action alert: defend the endanger species act (united states)
The House is considering six resolutions removing protections for particular endangered species—including the gray wolf and Montana grizzly bear as well as the Northern long-eared bat—plus a resolution to severely limit what types of habitat can be protected under the ESA. Last week, three of these bills (including the one removing protections for the Northern long-eared bat) were approved in committee and will soon face a vote from the U.S. House of Representatives.
If you only ever watch one video about climate action, I recommend this one.
If you’ve ever thought, “I want to help stop climate change or protect the environment but I have no idea where to start or what I as a single person can actually do” then this video is for you.
TL/DR: There are actions that are impactful for anyone, like protesting, voting, etc. but the most impactful action for each individual person depends on your unique strengths and resources. Finding your “climate superpower” based on what you are already good at and passionate about can amplify your impact.
SAG-AFTRA have posted one type of boycott type action they ARE asking for during the strike: "As a heads up for any friends going to Cons, SAG-AFTRA has asked that fans not do cosplay if it would support struck works, including past productions that would have been struck if produced today."
looking at (vetted) gofundmes for people trying to escape palestine and i don't know how many of you actually click on the gofundme links you reblog but i would like to point out, for what it's worth, just how amazing it is that so many have raised so much money. it may overall feel like a drop in the ocean but the fact that several gofundmes have raised tens of thousands of dollars is amazing. it is so expensive to leave gaza right now, and people still need money after they escape. but regardless of what propaganda the US, UK, canada, and other western nations are trying to pump out, people across the world are doing what they can to help these people survive. many of them are still very far from their goals (like this one and this one and this one) and some of them are very close to high goals (like this one), and some of them have reached almost double their original goal.
and that's not even addressing direct aid or organizations that take continuous donations for distribution of food, menstrual products, etc. the PCRF has raised $16,000,000 of their target goal of $20,000,000 to fund current aid and long-term relief efforts in gaza. ANERA's febuary 13th update discusses the material ways they helped palestinians today:
(ANERA donate link)
my point is, it often feels like the world is turning a blind eye to palestine. but i would like to point out that there is an important difference between "the world" and "western political leaders and media narratives". a breathtaking amount of real people, the people who make up the world, are trying to help. in the face of israel attempting to commit genocide, the world is saying No. These people deserve to live. and literally sending millions of dollars internationally, through the internet connection that israel has desperately been trying to destroy.
it may not feel like it matters in the grand scheme of things. but to the people who get fresh clothes, or a hot meal, or blankets, or the kids who get new toys, or to the people who are able to bring their families to safety, it matters to them. go make someone's day better. i've linked so many options with ways to do that.
forget Resting Bitch Face, I have Resting Competent Face. People see me and think ah yes she can point me to the nearest train station. Fellow grocery shoppers ask if I know what kind of butter they should buy. If a strange man speaks to me on the street it is literally always an inquiry and never a catcall. Once someone randomly asked me what an equinox was and after I told her she nodded and said "you seemed like you'd know." why am I assigned oracle at random interaction
I used to have my own corner in the front room to write. That all changed with lockdown. My Dearheart worked from home and, as he was actually earning money, got squatters rights in the front room. I had to relocate my laptop, current notebook-in-use and research file box, pencils and sticky notes to the dining table. My old ‘standing’ (ie. up on besser blocks for height) roll desk slowly filled with various items and files with nowhere else to live.
And I’m still there. On the dining table. Having to clear everything away when it’s needed.
Finally, that is about to change (well, it will eventually). We’re having new rooms added to the back of the house: a ‘mud room’ back entry and room for some storage, a second toilet, and a larger multi-funcitonal living/entertaining (ie. room to play D&D)) room. The walls will be lined with bookshelves (and hopefully we can reclaim some of the floor in other rooms) and I get space for a new writing nook, which will double as a recording/video area.
Squee!
We’ve a lot of ‘stuff’ to remove from under the verandah and carport before the old metal verandah is removed, including our overgrown garden.
Then the pavers need moving. I (with help) landscaped and put down those pavers when I first moved in over 30 years ago (and didn’t have health problems). And we did too good a job!
We’ve managed to give away the mini freezer, but still have to find homes for the desk and various other items in the carport (I’m too embarressed to show that picture!) or they’ll end up in the skip. I’ve even advertised on the local trash nothing/old freecycle sites.
Today the concreter came over to double-check measurements for the footings and paths, and we were given a start date: 6th February.
Eep! Two and a half weekends to clear it all.
I’m now officially in panic mode and feeling a bit useless, as I can’t do much of the lifting work with my current health problems. We’ve been ringing gardeners and handy-persons over the past two months, but they are all booked out, so I’ve put the call out for any able and willing bodies to help remove pavers, garden, move furniture items, and more items. Up for grabs are the items seen in the above photo (the freezer has gone), various plants and cuttings, and other items in the carports.
But so far, have had no volunteers.
So my relief at soon being able to vacate the dining area permantly and get a decent under cover washing line, has been overshadowed by an increasing sense of doom and rising panic levels.
I’m just concentrating on winter, and a new space I can dedicate to my writing and creating.
Wish me luck.
(Patrons received a sneak peek of this post on 19th Jan)
Today my therapist introduced me to a concept surrounding disability that she called "hLep".
