As the regime of Hosni Mubarak fell, the world witnessed the birth of a democracy. Today, the compelling images streaming in from Tahrir Square have mostly come to an end, but the struggles continue. Early this summer, the reborn nation will host its first presidential elections in 5,000 years. The candidates face a dismal economy, [...]

Politics and legislation are often slow to adapt to public sentiment, but neither the American public nor its representatives can deny that 2012 has been one of the gayest years—politically speaking—in American history. The past four and a half months have seen gay marriage legalized in two states (Delaware and Washington), legislation passed in one [...]

Supporters gather to hear Aung San Suu Kyi at the opening of an office for the National League for Democracy. Last week, at long last, the opposition leader was sworn into office after nearly 25 years of struggles against military dictatorship. Ms Suu Kyi, who was under house arrest for much of that time, today [...]

A timely and strategic response to the challenges of global climate change is more that an environmental issue; it is a humanitarian crisis in-the-making that our institutional leaders have failed to seriously address. Three plus years into the Obama Administration, there has yet to be any comprehensive energy legislation. While the President clearly recognizes the [...]

To have any kind of real understanding of the Arab Awakening, we must look to the role of women and challenge the word “revolution.” In the West, we tend to idolize the struggle for democracy, and rightly so, but that is no excuse to overlook the egregious misogyny pervasive across the Middle East, including institutionalized [...]

The political career of the newly elected Burmese opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has not only been characterised by her determination to lead her country towards democracy, but also by the many personal sacrifices she had taken in the process. Amongst them is the decision she made to remain in Myanmar (Burma) throughout her [...]

It’s hard to avoid the headlines accusing Republicans of waging a ‘war on women.’ Questionable semantics aside, there are certainly a broad scope of policy decisions and initiatives that call into question the sincerity of the GOP’s commitment to supporting women. National issues get a lot of coverage, but much of the action is happening [...]

Fifty-seven years ago, Rosa Parks, “the first lady of civil rights,” made a stand of peaceful civil disobedience by refusing to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Although we live far from a post-racial society, seeing President Barack Obama in remembrance on that very bus is indeed powerful. Photo courtesy of [...]

A modern day slave trade may seem unimaginable, but it is in fact all around us. Two and a half million people just this year have fallen victim to this $32 billion industry. The United Nations reports that 80 percent of these exploited persons were involved in sexual services. Human trafficking and the sex work [...]

Soe Than WIN/AFP/Getty Images After two decades of democratic struggle, many of which under house arrest, Aung San Suu Kyi has been elected by the people of Myanmar (Burma) to hold a seat in parliament. As leader of the National League for Democracy, Suu Kyi’s triumph represents a profound shift from military dictatorship towards democracy. [...]

The exploration for new sustainable energy sources is in a way an effort to regain harmony with our natural world. If this is the case, it only makes sense to look at the organic mysteries that have been under our collective nose all along. Recently, scientists have been studying the elegant wings of butterflies – [...]

The Western Sahara does not often frequent our thoughts, but in this mysterious desert, there lives a group of exiles under military occupation. The Sahara International Film Festival, or FiSahara, might be the world’s only film exhibition held in a refugee camp, bringing entertainment, culture and education to the Saharawi people. After Spanish colonists withdrew [...]

… and to keep a strong leader in the fight against climate change in the battle: We need to unite and spread the word! Photo by Todd Wilson For a week, my friend Denyse Dookie, had planned for a group of us to go to the Film Forum (here in New York) to see The [...]

The documentary Waste Land follows the journey of artist Vik Muniz to his native Brazil in documenting the lives of a group of catadores – ‘self designated pickers of recyclable material’ – who had until this point existed unacknowledged by the society in which they live. The story begins with Muniz’s initial trepidation in the investigation of Jardim Gramacho, the largest [...]

Mozambique’s economic growth has been one of the strongest among African nations in the last decade, thanks in large part to the export of metals including aluminum and gold. But the GDP growth is not without human costs. Inhalation of silica dust from gold-bearing rocks, for example, can cause diseases like silicosis, which in turn [...]

In recent years, the question of the corporation’s role in our democracy has been weighed by activists, pundits and politicians. Perhaps the ultimate arbiter of arguments over corporate personhood is the United States Supreme Court. The highest court in the land often avoids daily media scrutiny, but has an understated influence on policy decisions (consider [...]

Of the endless amenities afforded to the burghal dwellers of New York City, green space is one that comes at a premium. Urban planners the world over are having to consider new paradigms of metropolitan environmental integration. Two entrepreneurial architects in the Lower East Side of Manhattan are doing just that with their vision of [...]

