In this presidential campaign season marked by candidates who describe corporations as persons, and immigrants as threats to America's national security and cultural identity, a short animated video titled Globalization: preventing the sameness of the world paints a very different picture. The threat, according to the Ukrainian-born Eugene...

Internationally renowned artist Mike Kelley was found dead in his home on Tuesday at the age of 57. The LA Times reported that his death was an apparent suicide, but could not be confirmed until an autopsy is completed. Kelly was known as a gifted artist and musician,...

Cameron Douglas, the son of Academy Award winner Michael Douglas who is serving a five-year sentence for drug dealing, was just sentenced to an additional four and a half years in prison. Judge Richard Berman, who has to be one of the most clueless justices in the federal...

Every year about this time I write to the governor of New York and ask him to go on a rescue mission and grant clemency to people convicted under the notorious Rockefeller Drug Laws.

The holiday season is a traditional time for executives to use...

The right to vote is an important part of being an American citizen. Despite this fact, in 2011 several state legislatures have introduced bills that would make it harder for you to exercise your right to vote. This effort is unprecedented in scope, well-coordinated, and carefully targeted. African Americans, Latinos,...

Last night at Rush Arts Gallery, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President Seth W. Pinsky, and Curate NYC Executive Producers Brian Tate and Danny Simmons unveiled the winners for the second-annual Curate NYC exhibition. One hundred and fifty artists were chosen from the approximately 1,500...

The issue of hunger is worldwide problem. But for the most part no one really notices the consequences unless the subject hits home. With the holiday season upon us New Yorkers need to do our part to take action in trying to see that no one goes hungry. One organization...

This Thanksgiving through an extraordinary program, men on Rikers Island are giving back to the city by cooking turkeys and fixings for over 800 New Yorkers in need. This includes 400 elderly men and women who are home-bound. Participants of the Osborne Association's Fresh Start program that trains...

On February 18, 2011 the Nassau County Crime Lab was closed down because of grave concerns about the integrity of testing evidence. A multitude of errors were found to be committed that jeopardized thousands of cases.

It was estimated that 3,000 drug convictions might have to be...

People often ask me where I got my start as a writer and where I learned my craft. When I tell them that I honed my writing skills in prison from a maverick writer, they do a double take.

My teacher was Fielding Dawson who was the chairman and...

Talk about dying to get your freedom. Dana Beal, a well-known drug war activist, literally did just that on his way to the slammer. Beal -- one of the founders of the Yippee movement and chief organizer of the Global Marijuana...

Curate NYC is back for round two. A citywide juried exhibition and online showcase, the project offers free curatorial reviews, public exposure and exhibition opportunities to New York City visual artists.

Curate NYC is developed by Full Spectrum Experience, Inc., a nonprofit arts organization led by painter/gallery...

When you thought it could not get worse for Cameron Douglas, the son of movie star, Michael Douglas -- it does. It was just reported that Cameron, who is serving a five-year sentence for drug dealing, now has pleaded guilty to drug possession while in prison. He took a plea...

Stories about economic and social inequities and vulnerable populations are recently making it to the mainstream press as is evident by the blossoming Occupy Wall Street protests not only in New York City but all over the country and the world.

One woman, Judith Sloan, has been making a...

The history of using music as a tool for social justice and empowerment has a rich and deep place in history. Recently the issue of hunger was the subject of two music events when legendary singer Tony Bennett staged a concert in Los Angeles to benefit AARP's drive to end...

This week Cameron Douglas, who is serving time in a federal prison for drug dealing, testified at his alleged drug supplier's criminal trial. Douglas, the son of Academy Award-winning actor Michael Douglas and the grandson of legendary actor Kirk, sung like a bird about his relationship with accused...

Bruce Reilly is a first-year law student who received a scholarship from Tulane University and the NAACP to achieve his dream of becoming an attorney. Bruce's love of the law blossomed after working in his community as an activist helping those that were marginalized. Before this he served...

In September of 1971, one of the bloodiest prison riots in the history of the United States took place at Attica Correctional Facility in Attica, New York. The uprising was brought on by prisoners living in terrible conditions who wanted to fix a broken system of justice.

Oklahoma State Senator Connie Johnson thinks Larry Yarbrough should be free. Larry, a model prisoner, is in his 17th year of a life-without-parole sentence for a nonviolent drug crime. On August 17, Sen. Johnson will speak on behalf of Yarbrough at an Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board hearing...

"If you can't control drugs in a maximum security prison, then how can you control drugs in a free society?" Those are my words that close Breaking the Taboo, a poignant new film about the global drug war.

On May 31st I was invited to attend its...