original Earth Day on the Equinox March 20th, including World Water Day March 22nd and culminating with Earth Day celebrations April 22nd.

Featuring:

Environmental Community Activism Climate Collaboratory Planet Heart Welcome to WE! Show More information at we.net/earthmonth

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ENVIRONMENT

Poetry

SENSE OF WATER

Poetry

By Shannon CrossBear

Purposeful pound Storm surge Ice thunder Sleep song

Nose tickler Message carrier Dank and delightful River ripe

Shape shifter Sky reflector Diamond dancer Depth denier

Bicep burden Weightless wonder Temperature regulator Well Wellness

Rock cleaned Sky Blessed Whistle wetter Cell collecting

Water sense

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ENVIRONMENT

with Sue Blythe

Note From The Editor: Since the first Earth Day in 1970, we have become increasingly aware how human behavior impacts this planet. It impacts our ability to sustain our resources, impacts the ability of all species to survive, and impacts the health of the planet itself. Faced with cataclysmic changes, represented most powerfully by the issue of climate changes, untold numbers of people have taken positive action to protect the health of the planet and to ensure that generations to come will be able to live healthfully, sustainably, and in harmony with each other and with nature. WE, The World (WTW) works closely with many organizations for the future of the planet and for future generations. One of the people fighting for the future is one of WTW’s WE Coordinators, Sue Blythe. Sue has been actively contributing to advancing the goals as a leader in the WE Environment Campaigns for Change. Her work cuts across many of the other Campaigns including Unity and Children and Youth. When it comes to our planet and our future all 11 Campaigns are deeply connected.

Sue is developing the Climate Collaboratory as a pilot project of We, the World and the University of Florida Extension.

Sue’s work envisions a sustainable and creative future through a collaborative storytelling adventure with age-appropriate activities for children, youth, adults and elders. This work incorporates the ongoing tradition of storytelling, the passing of wisdom through the generations. It is essential to provide children with the tools and the support to see that their ideas can come to fruition. That inspires bold and courageous action to engage families, friends and neighbors in a communitywide climate conversation-to-action program.

Then Pacha finds herself in a glorious dream on the Main Stage at the Global NatureFest. https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=f3s64WsOyxY

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Sue invites people of all ages to tell their own climate stories. These stories inspire, inform and involve people everywhere in a playful, youth-led collaborative storytelling adventure.

It's a sequel to Pacha's Pajamas: A Story Written

by Nature. https://pachaspajamas.com/ Our story begins at bedtime ...

Once upon a time an old woman sang quietly to her granddaughter in the dark, "It's in every one of us to be wise. Find your heart, open up both your eyes." They're open! said Pacha. Gramma Sage whispered, Now close them again and see ... what you ... can see... She continues singing softly and Pacha drifts off to sleep with visions of the human family (who all know what I know, and it's good that it's so ... ) https://vimeo.com/307569350

The community of life on Earth has called the humans to respect the rights of Nature. Pacha pledges to plant a billion trees to help reverse global warming. https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=0Tt7j2FJ2gk&feature=emb_imp_woyt

CLIMATE COLLAB CONTINUED

ENVIRONMENT

From there she travels through time and space at the speed of thought on the Web of Life. In the year 2050, she sees the whole world celebrating the Earth's temperature coming back down. In 2030, the world is celebrating the Big Win of the Sustainable Development Goals. In 2022. Martin Luther King's World House is coming to life in one community after another.

The interfaith Beloved Community Choir sings songs of peace.

Children everywhere are playing the Earth Charter Game.

The youth host the intergenerational Sustainable World Games Show.

The human family plays the deadly serious game of Climate Chess, to get the right actionable climate resource to the right people at the right time.

In her dream, Pacha sees that In 2020 Adrian and Rebecca Alvarez planted a Seed Idea on the Earth Charter +20 global call. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyUGSz1p1UY In real life, we are helping that Seed Idea to grow from vision to reality in the Gardens of Global Unity, where all things are possible.

We are collecting true stories of the Past and Present, and using those to write stories of our Imagined Future.

The Climate Collaboratory is where we develop the bits and pieces of this thing. We stitch them together as a kind of storytelling quilt, with an unlimited number of stories on the human branch of the Tree of Life. onetreeoneplanet.org (click on Tree of Life) During We, the World's 11 Days of Global Unity in September 2021, Pacha becomes the next TreeTender, and invites people of all ages everywhere to care for the Tree of Life. treetender.org (click on Watch the Movie) And We, the World and University of Florida's Climate Collaboratory partners with the Florida Museum of Natural History and Digital Worlds Institute and (let's dream big) Walt Disney Studios to create a world-class transmedia collaborative storytelling adventure for the human family.

And we'll know that our vision from the year 2000, at the launch of the Earth Charter, is indeed becoming a reality: "Let ours be a time remembered for the awakening of a new reverence for life, the firm resolve to achieve sustainability, the quickening of the struggle for justice and peace, and the joyful celebration of life."

- The Earth Charter earthcharter.org To participate in the collaborative storytelling adventure, contact Sue Blythe <sueblythe@we.net>

Together we are writing the next chapter in the story of life on and with the Earth.

Our intention is to create a 10-minute animated video to set the stage for an intergenerational musical play told with Expressions through the Literary, Visual and Performing Arts. It will be done in the style of Pacha's Dream ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoYTbYs1xqA

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ENVIRONMENT

THE CORPORATION VS. THE CONSUMER Navigating Individual Responsibility in the Face of Climate Change

By Anna Kroll

On September 17th, 2020, artists Gan Golan and Andrew Boyd set up a ten-story clock in Manhattan’s Union Square. Now, this clock didn’t simply tell us the time of the day, but served as an indicator of a looming, devastating threat: how much time we have before the effects of climate change become irreversible. At the time of installment it read: 7 years, 103 days, 15 hours, 40 minutes, 7 seconds. When the clock was unveiled, artist Golan encouraged viewers to reflect on their own carbon footprint and individual lifestyle. “The world is literally counting on us”, he said, “Every hour, every minute, every second, counts” (Hassan).

The installation contributed to the growing collective panic surrounding climate change. A flurry of questions chaotically circled the globe. “What can we do to stop this?” “Am I doing enough?” “Who should be held accountable?” Accountability, blame, who should the proverbial finger be pointed at? Are we as individuals ethically obligated to change our lifestyles to help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and climate change? Or should we look to the major players, industry and corporations, the primary source of the devastation of planetary health? Let’s dive deeper.

Yes, we all contribute to global warming through our cumulative collective actions. However, the climate crisis is much bigger than saying goodbye to plastic straws and altering our diets and modes of transportation. That being said, these ideas have dominated public conversation and generated a massive amount of media attention. Why? Cancelling plastic straws is slapping a band-aid over a much deeper problem. Though environmentally friendly, and definitely a step in the right direction, it functions on too small a scale to generate the magnitude and impact that addressing these issues requires and deserves. The focus on the narrative that individuals alone can combat climate change is

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intentional and fueled by corporate interests. It suggests that individual actions and consumer choice have the ability to make the ultimate impact on planetary health, shifting the blame away from fossil fuels and the energy sector.

