Last year, we gave you the opportunity to help choose the cover art for a new edition of Healing Our World: The Compassion of Libertarianism by Mary J. Ruwart. We’re excited to follow-up on that contest with some fantastic news. The book, and its new cover, is currently tied for first place in the INDIEFAB Book of the Year Awards. Your vote can help make it number one!

If we succeed, Healing Our World will get some additional promotion this summer — just before the elections — to readers, librarians, and book store owners who follow Foreword Reviews. What better to present before frustrated American voters than a book whose subtitle reads “How to Enrich the Poor, Protect the Environment, Deter Crime, & Defuse Terrorism?”

To vote, just click here and then scroll down to the comments section at the bottom of the page and paste #INDIEFABFAV into a comment stating that Healing Our World is your pick to win. Here’s an example from the author:

Thanks so much for helping bring liberty — and sanity, hopefully — to the upcoming election!

How are you using your free time this summer? Hitting the beach? Visiting friends? Binging on Netflix? Add this to your list:

Hosting a once-a-week Virtual Reading Group around a libertarian idea that you’re excited about and want to share with the SFL network. You pick the professor. You pick the topic. You run the discussion. We’re just here to help.

SFL’s Academic Programs staff will provide you with whatever support you need – from working with you and your faculty partner to finalize the syllabus, to facilitating weekly discussion meetings.

Past VRGs have included topics like: “War, Security, and Liberty” with Professor Chris Coyne, “The Socialist Calculation Debate” with Dr. Steve Horwitz, Professor Bryan Caplan on “The Case for Open Borders,” and a reading of Red Plenty with Liberty Fund Senior Fellow, Dr. Sarah Skwire.

Click below to apply today and help fellow SFL-ers explore a new niche of the pro-liberty literature. After all, we both know they’re unlikely to get this info in the classroom!

On this day in 1949 the Soviet Union ended its 11-month blockade of capitalist West Berlin restoring much needed flows of food and other goods into the besieged city-within-a-city. While the Cold War was just getting started, the Berlin blockade — and subsequent airlift by US and British forces — became of the symbol of the strife to come. Starvation, whether in occupied and besieged enemy territories or at home, was a staple of state socialism. Those in East Berlin later had the unenviable position of seeing their friends and family prosper in a market economy just across the wall. As Venezuelans starve under yet another failed socialist regime, this history is worth revisiting.

How were the United States and Great Britain able to end the blockade? It wasn’t through force, but rather by leveraging the prosperity of market capitalism to feed the people of West Berlin. Together, they pulled off the largest airlift in history, flying 278,288 relief missions over 14 months and delivering 2,326,406 tons of supplies. When it became clear to the Soviets that they couldn’t out-spend the capitalists, the blockade was lifted and delivery of key resources like coal resumed.

Check out this internship opportunity from our friends at the Commonwealth Foundation. 

While gridlock between two political parties characterizes Washington, there are exciting victories for liberty occurring in the states. The Commonwealth Foundation, with offices in King of Prussia and Harrisburg, is a free-market think tank fighting for public policies that help all Pennsylvanians prosper.

Interning at the Commonwealth Foundation is a great opportunity to gain insight on how a state-based think tank operates. Interns gain knowledge and experience working with a team who are committed to seeing positive change in Pennsylvania.

Internships are paid and customizable to each students’ interests. Generally, our interns gain experience in:

• Writing, blogging, and conducting research for the Policy team as well as the Communications team,
• Covering front desk, answering phones and managing office supplies,
• Attending and documenting hearings or press conferences, and
• Compiling and analyzing large data sets.

The Commonwealth Foundation accepts applications for part-time interns for three sessions. The deadlines for receiving applications are: Spring session deadline November 1st, Summer session deadline March 1st, and Fall session deadline June 1st. 

Candidates should also be capable of creating and clearly articulating the stories of liberty that convince Pennsylvanians of the merits of free-market policies.

Visit http://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/about/page/careers-internships to apply.

As finals finish up, check out these great opportunities for libertarian students. 

• Join SFL’s Campus Coordinator Program: Yes, you can still apply to be a Campus Coordinator in the 2016-17 class. As the premier training program for pro-liberty activists, the CC experience is like nothing you’ve ever seen. Deadline: May 9th. May 16th.
• Host a Virtual Reading Group: Interested in hosting your own Virtual Reading Group on a topic of your choosing? Submit an application for support from SFL staff! Students that host a Virtual Reading Group will determine the topic, help identify a professor to build a syllabus, and will organize the virtual weekly meetings. Applications accepted on a rolling basis. 
• Apply for a travel scholarship to FreedomFest: Once again, SFL is offering a $100 travel scholarship plus lodging at the liberty movement’s largest conference, FreedomFest, in sunny Las Vegas. Apply now for a week you won’t forget with the best student organizers in North America. Applications accepted on a rolling basis. 
• Attend the NRA Youth Leadership Conference: NRA-ILA invites you to attend the Youth Leadership Conference on Saturday, May 21st at 3:00 p.m. This special event is being held in conjunction with this year’s NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Louisville! At this free event, NRA-ILA Grassroots Staff will provide in-depth training for student leaders that will focus on current issues we are facing, how to effectively combat anti-gun myths, and opportunities to get involved with the NRA.