Things I was grateful for in August 2022:
Fresh Banana Leaves by Jessica Hernandez, The Intersectional Environmentalist by Leah Thomas, Florence + the Machine’s Dance Fever, a Frostbeard Studio Steamy Romance Novel candle, a LUSH Marshmallow World bath bomb, The Mighty Nein Origins: Yasha Nydoorin, Donut Friend, LUSH Cookie Dough lip scrub and Lip Service lip balm, Melt liquid lipstick in Ginger, Jujubar, Sprinkles cupcakes, a Killjoys rewatch, an Orym of the Air Ashari t-shirt, SMASH THE PATRIARCHY pens, a THIS DM ACCEPTS BRIBES pin, and a congratulatory card and a Target gift card from my parents.
The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet by Leah Thomas
Thomas has a comprehensive and compelling work in The Intersectional Environmentalist. This should be required reading for every human; the connections Thomas makes are truly eye-opening, even if you have considered connections between racism, privilege, and environmentalism before. If you haven't considered how these things are connected, this work will blow your mind. The statistics are well-placed and emphasize the points Thomas is making. In our ever-changing world (for the worse, in terms of environmental health), works like Thomas's must be read, considered, and taken to heart for solutions on how to improve things for both our planet and our fellow humans.
Kindness will not dismantle white supremacy. There is no getting around the demanding and delivering of justice that will ensure the liberation of our communities.
What happened in Colorado is yet another horrific reminder of how the ongoing slaughter, displacement, and violence on Queer / Trans communities directly resulted from white supremacy attempting to eradicate us for our existence. My heart is so heavy right now after reading the horrific news. I couldn’t stop thinking that the very few limited safe spaces within a heteronormative society are constantly under attack by right-wing conservative groups.
These hateful ideologies are spread by misinformation and other tactics used to invalidate our existence. It’s not enough to say you are an ally for our communities. It’s the bare minimum to not be silent on acts of homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia. As someone has experienced gun violence, it changes the way you navigate the world, the way you speak to people, and the constant threat of having to turn around in case someone walks behind you with an armed gun.
Our existence is more than enough in the fight for Queer and Trans liberation where we are constantly being attacked, criticized, or even met with death because of the way we live. Say it for what it is and that dismantling white supremacy is environmentalism. I want it all gone, not just for me but for all those who are constantly under the threat of being met with violence for their identities. My Queerness is a heritage that cannot be taken away and I will not lose hope in this battle against white supremacy.
Highly recommend Earth in the Balance by former Vice President Al Gore. Published in 1992 Al Gore reviews what he believes is faulty in America’s relationship to nature, America’s impact on global environmental progress, and how civilization as we know it must transform for the next generations.
I will say, it can be frustrating to read as this was published 30 years ago and many problems discussed (with government policy solutions provided) have not changed and have, as predicted, grown worse.
If you are interested in Environmental Policy and ways in which America can lead the way in Climate Change Prevention, this book is where you should begin.
Anyway yeah I've decided to adopt "revolutionary feminist" as a direct counterpoint to radical feminists. Yes, "Revolutionary feminism" refers to feminists of the American revolution, but considering it's been 200 years, I think we can recycle the term.
Modern Revolutionary Feminism is queer, front and center. I feel like some other branches of feminism (even intersectional feminism) are lgbtq only as an after-note.
Revolutionary feminism is inherently intersectional and inclusive of all people, regardless of race, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, disability, or ethnicity. It's anti-racist. It's environmentalist. It's anti-capitalist. It is anti-assimilation. It's pro-choice. It's pro-sex work. It's pro-land-back. It's pro-theism. It's pro-cultural expression.
Revolutionary feminism is for everybody. We demand the dismantling the patriarchy as part of humanity's development of a better, freer world for everyone.
(Many of these ideas are cross-posted from my posts about revolutionary feminism from my main blog, @hadeantaiga)
As I envision it, revolutionary feminism is, broadly, a subset of intersectional feminism. It is, like intersectional feminism, a reaction to radical feminism and the limitations of radical feminism. Revolutionary feminism is a reaction to the transphobia and bioessentialism in radical feminism. It is being created out of a need for queer, revolutionary feminist voices in contemporary feminist spaces.