Fossil fuel interests intentionally lead us astray— spending billions to craft the narrative misperception that the individual alone is responsible for climate change, and the individual alone has the power to save the planet.

Ironically, oil and fossil fuel companies categorize themselves as leaders in the renewable energy movement. A confusing thought isn’t it? Companies intent on land degradation and resource depletion, spewing out endless greenhouse gases and pollution through drilling and other means, are vying to be voted America’s Most Climate Friendly.

There is no question that the fossil fuel industry has played a massive role in the climate change crisis. What has been lacking is accountability, and only governments have the power to keep corporations in check. It’s more convenient for them to encourage individual action, as that requires less legislation, regulation, and time.

Governments do have the power to enact policy that would regulate industries to remain within sustainable emission limits and transition towards a renewable-focused energy sector. It’s time they demonstrate true leadership and vigilance towards protecting the planet and all that inhabit it, tackling environmental challenges head-on.

So, what is the individual’s role in the climate crisis? This is my opinion. Individual action matters. Personal action and government or

CORP VS CONSUMER CONTINUED

ENVIRONMENT

industry action need not stand in opposition to each other, but can actually work as a collective to create positive change for the common good. We can encourage individual changes in behavior and consumption patterns while still requiring systemic change and government agency. The idea that individuals hold no semblance of power is one that unfortunately is shared by many is this country. By declaring that individual behavior changes make no impact on the climate crisis asserts indifference, while simultaneously absolving us all from responsibility and obligation.

Taking measures of personal responsibility for climate change displays a belief in your individual power. Participating in a meatless Monday or deciding to walk to work makes a statement that you believe your actions matter. When we take responsibility for how our daily behaviors impact the environment, we become empowered and our decisions become amplified. Individual actions, especially in a collective form, can be incredibly powerful.

All this being said, an individual’s decision to regularly eat meat or rely solely on their personal automobile for transportation should not be considered morally blameworthy. Individuals who live in developing countries, developing countries in their entirety, deserve the most support and least blame. The climate crisis is not shared equally between developing countries,

developing countries in their entirety, deserve the most support and least blame. The climate crisis is not shared equally between all nations, there are a few main players who are disproportionately responsible, China and the United States at the top of the list. These countries and the people who reside within them, should not share equal blame or obligation. They are not the primary perpetrators of rising greenhouse gas emissions, global warming, massive rapid biodiversity loss, and the devastation of our ice caps and Arctic landscapes. They should not be required to enact the same structural changes, the same emission caps, as the nations and industries who are disproportionately responsible for the climate crisis we are facing today.

So, it’s true that individual action to address climate change and environmental issues is insufficient, but that individual action is also powerful, and essential. While individual agency, especially in collective form, is invaluable, it is also necessary for governments and industry to hold themselves accountable. Widespread initiative needs to be taken, policy needs to be enacted and enforced, and emissions need to be reduced. It’s time for our current administration, corporate polluters, and national and international governing bodies to bind together, cooperate, and create positive change for the planet—as the clock is truly ticking.

Sources Hassan, Jennifer. “How long until it's too late to save Earth from climate disaster? This clock is counting down.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 21 Sept. 2020, www.washingtonpost.com/climateenvironment/2020/09/21/climate-changemetronome-clock-nyc/

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ECONOMIC JUSTICE

CREATING AN ALTERNATIVE ECONOMY THAT WORKS FOR ALL

By Jack Strasburg

The WE Campaign for Economic Justice works to end poverty, expand socially conscious business and reduce economic inequality and end economic injustice.

The WE The World Economic Justice Campaign is initiating a new project.

Two central notions behind this are: (1) the perception that if we want a world that works for all (WE The World mission statement) then we will most likely need an economy that works for all and (2) the realization that those who pretty much control the current economy have little interest in taking us there.

This takes us to a third: (3) if we want a world/economy that works for all we almost certainly have to create/build it ourselves.

And we can do that. The movement to create a better world, as a whole, has all the necessary skills, tools and resources.

In fact, many in the movement such as SEN (Solidarity Economy Network), NEC (New Economy Coalition) and the US Federation of Worker Owned Cooperatives are already in the process of doing that. All that is needed to feel confident that the skills and tools exist, is to check out the planet wide permaculture and ecosystem restoration movement. Paul Hawken in his 2007 book Blessed Unrest stated there are at

least one million “groups that address the environment, indigenous rights and social justice” and that number is significantly higher now. If we pool our resources and use them wisely and collaboratively, I firmly believe there is enough to give us the momentum needed to make this dream possible.

My belief is that the single most important thing that needs to happen is to focus on and commit to getting the movement for a better world much better organized and collaborative. If we can do that, then we can pretty much do anything. If we can't do that then the picture may not be so rosy.

The first step in our current plan is to identify those who are involved in the movement to create a world that works for all, what I call our Natural Constituency, and suggest that it would be a good thing to patronize/support those businesses that engender an economy that works for all in their mission (explicitly or implicitly), in a very focused and committed way. The idea being to keep resources in the community and grow the alternative economy we are trying to create.

To increase the effectiveness of this dynamic we are looking for ways to make shopping ethically more convenient, and to that end we are in the process of creating a WE Store, what I call the loving, caring alternative to Amazon.

A big plus to getting this process very organized is that we will be able to develop situations whereby entrepreneurs can start businesses the movement needs confident they will have a significant customer base from day one. This will drastically increase the number of ethical businesses being born.

Down the road we plan to create a global label/trademark so shoppers will be better able to find us with the knowledge that they will be treated fairly and. transparently, like family. How many times have we felt uncomfortable when needing a mechanic, lawyer, plumber, etc? More to come!

Jack Strasburg is a volunteer of WE Campaign for Economic Justice. For more information go to we.we.net/economic-justice or email JackStrasburg@WE.net to joint this project.

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HEALTH

HEALTH CAMPAIGN With Kathryn Davis The WE Campaign for Health advocates for universal healthcare worldwide; supports holistic, integrative, proactive and preventative health practices; and promotes the connection between individual well-being and societal health.

Note From The Editor: In the constitution of the World Health Organization (WHO) it declares “the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.” There are so many people in the world, including the United States among the post-industrial nations, where millions have limited access to adequate health care. This has been thrown into sharp relief by the COVID pandemic where half a million have died in the U.S. alone.

The Campaign for Health has been fundamental to WE, The World where we recognize the criticality of health to our safety and well being as well as the importance of having access to information and modalities that enable us to make informed decisions to improve our health and our lives.

Our mission is to inform, empower and encourage people to take charge of their health, and build strategies for wellness into their lifestyles.

To provide resources for healing on all levels of being: Mind, body, spirit, soul and energy. Also on the levels of family, community, economy and environment. With a commitment to develop a strategy to help each other make a difference both in our personal lives and at the level of society.

To combat inequities in access to health care, wholesome food, a healthy workplace, a clean and sustainable environment and opportunities to create and flourish, so that all can rise to their healthiest potential.

