51吃瓜

From Bernie Sanders to same-sex marriage, Medea Benjamin gives the lowdown on 2015.

It would certainly be easy to do a piece about ten horrible events from 2015鈥攆rom the ongoing war in Syria and the refugee crisis, to the attacks in Beirut, Paris and San Bernardino, to the rise of Donald Trump and Islamophobia. But that wouldn鈥檛 be a very inspiring way to bid farewell to this year and usher in a new one. So let鈥檚 look at ten reasons to feel better about 2015.

1) Iran nuclear deal: Despite significant political opposition and millions of dollars spent to try quash the deal, the nuclear agreement with Iran was passed, and the possibility of another US military entanglement was narrowly avoided. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a powerful lobby, had its wings clipped, as did Israel鈥檚 Benjamin Netanyahu (except that the deal unfortunately came with a payoff of even more US tax dollars going to the Israeli military).

2) Cuba thaw: It鈥檚 official: The US and Cuba now have embassies in each other鈥檚 territory for the first time in over half a century. The year has been marked by a United Nations meeting between Raul Castro and Barack Obama, more travelers to Cuba and more trade between both countries . But Congress still needs to lift the trade embargo, fully lift the travel ban and return the Guantanamo naval base to the Cubans.

3) Keystone pipeline: After years of stellar grassroots activism against the Keystone pipeline (and years of lobbying by the oil companies), President Obama finally took the side of the activists (and the planet) by shutting down the project. And while the Paris climate talks we need to stop global climate chaos, they did raise consciousness and move the global community in the right direction.

4) The Black Lives Matter movement gets results: This incredible uprising has forced issues of racial injustice into the national spotlight and created real reforms within communities across America. The Movement for Black Lives got its momentum in the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, and spread throughout the nation. Cops have been convicted, police chiefs have been ousted, citizen review boards have been empowered, confederate flags have come down, buildings named after racists have been renamed and presidential candidates have been forced to talk about race. Kudos to the many young black activists leading the way.

5) Canada welcomes refugees: While Donald Trump threatens to ban Muslims from the US, newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau showed the rest of the world how a country can open its doors鈥攁nd hearts鈥攖o Syrian refugees. Trudeau and other smiling officials welcomed the first batch of Syrian refugees with flowers, toys, clothing, goodwill and the heartfelt declaration, 鈥淵ou are home.鈥� 鈥淲e get to show the world how to and welcome in people who are fleeing extraordinarily difficult situations … because we聽 a Canadian not by a skin color or a language or a religion or a background, but by a shared set of values, aspirations, hopes and dreams,鈥� Trudeau.

6) Jeremy Corbyn heads the British Labour Party: Running on an anti-war, anti-austerity and pro-refugee platform, longtime progressive parliamentarian Jeremy Corbyn earned a whopping 59% of his party鈥檚 votes. In with Democracy Now鈥檚 Amy Goodman, Corbyn voiced his support for diplomacy and his aversion to airstrikes in the Middle East: 鈥淚 want a world of peace. I鈥檓 not interested in bombs. I鈥檓 not interested in wars. I鈥檓 interested in peace.鈥� Wouldn鈥檛 that be nice to hear from Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi?

7) Same-sex marriage was legalized in the US: In a landmark and long-awaited decision, the Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage a federal right. On June 26, the LGBTQ community and its allies rejoiced and took the streets to celebrate the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling. While there have been some minor setbacks since then (primarily due to bigots like Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis), there is no turning back now.

8) Ten years of BDS wins: The non-violent, non-sectarian, Palestinian-led movement for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel has seen a decade of victories. Key this year was the by the European Union that goods produced on land seized in the 1967 war must be labeled 鈥淢ade in Settlements鈥� (not 鈥淢ade in Israel鈥�), which will deprive Israel the corresponding tax benefits. The former Israeli intelligence chief, Shabtai Shavit, is that BDS has become a 鈥渃ritical鈥� challenge to Israel, while former Prime Minister Ehud Barak admits it is reaching a 鈥渢ipping point.鈥� In a desperate attempt to counter the momentum of BDS, Israeli Embassy officials in Washington, DC sent holiday gifts exclusively to the White House this year.

9) Marijuana becomes mainstream: What a year of momentum to end America鈥檚 disastrous war on drugs and mass incarceration. Marijuana is now legal in Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Oregon and Washington, DC. California and others will hit the ballot box in 2016 to hopefully push us on marijuana legalization. Obama, the first president to visit a prison, spoke out forcefully and for criminal justice reform, and he is helping formerly incarcerated people re-enter society by 鈥溾�� 聽for those applying for federal jobs.

10) Bernie Sanders鈥� presidential campaign: The energy that Bernie Sanders has mobilized, especially among young progressives, has been phenomenal. While the media is obsessed with Trump, droves of people have been flocking to hear Bernie talk about breaking up big banks, a financial transaction tax to make college education free, single-payer health care and other ideas to make our society more just. Wouldn鈥檛 it be great if this movement could continue after the race is over?

So while this holiday season the nation is obsessed with the latest Donald Trump insult and the special effects of Star Wars, may we bring in the new year truly striking back at the injustices of the empire. May the force be with the grassroots activists trying to build a more peaceful world.

The views expressed in this article are the author鈥檚 own and do not necessarily reflect 51吃瓜鈥檚 editorial policy.

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