I admit, I had been swept up by the Invisible Children bandwagon. But it didn’t happen yesterday. In fact, my first ever post in The WILD Magazine highlighted IC’s work with the African music group, The Very Best. I admired Invisible Children’s creative, albeit at times unbearably cheesy, way of producing compelling narratives that a [...]

The phenomenon of globalization has interconnected the world in ways never before experienced by mankind, yet there remains a distinct lack of empathetic human connection. This is especially true in the western world where out of sight and out of mind are the wars waged, the natural resources pillaged, and the human hands that piece [...]

Economic downturns have a way of bringing out the worst in people. In the face of employment uncertainties and changing demographics, it has become all too easy to scapegoat cultural groups foreign to one’s own. Illegal immigration into the United States, as in Europe, is a real issue void of simple solutions, but marginalizing minority [...]

Over the years, the severe environmental damages caused by the many fast-paced developments in Hong Kong have been well documented. Which is why it came as a surprise to many marine conservationists this week, when the South China Morning Post reported on an amateur fisherman reeling in a one-metre sea bass on the Victoria Harbour. [...]

Some artists convey an unmistakable message that transcends language barriers. Reading between the lines, or listening between the sound waves, fans the world over just seem to get it. Ana Tijoux, a French Chilean hip hop artist uses her subtle flow and classic beats to convey social messages that have grabbed hold of America Latina [...]

The ancient Chinese tradition of ‘villain hitting’ is a spritual ritual popular in Southern China. Also known as Da Siu Yan in Cantonese, the phrase translates literally as ‘hitting of the little people’. A ceremony that originated from the Spring and Autumn Period of Imperial China, circa 771 BC, villain hitting is usually performed in [...]

THREE OUT OF FOUR people in Japan today distrust nuclear energy. Last September, some 60,000 citizens rallied in the capital to say goodbye to nuclear power plants. Other massive demonstrations followed. One would think that among the parties most interested in decommissioning nuclear power plants are those who live nearby them. Or are they? The [...]

The democratically-elected president of a tiny nation, who has had a giant voice in the climate change debate, has been forced to resign at gunpoint in a coup d’état. Mohamed Nasheed made his resignation under duress as president of the Maldives earlier this week. This is a disturbing setback for both global democracy and the [...]

The district of Wu Kai Sa is an area long been known for its outstanding natural beauty, as well as the presence of various historic villages dating back hundreds of years – both rarities amidst the concrete jungle that is Hong Kong. Over the years, it has attracted many tourists and locals alike, seeking a [...]

Abu Dhabi is looking towards the future. Situated in the crossroads of three major continents this small island capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is considered as one of the fastest growing in the world today. A rich investment from international corporations and the presence of luxurious hotels, spas and leisure facilities at every [...]

Most of the charcoal in Liberia is made by women. They use heavy rubber tree stumps, which they carry on their heads for miles, in this labor heavy process. For more of the story, told through pictures, go here. Photography by Tamsin Ford.

In March 2011, Vogue published a glowing portrait Asma al-Assad, the “glamorous, young, and very chic” first lady of Syria. The story and subsequent controversy are not new, but worth reexamining given the catastrophic pro-democracy crackdown at the hands of the subject’s husband, President Bashar al-Assad. Photo by Blaine Skrainka [New York street art by [...]

There is no love lost between Hong Kong and their neighbours who hail from China. Popularly referred to as Mainlanders, which has since become a negative connotation in its own right, visitors from north of the Hong Kong border are often stereotypically portrayed by the media as being inherently rude and obnoxious. The aforementioned characteristics [...]

In the West, where we don’t think twice about enjoying three hearty meals a day, it is difficult to fathom what real hunger is; hunger so severe that it colors your daily existence. For many in the Democratic Republic of Congo, famine is a way of life. Recently, New York Times’ correspondent Adam Nossiter captured [...]

Plans to extend the Keystone XL pipeline from the Alberta Tar Sands in Canada, to the Gulf Shores in the United States have officially been put on hold this afternoon. In a statement, President Obama said, “the Secretary of State has recommended that the application be denied.  And after reviewing the State Department’s report, I [...]

This is a very special edition of Heavy Rotation, taking a look at the unforgettable experience that was globalFEST.  My first goal of the night was to keep track of how many new instruments I would be exposed to, needless to say, I quickly lost count. Twelve bands encompass all three stages of Webster Hall [...]

