All Perspectives
From the EditorsNurturing the vast web of natureIt's taken centuries for humans to begin to understand the true complexities聽of the nature around us. Now that modern ecologists are treating forests as dynamic ecosystems, healthy restoration can flourish.
From the EditorsMeeting addiction with compassionIt can be tempting to despair at the seeming intractability of drug problems worldwide. What doesn't make the news nearly enough are everyday examples of individuals freeing themselves from addiction.
Points of ProgressWhere texts and lots of photos are critical data for farmers and residentsProgress roundup: Southern California addresses industrial boilers as source of pollution; chocolate gets a makeover using more of the cacao pod.
Points of ProgressHarnessing power to combat climate change 鈥� underground and in the courtsProgress roundup: In Switzerland, a court ruled that older women were not protected against climate change.聽In Africa, smoking cessation is on track.
Difference MakerPoland has united to cut back on coal. This activist led the way.Anna Dworakowska helped create Polish Smog Alert, a national movement that has pushed through groundbreaking initiatives for cleaner air and has shifted thinking in one of Europe鈥檚 most coal-dependent countries.
From the EditorsWhat this moment is asking of AmericaThe attempt to assassinate Donald Trump leaves no doubt that the United States is standing on a precipice. In the face of transformational change, will love win out?
Points of ProgressLegislating compassion: From bullfighting bans to domestic violence protectionsProgress roundup: Same-sex marriage, domestic violence protections, and a ban on bullfighting become laws in Liechtenstein, Kazakhstan, Colombia.
From the EditorsAmerica鈥檚 political crisis and the war in Gaza are more intertwined than you might thinkThe Donald Trump assassination attempt shows how U.S. polarization is moving toward dehumanization. The war in Gaza shows where that leads.聽 聽聽
Points of ProgressSafer skies and seas: Fresh support for disabled travelers and climate-changed oceansProgress roundup: An international tribunal links ocean health to climate change. In the U.S., new laws address the well-being of disabled travelers.
From the EditorsMusic that bridges generationsAmerican folk music is a kind of oral storytelling that dates back long before even the printing press. It is a vehicle to transmit culture from one generation to the next.
Points of ProgressThe pleasure of whale songs, and more playgrounds for allProgress roundup: More whale sounds in the Southern Ocean may indicate species recovery. Playgrounds designed for all ages spread the pleasure.聽
From the EditorsSeeking common sense on immigrationResearch suggests that the long-term benefits of immigration are overwhelmingly positive. If the real issue is cultural, the question becomes how to build an effective and humane migration system.
Readers RespondReaders write: How America can learn to trust elections againLetters to the editor from the June 24 issue of the weekly magazine. Readers discussed trust in federal elections, media depictions of Russia, and the Monitor鈥檚 photography.
Readers RespondReaders write: Are we desensitized to the war in Gaza?Letters to the editor for the April 22 & 29 issue of the weekly magazine. Readers discussed the war in Gaza, political evangelicalism, and Portugal鈥檚 pull for expats.聽
Difference MakerUsing scrap metal and imagination, this contractor builds lifelines in TunisiaKarim Arfa鈥檚 work serves to assure those who have long felt abandoned by their national and local governments that regular people can come up with solutions to entrenched problems.聽
From the EditorsYoung, hip, and conservative: A different slant on New YorkIn New York's bohemian haunts, a movement of new conservatives is growing in reaction to what they see as liberal dominance in art and culture. Their work reflects a nation in flux.
Points of ProgressFrom museums to monasteries, saving art amid climate changeProgress roundup: Museums use less air-conditioning, monasteries are being cared for by local conservators, and the 鈥淵osemite of South America鈥� is sold to conservationists.聽
Difference MakerDeaf students in Nigeria boost their coding skills 鈥� and their self-esteemA Nigerian nonprofit trains children and young adults who are deaf in computer programming and robotics.聽
From the EditorsA front-row seat to historyReporting on the war in Ukraine can be grim and dangerous work. For this Monitor conflict reporter, the job is both a responsibility and a privilege.
From the EditorsDo you believe in science?The question has become something of a litmus test for partisanship.聽But one notable group shies away from the question entirely: scientists.
