By Kathie Malley-Morrison & Anthony J. Marsella
David Reiff, in his classic paper, “The precarious triumph of human rights” (New York Times Magazine, August 8, 1999), described characteristics of a “new moral order” that we desperately need today:
- Civil society;
- Humanitarianism;
- Human rights versus state sovereignty;
- Emergence of human rights activists, development workers, aid experts committed to needs of an interdependent world;
- Small is beautiful;
- Democracy building;
- Growth of NGOs;
- Considering individual as well as state rights;
- Plans for a permanent international criminal court.
Despite the many abuses permeating societies today, there is a new spirit of encounter (e.g., Black Lives Matter); a new spirit of protest evidenced by DC gatherings of women and minority groups; a new spirit of communication among media free of government or wealth controls; a new spirit of protest against war, militarism, and the spending of a nation’s wealth on weaponry and endless war; a new spirit of concern for life and land; a new spirit of determination to expose the abuses of privilege and position by those who have politicized and weaponized laws for personal use (e.g., FISA).
All these emerging changes signal and sustain “Hope!” “Hope” is the life blood of progressive change. “Hope” can be suppressed and oppressed, but it cannot be defeated. Regardless of life forms and species, “hope” is the evolutionary impulse pursuing survival. If you want to hope, just think of the high school students organizing to fight gun violence ; honor their courage in joining together to protest in front of the White House ; admire their plans for a march on Washington in March.
Our list-building efforts are just beginning. Each day, new people are rising to the call. Please send us names and links of individuals and nonprofits you think should be recognized for their contributions to the cause.
- Kame’eleihiwa: Lilikalā K. Kame’eleihiwa
- Katz: Nancie L. Katz
- Kaye: Jeff Kaye
- Kelman: Herb & Rose Kelman
- Khan-Cullors: Patrisse Khan-Cullors
- Kimmel, Paul Kimmel
- Kivel, Paul Kivel
- Kis-Lev, Jonathan Kis-Lev
- Lapham: Lewis Lapham
- LeBlanc: Andrea LeBlanc
- LoCicero: Alice LoCicero
- Lopez-Lopez: Wilson Lopez-Lopez
- Lutz: Catherine Lutz
- Lykes: Brinton Lykes
- Lyubanski: Mikhail Lyubanski
- MacNair: Rachel MacNair
- Maleno: Helena Maleno
- Martin: Abby Martin
- McKee: Ann McKee
- McKinney: Cynthia McKinney
- McKone: Anita McKone
- Moghaddam: Fathali Moghaddam
- Montiel: Christina Montiel
- Moore: Michael Moore
- Nelson: Linden Nelson
- Norsworthy: Kathryn Norsworthy
- Palast: Greg Palast
- Parenti: Michael Parenti
- Perlman: Diane Perlman
- Randa: Lewis Randa
- Rappoport: Jon Rappoport
- Robinson: Rashad Robinson
- Rosenberg: Carol Rosenberg
- Secker: Glyn Secker
- Shetterly: Robert Shetterly
- Shiva: Vandana Shiva
- Sivaraksa: Sulak Sivaraksa
- Soldz: Stephen Soldz
- Solomon: Norman Solomon
- Spieler: Susan Spieler
- Stout: Christopher E. Stout
- Sveaass: Nora Sveaass
- Valent: Roberto Valent
- Wadlow: Rene Wadlow
- Wasfi: Dahlia Wasfi
- Wessells: Michael Wessells
- Wise: Steven M.Wise
- Wollman: Neil Wollman
- Wright: Ann Wright
- Zeese: Kevin Zeese Join us in celebrating the individuals making the world a better place for all; individuals advancing the human and natural order.