Revolutionary Feminism is queer, front and center. I feel like some other branches of feminism (even intersectional feminism) are lgbtq only as an after-note. Revolutionary feminism is proudly pro-trans, pro-gay, etc. Revolutionary feminism is also inherently intersectional and inclusive of all people, regardless of race, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, disability, or ethnicity.
It's intersectional feminism, environmental feminism, socialist feminism, trans feminism and more, wrapped up into one.
It's anti-racist.
It's pro-gender liberation.
It's pro-queer, pro-trans.
It's environmentalist.
It's anti-capitalist.
It is anti-assimilation.
It is pro-cultural diversity.
It's pro-choice.
It's pro-sex work.
It's pro-land-back.
It's pro-theism.
It's pro-cultural expression.
(and more)
A quick definition of gender liberation: gender liberation is a counterpoint to "gender critical", and serves as a revision of "gender abolition". Gender critical is anti-trans terminology that aims to abolish the concept of gender and only use biological sex to divide people. Gender abolition has origins within the trans community, but has been co-opted by transphobic feminists and is used along side gender critical.
Gender liberation, on the other hand, places choice at the forefront, alongside decoupling gender from sex, and decoupling gender and sex from the stereotypes attached to them via the patriarchy. With gender liberation, you can choose to have a gender, or not to have one. Choose how you express that gender, or lack of gender. That is gender liberation.
Revolutionary feminism is for everybody. We demand the dismantling the patriarchy as part of humanity's development of a better, freer world for everyone.
[ID: Screenshots of an Instagram post by @/kedorkian. It reads, “INTERSECTIONAL ENVIRONMENTALISTS FOR ARTSAKH (aka Nagorno-Karabakh) + ARMENIA. Big oil's role in perpetuating genocide of an indigenous community:
Azerbaijan has illegally blocked all roads to Artsakh, an indigenous Armenian enclave, preventing food, medicine, and supplies from reaching 120,000 citizens since December 2022 and has resumed civilian bombing and drone strikes.
Genocide watchdogs have concluded that a genocide is already underway.
The global community is staying quiet and it has to do with Azerbaijan + big oil.
The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan is Azerbaijan's state-run energy company with $70 Billion in annual sales.
As countries become less dependent on Russian oil and gas, Azerbaijan is becoming a more favorable alternative.
The Azeri government, empowered by the global reliance on their oil and gas, is indiscreetly committing genocide without any repercussions.
AZERBAIJAN IS COMMITTING GENOCIDE.
WHAT CAN I DO?
Contact your elected officials (anca.org) and demand that the US divest from Azerbaijan oil deals and military aid.
#Sanction Aliyev
Demand that humanitarian aid is delivered to Artsakh and a safe path of travel to Artsakh is secured.
share with friends + demand change.
INDIGENOUS LIVES OVER OIL.”
And then the phrase, “PROTECT ARTSAKH + ARMENIA” is repeated 6 times in a row.”
A climate scientists recommendations on climate change books :D🌎📚
For Absolute beginners!