Campaign for Health Team: Kathryn Davis, Dr. Shireen Khatoon, Jason Ho

The program features guests, music, meditation and conversation, with a focus on consciousness, spirituality, health, the soul's journey and spiritual activism. Discussion also covers the many facets of energetic cosmology, human nature and an historical perspective.

Kathryn Davis has been co-host and producer of Health Action since 1995 and producer of Heart Of Mind since 2000. Kathryn is a Meditation and Movement teacher, Spiritual Doula and Vibrational Healer. She is certified as a Qigong teacher and in Qigong healing techniques by OCOM, the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, and is certified in Reiki Energy Healing as well as the Sandlin Technique, an Indigenous Energy Healing practice based on Vision Quest and Shamanic Insight. heartofmindradio.com

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CHILDREN & YOUTH

INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S MONTH WITH HEIDI LITTLE

WELCOME! International Children's Month

JUNE is the official month where we invite all of

is a platform that delivers a free 365 day a

humanity, across the world, to contribute to raising

year thematic, empowerment, embodiment

consciousness via practices and activities based in

activity curriculum that is for everyone!

love, care and respect for self, family, children and

Weaving together mindfulness of our

youth. HOW ARE YOU INSPIRED TO

environment with body, mind and spirit

PARTICIPATE? All are welcome to contribute in

awareness through progressive education that

their own unique way and YOU ARE OFFICIALLY

fosters social emotional learning. We are an organization that is empowering youth, supplying mentors with heart-centered tools and delivering all of this through a yearly theme. We come together to co-create positive transformation with lasting societal and humanitarian changes through empowerment and inspiration in support of our mission.

Children across the planet in love, care and respect.

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INVITED! This year is International Children Love WEBuilding A World That Works For All 2021! We will be exploring the question: how do we build a world that works for all? Throughout 2021 and beyond! In collaboration with WE, The World, Unity Earth, World Kindness, The Black Jaguar Foundation, World Peace and Prayer Day, The Children’s Peace Project, World Water Law, The Center for Advancement in Social Emotional Learning, Youth Ambassadors from around the world and you! Let us work together to explore this ever important question and find the solutions that will support our present and future generations.

CHILDREN & YOUTH

ICM CONTINUED

Visit www.InternationalChildrensMonth.com today for support, tools and techniques in water, earth, whole being, team building, self love and cooperation, working in community/solutions/love in action,from past platforms and explore our new campaigns and

DONATE AND SUPPORT TODAY https://internationalchildren.world/donate/

opportunities to support your empowerment, inspiration and to join the children’sr/evoltuion.

OFFICIAL SPONSOR OPTIONS WITH PRIMO FEATURES NOW AVAILABLE

Our New Landing Page and Official Feature Guide To June Is Here:

Contact/Questions/Alliance? Email InternationalChildrensMonth@Gmail.com

June 1st www.InternationalChildrensMonth.com/2020 Previous International Children’s Month Platforms 2013 International Children Imagine Peace 2014 International Children Love Water 2015 International Children Love Earth 2016 International Children Love Whole Being 2017 International Children Love To Create & Play GAME ON! 2018 International Children Love Self Love and Cooperation 2019 International Children Love Taking It To The Streets 2020 International Children Love The Miracle

TRENDS.WE.NET | 25

WOMEN

Reshaping We, The World's

Women's Campaign The Women's Campaign has been expanded to include Allies & Families For the month of March, Karen Palmer the Lead

Please visit our partner also at

Coordinator for We, The World: Women, Allies, and

http://www.peaceonearthtour.live to join in the efforts and

Families will be having a celebration with Founder of

land blessings.

We, The World Rick Ulfik and several women Thought Leaders who are partners of WE from all around the

Join AWE Partners (http://www.awepartners.com) for our

world for International Women's Day airing live on

upcoming interview series entitled, “From Wallstreet to

http://www.facebook.com/thewecampaign March 8,

Woo-Woo: How Women are Using their Dollars and“Sense”

2021 3pm pst 6pm est

to Change the World”. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/from-wallstreet-to-woo-

Karen Palmer co-founder of

woo-registration-142926405727

http://www.spiritualitygonewild.com will be discussing and joining in the campaign throughout the month with

The event kicks off March 8th, International Women’s Day,

Live Interviews at

and runs through March 12th. They will be spotlighting

http://www.facebook.com/spiritualitygonewild

individuals who are dedicated to lifting up women and girls at this pivotal time on the planet when so much is breaking

Please visit our partner at

down and the new is yet to be co-created.

http://www.internationalwomensday.org and our partners at

We will focus on #EqualEverywhere which brings together

https://www.womensinformationnetwork.com/

the United Nations Foundation and partners committed to achieving the urgent systemic change that’s needed at all

WE will be featuring many SINE Members who are

levels, in all countries. Their aim is to build, nurture, and

partners of WE. SINE (Synergized Impact Network

mobilize communities of support for girls and women

Exchange) is a global alliance of social innovators

across and between countries, sectors and issues.

committed to large scale behavior change through collaborative learning, innovation, and unprecedented

WE will open lines of communication and dialogue to co-

unified action and Sommer Joy Ramer will share about

create a world that works for all. Please email

Beloved Community and our wonderful MLK Project

karenpalmer@wetheworld.org if you would like to join us in

results. Visit http://www.compassiongames.org and

our efforts to see a world of equality, respect, and dignity for

http://www.sine.network

all living beings.

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WOMEN

We, The World Celebrates

International Women's Day

March 8th

Roundtable Discussion Hosted By Karen Palmer & Rick Ulfik Sacred Conversation Hosted By Aurora Pagonis Featured Hosts Karen Palmer is a mom who made a wish that sparked a kindness revolution. She went from being homeless to being an Internationally known Global Kindness Leader and Educator.

Karen is known as @MindfulMediaMom and Miss Kindness on all social media. Karen is a Spokesperson, Livestream and Social Media Expert for many large organizations. She is a best-selling author and co-produces several popular online talk shows. She is Lead Organizer for Women and Allies Campaign for We, The World. She helps change agents and peacemakers find their voice, and share their message and gifts globally.

Visit www.globalkindnesstv.org to learn more.

Rick Ulfik (Co-Host) is the Founder of We, The World and the WE Campaign at WE.net.

Rick is the Co-Creator of 11 Days of Global Unity - 11 Ways to Change the World with participants including Desmond Tutu, Jane Goodall, Deepak Chopra, Eve Ensler, Bill McKibben and many others.

Aurora Pagonis is the founder of She Speaks which is dedicated to the awakening and embodiment of the feminine intelligent principle. As a transformational coach, facilitator and inspirational speaker Aurora works with global groups of women and delivers Sacred Conversations Gatherings, On-line Transformation programs, retreats and inspirational talks.

Facilitating women to rise into the best version of themselves through self-awareness, feminine intelligence and compassionate leadership practices. Empowering women to express their unique gifts into the world and deliver to their calling and to create a new way of living, loving and leading.

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WOMEN

Featured Speakers Sande Hart- Mother, grandmother, Sister, and President of S.A.R.A.H. She is a disrupter of patterns of domination and patriarchy through wildly creative programs, workshops and events. Sande believes that We Philosophy is the solutions to all issues that disproportionately impact women and girls and through The General Congress of Women, a flagship program of S.A.R.A.H., she is committed to accelerating solutions in order to advance a culture of balance.

