Welcome to Dispatch #44! As we're sure many have experienced, being politically aware can be incredibly draining and it's easy to fall into despair when we are bombarded with everything that's wrong with the world. While awareness is critical, it's just as important to not let that awareness turn into cynicism or burnout. We must do everything to keep hope alive within ourselves, because hope is the basis for taking action. This week, let's explore 4 different concepts that we enjoy that help us stay hopeful, the story of a restaurant using food to break through propaganda, a theory about why American political parties often fall short, new resources, and more - let's get into it!
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Easy Actions to Take
Why: Congolese armed forces have failed to protect civilians and have committed serious crimes, including rape and other violations of international law. Armed groups supporting government forces have also abused civilians. But none of them have been held accountable. This can change if millions of people act together. Push Congolese authorities to establish an internationalized justice mechanism that will investigate and prosecute both Congolese and foreign actors suspected of having committed crimes under international law in the DRC. Organized by Amnesty International
Why: Palantir’s mass surveillance technology is being integrated into key healthcare systems across the world, exposing private patient data to a private company actively involved in surveillance and war crimes globally. The UK government must decide by December 2026 whether to keep NHS England’s £330m Federated Data Platform contract with Palantir. Alternatives to Palantir already exist, but what’s missing is the political will to go another direction. Organized by Newscord
Why: Breakthrough News is one of the most visible and consistent leftist news outlets covering politics in the United States and has recently come under attack by the House Ways and Means committee as part of Trump’s crackdown on leftist opposition, falsely claiming that their political views and reporting are part of some foreign plot. This is a blatant attack on the First Amendment and, if not resisted, will set precedent for more attacks in the future. Organized by Breakthrough News
Little (Movement) Wins
How a Restaurant Used Food to Fight Propaganda
Activist History
