Category Archives: freedom

Jul4

fragile fireworks and freedom on the fourth.

Posted on by
Standard

Dale Chihuly, Glass, Boathouse 7 Neon, Seattle., Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
‘–
‘those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.’
-thomas paine
—

*Thomas Paine was an English-born American political activist, author, and revolutionary. He is best known for his influential pamphlets, particularly Common Sense which advocated for American independence from Great Britain during the Revolutionary War. His writings helped to shape the political ideologies of the time and inspired both the American and French Revolutions. 

May3

the voice of truth.

Posted on by
Standard

today, may 3rd  is world press freedom day

on this day, in 2025,  361 journalists worldwide are in prison 

—

The One Free Press Coalition (#OneFreePress) uses the collective audiences of member organizations to stand up for journalists under attack for pursuing the truth worldwide.  

With journalist freedoms under assault worldwide, the One Free Press Coalition was conceived during a meeting of the International Media Council at the World Economic Forum. Top editors from leading media organizations committed to use their collective muscle—by working together, they could shine a massive light on the plight of threatened journalists all over the world. 

Coinciding with World Press Freedom Day (May 3rd), global media outlets unite as One Free Press Coalition to publish this annual “10 Most Urgent” list, bringing attention to fellow journalists who are being imprisoned for seeking to tell the truth. These ten cases illuminate governments’ efforts at criminalizing journalism, silencing the media, and withholding information from the public.

The list is compiled in collaboration with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). According to CPJ data, 361 journalists were behind bars worldwide at the end of 2024 (up from 320 in 2023). 

In August 2024, the One Free Press Coalition celebrated the release of two American journalists—Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva—from Russian detention after their cases topped the May 2024 list of “10 Most Urgent” press freedom cases.

Given the increasing number of journalists detained for simply doing their jobs and seeking to tell the truth, and given the successful 2024 campaign to free Gershkovich and Kurmasheva, the One Free Press Coalition crucially and emphatically unites our collective voices in support of the following individuals and their urgent cases of press persecution.                                                 

10 Most Urgent, May 2025

https://www.onefreepresscoalition.com/list

World Press Freedom Day 2025 is a powerful reminder that journalism is more than just reporting—it’s a lifeline for democracy, justice, and the environment. As we face global crises like climate change, the need for fearless, ethical, and free journalism has never been more critical.

Let’s celebrate, support, and protect the voice of truth — today and every day.

“In every country in which there has been a loss of freedom, where does it begin? It begins in news media, in public print, in books, and on the proscenium. That’s where they attack you first right there. That’s the bread basket.” – Rod Serling

—

image credit: unesco

Apr8

woven together.

Posted on by
Standard

This drawing is by Anja Rozen, a 13-year-old primary school student in Slovenia.

She was chosen from 600,000 children around the world

to create a piece of art to show what peace looks like.

She is the winner of the international Plakat Miru competition.

“My drawing represents the land that binds us and unites us.”

“Humans are woven together.

If someone gives up, others fall.

We are all connected to our planet and to each other,

but unfortunately we are little aware of it.

We are woven together.

Other people weave alongside me my own story; and I weave theirs,”

said the young designer.

—

‘the cause of freedom and the cause of peace are bound together.’

-Leon Blum, three-time Prime Minister of France

 

Feb24

‘our thoughts are with all those who stand for peace.’ n. o’reilly.

Posted on by
Standard

it’s been two years

—

“and the sunflowers are an eternity in themselves.

let them embrace our dreams and invigorate our hope evermore.”

* bhuwan thapalia

 

*Bhuwan Thapaliya is a nepalese poet writing in english.

he is an economist and is the author of four poetry collections.

 

 

 

—

photo credit: hollie adams, getty

Jul4

4th.

Posted on by
Standard

happy 4th of july, may you celebrate your independence today and every day

Jan16

birmingham.

Posted on by
Standard

Letter from Birmingham Jail

In the spring of 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. organized a demonstration in downtown Birmingham, Alabama. With entire families in attendance, city police turned dogs and fire hoses on demonstrators. King was jailed along with large numbers of his supporters, but the event drew nationwide attention.

In his famous Letter from Birmingham Jail, King eloquently spelled out his theory of non-violence:

“Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community,

which has constantly refused to negotiate,

is forced to confront the issue.”

 

—

credits: biography, history channel, photo credit: the atlantic

May3

world press freedom day.

Posted on by
Standard

World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference. Since then, May 3rd  is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day.

After almost 30 years, the historic connection made between the freedom to seek, impart and receive information and the public good remains as relevant as it was at the time of its signing. May 3rd acts as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom. It is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics. It is an opportunity to:

  • celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom;
  • assess the state of press freedom throughout the world;
  • defend the media from attacks on their independence;
  • and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

—

“a free press can, of course, be good or bad,

but, most certainly without freedom,

the press will never be anything but bad.”

-albert camus

 

 

 

—

image credit: brittanica.com

Mar2

tide.

Posted on by
Standard

“I know how difficult it is going to be,

but I also believe that if just in one place we can win the battle over greed and callousness,

that one victory may swing the tide over the entire world.”

-Madeleine L’Engle, Dragons in the Waters

—

art credit: Serhii Vasylkivsky, a.k.a. the “Painter of the Sky”, National Art Museum of Ukraine

Jul4

stars and stripes.

Posted on by
Standard

The designer of our current 50-star flag was Robert Heft. It was 1958 and there was some talk that Alaska and Hawaii were going to officially become states 49 and 50. One of his high school teachers capitalized on the current events of the day and had his students design a new flag incorporating the two new states. Inspired by Betsy Ross, (and cutting up his parents’ flag), Heft did just that, arranging the stars so it wasn’t very evident that he had added any. His teacher gave him a B-, saying that the design was unoriginal. When Heft balked at the grade, his teacher told him that if he could get the flag adopted by Congress, he would bump the grade up to an A. Heft jumped at the opportunity, sent the flag to his congressman, and after a long campaign and a refusal to give up,  he ended up getting the flag approved. Heft got his ‘A’ as promised. Since then, Heft’s original homemade flag has flown over every single state capitol building, over 88 U.S. embassies, and over the White House for five administrations. He is now deceased, but has left behind a design with 51 stars ready to go if the need arises.

 

happy 4th of july!

 

 

 

—

credits: mental floss, quora, wiki, readers digest

May6

fly.

Posted on by
Standard

these flamingos are playing on both sides of the fence

i wonder if they know they can fly. 

 

 

 

—

“fences are made for those who cannot fly. ”    

-elbert hubbard