SARAH4hope.org

ShaRon Rea, works as an Author, Speaker, Life and Family Coach and owns The Whole Family Coaching. She founded the global movement No Judgment. Just Love.® and created Comfy Couch™ Conversations to inspire us to live together with unconditional allowance for each other.…one courageous action at a time. www,NJJL.world

Marty K. Casey best known as “Dr. Marty”, is the owner of a trauma informed business UnGUN Institute. She is an “ Actrivist” an artist/ activist applying her experience to help people all over the world disarm trauma. Dr. Marty’s motto is “Hurt people hurt people.

HEALED people, HEAL people.” She can be found on all social media outlets or you can visit Unguninstitute.com

Heidi Little M.Ed is a 25 year Social Emotional Learning international Educator and the Director of The Center for Advancement in Social Emotional Learning. An accomplished musical artist and songwriter, CEO/President of Omnipresent Media TV Network, mother and youth advocate with International Childrens Month/World and WE The world. HeidiLittle.com -seladvancement.org - OmniTV.org internationalchildren.world

Reverend Sylvia Sumter has been an ordained Unity Minister for thirty-three years.

She currently serves as the senior minister of Unity of Washington, DC, in the nation’s capital. In addition to that, she is the Founder of “Stand Up For Humanity”, a movement promoting the honoring of all people and creating a world that works for all.

TRENDS.WE.NET | 29

WOMEN

Unleashing the African Potential with Angelina Gabaitse

“Unleashing the African Potential”, created by We, The

The village has a population of approximately 15,000

World’s Botswana Branch Coordinator Angelina

inhabitants. We are targeting at least 30 participants from

Gabaitse, is a human development and community

each age/gender group, making it 120 participants for each

development project in a small village in the Kweneng

cohort. This will also allow us to adhere to COVID-19

district of Botswana. The village is called Mmopane,

protocols and restrictions as guided by health officials.

situated 15kms from Gaborone.

The project will make a positive impact as our approach The project encompasses social and economic

offers support to all members of the community by offering

empowerment programs along with environmental

tailored programs for each group, i.e. offering exclusive

stewardship through story-telling, awareness campaigns

mental health workshops or financial literacy for men,

and educational workshops such as financial literacy

facilitated by men or psycho-social talk groups for

and entrepreneurial skills for children, youth, women

women/survivors of abuse, facilitated by female health

and men. The program will also offer the beneficiaries

workers. This is aimed at encouraging building trust,

the opportunity to do practicals of the skills learnt

heightening intimacy to encourage an open and free mind

through a structured market hub i.e. those interested in

to full participation.

farming will have their fresh produce garden while those interested in jewellery making and weaving will

The tribal leadership had previously sounded alarm and

have their ‘arts & crafts’ corner. The target is to offer a

requested support through the media regarding the besieged

holistic and wholesome approach for the family

social ills that have overtaken the village. We were also

household, “leaving no one behind” and nurturing their

encouraged by one of our team members who has been

skills, dreams and desires to uplift and empower the

victim of the social ills, when she also organised a group of

community.

men and women for a counselling session to understand the root cause.

The project is aimed at curbing the current social ills that the leadership is concerned about, which are

The village chief, member of parliament representative and

generational cycles of poverty, substance abuse,

village development committee have been engaged as

violence and dependence on the government’s poverty

relevant stakeholders and they offered their full support,

eradication schemes.

however the need may arise.

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WOMEN

“PROMOTING WOMEN USING ENGLISH IN RURAL AREAS” WITH DIDIER NSHIMIRIMANA

The WE Change Agent Network has

tool in order to face global leadership

established a new branch in Burundi,

responsibilities. In Burundian society,

lead by Didier Nshimirimana!

women are not empowered or encouraged

The Challenge: Women are not able to communicate using English.

The Plan: Contribute to strengthening the socioeconomic development of rural women and girls by promoting their participation in English language learning clubs.

English is one of the key tools that assist successful careers and great achievements for the current generation.

The current Burundi Constitution states that 40% of leadership should be women, but those positions require English as a

to pursue higher positions and higher goals. Education Watch Burundi aims to empower women by equipping them with basic tools such as English and computer skills.

A short survey was done by Education Watch Burundi in the Southern side of Burundi in Bururi and Makamba, where the English clubs we support are located.

The questionnaire was submitted to young women in high school and University their main priority is to learn how to use a computer which can be used as a tool to attract as many women as possible to learn English.

For more information or to start a WE Change Agent Network in your community, email WECAN@we.net TRENDS.WE.NET | 31

WOMEN

WE WOMEN RESPOND TO

"ARE WE AT A TURNING POINT FOR WOMEN IN POSITIONS OF POWER IN OUR CIVILIZATION?" We speak about power as if it's something granted. When we understand that power is claimed we can operate out of positions of power. Women are life givers. No more powerful position exists. The ability to bring human life forward. Turning point perspective depends on your cultural orientation... perhaps decolonized would be more accurate.

Shannon CrossBear Interdependence Campaign Coordinator

We live in complex times. The symbolism of having a woman VP gives the illusion of progress. However women’s lives have not gotten measurably better. Women’s rights have seemed to disappear from the public discourse.

And women in power seem to obtain their positions based on their collusion with patriarchal systems and toxic behaviors. So my assessment is that women must work to makeup lost ground and progress by developing human centered compassionate systems, that rather than seek power, endeavor to empower.

Kathryn Davis Health Campaign Coordinator & Radio Host heartofmindradio.com

No, we have not reached a turning point. A turning point would imply a significant point in a historical perspective, such as allowing women to vote...and we have not reached that point again. As long as men maintain power in our patriarchal society, women remain victimized.

Jana Larsen Economic Justice Campaign Coordinator & Volunteer Manager

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WOMEN

WE WOMEN CONTINUED

Yes. Women are rising to take their place on the world stage. When I was in high school, the career choices I (thought) I had were teacher, nurse, secretary or housewife. My mother told me I had to go to college so that if something happened to my husband, I'd be prepared for some kind of job.

Things have changed for my daughters, and will change even more for my granddaughters. I believe the human family is learning to value and respect the feminine spirit as a much-needed balance for the dominant masculine. Both wings must be strong for the dove of peace to fly. Let it be this generation ...

Sue Blythe Environment Campaign Coordinator & Climate Collaboratory Project Manager

Yes, I believe we are turning the corner where society is realizing that patriarchal ideologies hurt EVERYONE, not just women. It is a systemic and insidious problem that permeates every culture across the globe and while we still have a long way to go, women are being empowered and emboldened to no longer be quiet and watch the world burn with greed and lust for power that is perpetuated by the distorted masculine energy operating in society. Women are waking up to realize that WE hold the power to bring balance back to the hearts of humanity through love and compassion.

Alana Boyd Resource Development Director & Marketing Specialist

Yes, because it's the first time in our modern history where the abuse of women is far less normalized. And here in the U.S. we are at last seeing representation and inclusion of women, especially women of color, that helps inspire more women to step up and out of the shadows.

