Stories written by Matthew Charles Cardinale

Community activists are working in cities nationwide to change laws to allow urban chicken-keeping. Credit: Courtesy of the Oakhurst Community Garden Project

Urban Chicken-Keeping Movement Spreads Its Wings

With increasing concerns about the economy and environmental sustainability on the minds of many U.S. citizens, leaders in the grassroots movement to promote urban chicken-keeping report a renewed interest in their cause.

U.S. Voters Increasingly Alienated by Two Major Parties

A new book shows there are now more U.S. voters who identify as independent than as Democrats or Republicans, despite the fact that the two major parties maintain their virtual stranglehold on U.S. politics and, so far, on the 2012 presidential election process.

U.S.: Obama’s 2013 Budget Slashes Aid for Working Families

The federal budget for fiscal year 2013 proposed by President Barack Obama severely cuts aid for working families by targeting at least two programmes, the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA), that aid the nation's most vulnerable working families.

U.S. Voters Increasingly Alienated by Two Major Parties

A new book shows there are now more U.S. voters who identify as independent than as Democrats or Republicans, despite the fact that the two major parties maintain their virtual stranglehold on U.S. politics and, so far, on the 2012 presidential election process.

New Rule Puts Brakes on U.S. Public Housing Demolitions

Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the publication of a new notice which significantly tightens its procedures for the processing of public housing demolition applications by local housing authorities.

U.S.: Plan for Popular Presidential Vote Quietly Advances

Unlike many of the younger democracies around the world, the United States still does not elect its president by popular vote. Indeed, a majority of U.S. citizens elected Al Gore to be president in 2000, but because the U.S. elects its presidents by way of a convoluted system called the electoral college, George W. Bush was declared the winner that year instead.

U.S.: Homeless Play Key Role in Occupy Movement

Homeless people make up a significant proportion of participants in the Occupy Movement in cities across the United States, from Los Angeles to Atlanta, where at times they comprise an estimated third of the occupiers.

Indonesian Migrants Facing Death Get Legal Aid from Home

With 221 Indonesian migrant workers facing death sentences in China, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, the government of Indonesia has approved a legal aid budget to assist these workers, who often do not have access to such assistance otherwise.

There are a number of procedural obstacles which essentially prevented Davis's possible innocence from mattering when it came to saving his life. Credit: George Department of Corrections

DEATH PENALTY: Why Innocence Didn’t Matter for Troy Davis

"Innocence matters" is one of the slogans used by activists opposing the U.S. state of Georgia's execution of Troy Davis, up until the day the sentence was carried out by lethal injection on Sep. 21.

Occupy protesters have taken over downtown's Woodruff Park with tents and an encampment that has no end in sight. Credit: Danger Productions/Donald Watkins/flickr

Occupy Movement Heats Up U.S. South

As the Occupy Movement spreads like wildfire across the United States and around the world, protests in the U.S. South are facing unique challenges.

RIGHTS-U.S.: Outrage Persists over Davis’s Execution

During the last days of Troy Davis's life, activists intensified what was already significant pressure on both U.S. President Barack Obama and the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ), a federal agency under Obama's purview, to save Davis, but Obama declined to act.

Protesters gather in downtown Atlanta the day before Davis's schedule execution. Credit: mouserz/flickr/creative commons license

U.S.: Global Protests and Arrests as Troy Davis Is Executed

The U.S. state of Georgia executed Troy Davis at 11:08 p.m. on Wednesday, Sep. 21, despite serious doubts about his guilt that inspired mass protests in Georgia, across the United States, and indeed, around the world.

Foreign Drug Offenders More Likely to Face Death

In many of the countries that permit execution for drug offences, the majority or even all of those on death row are foreigners, according to a new report by Harm Reduction International (HRI).

U.S.: Execution Date Set in Controversial Davis Case

Troy Davis, the Georgia man whose death row case has drawn international attention, has again been scheduled for execution for Sep. 21, but advocates hope to convince the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles to grant last-minute clemency.

Executed for Being Gay

Five nations still outlaw homosexuality and carry out executions of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, according to a recent report by the U.S. group Human Rights First.

First Federal Reserve Audit Reveals Trillions in Secret Bailouts

The first-ever audit of the U.S. Federal Reserve has revealed 16 trillion dollars in secret bank bailouts and has raised more questions about the quasi-private agency’s opaque operations.

U.S.: New Clean Air Rules Force Some Coal Plants to Close

Utility companies across the U.S. have announced plans to shut down and retire several coal-fired power plants following a new rule published by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intended to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide.

Iranian Man Faces Death over Religious Conversion

Faith leaders in the U.S. representing 25 million citizens have expressed outrage about the case of Youcef Nadarkhani, an Iranian man who faces the death penalty if he refuses to recant his Christian faith.

Undisclosed Beheading at Heart of Indonesian, Saudi Row

Indonesia, which has an estimated 1.2 million emigrants in Saudi Arabia, is deeply troubled that Saudi Arabia beheaded one of its citizens in a death penalty sentence without even contacting the government in Jakarta.

U.S.: Public Workers Fight to Preserve Pensions

Municipal workers across the United States are fighting to preserve their pensions amidst a concerted campaign by corporate interests coupled with budget shortfalls facing all urban areas in the current recession.

Iran Executing Hundreds in “War on Drugs”

Iran is drawing international criticism for its continued mass executions of people convicted of violating its drug laws. The Islamic Republic's judiciary reported that 300 people were on death row as of May 30.

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