When we understand what brought us to where we are today, we can decide where to go from here. In this episode, co-hosts Tania Roa + Adriana Maria Medina discuss social justice events in 2023 that led to collective action. As we reflect, we can learn from them and determine our priorities for 2024. It’s a new year, but our struggles are the same. *Please note: some of the events we discuss include violence, police brutality, and Palestine. Resources for events mentioned in this episode, and organizations supporting the causes mentioned, are below. Also, as always, scroll to find definitions.  U.S. News Former Officers Charged in Tyre Nichols' Death East Palestine, Ohio Train Derailment Tortuguita Shot Protecting Atlanta Forest Willow Project for Alaska Campaign U.S. Organizations to Support Color of Change Stop Cop City Alaska Conservation Foundation International News Plastic Crisis and Great Pacific Garbage Patch Panama's High Court Stops Canadian Mining Attempt  Ecuador Stops Oil Drilling in Amazon Latest on Palestine and South Africa Sues Israel Crisis in Sudan Democratic Republic of Congo Calls for Peace International Organizations to Support 4Ocean Amazon Watch Palestine Children’s Relief Fund International Rescue Committee Definitions Biodiversity: short for biological diversity; it is the variety of life on Earth and includes the variety of genetic, species, and ecosystem levels Occupation: when one group or country takes control over another territory through force, and the invading group establishes its own law in the now occupied region Zionism: a nationalist movement that emerged in the 19th century with a goal of establishing a homeland, protected by law, for Jewish people in Palestine - a region roughly corresponding to the Land of Israel in Jewish tradition Anti Semitism: hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against Jews Genocide: the intentional destruction of a national, ethnic, or racial group in whole or in part Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @closingthegappod ✨ We want to hear from you! Email us at closingthegappod@gmail.com Cover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles) Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)