Yvette Dubel Freedom Campaign Coordinator & Art Director

TRENDS.WE.NET | 33

WOMEN

WE WOMEN CONTINUED

Absolutely, yes! Just like a beach ball that cannot be held underwater indefinitely, neither will women as leaders. Once the ball holder let’s up, the beach ball naturally reacts. It flies up high into the air and then settles to float on the water in right relationship with its surroundings. We are living in the current times of women in leadership ascending to the highest heights in business, government, world organizations and more, to settle into balance in the equitable relationships of their surroundings to lead with intelligence, fairness and compassion.

ShaRon Rea Unity Campaign Coordinator & Founder of No Judgment. Just Love.® njjl.world

Yes and no. Women have made strides in gaining a "seat at the table" and allies are recognizing the need for balance in the masculine and feminine energy that's imperative for society's systems and structures to heal and thrive in a way that works for ALL! It's now more evident than ever that old patriarchal ideologies no longer work, and many are fighting to keep these ideologies alive.

Angel Fullerton Chief Operating Officer

Yes, I truly feel we are at a turning point for women in positions of power.

I feel we are moving in the direction for our entire planet to know the importance of equality, respect, and dignity for all living beings. I feel women are being recognized and valued for their wisdom and I am honored and humbled to be a woman who uses social media and technology for the greater good, helping to co-create a world that works for all.

Karen Palmer Women's Campaign Coordinator

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WOMEN

HER JUSTICE AND LEGAL PRACTICE IN THE CORONAVIRUS ERA

By Naureen Hossain

The coronavirus pandemic has undeniably

As with other workplaces, Her Justice has adapted

uprooted our lives, especially in the way we

to the pandemic and the disruption it has brought

work and the way we talk to people. A legal

to their regular services. Speaking with Director of

nonprofit that provides legal representation

Law and Policy Hamra Ahmad, Esq., the pandemic

to some of the most vulnerable communities in the city is no exception to the case. Nevertheless, for Her Justice, they have risen to the challenge and have adapted their approaches within the last year to provide their services.

has presented new challenges for the nonprofit’s practices, but it has also highlighted existing concerns with the court system.

Representing clients in court has had to take a backseat since the pandemic forced the courthouses to close in March of last year. This has raised the issue of delays in the filing of petitions

Her Justice provides pro bono legal services to

and orders, as well as the backlog filed prior to the

women in poverty in the five boroughs of New

pandemic.

York City, representing them on matters relating to immigration, family, and divorce law. Since the

Hearings have been conducted virtually. According

nonprofit’s establishment in 1993, they have

to Ahmad, this has been one of the most significant

worked with hundreds of women each year to

changes in how their attorneys conduct their

support them in navigating the legal system,

practice and how their clients have engaged with

whether that is in providing them legal

services. Though the shift from physical hearings

consultations, representation in court, and even

to virtual hearings is a natural step towards

advocating for policy reforms informed by the

adapting to the situation, this brings its own

lived experiences of their clients.

logistical issues.

TRENDS.WE.NET | 35

HERJUSTICE.ORG CONTINUED

WOMEN

Technical difficulties such as stable Wi-Fi

can’t say yes, then we reschedule the meeting,” said

connection or working technology can cause

Ahmad. “It becomes about re-establishing trust

delays or prevent the clients from being present

with our clients, to assure them that we want to

during the hearing at all times.

help them act on their best interests.”

“The pandemic has more than ever highlighted the

The current state of practice and the issues at hand

digital and technological divides,” said Ahmad.

are indicative of existing systemic and structural

Their clients face the challenge of access to

barriers for Her Justice’s clients: accessibility,

adequate technology and information to

discrimination, and an overwhelmed legal system.

participate in legal hearings.

Accurate data and information on the level of Attorneys and clients also face the common issue

engagement from litigants may also come down to

of conducting virtual meetings from home,

reluctance to engage with the systems to begin

eschewing in-person meetings. For the attorneys,

with.

the work has taken much longer to complete because questions of safety and confidentiality

“Because their communities have faced or are at

must be renegotiated within the virtual space,

risk of facing systemic oppression by the

according to Ahmad.

government or the legal system, clients lose trust in the system and are less likely to come forward,”

Due to reduced contact between the attorneys and

said Ahmad.

clients, the regular practice of conducting meetings and court hearings does not work in virtual spaces

It is here where Her Justice and other such

when both parties only see limited perspectives.

nonprofits step in to support this demographic in

This has had the inadvertent effect of slowing

navigating the legal system within their best

down the process of building rapport and trust

interests.

needed from clients, many of whom are women of color or undocumented immigrants, of

The changes in practice are undeniable, but they

communities that have routinely faced systemic

have also brought on an opportunity for Her

barriers to their rights and are not granted the

Justice to reflect on its current methods of working

same level of protections from the state.

with clients and other stakeholders. Ahmad has suggested there is room to consider implementing

There is also the added risk of discussing

other measures to meet with clients to make it

potentially triggering or traumatic details within

easier for them. As 2021 rolls on, Ahmad is hopeful

proximity of children or partners, and for

about potential solutions and initiatives that will

attorneys to find a way to speak with clients alone.

“When we’re in a meeting [with a client], we ask them ‘are you alone, or in a space where you feel safe? Can you go there?’ If for any reason, they

36 | TRENDS.WE.NET

Are you alone, or in a space where you feel safe?

HERJUSTICE.ORG CONTINUED

WOMEN

improve their engagement with current and future clients.

Some of these solutions would improve the access of information to clients, such as including translations of relevant information about legal proceedings on their website, or providing materials to ensure a streamlined process for litigants to file for orders.

Internal improvements have also provided the scope for the Her Justice legal team to virtually train their volunteer, pro bono attorneys from firms across New York City. This enhancement to their training model will likely remain a permanent fixture of their training in an effort to reach more volunteer lawyers.

As for their work in policy, in addition to continuing with their current policy reform platforms in immigration and family law, there is an upcoming policy report on child support, slated to be released in March. The report is based on the organization’s findings of the challenges their litigants face in navigating family court.

It goes without saying that Her Justice provides a crucial service to women in need. Women who struggle with psychological, relational and financial challenges which are only exacerbated with the involvement of the courts. The resilience and adaptability of these women and the people working at Her Justice demonstrate the necessity to adapt to the changing times, even in the face of a health crisis that has seeped into the global consciousness. Other issues do not cease to be, and the risk they present remain ever present.

TRENDS.WE.NET | 37

WOMEN

WOMEN, WATER, AND THE WORLD

BY SHANNON CROSSBEAR

From the time I was young the elder women; my wisdom keepers, grannies, and granny aunties, gave us teaching and instruction about the water. We, as women, were and are the water carriers, the protectors of the water, the medicine keepers. We carry water both internally and externally in our lives. Water is a close relative because it has a cycle, and that cycle is dictated by the moon and the twenty-eight sunrise and sun set cycle we as women have too. We were taught that water is the first medicine, and it is to be loved, thanked, respected.

