Democracy depends on the time, energy, and engagement of ordinary people. But it remains quite difficult to motivate average citizens even to vote, much less to engage in the more intensive forms of political activism needed to counteract powerful forces that work against rule by the people. Despite the struggles inherent in political activism, does being politically active brings its own rewards in terms of happiness and life satisfaction? Such a relationship seemed plausible to us, given past studies illustrating the well-being benefits of volunteering and of having pro-social attitudes and values.

Source: t r u t h o u t by Evelyn Pringle December 12, 2009 Prescriptions for psychiatric drugs increased 50 percent with children in the US, and 73 percent among adults, from 1996 to 2006, according to a study in the May/June 2009 issue of the journal Health Affairs. Another study in the same issue of Health [...]

by Robert C. Koehler October 29, 2009 “What is seen with one eye has no depth.” I’m thinking, as I ponder the wisdom of Ursula LeGuin, that American culture is at the end of what it can accomplish with its single-eyed vision. For all our material progress, for all our ability to dominate just about anything or anyone [...]

por Julio Godoy PARÍS, 16 oct (IPS) – Una ola de suicidios en Francia y otros países europeos plantea fuerte interrogantes sobre las precarias condiciones laborales impuestas por modelos gerenciales autoritarios, en los que sólo se tiene en cuenta los resultados. Los suicidios coinciden con las conclusiones de la Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT) en cuanto a [...]

by Philippe Brochen October 7, 2009 What’s a decent job? Liberation.fr posed that question to participants in a Paris demonstration last Wednesday that took place near the headquarters of the Medef – the French employers’ association. Between 3,000 and 6,000 people assembled last Wednesday afternoon near the Medef headquarters on Avenue Bosquet in Paris (VIIe) in the framework [...]

This is the first of two articles that examine the history of the Bush-era interrogation program. 2 US Architects of Harsh Tactics in 9/11’s Wake