Lead story · Global Crises
The Olive Network
EXPLORE…PERHAPS FORGOTTEN, WORDS TO RETURN TO
We started thinking about the words that have perhaps been most neglected in recent times, and the need to return to them, and with resolve…in all their forms and resonances
Now gathering
morality
54 voices connected
Stories
Dwelling·5 June 2026
It’s no surprise Trump has met his match in Pope Leo - Jonathan Freedland
Pope Leo XIV leads the mass in the Malabo Stadium in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on 23 April 2026. Photograph: Luca Zennaro/EPA
THE GUARDIAN · 6 min read
Charities·5 January 2021
The New Humanitarian: My hope for 2021 is...
Kurt Gerhardt, on behalf of the signatories to the Bonn Memorandum . Former country director of the German Volunteer Service (DED) in Niger, writing from Germany.
ON Network · 12 min read
Charities·21 May 2026
"We can no longer pretend that what we are witnessing across war zones is in accordance with the law"
Speech given by Mirjana Spoljaric, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, at the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict – 20 May 2026, New York
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS · 4 min read
Arts & Culture·1 December 2025
Emotional labour of social practice artists: moving towards sustainable collective care
by Rebecca Gordon and Naomi White • November 2025 • Journal article
BURLINGTON CONTEMPORARY · 34 min read
Arts & Culture·8 March 2021
Wise women: 6 ancient female philosophers you should know about
Michel Corneille the Younger: Aspasia surrounded by Greek philosophers. Wikimedia Commons
ON Network · 5 min read
Education·26 February 2021
MSF director on climate: 'We are at a crucial moment in the history of mankind'
Stephen Cornish, Director General of Médecins sans Frontières in Geneva INTERVIEW Published on 26 February 2021, 05:45. Updated on 26 February 2021, 08:20. MSF director on climate: 'We are at a crucial moment in the history of mankind' by Bruno Jochum We ask the incoming director of Médecins sans Fr
1 min read
Climate·1 October 2025
From the Global Sumud Flotilla to the UN General Assembly: Where are the humanitarians?
Boats, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla aiming to reach Gaza and break Israel's naval blockade, sail off Koufonisi islet, Greece, on 26 September 2025.
THE NEW HUMANITARIAN · 10 min read
Arts & Culture·20 March 2025
Shadowily in different tongues
Resiliencia Tlacuache, 2019. © Naomi Rincón Gallardo. Photo: Claudia López Terroso.
E-FLUX · 3 min read
Education·6 October 2024
MSF’s Christopher Lockyear: ‘It’s shocking to think that Gaza could be forgotten'
MSF secretary-general Chris Lockyear, at the organisation’s Geneva headquarters. (Geneva Solutions/Kasmira Jefford) ON SOURCE: GENEVA SOLUTIONS MSF’s Christopher Lockyear: ‘It’s shocking to think that Gaza could be forgotten By Kasmira Jefford A year since the 7 October Hamas attack that triggered t
GENEVA SOLUTIONS · 1 min read
Arts & Culture·28 January 2021
Reading the waves: who’s making sense of narrative change?
What’s the role of narratives and how do we update them once they’ve become obsolete? Anna Simpson discusses the process of shifting narratives in follow up to 2020, the agents and power dynamics implicated, and the role of futures as a…
ON Network · 8 min read
Humanitarian·18 February 2020
The librarian of Moria - and other tales of hope from the notorious refugee camp
Green shoots ... Sima Mohammedi, 26, a refugee volunteer from Afghanistan, in a garden at the One Happy Family community centre near Moria. Photograph: Byron Smith/Getty Images
ON Network · 18 min read
Dwelling·21 January 2020
The case for ... never demolishing another building
Should we start thinking of buildings as material depots, full of reusable resources for the next construction project? Photograph: Omar Marques/Echoes Wire/Barcroft Media
ON Network · 8 min read
Dwelling·14 October 2019
Innocence lost: what did you do before the internet?