As I got a little older there was more and more talk about the water. The water was getting sick is how the elders would say it. The older women would warn of the time when there would be water wars and the time that water would be like gold. Water would be like gold. Now water is on the commodities market. Now, across the world, we have conflicts surrounding water.

38 | TRENDS.WE.NET

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

WOMEN, WATER, WORLD CONTINUED

WOMEN

The sources of those water conflicts have the

It may seem a monumental effort to think of what

multilayered effect on our human experience. Our

needs to be done to reclaim the health of the

health, our physical being, our lives, depend on

waters for our planet and ourselves. My invitation

water. Those that have experienced going without

is to start where you are. It can be a simple as

water for any length of time can attest to its

looking at what organized efforts are out there.

importance. The health of the water is our health.

Learning about the United Nations Sustainable

Whether internal, with meeting our hydration

Development Goals (sdgs.un.org/goals). Join work

needs, or external, with our need for hand washing

being done by the WE the World Climate

and sterilization, without water we will perish.

Collaboratory. (climatecollaboratory.org)

Our brains are water, around eighty percent by

Water is the great connector. It is the linkage to all

content. It is essential for the proper functioning of

life on the planet. Find your place in the link as we

all actions of the brain and central nervous system.

heal the sacred waters and in so doing the hoop of

As a species that prides itself on its cognitive

humanity.

ability, one would “think” we would understand that water is such a great conductor, be it electricity or poisons, that we would see it as imperative to keep clean.

Earlier in the beginning of this century the grannies and granny Aunties called to say the time had come to protect the waters. They shared that the poisoning of the waters of the earth, the disease within earths bloodline, was critical. It was the indigenous grandmothers here on turtle island that began by walking around the great lakes, carrying the water around the shores, joined by others, then there were the women who walked the rivers, other lakes, ocean, or seas. We all became stewards of the shores. We organized, to do together, what we could not do alone. Finding our voice at pipeline protests and economic development tables, and in school rooms and court rooms we continue to find ways to carry the water, to protect the first medicine, life on this planet.

Enjoy Storytime in the Story Wagon with Grandmother Shannon CrossBear facebook.com/shannon.crossbear TRENDS.WE.NET | 39

WOMEN

GLOBAL WOMEN'S WATER INITIATIVE GLOBALWOMENSWATER.ORG

March is one of our favorite months of the year! Why? Because it's Women's History Month, March 8 is International Women's Day, and March 22, is World Water Day! In celebration of this marvelous month, on March 1, we are inviting you all to share the #womenmakingwaves in your life! Over the month, we will be sharing some of the most ripple-y women we are inspired by, and hope you will share your stories too!

We believe that women embody some of the most powerful qualities of water. Water (and women) are relentless and shapes the landscape! When water (and women) hit an obstacle they finds a better path.

We want to know which women in your life have demonstrated these powerful qualities!

40 | TRENDS.WE.NET

GWWI CONTINUED

WOMEN

Who has shaped you?

Who has been relentlessly supportive?

Who has helped you find your path?

Please follow us to share your stories starting March 1!

Twitter @womenwater Facebook, /womenwater Instagram @globalwomenswater As we raise awareness of the water burdens that women face, we will be celebrating the incredible work of our women trainees and graduates bringing sustainable WASH solutions to their communities and are working at the frontlines of Covid to ensure that people have the tools, knowledge and skills to reduce the risk of Covid and water-related disease!

Carrying a jerrican of water (5 gallons) on their head shoulders and backs is one of the heaviest burdens (literally)!

One jerrican of water weighs 41.64 lbs! We will be trying to raise $4164 from now until World Water Day - March 22 to support our women to bring health, wealth and h2ope to their communities! Help us spread the word and challenge your friends to highlight the women in their lives who have shaped them, been relentlessly supportive and helped find their paths!

Thank you all for your relentless support over the years! Our ripples have turned into powerful waves because of you! And thank you for taking our #womenmakingwaves Challenge!

TRENDS.WE.NET | 41

HUMAN RIGHTS

M.A.S.K. RETHINKING COMMUNITY

BY CALLUM CINTRON

The Human Rights Campaign is excited to announce the creation of a new program, M.A.S.K. Rethinking Community. M.A.S.K has four goals: mentorship, affirmation, scholarship and knowledge. The goal is to provide support to community members to remove the masks society has forced them to wear in order to fit in and prosper in society. No longer letting society force them to conform to cisgender, heterosexual, white norms; to no longer be silenced. M.A.S.K.'s three programs strive to give community members access to equal financial, material and emotional support that they have been denied for hundreds of years. We foster education through our communities and partner with allies to come together to fight injustice.

Mentorship. Affirmation. Scholarship. Knowledge.

42 | TRENDS.WE.NET

MASK CONTINUED

HUMAN RIGHTS

Our mentorship program will look to

This program is ambitious, but WE

pair members of these communities

have faith in it. To allow our services to

together to have a mentor to guide the

be available as soon as possible, we will

mentee through transitional periods in

be releasing all program related

life. Affirmation of one’s identity is a

materials in phases. This will start with

challenge these three communities face

the release of our website

daily. Our affirmation program looks

(rethinkingcommunity.com) and blog

to deliver identity affirming products,

to the public within the next few

such as gender affirming clothing and

months. Behind the scenes a group of

disability aids, free of charge. Although

amazing volunteers have started

there are numerous scholarship

researching these three communities,

programs for these communities, there

preparing to conduct focus groups,

can never be enough. Through

creating fundraising plans and working

fundraising and donations we hope to

on community engagement. Input

be able to offer scholarships for

from the three communities on their

hardship, university, innovation grants,

needs, and how this program can

surgeries and more. Lastly, the

benefit them, is of utmost importance

knowledge aspect of the program is a

to us. If you would like to give

combination of events and resources

suggestions, input or have questions

that will help the community members

about the program in email us or direct

and allies come together to better the

message us on social media.

world.

Email: info@rethinkingcommunity.com Twitter: @RethinkingComm Instagram and Facebook: @rethinkingcommunity Donations: we.we.net/donations/human-rights/ TRENDS.WE.NET | 43

FREEDOM

ARE YOU THE KEY TO MY HOPE?

by Yvette Dubel

While doing the work of advancing a culture of We, it can be a challenge to remain optimistic. Undoubtedly many of us have felt this way or maybe even expressed it out loud before. What has been unusually difficult this time around, for me, is that this project has come as an answer to the many, many declarations of allyship in response to the black lives matter movement.

Once the protesting subsided BLM allies again and again were asking "what next?" and "what now?"

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Overcoming our no doubt inspiring history, I ventured to trust the question was sincere and created this solution.

After having shared in several group sessions, and discussed in interviews how this solution empowers the beneficiaries of systemic and institutional racism to address its reason for existing, it's hard not to be disappointed by the lack of actual support for the project. I think what has been most hurtful has been the seeming unwillingness of those in spiritual communities to look deeply at how their understanding and quest for success requires perpetuation of (aspects of) systemic racism. Those who are benefiting most are the only hope for dismantling for transforming it. But until enough of those folks have the courage to look at this and remove the poison of racism from their system, it remains in Our Systems. This remains a persistent obstacle to cultivating a true WE Culture and We have to face it, even if the community decides to accept inaction or inadequate action.

