海角大神

As its economy and government collapse, Lebanon has become almost unrecognizable to its own people. Now, they are rallying around each other to provide for their most basic needs.

What strengthens a democracy? In an interview, 鈥渢he Johnny Appleseed of mail-in ballots鈥� talks about how much participation matters 鈥� even if it means an election outcome that you don鈥檛 agree with.聽

An unlikely challenger to the 鈥渋lliberal democracy鈥� of Hungary鈥檚 prime minister is leaning in on a quality that bolstered Hungarians when they challenged Soviet rule 65 years ago: unity.

Veronica Robles wants to share Mexican folk arts with as broad an audience as possible. But the heart of her work, she says, is bearing witness to the power of the arts to instill love, support, and care for one another.聽

As climate urgency mounts, optimism about the future can be hard to muster. But for Jane Goodall, hope is more than a balm; it鈥檚 what 鈥渆nables us to keep going in the face of adversity.鈥�

During his two years as Sudan鈥檚 civilian leader, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok often justified reforms as 鈥減reserving鈥� the dignity聽of the people. The inherent worth of women, for example, gave them rights and freedoms over their types of clothing in a largely Muslim country.

On Oct. 25, the British-trained economist expressed a similar dignity after the military took full power and put him under house arrest. The generals asked him to issue a statement in support of the coup. He refused.

Mr. Hamdok鈥檚 act of integrity might now help bolster the protesters who have taken to the streets to save their democratic revolution of 2019. They are again in a battle with autocratic generals who believe dignity is something granted from outside rather than an innate quality of each individual.

One of Sudan鈥檚 main pro-democratic groups, the Sudanese Professionals Association, has long advised protesters to 鈥減rotect the ... remaining dignity鈥� of each person by acting with peaceful courage. The demonstrations will again be challenged by coup leaders who rely on guns to rule.

The 2019 revolution was successful in part because of the integrity of protesters. Their mental freedom and embrace of equality in Sudan鈥檚 diverse society helped lead to the downfall of dictator Omar al-Bashir and the creation of a temporary sharing of power between the military and civilians. As the deadline neared in November for the military to hand over power, the generals panicked and led a coup.

Yet their attempt to roll back Sudan鈥檚 progress will be difficult. 鈥淛ustice and accountability are a solid foundation of the new, rule of law-based Sudan we鈥檙e striving to build,鈥� said Mr. Hamdok soon after taking office two years ago.

That 鈥渟triving鈥� has lost some ground with the coup. But Sudan鈥檚 45 million people, now far more aware of acting out of dignity rather than pleading for it, may refuse to go along with the military, much like Mr. Hamdok did.