They made us many promises, more than I can remember, but they never kept but one; they promised to take our land, and they took it. Chief Red Cloud A Brief History: Over 500 treaties were made with American Indian tribes, primarily for land cessations, dating back to the first treaty signed on September 17, 1778 at …
Reparations have a long, long way to go but tiny steps are being taken to address the horrific history of slavery and its effects.
I have been tragically remiss in the planning for my documentary on the New Economy, which is a restructuring of our economy based on the wellbeing of people, planet and prosperity. The foundation of our current economy is the slave industry and the stealing of Native American lands. It seems critical to me that since …
US Economy Foundation: Slave Industry & Stolen Native American Lands Read More »
You may be surprised to learn that the growing Democratic or New Economy that puts people and the planet before profit is not actually new. Its principles of a thriving local economy, economic opportunities that benefit all, and ecological sustainability can be found in the Native American worldview. Native American history prior to colonization shows …
Native Americans: Trailblazers for the New Economy Read More »
By Jan Roberts After spending more than 40 years of my life as an activist, I set off on a solo road trip across the country to capture the stories of dedicated people making a deep-seated difference for us and our planet. Despite what’s on the news channels, despite the person cutting you off in …
The Angels of Our Better Nature Are Alive & Well Read More »
by Jan Roberts Streaming thoughts during Hurricane Irma: First report of Irma in Atlantic Ocean: “Crap, what a monster, I hope it doesn’t come here”. Irma grazes Puerto Rico and roars into the Caribbean: “These poor islands can’t catch a break. Concern for residents who have no options…”.little money and resources to leave and …
by Jan Roberts I love the beauty and the power of the arts to bring my emotions to the fore. I also am loving the increasing engagement and visibility of the arts in activism that promote the wellbeing of humanity, communities and the planet. Despite their valid concerns of turning off potential audiences or donors, …
Arts & Activism in Museums, On the Street, & in Prisons Read More »
In 2004, I was at a conference on Gross National Happiness Indicators taking place in Canada. It’s a way to measure wealth in a nation that includes the wellbeing of people, communities and planet. At the time, I was not feeling very upbeat about such innovation becoming reality in the U.S. The Canadian participants shared …
Three Cities Showing the Way Forward: Youth Jobs – Medical Services – Food Economy Read More »
Please don’t get overwhelmed by that question. When JFK first posited it in 1960, the implication seemed to be that you/I/we needed to do something pretty big to help our country. I’m thinking a bit smaller. First, it’s important to acknowledge that things are not so hot in the U.S. Yes, there is President Trump …
I was a participant in the Women’s Movement in the 70’s and have remained involved in social, environmental and economic change efforts since then. Although, I may not be an expert on social movements, I have formed an opinion on their process based on my experience. In a nutshell, I believe there are at least …
Where Do You Fit In: Protester Or Community Builder? Read More »
