Special Edition: Sending Aid to Turkey & Syria
Pixie Carlisle Pixie Carlisle

Special Edition: Sending Aid to Turkey & Syria

On February 6, Turkey and Syria were struck by two devastating earthquakes and more than one hundred frightening aftershocks. Buildings were leveled, and homes were completely destroyed. Rescue groups deployed as quickly as possible to save people who were trapped and crushed by tons of rubble. The videos of families and first responders digging by hand to free trapped victims have been harrowing. The number of people presumed dead now totals more than 21,000, an unimaginable and tragic figure.

Read More
New Year, New Girl Friday
Pixie Carlisle Pixie Carlisle

New Year, New Girl Friday

Happy New Year, Friends! Thank you for subscribing to The Friday Brief - our community keeps expanding thanks to all of you sharing this newsletter with friends, family, and colleagues.

Read More
Two Gretas and One Pizza Box? The Takedown of Andrew Tate
HRH Pixie Carlisle HRH Pixie Carlisle

Two Gretas and One Pizza Box? The Takedown of Andrew Tate

How many Gretas does it take to bring down a notorious online misogynist and alleged human trafficker? Just two. While this week's turn of events in Romania has certainly been an amusing and satisfying end to the year on social media, what can we do about the growing acceptance of violence against women online? How can we end misogyny on social media?

Read More
Something in the Water
After Six Pixie Carlisle After Six Pixie Carlisle

Something in the Water

This month, the Minnesota Reformer published "There Must Be Something in the Water," a two-part series on 3M (a company that operates in the fields of science, technology, and public health). The series covered chemical contamination in the waters of Minnesota that may have led to high cancer rates in communities like Oakdale, MN. While it is difficult to positively link each specific diagnosis to 3M's chemical waste, the connections are impossible to ignore. The Minnesota Reformer series focused on the pediatric impacts of the environmental catastrophe. They learned that at Oakdale's Tartan High School, students often said, “Don’t drink the 3M cancer water.” Current and former young Oakdale residents like Amara Strande, age 20, are battling rare cancers, suffering through multiple surgeries and facing life-altering diagnoses. There are numerous ways for "forever chemicals" (a common term for the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances referenced in this case) to seep into our environment, drinking water, and bodies. What can we do to protect our communities and our planet? 

Read More
'Indefensible' Labor Practices on U.S. Bases
7053 Pixie Carlisle 7053 Pixie Carlisle

'Indefensible' Labor Practices on U.S. Bases

A new report released last week alleges several defense contractors in the Persian Gulf are trapping foreign workers into debt bondage and other corrupt employment practices on at least four U.S. military bases. The U.S. government has made its stance against forced labor, human trafficking, and unethical employment processes very clear, both at home and abroad. So, why is this happening? And, what can we do to help make certain that all workers on U.S. military bases are safe and treated with dignity and respect?

Read More