Re:Action

About: How to learn more about, or get involved in, the issues featured in Mother Jones

Riding Shotgun With Our Shadow Army in Iraq
Guns for Hire
Mother Jones contributing writer Barry Yeoman began tracking private security forces in Iraq when the war began, first in "Soldiers of Good Fortune" (May/June 2003) and then in "Dirty Warriors" (November/December 2004). Read them online at motherjones.com/blackwater and motherjones.com/dirtywarriors.
"Private Warriors"
PBS Frontline embeds with Halliburton and explores the role of contractors as bodyguards in Iraq. Watch it at pbs.org/frontline.
Blackwater
Jeremy Scahill presents an unauthorized history of Blackwater, "the world's most powerful mercenary army" (Nation Books, 2007).

Gone
The Red List
For a sobering update on the current wave of mass extinctions—from the mysterious starling to the red gazelle—check out the database at iucnredlist.org.
Species Alliance
Visit speciesalliance.org to watch a preview of Call of Life, an upcoming documentary on mass extinction. And don't miss the clever animated film The BioDaVersity Code.
The Wildlands Project
Learn more about "wildlife linkages," safe passageways that allow wildlife to roam through public and private lands, at twp.org.
Under a Green Sky
NASA astrobiologist Peter Ward explains what previous extinctions can tell us about our future (Collins, 2007).
The Deep
Dive into this astounding new collection of photography of deep-sea life (University of Chicago Press, 2007).
Monarch Watch
Find out when the butterflies will migrate near you (before it's too late), at monarchwatch.org.

Seeing Red
On Earth's Furrowed Brow
Photographer Tim Barnwell's book collects 25 years of images of southern Appalachia's fading farm life (W.W. Norton, 2007).
"No Bar Code"
Michael Pollan explores how the local-food movement is taking on "big organic." Dig in at motherjones.com/nobarcode.

Fitting Tribute
SafeYouth
The National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center offers free advice at (866) SAFEYOUTH and safeyouth.org.

Not in Their Back Yard
Libby, Montana
In An Air That Kills, Andrew Schneider and David McCumber tell the story of the worst asbestos contamination in U.S. history (Berkley Trade, 2005). For a glimpse of the town at the center of the tragedy, watch the documentary Libby, Montana (High Plains Films, 2005).
"Libby's Deadly Grace"
In 2000, Maryanne Vollers and Andrea Barnett reported on the aftermath of asbestos mining in Libby. See motherjones.com/libby.

Teflon Is Forever
Stain-Resistant, Nonstick, Waterproof, and Lethal
Callie Lyons details the slippery history of a Teflon toxin (Praeger Publishers, 2007).

Putting Lipstick on a Dictator
"A Touch of Crude"
Peter Maass uncovers how Equatorial Guinea's oil money has bought its dictator some powerful American friends. Read his exposé at motherjones.com/touchofcrude.

No Congress, No Peace
"Schrödinger's War"
Jonathan Schwarz examines how the Bush administration has granted itself unprecedented war powers, at motherjones.com/schrodinger.

Geek Squad vs. Death Squad
American Association for the Advancement of Science
See how satellites and other geospatial technologies are helping human rights groups at shr.aaas.org.

Even Better Than the Real Thing
Synthetic Worlds
Economist Edward Castronova offers a fascinating glimpse at the inner workings of virtual realities (University of Chicago Press, 2005).
Play Money
Don't try this at home: Journalist Julian Dibbell recounts how he quit his job to get rich through online gaming (Basic Books, 2006).
"Culture Quake"
Take a look back at the violent video games of yesteryear in Paul Keegan's 1999 article. Online (of course) at motherjones.com/culturequake.