What does it mean that even after explaining step by step, so few have been willing to really do what is required to cure racism? The Empowered Innovation System is based on 7 principles.

KEY TO HOPE CONTINUED

FREEDOM

What are the 7 principles I want to emphasize?

EMPOWERED INNOVATION PRINCIPLE #3 - Your choices express what you are (really) saying not your words.

And so all the words of support and invitations to speak about this doesn't signify the change I hoped it did ( at least not yet). My greatest fear is that it won't amount to much more than more of the same talk without substance. This challenges my instincts to look for the brightside. But because there is so much at stake, I can't give up. I was inspired to launch this project in meditation overcoming all my personal doubts to answer this call.

Like that seed destined to become a tree, I am compelled to escape the darkness beneath the surface so that I can grow.

In that spirit I have written a companion book to the "A Cure for Racism" webinar. The book takes another step towards making the subject accessible and gives actionable guidance (like the webinar) with an updated playbook for being the change.

Supporters of the webinar fundraiser will get a coupon code for special deep discount (more than 50%) off the book price.

Will anything I do make a difference?

Yvette Duel has been called your go to person for the perfect blend of creativity, insight and ability to connect.

Yvette Dubel is a speaker, artistresearcher, and personal innovation mentor, founder CEO of WebAntiphon Group, author of "Why Brand Risk Management Innovation is a Game Changer", and creator of the Empowered Innovation System[CFAaP]. She serves conscious leaders looking for outside box thinking with vision and wisdom to drive triple bottom line success (profit, people, planet). For more than two decades Yvette has built a reputation as a big picture thinker and social innovator that knows how to drive short term goals without letting what matters most fall by the wayside. Dubel is also ArtistResearcher in Residence Coordinating the We, the World Freedom Campaign and Founding Director of the [We] Freedom Film Fest. As part of this collaboration on MLK Day 2021 she launched " a cure for racism" project powered by the Empowered Innovation System[CFAaP]. Next week her book “A Cure For Racism” will be added as a bonus for donors to this project campaign.

EmpoweredInnovation.org

That's something YOU get to decide.

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FREEDOM

MYTH OF LOST CAUSE CONTINUED

THE MYTH OF THE "LOST CAUSE" WHY FACT-BASED MEDIA IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST IS SO IMPORTANT NOW

By Rick Ulfik, Founder of We, The World at WE.net

For decades I have said that the messages of the Media become the fabric of our culture. Now I fear this shared fabric has been torn and may be unraveling.

We are witnessing the weakening, and possible fracturing, of Freedom and Democracy in the United States - and elsewhere - as large numbers of people are putting their trust in Media that have monetary, political, ideological, religious, spiritual or other reasons to falsify information, promote hate speech, engage in sensationalism and advocate violence.

On January 11th I heard an episode of On The Media - the Myth of the Lost Cause which did a deep dive into why supporters of the Big Lie (that Democrats stole the 2020 election) are invoking the "Lost Cause" myth of the Southern Confederacy. My understanding is that the original myth of the "Lost Cause" was that the Civil War was about the Northern States imposing their will on the Southern States, denying them their "States' Rights" to secede, etc rather than it being about slavery.

Many are concerned that with over 50 million people believing that Joe Biden and the Democrats stole the election and pushed through the final counting of the Electors, and with as many as 45% of Republicans supporting the storming of the Capitol Building on January 6th, that this will become a New "Lost Cause" Myth which could last for years and decades like the original civil war myth (that has lasted to this day).

It is not just the creation of this new myth that concerns me. Disinformation campaigns about the pandemic have already led to the

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unnecessary loss of hundreds of thousands of lives to COVID-19. And there are many "smaller" lies about Immigrants, Climate Change, etc that distort our culture, our shared reality, and result in lives lost.

Taken together, some people fear we are entering a new "Post-Truth Era" where such distortions are largely considered "Free Speech" and continue to be disseminated through many Major Media platforms and outlets as well as the giant Social Media Monopolies.

What can we do? I would like to see a Major Mobilization for Media Literacy and Media Transformation. Here are some potential general goals of such a mobilization: Do extensive Consciousness Raising about the importance of Media Literacy - the ability to critically evaluate and understand the many kinds of media; why a particular example of media was made; whether it is news, advertising, propaganda, or entertainment; who made it; and who benefits from it.

Protest or boycott major media companies that knowingly falsify news and other critical public information for monetary, political, ideological, sensational or other reasons Take back Public control of the Airwaves: (including internet). Reverse the "Great Digital Giveaway" that took place under the Clinton Administration in 1996 that gave private licenses to Major Media companies without strong public interest obligations that we could now call for, such as: Create a 21st century version of the Fairness Doctrine Figure out how to institute safeguards that preserve Free Speech and also protect against hate speech and falsifying

FREEDOM

information that can affect public health and safety, etc Hold media accountable for hate speech and calls for violence on their platforms that actually result in violence. This is similar to the idea of holding gun manufacturers liable when their product is used to cause casualties and death, etc.

Support existing News Media in the Public Interest which are often non-profit, listener or reader-sponsored, and do not take political or corporate advertising. Examples of not-forprofit fact-based news and information sources that regularly illuminate the most significant issues include: Democracy Now!, The Brian Lehrer Show, Economic Update,

and On The Media. And of course We, The World's Welcome To WE Show and this Trends Magazine are other examples.

Simultaneously, We, The World, with our many allies and partners, will continue our work to create a "cultural shift" that fosters public acceptance of diversity and connection - "WE Consciousness" - understanding that our collective well being depends on the well being of each and every member of our society.

Thank you for your support of Public Interest Media so we can collectively begin to repair our tattered and torn social fabric.

Independent Non-Commercial News Media in the Public Interest Freedom and Democracy depend on reliable, fact based Media that do not count on revenue from commercial advertisers or owners whose profit motive could affect what issues are covered, who is investigated and how the stories are presented. While you may not agree with points of view expressed by particular guests on the following media outlets, I have found these shows to offer comprehensive news and analysis, and hard-hitting investigative journalism, without misleading "Alt-Facts", "Fake News", personal attack rants and generalizations that distract and discourage so many people on the web these days. Here is a brief sampling of some of my personal favorites:

fair.org democracynow.org

backgroundbriefing.org

TRENDS.WE.NET | 47

DISARMAMENT

IT IS 100 SECONDS TO MIDNIGHT thebulletin.org

The Challenge In a recent statement released by the Science and Security Board on the 2021 time of the Doomsday Clock: Human beings can manage the dangers posed by modern technology, even in times of crisis. But if humanity is to avoid an existential catastrophe—one that would dwarf anything it has yet seen—national leaders must do a far better job of countering disinformation, heeding science, and cooperating to diminish global risks.

