Tag: Civic Engagement
-
Five practical ways to get closer to your community
Introduction Building a sense of belonging doesn’t have to be complicated. NPR’s Life Kit offers guidance on everyday steps you can take to strengthen your connections with the people around you. Whether you’re new to a neighborhood or looking to deepen roots, these five practical approaches help you build a supportive, resilient community. 1) Volunteer…
-
Indonesia’s Pilkada and Democracy’s Last Line of Defence: A Critical Moment for Regional Elections
Introduction: A Contested Moment for Pilkada In late December 2025, four government coalition parties—Gerindra, Golkar, PKB, and PAN—announced a coordinated move that reshaped the political landscape in Indonesia. Without prior public debate, the chairs of these parties signaled a shift in how regional elections (Pilkada) would be approached, raising questions about the balance between executive…
-
Nicki Minaj to Join Donald Trump at Presidential Summit: Paying It Forward
Overview: A Controversial pairing at a landmark summit The news that Grammy-nominated artist Nicki Minaj will reportedly appear alongside former President Donald Trump at an upcoming presidential summit has sparked a wave of reactions across social and traditional media. Promoted as a ceremony to celebrate the launch of a program called “Trump Accounts,” the event…
-
Seeking Citizenship in the Face of Hurdles and Fear: Immigrants Persist
Introduction: A Quiet Pursuit of Citizenship Across the United States, people who built lives here are pursuing one clear goal despite long odds: becoming citizens. They carry stories of struggle, delay, and fear, yet they press forward, driven by the promise of full participation in American life. The NPR account of immigrants navigating the naturalization…
-
Namibia’s War Veterans Deserve Respect and Recognition
The Legacy of Namibia’s Liberation War Namibia’s liberation struggle did not end with a signature on a peace accord but with the enduring courage of countless men and women who fought for freedom. The veterans who survived the conflict carry memories of hardship, perseverance, and a shared hope for a nation that could define its…
-
Vijana Platform: Tanzania’s Youth Lead the Nation’s Next Chapter
Introduction: A Bold Move to Elevate Tanzania’s Youth Across Tanzania, a new energy is stirring. The Vijana Platform is being positioned as a national catalyst that channels the creativity, ambition, and resilience of young people into tangible development outcomes. By integrating education, entrepreneurship, digital skills, and civic participation, the program aims to widen access to…
-
Democracy Forward Marks Record Litigation Wins on Anniversary of Trump’s Second Inauguration and Signals Path Forward Against Autocracy
Anniversary Frame: Courts as a Check on Executive Power As the nation marks the anniversary of Donald Trump’s second inauguration, Democracy Forward released an analysis highlighting a string of court victories that have served as a crucial check on executive power. The report argues that the judiciary has acted as a pivotal guardrail against the…
-
Appeal to the UN, EU, and the US: Democracy’s Imperfections, Global Responsibilities, and a Path Forward
Introduction: Democracy’s Enduring Value and Its Real-World Shortcomings Winston Churchill’s famous assertion that democracy, with all its imperfections, remains the best available system of governance has long shaped global debates about political legitimacy and human rights. On this point, several decades later, actors around the world—members of the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU),…
-
Living Under a Local Council You Can’t Dismiss: Voices & Votes
Living Under a Local Council You Can’t Dismiss: What It Really Means For many residents, a local council feels distant—an institution that quietly handles street cleaning, planning rules, and housing allocations. When you realize you can’t simply “get rid” of a council you dislike, it can be both disheartening and oddly comforting. Disheartening, because governance…
-
What it’s like to live under a council you can’t get rid of
Understanding the dynamic of local power Cities and towns rely on councils to set budgets, steer services, and respond to residents’ needs. When citizens feel they can’t remove their governing body, the dynamic shifts from ongoing engagement to daily endurance. This isn’t a hypothetical problem for many communities; it manifests as frustration, skepticism, and a…