•The Intersectional Environmentalist -Leah Thomas Gives a look into how social justice issues such as racism, sexism, and classism, further the climate change problem
•The uninhabitable planet -David Walles-Wells is an introductory level to the effects of climate change such as rising sea levels, greenhouse effect, etc
•Silent Spring -Rachel Carson, the book that is credited as one of the foundations to the start of the environmental movement. Explains how early observations of birds migration patterns from Carson hinted at the change in climate back in the 60’s
You’ve been to a rally or two
•This changes everything Capitalism v The Climate -Naomi Klein A lengthy read but highlights just what systems of power are in play in a global capitalistic economy, and how those systems abuse their power in name of profit over well being
•A (very) short history of life on earth - Henry Gee Gee explains the way life has existed on earth and just what extinction events took them out. Good intro to the geologic time scale but i don’t recommend if you don’t know basic biology as Gee uses a lot of vocab words
•Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid -Thor Hanson Highlights how animals are adapting to climate change, a gentle reminder every extinction event has had climate change correlated to it. Hanson shows what species are doing as a response to a biological hazard and the early steps of potential evolution (great adaptations kenneth catania is a similar read i havent gotten to yet)
You know what intersectional environmentalism is and support land back
•Braiding Sweetgrass- Robin Wall-Kimmerer- lengthy read again as Kimmerer highlights the struggles of bringing indigenous values into a white male dominated field as biologist and a white male dominated society through a collection beautiful essays (top 3 fav books)
•Countdown - Shanna H Swan Using many scientific terms but attempted to be simplified Swan uses her research on reproductive systems both human and animal to correlate pollution to decline in reproductive health. (for queer people! this book has an uncomfy chapter on intersex in animals and i dont think queer people were consulted when it was written tbh. I myself am queer and found it an odd chapter to read but it wasnt hateful, more just confused)
•As long as grass grows - Dina Gillo-Whitaker Whitaker explains the indigenous communities/allies fight for environmental justice indigenous values. Touching on just what those values are and the long history of fights to give indigenous communities the rights to their land and also incorporate indigenous values about land into the fight against climate change
Water is an ancient sacred and living system... It's the source of all life on our planet. Humans can only live for a few days without it. In the United States, we waste too much of it. As more and more places experience drought, I hope to see our relationship with water shift from being viewed as a resource to an ally or a spirit we treat with reverence and deep appreciation. Under capitalism, it's merely a means to achieve profit but the true value of water is something deeply indigenous to humanity.
-qbv
-i found information from online (websites listed) pls make sure to double check a protest is available!! as I don’t follow specific accounts that post protests. * feel free to correct me on info *
-take note of days you are available to go and protests near you
-bookmark pages if you want more reliable updates and info
-SEPARATED BY WEBSITE THEN DATES!!!
via answercoalition.org posted oct. 7, 2023
Saturday, October 28
Brainerd, MN
1:00 p.m.
Intersection of Sixth and Washington Streets (Across from the Historic Brainerd Water Tower)
Sponsored by: Brainerd Area Coalition for Peace (BACP), Brainerd Lakes United Environmentalists (BLUE), and Brainerd Lakes Area Democratic Socialists of America (BLA DSA)
Portland, OR
2:00 p.m.
Lownsdale Square
Sponsored by: AntiwarMN, SJP, AMP
Sunday, October 29
Worcester, MA
3:30 p.m.
Worcester City Hall (455 Main St.)
Sponsored by: JVP Western Mass, Palestinian Youth Movement
via uscpr.org unsure date updated
Friday, October 27
HOUSTON, TX | Friday, October 27th at 4PM at John P McGovern Commons 6550 Bertner Ave
OMAHA, NE | Friday, October 27th at 4PM at 72nd & Dodge
PHOENIX, AZ | Friday, October 27th at 4PM at State Capitol Building 1700 W Washington St.
BOSTON, MA | Friday, October 27th at 4PM at Brewer Fountain, Boston Commons
ALBANY, NY | Friday, October 27th at 4PM at West Capital Park
NEW YORK, NY | Friday, October 27th at 6PM at Midtown Manhattan (register for exact location)
DENTON, TX | Friday, October 27th at 7PM at Denton Courthouse-on-the-Square
Saturday, October 28
HARTFORD, CT | Saturday, October 28th at 12PM at 800 Main St.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA | Saturday, October 28th at 1PM at Harry Bridges Plaza (Embarcadero)
DALLAS, TX | Saturday, October 28th at 1:30PM at Civic Garden 1014 Main St.
ROSEBURG, OR | Saturday, October 28th at 2PM at Fred Meyers on Harvard
MILWAUKEE, WI | Saturday, October 28th at 2:30PM at 920 North Water St.
NEW YORK, NY | Saturday, October 28th at 3PM at Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Pkwy
PORTLAND, OR | Saturday, October 28th at 3PM at 121 SW Salmon St.
