Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • Children, Women with Disabilities More Likely to Face Discrimination

    Children, Women with Disabilities More Likely to Face Discrimination

    Women with disabilities in Afghanistan protest for their rights. Credit: Ashfaq Yusufzai/IPS Children with disabilities are up to four times more likely to experience violence, with girls being the most at risk, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund. “Children with disabilities are among the most marginalised groups in society. If society continues to see…

  • Immigration Court Ordered to Review Denied Asylum Petition

    Immigration Court Ordered to Review Denied Asylum Petition

    A federal appeals court in Boston has ordered a review of a Bureau of Immigration Appeals ruling that denied a rehearing to a man seeking asylum. Indra Sihotang is one of hundreds who have fled anti-Christian oppression in Indonesia. He has been allowed to stay in the U.S. for well over a decade, but last…

  • Not Buying It: Boston Claims Chronic Homelessness is Down 20 Percent

    Not Buying It: Boston Claims Chronic Homelessness is Down 20 Percent

    A couple of weeks ago the City of Boston had a round table conversation with the press to let us all know that due to their efforts chronic homelessness in the city has been reduced by 20 percent since 2016. If yours truly had been present at this conversation, those government employees would have gotten…

  • Tent Cities for Detaining Immigrants to be Built on Toxic Military Bases

    A coalition of immigrant, labor and environmental groups is demanding details on government plans to detain migrant families at military bases known to be contaminated from decades of use for munitions and hazardous waste disposal, nuclear weapons development and military firing ranges. On Wednesday, Aug. 22, as the Trump administration rushed to build tent cities at…

  • Tent Cities for Detaining Immigrants to be Built on Toxic Military Bases

    A coalition of immigrant, labor and environmental groups is demanding details on government plans to detain migrant families at military bases known to be contaminated from decades of use for munitions and hazardous waste disposal, nuclear weapons development and military firing ranges. On Wednesday, Aug. 22, as the Trump administration rushed to build tent cities at…

  • Boston Activists Rally to Show Solidarity With Nationwide Prison Strike

    Boston Activists Rally to Show Solidarity With Nationwide Prison Strike

    About 150 people rallied outside of Suffolk County Jail Thursday, Aug. 23 to stand in solidarity with a nationwide prison strike which kicked off earlier in the week. As police stood on the jailhouse steps, batons at the ready, protesters chanted, sang, and donned signs. The prison reformists and abolitionists called for the Massachusetts Department…

  • Boston Women’s Shelter finishes renovations

    Boston Women’s Shelter finishes renovations

    Alisha Bernard began singing when she was very young, found success performing throughout New England and had an opportunity to sign a record deal. But even as her voice soared, she struggled with personal challenges; depression and drug use. Ultimately, that professional opportunity was lost. She found herself as a guest at Woods-Mullen, an emergency…

  • Tenants facing eviction get the runaround from Marc Roos Realty during demonstration

    Tenants facing eviction get the runaround from Marc Roos Realty during demonstration

    Demonstrators rallied around the older tenants of Our Lady’s Guild House, many of whom are facing eviction. Photo: Marilyn Humphries. Our Lady’s Guild House (OLGH) tenants, looking to schedule a meeting with property manager Marc Roos, were ignored during a demonstration held on Saturday, August 25 with City Life/Vida Urbana. More than 50 people  demonstrated…

  • The Homeless Empowerment Project is looking for a new board member!!

    Treasurer (Volunteer) The Homeless Empowerment Project (HEP) is a not-for-profit corporation with an annual budget of $150,000 and five paid staff positions (all part-time). Every other week for the past 25 years, HEP has published Spare Change News, ​a street newspaper addressing issues of homelessness, poverty, and social justice in the Greater Boston area. HEP’s mission is to…

  • Men Acquitted for Death of Homeless Woman in House Fire

    Two men suspected of starting a house fire that killed a 29-year-old homeless women in 2016 were found no guilty by a jury in Suffolk Superior Court in August. The decision came after two and half days of deliberation by the jury following a week of testimony, according to Suffolk County District Attorney spokesman Jake…

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