Harnessing People Power
An interview with Avaaz co-founder Ricken Patel about democracy, the internet and creating change.
Alia Dharssi / @alia_d
Global Journalism Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto
Alia is a Global Journalism Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. She recently completed her M.Phil. in Development Studies at the University of Oxford, where she studied a slumdwellers' movement for housing rights in Mumbai, India.
Most Recent Posts
Sex, Social Change, and Politics in the Arab World
An Interview with author and activist Shereen El-Feki on how sexual rights can foster democracy and vice versa.
Using the Internet to Save Lives in Iran
An interview with human rights activist Maryam Nayeb Yazdi about her efforts to stop executions in Iran.
How the World Bank Got Over the Curse of Knowledge
An interview with Aleem Walji, Director of the World Bank’s Innovation Labs.
Canada’s Selective Approach to Development
An interview with Ian Smillie about the paternalism and commercial interests that underlie Canada’s recent aid initiatives.
Pushing for Change in the Garment Industry
An interview with Kalpona Akter, Executive Director of the Bangladesh Centre for Worker Solidarity, on building a more responsible industry.
The Solutions to Climate Change are Solutions for the 99 Percent
An interview with environmental activist Tzeporah Berman.
The State of Women’s Rights in Afghanistan
An interview with Sima Samar, the former Minister of Women’s Affairs in Afghanistan and currently the Chairperson of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission.
CSR Norms: From Principle to Practice
Dr. John Ruggie spearheaded the UN’s effort to transform the relationship between business and human rights. OpenCanada spoke to Ruggie about the evolution of global CSR norms and the road ahead.
Smart Collective Action in the Digital Age
The darker side of digital technology is dominating the headlines these days but is it really all bad news? Clive Thompson doesn’t think so.
Sustaining Development
OpenCanada talked to Nina Munk about Jeffrey Sachs, the Millennium Villages, and measuring the effectiveness of aid.
How Data is Revolutionizing Development
Sabina Alkire, Director of the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, on the important role of measurement in poverty eradication.