ATLANTA, GA | Saturday, October 28th at 3PM at Georgia State Capitol (East Steps)
Sunday, October 29
NEWARK, NJ | Sunday, October 29th at 1:30PM at Newark City Hall 920 Broad St.
DENVER, CO | Sunday, October 29th at 2PM State Capitol West Steps 200 E Colfax Ave
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | Sunday, October 29th at 2PM at CO Springs City Hall, 107 N Nevada Ave
AUSTIN, TX | Sunday, October 29th at 3PM at Texas Capitol
WATERBURY, CT | Sunday, October 29th at 3PM at City Hall 235 Grand St.
Saturday, November 4
NATIONAL MARCH ON WASHINGTON | Washington DC, November 4th, 2 PM. Freedom Plaza. Cosponsored by USCPR and other organizations.
cont. (The file is too big to show as a list)
dates
protests for 10/28, 10/29, 10/30, 11/4 (my list updated to ones that are now available)
MAKE SURE TO DOUBLE CHECK ON WEBSITE FOR CORRECT DATES, TIMES, AND CITIES + LINKS (underlined cities have links to their info!!!!)
separated by major city and then date (some differences)
by major city
Washington, D.C. MARCH ON WASHINGTON 11/4 -- London, UK 10/28 -- Toronto, ON -- NEW YORK CITY 10/28 -- Austin, TX 10/29 -- San Francisco, CA 10/28 -- Portland, OR 10/28
by date
10/28 SATURDAY
Atlanta, GA -- Dallas, TX -- Champaign, IL -- Roseburg, OR -- London, UK -- NEW YORK CITY -- Orono, ME -- Portland, OR -- San Francisco, CA -- Vancouver, BC -- Roseburg, OR
10/29 SUNDAY
Newark, NJ -- Austin, TX 10/29 TEXAS CAPITOL -- Colorado Springs, CO -- Denver, CO -- Irvine, CA -- London, UK -- McAllen, TX -- Orlando, FL -- Ottawa, ON -- Salinas, CA -- San Antonio, TX --Scranton, PA -- Toronto, ON -- Worcester, MA
Would you say that the message of L'Internationale is softened somewhat when translated from French to English (thinking of Billy Bragg's version specifically)? Most English versions are short and are more generic calls to unite for change, while the original French version is over six minutes long and is more explicitly a call for revolution by the working class, specifically calling out various oppressors and in one verse calls for soldiers to mutiny.
Good question!
youtube
I would certainly agree that the original French lyrics go hard- "Arise, wretched of the earth/Arise, convicts of hunger/Reason thunders in its volcano" is pretty hard to beat. However, it's also a very distinctively 19th century French political statement - it's very anti-clerical ("Il n'est pas de sauveurs suprêmes"), there are pointed references to Napoleon and the "droit au travail" and the concept of "égalité" and the argument of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen that rights and obligations come hand-in-hand, it's a bit more anarchist/syndicalist in its description of the state (which was always a bit embarrassing to the more statist socialist groups), and so forth.
Thus, it has always required translation into not just other languages but other political idioms; notably, the Soviet translation changed the tense of most of the lyrics from the future to the present to emphasize that the Revolution was a reality already achieved rather than in the offing.
Billy Bragg's version is a consciously post-Soviet socialist anthem. It's explicitly anti-racist (say what you like about the original version, but it is very class>race) and intersectional, it's explicitly post-colonial and clearly draws inspiration from the anti-apartheid movement, it's more grounded in a human rights consciousness than historical materialism, it's environmentalist as well as anti-nationalist, and you can see a strong element of non-violence ideology there too. It's still a call for revolution-
"And so begins the final drama
In the streets and in the fields
We stand unbowed before their armour
We defy their guns and shields...
For though they offer us concessions
Change will not come from above."
-but the dominant imagery is of a protest movement that only engages in violence as a defensive measure "provoked by their aggression."
So I would argue that, as hardcore as the 1887 lyrics are, Bragg's version is better suited to the culture of the British left circa 1990.