This month, heads of state and government from throughout the world will descend on the United Nations for the opening of the 72nd session of the U.N. General Assembly. This year’s theme is “Focusing on People: Striving for Peace and a Decent Life for All on a Sustainable Planet.” And it’s certainly critical now given the range of global challenges we face, including an unprecedented level of humanitarian need, rising inequality and exclusion, growing climate change impacts, and increasing threats to our shared security. 

Chris Crass is a longtime organizer, educator, and writer working to build powerful working class-based, feminist, multiracial movements for collective liberation.  He is a one of the leading voices in the country calling for and supporting white people to work for racial justice.

The last few weeks have seen catastrophic natural disasters – from Hurricanes Irma and Harvey to wildfires in the Pacific Northwest, an earthquake in Mexico, and devastating flooding in South Asia. Here’s what we’re reading to learn more.

1. Season of smoke, by Naomi Klein via The Intercept

Photos: IBIS Productions

By Milca Kouame

My name Milca Kouame, and I live in Newark, New Jersey. My father was deported in 2007, when I was seven years old, leaving me, my mother, and my younger brother behind.

Yesterday, immigrants and allies in multiple U.S. cities protested the Trump administration's decision to rescind the Deferred Action of Child Arrivals (DACA) program—an inhumane attack on young people, their families, and our communities.

Rebecca Fealk is a program coordinator for AFSC in Arizona focusing on research and sentencing reform. Having worked in both direct client services and policy-based areas, her goal is to provide community education and legislative reform that reduces poverty, prevents discrimination, and promotes healing.

Across the nation, there is growing awareness of the increased use of opioids, and a related rise in the spread of blood-borne disease, accidental overdoses, and deaths. From Indiana to Alaska, state officials have implemented emergency ordinances to address this devastating epidemic.

Politicians who condemn white supremacy must also oppose racist policies in their states.

In the wake of racist white supremacist violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, public officials in Massachusetts held a press conference denouncing a planned rally by the Free Speech Movement, the Daily Stormer, and Bikers for Trump scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 19 at the Boston Common. At the press conference, Gov.