fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
Our system isn’t living.
Tags: Schools, Depression, Mental Health, Society, Suicide

Our system isn’t living. Going to school. Getting a job. Buying a house. Dying. That isn’t living, it’s simply surviving and if you don’t want your life to go like that then you’re weird and it’s too bad because you get fined and arrested for not going to school. Despite that school is toxic, despite that your mental health has never been worse, despite that everyday you want to kill yourself more then the day before and you struggle to do simple tasks like getting out of bed, you still have to go to school. Because we now live in a world where knowing how to find out what x3+7y-5x is has become more important then our mental health and having any will to live. When we talk about it, adults say “tough that’s life Theres nothing you can do about it” while in your mind is the very obvious solution of suicide. We get called crazy and stupid and disrespectful and ungrateful. Since when is it our fault that this world is a crap place and we don’t want to be here anymore. We have to ask if we can get up from a chair. We have to put our hand up just to speak. As if they aren’t wasting enough of our lives, we have to spend another hour there just because we spoke to our friend once during the lesson. The lesson full of subjects and topics that do not interest us. I don’t care about what happened in 1916. I don’t care about why the author chose to make the table red. I don’t know how to buy a house or pay rent or apply for uni or write my cv or raise a family or how to have a healthy relationship or how to deal with suicidal thoughts but it’s fine because at least I know how to find x. When you do attempt suicide and fail, you get put in a psychiatric ward because apparently you’re a psychopath for not wanting to live in this shitty world. Apparently if you don’t see a reason to live and if you feel like everything’s pointless because you’re going to die anyways, that makes you crazy. I’ve always hated the word crazy because it’s what society uses to describe you when you don’t fit in their perfect little box of expectations. When we say we want to die, we get told to stop being stupid and people will miss us and life is a blessing and our parents will get hurt. What about the teenagers who’s parents have told them they wouldn’t care if they died because they don’t care about them and if they’re suicidal and depressed then that’s their problem and they’ll live happily without them. Not everyone’s been blessed with a healthy, non toxic family. All I want is for the government and society to stop controlling every aspect of our lives.
I kept my Christmas tree up for 6 months
By: Amy Marissa
Tags: Quarantine, Christmas, Covid 19, Schools, Holidays

Quarantine was an interesting time. A lot of things changed. One of the few things that stayed consistent pre-COVID through the middle of quarantine was the fact that I had kept my Christmas tree up in my house until June. It was good for my mental state to have some sort of aesthetic wintery ambiance while finishing school and assignments that were piled up. My dad and I just put our tree up again, and he literally said “Okay, but this time, the cutoff is March,” which I found to be hilarious in and of itself.
Jiu Jitsu full-hd (cod)
Tags: Download, Free, Schools, USA, Education

Learn more. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more

Make Medium yours. Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. Explore
Now before I start, I’m not just an average teenager who hates school.
By: Amelie Ames
Tags: School

School

Now before I start, I’m not just an average teenager who hates school. I actually quite enjoy school and I’m doing quite well but I need to get this point across.

School is an environment where kids are meant to learn, socialise, express themselves and have fun. Now this may be true but only to a certain extent.

School has become a place where it’s less about having fun and learning and more just about passing. I haven’t been in a lesson where they haven’t brought up GCSEs at least once. There’s a constant stress on our shoulders that if we don’t do well we are going to fail our whole future which isn’t true.

Kids’ mental health has just completely toppled over and it’s because of school. Some kids have thought about ending their lives just to escape this constant never ending cycle of same old stress.

Learning has come to the point where it isn’t fun and creative it’s just plain and just reviewing exam questions over and over again. Teachers need to understand that this isn’t going to retain in our minds because it’s so boring and mind draining. Some of us don’t even want to put our hand up and ask for help because we are too scared of being judged.

Bullying has become a huge thing and it happens every single day. Ableism, racism, sexism and many other topics are judged and for what? People don’t think before they speak and don’t realise how much it can impact on one person’s mental health. Schools barely even pay attention to it and brush it off their shoulders because it clearly doesn’t matter to them.

All I’m saying is schools need to open their eyes and realise how much of an impact it is making on our lives. It needs to change before it gets worse and becomes more of a never ending prison more than anything.
Deconstructing Theodore’s Manifesto (Part 2)
Tags: Activism, Technology, Society, Tech, Politics

The Section entitled The Psychology of Modern Leftism begins by affirming that Almost everyone will agree that we live in a deeply troubled society. I do not know about almost everyone, I at least do agree with this statement. A society that venerates billionaires, desecrates culture, oppresses, spies and controls its own people, pretends the homeless are non-entities, allows and consents the abuse, neglect, rape and murder of children, destroys the natural world and treats non-human species as commodities is both deeply troubled and deranged.

The author describes the modern leftists as socialists, collectivists, politically correct types, feminists, gay and disability activists, animal rights activists and the like. Which brings to mind the almost unfathomable case of Biology professor Bret Weinstein. Professor Weinstein’s unpardonable sin, according to the modern leftist students rallying against him, was to stand for principles of equity when in 2017 he opposed to submit to the organizers of a Day of Absence in which white people would not be allowed into Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. There is a huge difference, wrote professor Weinstein, between a group or coalition deciding to voluntarily absent themselves from a shared space in order to highlight their vital and underappreciated roles and a group encouraging another group to go away. The first is a forceful call to consciousness, which is, of course, crippling to the logic of oppression. The second is a show of force, and an act of oppression in and of itself. On a college campus, he added, one’s right to speak, or to be, must never be based on skin color.

