Social Justice, Activism and Poetry
Palestine Activism by Theresa Wolfwood
The message is the right of Palestinians to live a decent life, without charity, but with international support to create a viable Palestinian state; with the dignity of a fair exchange and an opportunity for Palestinians to live productively on their ancestral lands.
Read Theresa’s Poetry on Palestine
Social Activism by Grace E. Reed
Mothers Against Pepper Spray (MAPS)
When did it get to be ok to pepper spray a line of university students in a peaceful sit down protest right in the face and mouth? Occupy is a dynamic movement for social change whose time is overdue. I remember sitting in protest when the national guard came to Kent State University in Ohio—that would be here in the United States— and fired shots, 4 died from lines of sit down protesters in the 1970′s…Read more
Poems
- Mom Is it OK?
- Mothers Against Pepper Spray (MAPS)
The Portland Occupy Movement – Grace E. Reed
When I think of Occupy I think of filling in something, a void, with interest. I have been involved with the Occupy Portland movement since it started in Oct. I had/have the good fortune of broadcasting on a local community radio station (KBOO.fm) at the Occupy site. Many people came to the mic to express their reason for being involved in the movement… Read more
More on Occupy by Grace E. Reed
- Mediating Occupy
Poetry
Legacy – by Hemani Jayaswal
“A young man remarked
On the futility of life
Reduced in the end to nothing
But dust and bones
He poigantly cried out
What then Is the point…” Read poem
Read all Poems by Hemani Jayaswal
Planted in the Earth – by Aya Rice
I too have been planted
In soil soft enough
To embrace me in its fold
Thick enough to hold me
As I grow into the light
Out of this
Dark Earth…
Read poem
The Hibakusha’s pain and grief – by Rumana Mehdi
The past ridicules her…
The future frightens her…
Despite all this, the hibakusha continues to cry for peace,
With wrinkled hands, she prays for violence to cease…
Read poem
An Afternoon in March – by Theresa Wolfwood
put away the banners
stack up the placards
the demonstration is over
a few hundred hardy souls
clumped under umbrellas… Read poem
All Poems by Theresa Wolfwood
An Awakening – by Ed Hunte
Today
Is my day
To live
As if there were
No beginning or ending… Read poem
All Poems by Ed Hunte
Don’t Pick up the Pen
Why should I
Pick up this pen today,
And write-
Fight
For injustice,
Only to realise
It has been few words… Read poem
Poetry in Our Towns: Global Showcase
Poetry on Staines High Street (UK)
“Roll out the lino
from Staines to the world!
Release every pattern
from chessboard to…” Read more
Interviews
An Interview With Javed Akhtar
What is the taste and aroma of poetry, when it has been left to brew for fifteen years? How big is the echo of the gulp of these poems? Javed Akhtar, one of the most prolific and celebrated poets… released his second book, Lava, after a very long pause in February 2012. Watch
Poetry In Resistance
Supporting the Non-violent, Peaceful Movement in Koodankulam (India)
A Prayer by Indians – S P Udayakumar
“S P Udayakumar has been leading nonviolent, peaceful protests by thousands of villagers around Koodankulam in South India, asking for transparency and re-thinking of the commissioning of a nuclear power plant that poses risk to thousands of poor, unprivileged villagers who live around the site… Read poem
More poetry for Koodankulam:
- In Kudankulam under the banyan tree: Aswath Vriksha
- Rang de Basanti (Colour My Saffron)
- Elections Long Over in Koodankulam
Humanistic and Peaceful Perspectives
Unlocking Determination – by Ed Hunte
What it means to unlock the power of determination and how, by understanding its source, we can ultimately awaken to a deeper sense of mission and responsibility. Read more
More by Ed Hunte
- Inspiring Inspiration
Rising Youth Unemployment: Calling for a British Spring – by Sumeet Grover
There has been much debate, discussion and research about immigration in the UK and its impact on British people who in turn struggle to find work since most of the available jobs are taken up by immigrants. A recent report by MigrationWatch UK suggests a link between the increasing migrants from the A8 Eastern European nations and… Read more
Chasing Doves – by Grace E. Reed
We are still at war with each other on many levels as a human race. Peaceful marchers get pepper sprayed by aggressive cops. The meek seem to get foreclosure rather than support from the greedy banking system. Gang violence is escalating and the gang members are younger and younger… Read more
Read All Columns by Grace E. Reed
News
Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award 2012 – Entries Open
The Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award 2012 is now open for entries. Entries for the award are open to poets aged 11-17 years; it is “recognised as a career-changing competition of cultural significance nationally and internationally… Read more
Poetic Protest against Rising Tuition Fees at Cambridge University
For Cambridge University student Owen Holland, the act of leading a poetry recitation (in November 2011), resisting the much controversial increase of tuition fees at universities in England and Wales has costed him two-and-a-half years of suspension. Holland read out a poem in protest of rising tuition fees, interrupting a speech by the Universities Minister… Read more
Videos
Poetry Recitation Video of Javed Akhtar in Urdu and English
Who is Javed Akhtar? For urban Indians and many Pakistanis, Akhtar needs no introduction. He represents seven generations of poets in his family, and is a well known script and song writer in the Indian film industry. An Urdu poet, Akhtar not only embodies the poetic richness of the language, but also a wisdom… Watch Video
All Poetry Recitation Videos
