Carissa Wyant

Carissa Wyant is a former MintPress columnist specializing in faith, race and social justice issues. She has been published in the Huffington Post, Patch.com, American City Business Journals and various local publications around the American Midwest.

Protesters In Tunisia Fight Back Against Salafi Extremists Hijacking Democracy in Post Arab Spring Middle East

In this Monday, Aug. 13, 2012 photo Tunisian women carry placards protesting their rights which read: « women the symbol of Tunisia » left, and « fights for women rights », right, as they march in Tunis. (AP Photo/Hassene Dridi) (Mint Press) — « We are proud of Tunisian women … and we will not let Islamists turn our spring […]

Carissa Wyant
Par Carissa Wyant
In this Monday, Aug. 13, 2012 photo Tunisian women carry placards protesting their rights which read: "women the symbol of Tunisia" left, and "fights for women rights", right, as they march in Tunis. (AP Photo/Hassene Dridi)

(Mint Press) — "We are proud of Tunisian women ... and we will not let Islamists turn our spring into a winter," said Sami Layouni, a 40-year-old man who was amongst protesters in Tunisia’s capital this week calling for the country’s government, led since October by Islamist moderates Ennahda, to turn away from the influence of hardline Salafi

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Countries From Australia To Israel Violating UN Refugee Convention

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, center, stops by UNICEF classroom tent during his tour at Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees in Mafraq, Jordan, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012. (AP photo/Mohammad Hannon) (MintPress) —  Several countries across the world are being criticized for their treatment of refugees who arrive at their borders seeking asylum, many whom […]

Carissa Wyant
Par Carissa Wyant
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, center, stops by UNICEF classroom tent during his tour at Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees in Mafraq, Jordan, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012. (AP photo/Mohammad Hannon)

(MintPress) —  Several countries across the world are being criticized for their treatment of refugees who arrive at their borders seeking asylum, many whom have lived through dangerous and harrowing ordeals before even making it to these nations. Moreover, the United Nations Refugee Convention, which provides a definition of who is a refugee

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“War on Women” Inspiring Women To Run For Office

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and first lady Michelle Obama present the 2012 International Women of Courage Award to former political prisoner Zin Mar Aung of Myanmar, on the 101st Anniversary of International Women’s Day, Thursday, March 8, 2012, at the State Department in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) (MintPress) — On a scorching, humid, […]

Carissa Wyant
Par Carissa Wyant
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and first lady Michelle Obama present the 2012 International Women of Courage Award to former political prisoner Zin Mar Aung of Myanmar, on the 101st Anniversary of International Women's Day, Thursday, March 8, 2012, at the State Department in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

(MintPress) — On a scorching, humid, 95 degree day, Minnesota Sen. Ann Rest arrived at my front door. The 70-year-old democratic senator had invited me to join her in door-knocking, whereby one goes door-to-door, persuading voters to vote for a particular cause or candidate. In this case, we would be stumping for Rest, who’s up for reelecton in

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Lack Of Healthy Food In Impoverished Areas Leads To High Obesity Rates

In this photo taken Jan. 20, 2010, Paris Woods, has her waist measured as she takes part in her final session of a 20 month obesity prevention study at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green) (MintPress) —  One-third of Americans are obese; another third are overweight. About 26 million Americans have […]

Carissa Wyant
Par Carissa Wyant
In this photo taken Jan. 20, 2010, Paris Woods, has her waist measured as she takes part in her final session of a 20 month obesity prevention study at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

(MintPress) —  One-third of Americans are obese; another third are overweight. About 26 million Americans have Type 2 diabetes, and another 79 million more are pre-diabetic. Research says that children today have a good chance of becoming the first generation of Americans to die at younger ages than their parents. It’s no secret that obesity has

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Hip-Hop Peace Activists Use Music As A Vehicle For Worldwide Social Change

Omar Chakaki, left, whose performance alias is Omar Offendum and Nizar Wattad, who goes by the name Ragtop,perform at the Coda lounge, Thursday, March 16, 2006, in New York. (AP Photo/ Dima Gavrysh) (MintPress)— “I heard em say /The revolution won’t be televised/Aljazeera proved ‘em wrong/Twitter has him paralyzed /80 million strong/And ain’t no longer […]

Carissa Wyant
Par Carissa Wyant
Omar Chakaki, left, whose performance alias is Omar Offendum and Nizar Wattad, who goes by the name Ragtop,perform at the Coda lounge, Thursday, March 16, 2006, in New York. (AP Photo/ Dima Gavrysh)

(MintPress)— “I heard em say /The revolution won’t be televised/Aljazeera proved ‘em wrong/Twitter has him paralyzed /80 million strong/And ain't no longer gonna be/terrorized/Organized - Mobilized - Vocalized /On the side of TRUTH!”  Syrian-American poet and rapper Omar Offendum wrote those lyrics about the 2011 demonstrations in Tahrir Square

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Suicide Rates Skyrocket In Native Communities Despite Political Efforts to Curb Problem

A rose commemorates the place on Cornell University’s Suspension Pedestrian bridge where Junior Matthew Zika, 21, of Lafayette, Ind., is believed to have fallen from, Friday, March 12, 2010, into the Fall Creek Gorge seen below. (AP Photo/Heather Ainsworth) (MintPress) — Suicide rates amongst Americans have been on the rise in recent years, and experts […]

Carissa Wyant
Par Carissa Wyant
A rose commemorates the place on Cornell University's Suspension Pedestrian bridge where Junior Matthew Zika, 21, of Lafayette, Ind., is believed to have fallen from, Friday, March 12, 2010, into the Fall Creek Gorge seen below. (AP Photo/Heather Ainsworth)

(MintPress) — Suicide rates amongst Americans have been on the rise in recent years, and experts say this epidemic is closely tied to tough economic times. However, indigenous peoples from the United States to Australia are seeing an even worse problem with suicide than the general population, as rates are skyrocketing, according to studies on

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Amidst Tensions Between US and Iran, Muslim, Christian Scholars Form Friendship At Vatican

Pope Benedict XVI waves as he arrives for an audience to newly appointed archbishops, the day after they received the pallium, a woolen shawl symbolizing their bond to the pope, at the Paul VI hall, Vatican, Saturday, June 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca) VATICAN, Italy (MintPress) — In an effort to forge a friendship […]

Carissa Wyant
Par Carissa Wyant
Pope Benedict XVI waves as he arrives for an audience to newly appointed archbishops, the day after they received the pallium, a woolen shawl symbolizing their bond to the pope, at the Paul VI hall, Vatican, Saturday, June 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)

VATICAN, Italy (MintPress) — In an effort to forge a friendship and mutual religious understanding, amidst tense political relations between their home countries, American Christian and Iranian Muslim scholars met recently at the Vatican in Rome, Italy. Seven members of the theology faculty of Al-Mustafa University in Qom, Iran and four members

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