Yawning gap: days of nothing are a ‘soon-to-be lost plane of human experience’. Illustration: Nathalie Lees
ON Network · 12 min read
Climate·3 September 2026
Why the UNEP 1.5°C overshoot report must be an urgent call to action on climate change
As Greenpeace International explains in its policy briefing, a just transition is more than simply swapping coal, oil and gas for renewables. It is an opportunity to transform energy, transport, industrial and other systems so they are more secure and affordable, reduce inequality, protect ecosystems and shift power from elites and multi-billion-dollar corporations to people.
GREENPEACE · 8 min read
Systems Change·29 August 2026
The End of Endless Growth: Should We Put the Brakes on Economic Expansion?
ON SOURCE: RADICAL WITH AMOL RAJAN Radio 4 , · 11 Jun 2026 , · 66 mins The End of Endless Growth: Should We Put the Brakes on Economic Expansion? (Kate Raworth) Radical LISTEN TO THE EPISODE What if growth wasn’t the main goal for economic
1 min read
Systems Change·10 June 2026
We economists have done the maths: ‘growth’ is a doomed strategy – there is a better way
Illustration: Eleanor Shakespeare/The Guardian Opinion/ Poverty ON SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN Wed 10 Jun 2026 10.00 CEST We economists have done the maths: ‘growth’ is a doomed strategy – there is a better way Olivier De Schutter , Joseph Stigli
7 min read
United Nations·24 May 2026
General Assembly backs historic World Court climate crisis ruling
© Unsplash/Juniper Photon Fossil fuels emit air pollutants that are harmful to both the environment and public health.
UN NEWS · 2 min read
Arts & Culture·5 December 2025
Lily Koppel: Paper-and-Pen Diaries Are Forever
I love diaries — physical, bound paper books filled with handwriting — more and more as the digital has taken over so much of our lives. I have an existential terror of losing my human coherence, my voice, to the chatbot. Human thought,…
NEW YORK TIMES · 6 min read
Climate·3 December 2025
Jason Hickel on Degrowth: A response to Branko Milanovic
In late 2017, Branko Milanovic wrote a blog post titled “ The illusion of degrowth in a poor and unequal world .” He penned it, he says, following a conversation he had with a proponent of degrowth, which was me. I wrote a response, which…
JASON HICKEL · 62 min read
Charities·16 November 2025
Featured Story: Philanthropy is adopting a new tool for impact: Futures thinking
There are three practical ways Forum uses futures to build collective capacity to respond to uncertainty and deliver on impact. Ariel Muller , Forum’s Director of Futures and Strategic Initiatives, explores the practices in this blog, the…
ON Network · 6 min read
Climate·14 November 2025
Philanthropies commit $300M for climate-health solutions at COP30
Belém, Brazil — A major philanthropic push is giving new momentum to climate-health action at the 30th U.N. Climate Change Conference , or COP30, where 35 global funders have announced a $300 million commitment to accelerate solutions at…
DEVEX · 3 min read
Climate·9 October 2025
‘Listen to the cry of the Earth’: Pope Leo takes aim at climate change sceptics
On stage with the pope were a large chunk of a melting glacier from Greenland and tropical ferns. Photograph: Vatican Media/EPA
THE GUARDIAN · 2 min read
Economics·18 July 2025
Reorganizing Production to Serve Life, Not Profit
Analysis of Capitalism - Globalization - Socio-ecological Transformation - Democratic Socialism
ROSA LUXEMBURG STIFTUNG · 23 min read
Arts & Culture·11 June 2025
Arundhati Roy on Writing in the Information Age
If i had any advice to give to people who want to write…please try and switch off…you don’t need all this information….you don’t need to know everything about everything, it’s unnatural…you need to know the earth, your neighbours, the…
SLU LIBRARIES YOUTUBE · 1 min read
Arts & Culture·8 March 2025
Fundació Miró Mallorca: Max de Esteban
The exhibition, curated by Antònia Maria Perelló, reflects on the human condition, technology and the society generated by post-capitalism in the 21st century. Its launch willl start with an enriching and blatant conversation between the…
Fundació Miró Mallorca · 4 min read
United Nations·19 October 2024
Tunes for Transformation: How Ancient Chinese Music Inspires Positive Change
In an ever-evolving world, music has the ability to stand as a timeless catalyst for positive transformation. Beyond notes and rhythms, it carries the potential to bridge divides, stir up feelings and emotions, unlock empathy, shift…
MUSEUM FOR THE UNITED NATIONS · 5 min read
Education·29 April 2024
International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace
As the most representative international organization and the utmost expression of multilateralism, the United Nations is the main instrument to address multifaceted and complex global challenges through collective action.
