December 2002
Issue No. 352
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Introducing alternative visions from around the world.

If the clothes fit, wear them
Argentine workers are taking on corporate closures - and winning. Ivan Briscoe talks with the workers.

How children saved the river
‘Economy first’ is out. ‘Ecology first’ is in. Ma Guihua tracks the turn-about in the Chinese city of Chengdu.

Brave steps towards peace
Dylan Matthews and Jason McLeod profile three peace activists putting their lives on the line.

Islands of Hope and Hydrogen
A world powered by hydrogen is unfolding, writes Seth Dunn.

Internationalist News
What a newspaper spreading good news looks like.

Sisters are tapping it for themselves
Women’s climb towards parliamentary policy-making can start at a local level, as Raphael Tenthani discovers in Malawi.

Daring democracy
Giving power to the people has helped politicians in Brazil to win elections. Rebecca Abers reports.

Profit from principle
Kenyan forest endangered by local people has been saved... by butterflies. Katy Salmon flies in to find out why.

What makes the stars shine?
The United Nations’ Nicholas You reflects on what it takes to change the world.

An activist's guide to Pitching a Good News story
Tips for activists wanting press coverage for their projects AND a special offer for readers of the NI.

News, views, and & voices

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from
THIS MONTH'S EDITOR

HOPE can be a powerful tool for change. Surprising then that after 20 years of activism, I only made this discovery in March this year. It was at the Brisbane Social Forum in Australia. On a hot Saturday morning all colours and voices within the political Left gathered under the trees and put aside their differences to explore their common ground. Sitting in a circle, 350 of us listened as, one by one, people rose to tell us about the workshops they would run – 80 in total – on everything from alternative economy to leadership in anarchism. Then Bridie got up with her workshop idea.

Bridie’s 16-year-old sister was deeply depressed. She wouldn’t go out. She didn’t see the point. She believed that the world would end within her own lifetime. Bridie stood in the open space created by a circle of strangers and told us how her previous efforts to talk to her sister about this had failed. She wanted to talk about how she could give her sister hope.

The ‘Hope’ workshop was held later that afternoon. Its starting point was clear: if we continue to pile up the world’s problems in front of the public – young people in particular – they will eventually give up, both in their heads and their hearts. But if we offer alternative visions, that excite ideas for a realistic and achievable future, we could arouse and energize quests for change. The stories you are about to read have been selected with this in mind. They are for Bridie, her sister… and for all of us looking for a touch of inspiration.

Chris Richards for the New Internationalist Co-operative chrisr@newint.org

Poetry Slam in Zimbabwe

The House of Hunger poetry slam held in Zimbabwe in 2006, and organised by the Pamberi Trust, showcased young artists performing inspirational work on issues from corporate power to child soldiers. The video features four of the poets.
Published by Pambazuka News.

Raised Voices video:

Atossa Soltani from Brazil on the Climate Change

Desmond Desai from South Africa on Corporate Power

Iranian women speak out

3 March 2007, London. Women's rights activists marched through the English capital last week to celebrate International Women's Day with a protest against the misogyny of the Islamic regime in Iran and the threat of invasion by the US. Hear the voices of Iranian feminists Azar and Leila Parnian and the sounds of the demonstration as it passed through the heart of the city. Click here to learn more about the campaign.
Produced by Heidi Bachram.

Raised Voices audio:

Benny from West Papua on Corporate Power

Vinayan from India on agriculture