Moving Day!

We are excited to announce the launch of our new site, the ProgressiveKid Reader, a thematic online experience for progressive kids, parents, and teachers. We’re migrating everything from On a Ledge to the Reader where you can expect the same quality writing and deep thinking with the added benefits of

more top-notch contributors including professionals [...]

Canada’s commercial seal hunt begins in a few weeks. The hunt takes place in the seal birthing grounds. The victims are as young as three weeks old. Some are skinned alive. Others are clubbed to death. Some are dragged still living by metal hooks onto boats. If you want to live with yourself, take action [...]

Humans v. Sea Lions v. Salmon: A Lose, Lose, Lose Situation

As is so often the case, the human solution to this human-caused problem is to create a problem for someone else, either a human of less power or a nonhuman species. Humans get all mixed up about causes and solutions and justify their stinky behavior (overfishing, sea lion killing) with seemingly altruistic reasoning (feed people, save the salmon).

Plastic Thinking (on Grass)

These two arguments represent extremely faulty thinking that is endemic to a cultural disease affecting our American society. People seem to think them validation for all kinds of hideous behavior, but they are easily shot down.

Refugees from Planet Earth

Where are all the displaced people going to go? You can be sure that refugees are coming to your neighborhood, if you remain lucky enough to still have one. And the refugees will not just be human. We will be seeing refugees of every species in search of hospitable places on earth, looking for food, looking for water, looking for shelter.

Clean Coal’s Dirty Little Secret

The mining process generates liquid waste called slurry, a mix of carcinogenic compounds and heavy metals. The slurry is stored in open lagoons that, of course, sometimes break and flood. This is even more likely during periods of heavy rainfall and flooding (such as during global warming).

A Green Lining to Economic Downturn

Besides, there may be a green lining to all of this economic turmoil. I can’t think of any more effective way to get most Americans to change their lives than lack of cash. So let’s try—amid foreclosures, job loss, the costly (on so many levels) war in Iraq, salary freezes, skyrocketing health care costs and grocery, gas, and heating bills—to look on and for the bright side of things.

Stand Up for Your Rites

We green, free thinkers who dream of a radically transformed society sometimes feel a little like we’re blazing trails in the dark. Ongoing rituals that are full of meaning for people who care about life and the planet can sustain us during difficult times and during times of doubt and fear.

What Comes First

What I heard didn’t make me wave cardboard signs or toss confetti. It made me feel sad. And angry. I started talking back to the radio.

Declaration of Independence

Having come to the precipice of our own demise, we can if we so choose see before us the terrible chasm of the tyrant’s vast and awesome power. This is a call for us to stand together, defiant of our common oppressors.