The Church of Scotland has voted to allow ministers to conduct same-sex marriages
The Church of Scotland has voted to draft new laws that would allow ministers to conduct same-sex marriages.
Civil society
Civil society encompasses the nonprofits, advocacy groups, community organizations, and grassroots movements that operate outside government and business to advance the public good. This archive collects stories of civil society actors driving measurable progress on issues ranging from human rights and environmental protection to public health and civic participation.
The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, dedicated to victims of American white supremacy, opens in Montgomery, Alabama
The Memorial overlooking the Alabama State Capitol demands a reckoning with one of the nation’s least recognized atrocities: the lynching of thousands of black people in a decades-long campaign of racist terror.
German union wins right to 28-hour working week and 4.3% pay rise
German workers won a key victory in their fight for a better work-life balance when a big employers’ group agreed to demands from the country’s largest trade union for the introduction of a 28-hour working week.
Anglican church set to offer special services for transgender people
The General Synod, meeting in York, voted in favour of the move by 284 votes to 78. It was the second time in two days that it gave overwhelming support to motions seen as positive towards LGBT people, suggesting to some a significant change of mood.
Church of Scotland apologizes for its historical discrimination against lesbian and gay people
The Kirk’s general assembly, meeting in Edinburgh, instructed officials to consider changes to church law that would allow ministers to preside over same-sex-marriage ceremonies.
First global standard for sustainable procurement hits the market
The first standard of its kind in the world, ISO 20400 aims to help companies make better purchasing choices throughout their supply chains by establishing guidelines for companies to judge suppliers on ethical and sustainability issues.
Economic Security Project commits $10 million to U.S. basic income research
Universal basic income got its first serious American test run in December 2016, when the Economic Security Project pledged $10 million over two years to fund U.S. pilots and research. More than 100 signatories joined in, from Sam Altman to Robert Reich. It marked the moment a long-running thought experiment finally met real money.
Wild tiger numbers rise for the first time in over a century
Wild tigers hit their lowest recorded point around 2010, with just 3,200 left across Asia. Six years later, a global census counted 3,890 across 13 countries — the first uptick in over a century. Scientists caution better counting explains some of the rise, but in places like India, Nepal, and Russia, protection appears to be working.
Giant pandas are removed from the endangered species list
Giant pandas stepped back from the brink in 2016, when the IUCN downlisted them from Endangered to Vulnerable. China’s wild panda population had climbed to roughly 1,864, up from fewer than 1,100 in the 1980s, thanks to decades of reserves and reforestation. A rare, measurable recovery — and a reminder that decline isn’t destiny.
India launches Swachh Bharat Mission to end open defecation nationwide
The Swachh Bharat Mission launched on October 2, 2014, Gandhi’s 150th birthday, with one audacious goal: end open defecation across India within five years. The government subsidized roughly 90 million toilets, and by 2022 the share of Indians practicing open defecation had dropped from 73% in 2000 to about 11%. A quiet shift in everyday public health.