Rojava: ‘One of the World’s Most Interesting Experiments in Democracy’

Out of the ashes of the Syrian war, a democracy is rising. Net neutrality’s fate hangs in the air. And public libraries are as important as ever. These discoveries and more, below.

Economic Democracy in Rojava Surrounded on all sides by hostile forces intent on destroying them, in a part of the world that Western pundits claim can only be ruled by dictators, the Kurds of Syria are intent on creating a society more democratic than any found in North America or Europe.

Is Zika Gone for Good? The virus caused widespread illness and fear in 2016, but it has virtually disappeared from the continental United States. Why?

In the ‘Fake News’ Era, Americans Increasingly Value Libraries Millennials, more than any other generation, are likely to visit and trust their local lending institutions.

The Case for the Humble Garbage Disposal From a waste-management perspective, the in-sink tool punches far above its weight.

Faculty Members Organize to Fight ‘Fascist’ Interlopers on Campuses  Rallies for far-right speakers, misrepresentation of professors’ statements, and racist or Islamophobic signs are popping up on campuses across the country. Some faculty members think that trend is more than just a conservative backlash against perceived liberal bias; it’s fascism.

Reformation-Era Divisions Have Lost Much of Their Potency As Protestants prepare to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, new Pew Research Center surveys show that in both Western Europe and the United States, the theological differences that split Western Christianity in the 1500s have diminished to a degree that might have shocked Christians in past centuries.

Capitalist ‘Deglobalization’ The Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa summit in Xiamen from September 3-5 is already inscribed with high tension thanks to Sino-Indian border conflicts.

The New York Times’ Blackwater Op-Ed Is a Disgrace Recently, a scarecrow made of mashed potatoes named Jamie Kirchick wrote an op-ed for the New York Times bemoaning how “transgender trumps treachery” for those who praise Chelsea Manning.

Will The FCC Undo Obama’s Net Neutrality Rules? Since Donald Trump appointed FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced his “Restoring Internet Freedom ” plan, the topic has generated a massive outpouring.

Antifa’s Moral Superiority and the Potential for Left-Wing Unity The tragedy of Chris Hedges’ recent piece about Antifa is that it fractures the left and whitewashes those who are truly responsible for the hate and violence – fascists, the state and their representatives in the police force.