Traveling the World for Hope 🌍📖🕊️
Lessons for a better America from Natasha Hakimi Zapata’s Another World Is Possible.
Hello, explorers, changemakers, and dreamers,
Every day, I feel the weight of chaos, crisis, and challenges raining down. Democracy under attack, inequality between super-rich billionaires and the working class, and crumbling public trust in government, non-profits, and good causes. It’s overwhelming and threatening to pull us under.
But even in this destructive storm, I refuse to give up. What if another world is possible, not as a distant dream, not a radical idea, but solutions that exist today?
Recently, I had the chance to interview Natasha Hakimi Zapata with a message of optimism and hope.
Join us on a journey around the world to learn about her new book, Another World Is Possible, as we unpack solutions, policies, and stories from around the world.
The Writers Corner: Stories and Solidarity ✍️📖🔗
Writing is a superpower for National Writers Union (NWU) members. Our Writers Corner program is a creative space for writers to share their books, craft, and creative journeys, strengthening the community of voices pushing for change.
Recently, we were honored to welcome Natasha Hakimi Zapata—award-winning journalist, translator, university lecturer, and NWU member—who joined us from the UK to share insights from her book, Another World Is Possible: Lessons for America from Around the Globe. Through her writing and research, Natasha explores real-world solutions from policies implemented across the world, offering proof that solutions to our urgent challenges exist today.
Listening to Natasha, I experienced a flashback to My Journey with Bernie, traveling across the country, meeting people who shared a vision for America and a future to believe in for all.
Traveling the World for Solutions 🌍✈️💡
Natasha’s book takes us on a trip around the world to discover real-world policies and practical lessons for the U.S. Through in-depth reporting and interviews with officials, everyday citizens, and union leaders, she uncovers bold solutions that are already working.
Here are just a few highlights from her exploration:
🇬🇧 UK: Universal Healthcare: The National Health Service (NHS) ensures healthcare for all, a system born from the labor movement after WWII and protected by unions. Natasha herself has benefited while living there.
🇳🇴 Norway: Family-Friendly Policies: A year of paid parental leave, a “daddy quota” for gender equity, and affordable childcare help families thrive while supporting full employment.
🇸🇬 Singapore: Public Housing for All: Nearly 80% of Singaporeans live in public housing, many as homeowners, proving affordable housing isn't just a dream.
🇫🇮 Finland: Universal Education: Private schools? Almost nonexistent. All teachers get free master’s degrees in pedagogy, and unions negotiate contracts while shaping education policy.
🇵🇹 Portugal: Drug Decriminalization: Treating addiction as a public health issue instead of a crime has saved lives.
🇪🇪 Estonia: Digital Rights: Internet access is a human right, with a nationwide citizen portal streamlining access to benefits.
🇺🇾 Uruguay: Renewable Energy Revolution: In less than 10 years, a publicly owned utility turned Uruguay into a global clean energy leader, proof that even resource-limited countries can green their grid.
🇨🇷 Costa Rica: Biodiversity Protection: A landmark biodiversity law ensures that nature belongs to the people, safeguarding resources for future generations.
🇳🇿 New Zealand: Universal Pensions: A flat-rate, universal pension eliminates inequalities in retirement, ensuring that everyone receives the same support, no matter their income history.
Call to Action: Turning Stories into Change 📚💡📢
Natasha reminds us that these stories are not just for reading. They’re a playbook for action.
At a book event in Baltimore, one attendee planned to use Another World Is Possible while knocking on doors. A teacher in Los Angeles saw the Finland chapter as a tool for union bargaining. These stories aren’t radical ideas, they are working solutions, proof that another world already exists in pieces across the globe. Now, it’s our turn to bring them here.
📚 Read the book: Get your copy of Another World Is Possible from The New Press, Bookshop.org, or your favorite local bookstore.
Share the hope: Request the book at your local library to make these vital lessons accessible to more people in our community.
📢 Bring solutions to the streets: Use the book’s examples to inform conversations, speeches, rallies, and actions. Show that concrete, successful alternatives already exist!
Keep questioning, learning, and taking action… and remember, the most powerful change often begins with a conversation and a bold idea.