In the center of the western hemisphere, where LGBT rights are flourishing, lies a pocket of violent discrimination that this part of the world hasn’t witnessed since the height of the American civil rights movement. Jamaica, suggested as possibly “The Most Homophobic Place on Earth” by TIME Magazine, has become a prison for its LGBT [...]

Bocas Del Toro in a dramatic archipelago of tropical islands just across the Panama border from Costa Rica. Less spoiled and commercialized than Costa Rica, the Ngobe people have farmed and fished the water for thousands of years. The Ngobe also fought off pirates and Spanish conquistadors to remain independent through most of the last [...]

This weekend, dynamic musicians from around the world converge in New York City’s East Village for the ninth annual globalFEST. Webster Hall’s three stages play host what is one of the most eclectic and influential world music showcases in the country. Twelve artists from five continents will fill the venue, experimenting with heritage and captivating [...]

2011 was a year of worldwide unrest. Traditional social structures that favor the interests of those with money and power are being called into question by the masses. These are the most striking moments of 2011. 5. Death of Bin Laden & End to the War in Iraq 10 years after the September 11 attacks, [...]

Earlier this week, thousands of women took part in a march of historic proportions, taking to the streets of Cairo to demand women’s empowerment and decry the brutal attacks on female protesters. The women of Egypt have become increasingly vocal about their demand for dignity during the Arab Awakening, but this march was a direct [...]

After years of corruption and cronyism from the oppressive regime of Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian people have risen up as a part of the Arab Awakening only to face a brutal backlash. The United Nations’ official estimate of the death toll has now surpassed 5,000, with 400 lives being taken just last month. There are [...]

A so-called last minute deal at the COP17 Climate Talks in Durban, South Africa has led politicians and some media outlets to laud the cooperation of diplomats to come to an agreement to ultimately curb anthropogenic carbon emissions. Environmentalist are largely left bewildered by the cheers. Under the veneer of supposed progress, all that one [...]

A recently released case study from Friends of the Earth International, the world’s leading grassroots environmental organization, has exposed energy giant Sasol as having done much to undermine the recent climate talks in South Africa. Established as a state-owned venture in 1950 and privatized in 1979, Sasol has become a global company with operations in [...]

In an effort to protect the indigenous people of northern Kenya, a collective of artists and activists have turned to the unifying global medium that is music. Slumchella will be the stage to raise awareness protesting against the GIBE 3 hydroelectric dam and advocating for Kenyans without a voice. Based out of California, Village Beat [...]

An androgynous cloaked figure stalks the Paris metro tunnels in an obscure disguise with marker in hand. Princess Hijab is an elusive French street artist that catches Parisian eyes with unsettling alterations to fashion ads that line the tubes of the subway. ‘Hijabisation’ involves striking the advertisements of retailers like H&M and D&G with a [...]

Egypt’s now iconic Tahrir Square is in its fifth day of resurgent protests after the resignation of civilian leader, Prime Minister Essam Sharaf. The Egyptian people remain deeply dissatisfied with the traditional power structure that has yet to fulfill their promises to implement true democratic reforms. After the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak during the [...]

Ai Weiwei remains unapologetic and defiant, while continuing to be an inspiration to those who care about human rights and social justice. Although he was released from secret detention in September, the Chinese authorities continue to strong arm the artist. The government has had a particularly difficult time muting Ai due to his huge international [...]

If Kristen Christian has a say, the Fifth of November will be remembered not only for Guy Fawkes, but for a stand taken against “companies with unethical business practices.” Photo by Eddie Colla Bank Transfer Day, taking place between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on November 5th, 2011, will see participants move their funds to [...]

We want to take you on a trip to the other side of the world to get brief updates on global issues that we have covered in the past. Feel free to click on each title to go back to past coverage of each topic, and follow the links within each section to learn more. [...]

The WILD seeks to highlight up and coming artists, especially those with a social conscience. To give context to our present and future, it helps to understand our past. Harry Belafonte leveraged his signature music talents to fight for humanitarian causes for the last half century, “I was born an activist before I became an [...]

Two major energy policy issues have been garnering attention recently, and they may serve to test the Obama administration’s commitment to the environment and sustainability. The simultaneous debates over the failure of Solyndra and the proposed Keystone XL pipeline highlight and contrast the dialogue around our domestic energy sources, and the role of government in [...]

As the third week of the Occupy Wall Street protest approaches, the media has started to take note and organized labor have extended their support. Despite these early achievements, an endgame remains nebulous. The privately owned, publicly occupied, Zuccotti Park is not actually located on Wall St itself. It is more of a small urban [...]