A focus on the dangers and impacts of climate change, while important, is only part of the solution. Climate doomism, that overwhelming feeling that things are so bad there is nothing we can do, is real and, in my opinion, equally dangerous.
Read MoreIt matters where we spend our time (and money) online
We can all be more responsible content producers as well as more responsible content consumers because what we write and post, and where we consume that content matters — a lot!
Read MoreThe call for a transition away from fossil fuels is a historic step.
As we near the end of the hottest year on record, some good news for the planet. The COP28 Global Stocktake agreement has been signed, sealed and delivered, and for the first time ever, nearly 200 countries declared that the age of fossil fuels must come to an end. Now the real work begins.
Read MoreThe Transition Is Unstoppable
I hope you are following the events in Dubai where COP28 (the UN climate conference) is happening. So far, the reviews are mixed and the eventual impact is uncertain, but one thing is clear: never has it been more urgent or necessary for the world’s leaders to unite for the solutions, policies, and commitments that will ensure a climate safe world for everyone.
Read MoreRemembering the life and work of First Lady Rosalynn Carter
Her “best” changed more than just the role or expectations for first ladies — she changed lives.
Read More‘If you care for the land, the land will take care of you’
This year, since we will gather in Georgia, on land that was once the homeland of multiple Indigenous communities, I want to honor and acknowledge the history of what happened here before and what is happening now.
Read MoreWhat is COP and why should we pay attention?
COP28 begins soon – the 28th Climate Change Conference of its kind. Women should be at the table for every decision and commitment made during COP, but we know that will likely not be the case. That’s why I’d like to share a powerful event coming up that brings women’s voices to the forefront of these conversations.
Read More‘Action is the antidote to despair’
As Joan Baez, one of my favorite songwriters/performers/activists from my political ‘coming of age’ era, once said, "Action is the antidote to despair." Tomorrow is Election Day in the United States, and voting is one action we can all take as US citizens — and a privilege for every person living in a democratic country — to fend off the despair so easily experienced given the wars, the violence, and the rollback on rights in so many places today.
Read More“Today’s dark hour must be a catalyst for change.”
This week, among the many strong statements made by global organizations about the current situation, I was particularly inspired by the one published by The Elders, an organization of global leaders founded in 2007 by Nelson Mandela who are "working for peace, justice, human rights and a sustainable planet."
Read MoreWomen Speak Out for Pathway to Peace
Today, reflecting on the violence in Israel and Gaza, I am remembering — and honoring — the women who have been tirelessly working for a sustainable peace in the region for decades, some of whom I met and interviewed while making the 1991 documentary, “Women In War: Voices From the Frontlines.”
Read MoreHere I am at 80.... Still movement building!
In developing Project Dandelion, we've spent a lot of time thinking about what ingredients are necessary for a successful social movement in 2023. Even though the ways we organize have changed (social media, email and Zoom make it a whole lot easier to connect), the truth is that what is needed for a successful social movement to be launched, sustained and successful in outcomes is essentially the same as when I started organizing in college.
Read MoreSeeding a Movement for Climate Justice
Over the last few weeks, Project Dandelion, a women-led global movement for climate justice, has been very active. Energized by the connections we’ve made during our learning journey to better understand how to elevate and amplify the important work we’ve observed, we are more convinced than ever that leading for a just transition from the current crisis is the challenge — and yes, the opportunity — for all women to show up, speak out, and come together, connected by a vision of the future that is in our hands.
Read MoreBrazil — and the potential for consequential impact
There can’t be anything more motivating for each of us than knowing that what we do or don’t do will determine the planet's future.
Read MoreAdvice for Aging Well? Get More Engaged!
From the climate crisis to the rollback on rights, to the threats democracies are facing on nearly every continent, there is an ever increasing need for each and every one of us to get more engaged, give more and have more impact.
Read MoreA Tribute to Jess Search
Jess Search, a formidable force in the documentary community, and in the lives of all who knew her or worked with her as co-founder of the Doc Society, died last week from brain cancer at the age of 54. She was a passionate fighter for justice and independent voices, and a beloved and brilliant friend.
Read MoreWomen Deliver Delivers!
I confess to being somewhat addicted to women’s conferences. I'm always energized by the female and feminist energy. That’s partly why I initiated, in partnership with TED, the annual TEDWomen conference… and it’s partly why I am inspired to share with you this week a report from Women Deliver – one of, if not the largest women’s conference in the world — convened for the first time on the African continent.
Read More9 Books I'm Reading This Summer
Sharing my summer reading list with all of you! After last week's warmest days on record, I've moved my two climate themed books to the top of my stack. These two books shift the narrative from fear to hope. Hope inspires action — and actions, individually and collectively, are necessary. My list also includes some gripping memoirs, great advice from successful women business leaders, and much, much more!
Read MoreWhy We Need More Women in Office
In 2019, Nevada became the first state in the country with a female-majority state legislature, with women holding 33 of 63 legislative seats, proving that changing the representation picture at local and national levels is possible. It just takes more women voters, candidates, and leaders.
Read MoreOne Year On, the ‘Collateral Damage’ of Dobbs on Women's Health Care in America
One year after the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, women across the United States are feeling the effects. There are 25 million American women living in states with abortion bans or tighter restrictions. But even in states where abortion is legal, abortion providers are seeing patients who have traveled, sometimes great distances, to access reproductive care.
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(L-R) Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens; Woodruff Arts Center President & CEO Hala Moddelmog with Pat Mitchell, co-founder and editorial director of TEDWomen and WAC board member, and Monique Ruff-Bell, head of conferences at TED. (October, 2022, Photo by Ben Dashwood for Woodruff Arts Center).
Join Me in Taking Two Steps Forward at TEDWomen This Fall!
We’ll celebrate those taking bold strides into the future and those working unapologetically to make big dreams become reality, highlighting the progress being made toward equity in technology, science, and health care while giving space for an important review of the barriers to full economic, racial and gender equity everywhere!
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