Download the 2021 Doomsday Clock Statement https://thebulletin.org/doomsday-clock/current-time/

change agents addressing the challenge

http://pnnd.org/event/inter-generational-eventgender-peace-and-nuclear-disarmament

http://www.abolition2000.org/event/world-futureday-launch-of-youth-fusion-elders/ 48 | TRENDS.WE.NET

UNFOLD ZERO, Youth Fusion and Parliamentarians for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament (PNND) cordially invite you to join an intergenerational dialogue on March 8 highlighting the roles of women in the peace, disarmament and security fields, and the importance of including gender approaches to these issues in order to build more effective and sustainable security for all.

http://www.abolition2000.org

PEACE

Check out all the events and replays at we.net/mlk TRENDS.WE.NET | 49

PEACE

A LOOK BACK AT WE, THE WORLD'S

MLK MANIFESTING THE DREAM EVENT WE.NET/MLK

Compassion Games Presents

MLK Weekend of Service: Building Beloved Community Convergence compassiongames.org/MLKconvergence

It Matters was relaunched for the MLK 40 Days of Peace Celebration 2021.

Each episode features a short guest chat about stepping up into who we really want to be to move closer to the better life and better world we want. Learn how guests found the courage to see challenging truths about themselves and then did something about it. Together we learn what it takes to "be the change" more of the time...and we explore the way that reality works and feels.Join us to explore and help shape a better world that works for ALL.

https://anchor.fm/it-matters/

Music: "Please Listen Carefully" by Jahzzar is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Learn how to volunteer in the LGBTQ+, BIPOC and disabled communities.

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PEACE

WHO WAS MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.?

By Samuel Elliot

Martin Luther King Jr. was truly a radical of his time, as a leader of the civil rights movement, which he catapulted to national attention. King fought for things that seemed out-of-touch for the reality at that time, which makes him such a notable figure. Just about a decade before his famous "I Have A Dream" speech, Martin Luther King Jr. was just starting to tour the South giving sermons at black churches talking about the radical change he was hoping to bring to the community. These rumors of the social upheaval of the day were quiet but radical, and that is what he was looking to do; make a radical movement that would change the structure of Black America forever. In 1954, King was elected to the Montgomery Improvement Association as the

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MLK CONTINUED

PEACE

president and became the leader of the

These battles usually take decades,

movement against the city that put Rosa

which makes what King did so

Parks in jail for refusing to give her seat

extraordinary. He may have been at the

to a white man. It focused on ending the

tail-end of a battle for the Civil Rights

segregated buses that forced black

Movement, but the speed and publicity

people to stand up to give their seats to

he gained for the movement was what

white people, which never happened

made him so important for the cause.

before. His continuous stride for the

He made this movement successful, a

equality of all people in America was

battle that had ideas that were

seen as radical on its own too. This type

unimaginable for the time, making this

of revolution, lasting from the mid-

fight a radical protest ending in black

fifties to the sixties, had not happened

people gaining the right to equality.

on this scale in all of America's history.

Besides the fact that King completely The NAACP held a successful anti-

changed the whole movement from a

lynching campaign in the '30s that

thirty-year fight by the NAACP to a

fought to advertise the costs of lynching

national movement that included a

along with kicking out senators that

massive march in Washington and small

supported the nomination of pro-

protests around the country. Of course,

lynching John J. Parker for the Supreme

there were efforts for civil rights before

Court. This added to the measures they

King came along, but there is a huge

passed that brought lynching to a

difference between him and the other

historic low. There was the case of

ideas the NAACP took on. The NAACP

Brown vs The Board of Education,

took the method of challenging things

which was a case sent to the Supreme

through the government process and

Court arguing that schools should be

taking cases up to the Supreme Court,

desegregated. However, what is less

which usually took much longer and

known is that the battle for

cost much more time making sure that

desegregating schools was a thirty-year

everything was set for them to be

fight fought by the NAACP that then

successful. In contrast, King focused on

culminated in the Supreme Court case.

influencing public sentiment. He chose

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MLK CONTINUED

PEACE

to work on rallying a large group of

King saw that capitalism greatly

Americans to support the movement

disadvantaged black people to the

before bringing it to the federal level,

benefit of whites. He truly believed that

which he believed would make it easier

the system in place for America made

for it to pass. He took inspiration from

black people, as well as all

Gandhi's massive protests in India,

disadvantaged people, the losers for the

which won the territory the right to

American economy; and he wanted to

become a country instead of staying

change. It is argued by many that if

under the oppressive power of Britain.

King was not assssinated, he would have

He staged protests in a movement that

fought for even more of his radical

seemed like a long shot before he

ideas. In addition, King had many

organized the system that would

unconventional ideas that made him so

combat Great Britain and win

radical. He was fighting for the equality

independence with peace. Both of these

of a group of people that had been at

men had come into movements that

the bottom of every social and

were slow and not as effective before

economic pyramid in the United States,

they came along and brought these

something unimaginable to most blacks

ideas to the forefront of the public.

and whites in those days. He staged

They created successful movements

mass protests around the country that

fighting for radical change.

would bring with it huge police activity, along with smaller protests that would

However, MLK was radical for other

shake up "white-only" communities in

reasons as well. When legislation came

small towns. This brought havoc to

before the U.S. Senate in 1983 to

those communities, bringing the Civil

commemorate King’s birthday as a

Rights Movement to the forefront to

holiday, there were twenty-two votes

the minds of almost every American.

against it and resistance from then President Reagan. They saw his fight as

MLK knew what he was doing by

an "Action-Oriented Marxism" that

inciting all these events, bringing his

resulted in race riots across many cities

movement that would destroy the

in the nation. This was in part true, for

American tradition of exploiting black TRENDS.WE.NET | 53

MLK CONTINUED

PEACE

people forever. This was radical back in

Vietnam War criticized how America

the 1960s as well as today; it's like

was enforcing war at a time he was

completely changing the structure of a

fighting for peace while being called a

social and economic class in the

communist. He was a very

country. There was still a significant

controversial figure at the time, with

amount of anger over the Civil Rights

about two-thirds of Americans having a

Act among white people, as there is

negative opinion of him.

anger over Black Lives Matter and other hot-topic issues of this era that

Overall, MLK was one of the most

involve race. America is a racist

influential people in American history

country, making the Civil Rights era

and will stay forever in the history

and MLK some of the most radical

books. However, there is a lot that has

American objects of our history.

not been observed by the American curriculum on King; the fact that his

There is also significant whitewashing

approach to the Civil Rights Movement

of his words that hide how he was

was so radical and different that it

much more of a radical than believed

actually worked. He incited protests

by the public. People in the 21st century

across the country and criticized

know King mostly for his "I Have A

America and capitalism. He was truly

Dream" speech, but some of his most notable speeches are known to very few. He was a passionate man who had views on issues that were truly prevalent for him. His speech at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference criticized capitalism and spoke about the evils that it brought upon African Americans, and his speech in New York over the

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radical, and that should never be forgotten.

Sources nationalhumanitiescenter.org/tserve/freedom/1917beyon d/essays/crm.htm thekinglegacy.org/content/king-years theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/21/martinluther-king-jr-day-legacy-radical progressivesoutherntheologians.com/news/2019/4/7/mlk -and-marxism africanexponent.com/post/6804-6-radical-quotes-frommartin-luther-king-jr