ON Network · 4 min read
Arts & Culture·15 March 2024
Marking the Web’s 35th Birthday: An Open Letter
Three and a half decades ago, when I invented the web, its trajectory was impossible to imagine. There was no roadmap to predict the course of its evolution, it was a captivating odyssey filled with unforeseen opportunities and challenges.…
ON Network · 5 min read
Humanitarian·15 February 2024
In Munich, Guterres calls for new global order that works for all
United Nations/Stephanie Tremblay - UN Secretary-General António Guterres addresses the Munich Security Conference in Germany
ON Network · 3 min read
Climate·12 December 2023
Climate advocates demand stronger COP28 language on fossil fuels
The 21-page text, prepared by the COP28 presidency, United Arab Emirates, makes no mention of fossil fuel ‘phasedown’ or ‘phaseout’, which UN Secretary-General António Guterres said earlier on Monday was one of the keys to the conference’s…
ON Network · 3 min read
Climate·29 October 2023
Climate crisis: how museums could inspire radical action
The Gallery of Ecological Art (formerly China gallery) at the British Museum of Decolonised Nature. Image courtesy John Zhang and Studio JZ, Author provided
ON Network · 15 min read
Education·4 October 2023
Climate change: Pope Francis warns world 'may be nearing breaking point'
Storm Elias in Greece is one of a number of recent devastating weather events that have been blamed on climate change Climate change By Aleem Maqbool & Harry Farley Religion editor, BBC News 'To the powerful, I can only repeat this question: 'What would induce anyone, at this stage, to hold on to po
1 min read
Climate·15 May 2023
We are faced with a climate emergency. Can art help?
We have a climate emergency. Regardless of where one stands on this issue – this is our ‘inconvenient truth’ . Yet the power to reach people has never been greater. Close to 3.2 billion people today are online, about 2 billion are from…
ON Network · 11 min read
Education·20 January 2023
Davos, Switzerland 18 January 2023 Secretary-General's remarks at the World Economic Forum
Davos, Switzerland 18 January 2023 Secretary-General's remarks at the World Economic Forum Excellencies, dear friends, Thank you very much for your welcome and thank you, dear President Schwab, for your kind words. It is very good to be back in Davos, and once again in person. Your theme perfectly s
1 min read
Climate·18 January 2023
WEF only ‘about tweaking the system’: rogue business leaders call for real wealth distribution
Published on January 18, 2023 19:43. Updated on January 18, 2023 22:25.
ON Network · 9 min read
Climate·28 November 2022
Statement by the Secretary-General at the conclusion of COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh
I thank our hosts – the Egyptian government and COP27 President Sameh Shoukry – for their hospitality.
ON Network · 4 min read
Climate·3 November 2021
Cop26: Countries hit worst by climate change call for $500bn by 2024
Published on 02 November 2021, 20:50. Updated on 03 November 2021, 10:47.
ON Network · 5 min read
Climate·2 November 2021
Climate change: Five dealmakers who will influence the outcome at COP26
Their complex role requires a sharp mind, a deep reserve of tact and incredible endurance. Talks often go through the night and rarely finish on time.
