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Diversity and Democracy

"The Remarkable Life of the First Woman on the Harvard Faculty" by Karenna Gore, NYT

Alice Hamilton, the first woman to become a member of Harvard’s prestigious faculty, not only served and diversified the academic community but made contributions that would end up benefiting the entire world.

 

Slavery and Its Aftermath

"Cocoa’s child laborers" by Peter Whoriskey and Rachel Siegel, The Washington Post 

In West Africa, over 2 million children are forced to work dangerous and laborious jobs in the cocoa industry. Major chocolate providers Mars, Nestlé and Hershey are unable to prove that their products come from ethical sources, revealing the alarming possibility that these household brands rely on slave labor.

 

Water, Equity and Security

"This Is the Beginning of the End of the Beef Industry" by Rowan Jacobsen, Outside

As sustainable meat replacements begin to grow rapidly in popularity, many turn their attention to the frightening environmental impacts of genuine beef. Deemed the “most wasteful food on the planet,” its production emits no shortage of greenhouse gases and uses copious amounts of water: 430 gallons per 1,00 calories of meat. When considering what changes can be made to live a more environmentally-sound lifestyle, beef consumption should certainly be on the radar.

 

The Future of Work

"OpenAI's AI-powered robot learned how to solve a Rubik’s cube one-handed" by Nick Statt, The Verge 

Dactyl, a one-year-old robotic hand, has extraordinarily taught itself how to solve a Rubik’s cube. While this accomplishment may not be a direct threat to the dignity of human labor, it certainly illustrates the powerful potential of artificial intelligence.

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Diversity and Democracy

"Landline", Matt Houghton (2019) 

British farmers in the LGBT+ community have faced unique and heartbreaking challenges. Keith Ineson decided to do something about it, so he created a telephone hotline for struggling gay farmers. “Landline” features real conversations that have transpired over these phone calls.

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The Future of Work

"BS Jobs: How Meaningless Work Wears Us Down", Hidden Brain (2019)

This NPR segment explores the phenomenon of “pointless” jobs, offering insights into the dignity of labor that extend beyond automation. Contrary to the threat of artificial intelligence, meaningless jobs have existed for quite a while, being an issue that is equally deserving of discussion.