Portside

A mass extinction caused by volcanic activity wiped out some of the dinosaurs' competitors, allowing them to assume ascendancy. Of course, another mass extinction, caused by a meteor impact caused their demise. Earth is not as hospitable to life as we might like to think.

Where can we turn politically? Who is on our side, to fight for an alternative?

It is very important for progressives to keep building a movement to demand a plan for jobs – like the Back to Work Budget.

A crucial lesson as we stand up to the escalation of Obama’s drone war and continue to challenge those who call for war against Iran.

US peace activist was killed by Israeli bulldozer in Gaza as she tried to block the demolition of a Palestinian home.

Bradley Manning, Cyprus, peace movement and more

Tina Fey IS Sarah Palin! Again! * Gun Shop: Why We Need More Guns * A 12-Year-Old's Letter to Justice Roberts on Marriage Equality * The International Arms Trade Treaty * The Trouble I've Seen: Reviving 'Cold' Civil Rights Killings * Dying Iraq War Veteran Explains His Decision to End His Life

Nigerian author recognised for key role in developing African literature has died in Boston, where he was working as a professor

Some days the Newspaper of Record says a lot–not always in ways you might expect.

In a book coming out next week called The Bonobo and the Atheist, primatologist Frans de Waal argues that morality is built into our species. Rather than coming to us top-down from God, or any other external source, morality for de Waal springs bottom-up from our emotions and our day-to-day social interactions, which themselves evolved from foundations in animal societies.