ON Network · 6 min read
Climate·18 October 2021
Environmental Justice Foundation: Taxpayers are funding planetary breakdown: Harmful subsidies must end
Tackling the interlocking triple crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and human rights abuses is fundamental to ensuring a safe, sustainable and just future. So why are we paying to accelerate these crises, and to make ourselves…
ON Network · 4 min read
Climate·12 October 2020
Reuters: Pull investments from companies not committed to environment, pope says
FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis speaks during a meeting with the Committee of Experts of the Council of Europe at the Vatican, October 8, 2020, in this still image taken from a video. Vatican Media/ Handout/File Photo
ON Network · 2 min read
Climate·8 August 2020
Nesta: Four Coronavirus Futures
At this very early stage in the responses to the pandemic, four narratives are taking shape, pointing us to quite different futures. These scenarios combine elements of continuity and discontinuity, realism and idealism, optimism and…
ON Network · 13 min read
Charities·10 March 2020
We simply can’t turn our backs on vulnerable refugee children
‘Boris Johnson’s withdrawal bill leaves the children whose rights have been removed with no means of finding their family in the UK.’ A child in the Moria refugee camp on Lesbos, Greece. Photograph: Orestis Panagiotou/EPA
ON Network · 4 min read
Arts & Culture·12 February 2020
How Activists Made the Art World Wake Up to the Climate Crisis
From school strikers at the Royal Shakespeare Company to a Trojan horse at the British Museum, protests over oil sponsorship have gripped the arts
ON Network · 10 min read
Arts & Culture·21 January 2020
The Arts and Climate Change | Canada Council for the Arts
Every day we witness new and dramatic consequences of the ongoing rise in temperatures. Scientists have been raising the alarm for quite some time—the causes of climate change are well-known and documented. Many people think the fires…
ON Network · 2 min read
Education·18 December 2019
‘We're bonded like sisters': the choir giving trafficked women a voice
Adwoa Dickson (project director), Shamuna Rahman (choir support), Racheal Olawaniotogun, (choir member) Francesca Ojefua (choir support) and daughter, Anna Samant (facilitator) A choral singing project is harnessing the power of music to help heal the mental and emotional scars of women trafficked i
1 min read
Climate·6 October 2019
It’s not just Greta Thunberg: why are we ignoring the developing world’s inspiring activists?
Kenyan 2004 Nobel peace prize winner and environmentalist Wangari Maathai. Photograph: Antony Njuguna/Reuters
ON Network · 4 min read
Charities·29 June 2019
Here’s why some Dutch university students are living in nursing homes
In today’s society both young and old increasingly find themselves living in a bubble of like-minded and similar-aged peers. This is especially true of university students who leave home at 18 to live with people of the same age – who have…
ON Network · 4 min read
Feed
Feed · 18/02/2026
How the University Replaced the Church as the Home of Liberal Morality
As progressive Americans have become more secular, the academy has become their primary moral training ground. The results have not been good.
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Feed · 14/07/2025
Our Médecins Sans Frontières staff are being killed in Gaza. Why are UK ministers enabling that? | Natalie Roberts
Britain has a duty to act morally, and stop supporting this genocide, says Médecins Sans Frontières UK executive director Dr Natalie Roberts
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Feed · 02/07/2025
The G7 has once again put multinationals’ profits over the interests of people
Acceding to US demands to exempt its companies from an agreed global tax deal is morally and financially indefensible
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Feed · 21/01/2024
The west’s complete contempt for the lives of Palestinians will not be forgotten | Owen Jones
Our political and media elites are complicit in Gaza’s nightmare. Any vestige of moral authority has been lost for ever, says Guardian columnist Owen Jones
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Feed · 29/03/2021
Stephen Cornish: Rescuing refugees ‘a moral imperative’ not a crime
On 4 March 2021, Italian prosecutors charged dozens of people from humanitarian organisations including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Save the Children with colluding with people smugglers while carrying out rescue operations in the Mediterranean. After an investigation spanning nearly four years, crew members, mission heads and legal representatives who saved thousands of people from drowning at sea are facing years in prison, sending shockwaves through the humanitarian community. “It’s har
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