Felix Dodds is Adjunct Professor at the University of North Carolina. Felix chaired the 2011 UN conference that proposed the first set of indicative Sustainable Development Goals. From 1992 to 2012, he served as the Executive Director of the Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future. He established the Network for Regional Government for Sustainable Development in 2002, the Water and Climate Coalition in 2007, and the Communitas Coalition for the UN’s SDG 11 in 2013. His most recent books are both with Chris Spence: last year's Environmental Lobbying at the United Nations and the 2023 book Heroes of Environmental Diplomacy: Profiles in Courage. The United Nations, through its international conferences, research studies, agency programs, and collaboration with civil society, has been one of the most significant proponents of discussions on the climate crisis and clean energy. Many countries have bypassed the USA in achieving energy independence and environmental enhancement.,

July 20, 2026

Norman Solomon is the national director of RootsAction and is executive director of the Institute for Public Accuracy. He’s the author of more than a dozen books including “War Made Invisible: How America Hides the Human Toll of Its Military Machine.” His new book is – “The Blue Road to Trump Hell. “The insane violence in Ukraine and Gaza shows how we desperately need an international order that is rules-based; however, if the world is to limit this war machine madness and militarization of police forces, it must evaluate these disasters and develop the machinery to create equitable rules for everyone. Many of the legacy media members are captive to the military industrial complex. The 7-7-7 Rule that limited how many media outlets one entity could control was gutted during the Reagan and Clinton administrations. Legacy Media should not be scribes and repeat misinformation and lies that many politicians regurgitate.

July 19, 2026

Matthew Davis is the author of “When Things Get Dark: A Mongolian Winter’s Tale.” He has been an Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fellow at New America, a Fellow at the Black Mountain Institute at UNLV, and a Fulbright Fellow to Syria and Jordan. He holds an MFA in nonfiction writing from the University of Iowa and an MA in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. His recent book is “A Biography of a Mountain: The Making and Meaning of Mount Rushmore.”

From the grandeur of Mount Rushmore, located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, to the spiritual serenity of the Leshan Giant Buddha in China, Petra in Jordan, Ellora Caves in India. These carvings connect us to our past and inspire us to appreciate the beauty and complexity of our shared heritage, as well as ensure their stories and significance endure for future generations.

July 17, 2026