by Marisa De La Villa Before being known as the architect of modern nonviolent resistance, Gene Sharp spent decades working in relative obscurity, developing a theory of power that challenged the very foundation of how governments are able to maintain control. 1 Unlike earlier thinkers who framed nonviolence as a moral or religious principle, Sharp approached it as a strategy– one that could be studied, refined, and applied across different political contexts. 2 Working through historical case studies and political analysis, he argued that power is not inherently possessed by rulers, rather, it depends on the obedience and cooperation of ordinary people. 3 This idea became the foundation for his most influential work: a systematic breakdown of nonviolent action into 198 different methods. These ranged from protests and symbolic acts to economic boycotts and institutional noncooperation. 4 Like a tactical manual, the list transformed resistance into something concrete and repeatable ...
by Ishabela Lopez Across the United States, cities are investing in greener infrastructure. New parks, bike lanes, waterfront promenades, and tree-lined streets promise cleaner air and healthier communities. These projects are often celebrated as signs of urban progress. But in many cases, environmental improvements can also trigger higher housing costs, real estate speculation, and displacement. One of the most well-known examples of this dynamic can be found in New York City: the High Line. The High Line is an elevated park built on a former freight rail line on Manhattan’s West Side. Originally constructed in the 1930s to transport industrial goods, the rail line eventually fell into disuse. In the early 2000s, local advocates and city planners proposed converting the abandoned structure into a public park. The first section opened in 2009. Today, the High Line attracts millions of visitors every year and is widely considered one of the most innovative urban parks in the world. But ...