Which is when you - in this case, you are a disabled person - ask someone for help ("I can't drink almond milk so can you get me some whole milk?", or "Please call Donna and ask her to pick up the car for me."), and they say yes, and then they do something that is not what you asked for but is what they think you should have asked for ("I know you said you wanted whole, but I got you skim milk because it's better for you!", "I didn't want to ruin Donna's day by asking her that, so I spent your money on an expensive towing service!") And then if you get annoyed at them for ignoring what you actually asked for - and often it has already happened repeatedly - they get angry because they "were just helping you! You should be grateful!!"
And my therapist pointed out that this is not "help", it's "hLep".
Sure, it looks like help; it kind of sounds like help too; and if it was adjusted just a little bit, it could be help. But it's not help. It's hLep.
At its best, it is patronizing and makes a person feel unvalued and un-listened-to. Always, it reinforces the false idea that disabled people can't be trusted with our own care. And at its worst, it results in disabled people losing our freedom and control over our lives, and also being unable to actually access what we need to survive.
So please, when a disabled person asks you for help on something, don't be a hLeper, be a helper! In other words: they know better than you what they need, and the best way you can honor the trust they've put in you is to believe that!
Also, I want to be very clear that the "getting angry at a disabled person's attempts to point out harmful behavior" part of this makes the whole thing WAY worse. Like it'd be one thing if my roommate bought me some passive-aggressive skim milk, but then they heard what I had to say, and they apologized and did better in the future - our relationship could bounce back from that. But it is very much another thing to have a crying shouting match with someone who is furious at you for saying something they did was ableist. Like, Christ, Jessica, remind me to never ask for your support ever again! You make me feel like if I asked you to call 911, you'd order a pizza because you know I'll feel better once I eat something!!
Edit: crediting my therapist by name with her permission - this term was coined by Nahime Aguirre Mtanous!
Edit again: I made an optional follow-up to this post after seeing the responses. Might help somebody. CW for me frankly talking about how dangerous hLep really is.
Ok so Danny has essentially claimed earth as his. And he is fully aware that there are constant threats to the planet. Now he can’t stop a threat that originates on earth (that’s something he’ll leave to the Justice league) but he can do something about outside threats. Doing some research on ancient spells, rituals, and artifacts, he cast a world wide barrier on the planet to protect it from hostile threats so they cannot enter. This will prevent another Pariah Dark incident. However, barriers like this come at a price. You see, there are two ways to make a barrier. Either make one powered up by your own energy and power (which would be constantly draining) or set up a barrier with rules. The way magic works is that nothing can be absolutely indestructible. It must have a weakness. The most powerful barriers weren’t the ones reinforced with layer after layer of protective charms and buffed up with power. Those could eventually be destroyed either by being overpowered, wearing them down, or by cutting off the original power source. No, the most powerful barriers were the ones with a deliberate weakness. A barrier indestructible except for one spot. A cage that can only be opened from the outside. Or that can only be passed with a key or by solving a riddle. So Danny chooses this type of barrier and does the necessary ritual and pours in enough power to make it. And he adds his condition for anyone to enter.
Now the Justice league? Find out about the barrier when Trigon attempts to attack, they were preparing after he threatened what he would do once he got to earth. How he would destroy them. The Justice league tried to take the fight to him first but were utterly destroyed, so they retreated home to tend to their injuries, and fortify earth for one. Last. Stand. Only when Trigon makes his big entrance…he’s stopped.
The Justice league watch in awe as this thin see-through barrier with beautiful green swirls and speckled white lights like stars apears blocking Trigon and his army’s advance. The barrier looks so thin and fragile yet no matter how hard the warlord hits, none of his attacks can get through and neither can he damage said barrier. That’s when Constantine and Zatanna recognizes what this barrier is. Something only a powerful entity could create. For a moment, the league is filled with hope that Trigon can’t get through yet Constantine also explains that it’s not impenetrable. And clearly Trigon knows this too for he calls out a challenge.
And that’s when, in a flash of light, a tiny glowing teenager appears. He looked absolutly minuscule compared to Trigon and yet practically glowed with power (this isn’t a King Danny AU though).
And that is when the conditions for passing the barrier are revealed. And the Justice realize that the only thing stopping Trigon and his army from decimating earth. The only way he can get through….is by beating this glowing teenager in a card game.
Not just any card game though. The most convoluted game Sam, Danny, and Tucker invented themselves. It’s like the infinite realms version of magic the gathering, combined with Pokémon, and chess. And Danny is the master. So sit down Trigon and let’s play.
(The most intense card game of the Justice league’s life).
After Danny wins, this happens a few more times with outer word beings and possibly even demons attempting to invade earth, yet none have been able to beat the mysterious teenager in a card game. Constantine might even take a crack at it and try to figure out how to play. He’s really bad though. Every time this happens, the Justice league worry that this might be the time the teenager looses. Yet every time, he wins (even if only barely).
Meanwhile, Danny, Sam, and Tucker have gotten addicted to the game and play it almost daily. Some teachers might seem them playing the game are are like ‘awww how cute’ not realizing this game is literally saving the world. Jazz is just happy they aren’t spending as much time on their screens playing Doomed.
Basically, my philosophy around disability fakers is: I would rather a thousand people fake a disability than have one disabled person suffer without care, aids, compassion, or any help.