These statements created threats and protests against the professor, of which he wrote on the Twitter platform during the events, and the strong request from a group of students for him to be removed from his position. The case ended in professor Weinstein’s negotiated departure from the University. Facts and logic are no match against the imbecility of the masses.

Modern leftists have seemingly agreed during the last decade that the best way to fight capitalism, all they judge as inappropriate behavior, sexual harassment, global warming, discrimination, terrorism and injustice of all kinds is via posts on the social platform Twitter, or a similar medium, preceded by a hashtag (#) like #MeToo #BlackLivesMatter #OscarsSoWhite #ShoutYourAbortion (yes, this exists in the same realm as you and me) #PrayForParis #ProtectOurWinters and many more. This trend has even been named as Hashtag Activism. Activists act. Spectators hide behind a hashtag and a screen.

Mr. Kaczynski ends this brief section of his Manifesto mentioning Modern Leftists’ two major psychological tendencies: feelings of inferiority and oversocialization.
Watch rC3 Chaos Computer Conference With DEFCON 201 :: Dec 27th — Dec 30th
Tags: Hacking, Activism, Charity, Live Streaming, Information Technology

We are proud to announce that we will be live streaming a section of us reacting to the rC3 conference for each of the four days of the convention!

The Chaos Communication Congress is an annual conference organized by the Chaos Computer Club. The congress features a variety of lectures and workshops on technical and political issues related to security, cryptography, privacy and online freedom of speech. It is considered one of the largest events of this kind, alongside the DEF CON in Las Vegas. 2020 will be the first year in which Congress will not take place at a physical location due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

rC3 will be a variety of distributed small local events in hackspaces with a joint program of streamed talks, online workshops, art, culture and various forms of networked togetherness.

If you want to know the schedule you can view it here:

Live Streams:

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/defcon201live

dLive: https://dlive.tv/defcon201

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYDQaOHbK5trRU2CDgb0qSg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/defcon201/

AGENDA & SCHEDULE

Sunday — ALL TIMES ARE EASTERN STANDARD (EST)

12:00 NOON

Hacking the Nintendo Game & Watch

1:00 PM

Accessible input for readers, coders, and hackers

2:00 PM

Hijacking Transient Execution through Microarchitectural Load Value Injection

3:00 PM

Lecture: Hacking German Elections

4:00 PM

The Yes Men from Tricksters in an age of dirty tricks

5:00 PM

BONUS :: Lecture: Tracking Ransomware End-to-end

Monday — ALL TIMES ARE EASTERN STANDARD (EST)

11:00 AM

close encounters @ rc3 # 2

12:00 NOON

Milk Tea Alliance, let’s make protest cute again!

1:00 PM

Attacking CPUs with Power Side Channels from Software: Why is electricity leaked here?

2:00 PM

Assault in office by police officer: inside

3:00 PM

Spot the surveillance

4:00 PM

Lecture: remote Stellwerk Experience

5:00 PM

Turning Facial Recognition Against the Police

6:00PM EST

BONUS :: Fuzzing the phone in the iPhonet

Tuesday — ALL TIMES ARE EASTERN STANDARD (EST)

11:00 AM

close encounters @ rc3 # 3

12:00 NOON

Unconventional HDL synthesis experiments

1:00 PM

Twilight — MIDI Broadcasting Ice Sculpture

3:00 PM

Hacking Diversity: The Politics of Inclusion in Open Technology Cultures

4:00 PM

OPENCOIL — A Roaming Speedshow

5:00 PM

BONUS :: Ramming Enclave Gates: A Systematic Vulnerability Assessment of TEE Shielding Runtimes / iketohear — Self-Adjustment of Open Source Mobile Hearing Aid Prototype

6:00 PM

Lecture: “My Whores Manifesto” — online reading and conversation with Undine de Rivière

Wednesday — ALL TIMES ARE EASTERN STANDARD (EST)

9:00 AM

The state of digital rights in Latin America

10:00 AM

Watching the Watchers — How Surveillance Companies track you using Mobile Networks

12:00 NOON

Lecture: Inside xHamster

1:00 PM

close encounters @ rc3 Wrapup & Q&A
Fifty Holiday 2020 Activities for Quarantined Anti-Capitalists
By: Rebecca Martinez
Tags: Christmas Gift Ideas, Atheism, Anti Capitalism, Activism, Holidays 2020

Author of Edge Play and co-founder + CCO of Fruiting Bodies, a BIPOC women-led podcast exploring the intersection between social justice & psychedelics.
You Don’t Have to Save the Planet
By: Tori Terence
Tags: Environment, Climate Action, Climate Change, Activism, Youth

You don’t have to save the planet. Before you cancel me or somehow get #toriisoverparty trending on Twitter, hear me out. With today’s Instagram ads and influencers screaming at you to go zero waste or @thatveganteacher singing on TikTok, it’s hard not to feel guilty about what humans have done to the Earth. But that doesn’t mean you cut contact with everyone and move to the middle of the woods. You don’t even have to buy an electric car. Seriously. Don’t. Why? Because it’s probably not your fault.

Yes, we all have a carbon footprint that we should be reducing. But due to the way we built our modern world, it’s quite nearly impossible for everyone to. As I’m sure you’ve heard about, the real contributors are these 100 companies that produce 71% of the entire world’s greenhouse gases. Like a lot of problems in America, climate change starts with billionaires. ExxonMobil alone released 124 million tonnes of greenhouse gasses (GHG) in 2017. The average person in the United States only emits 16.2 tonnes.

So if buying metal straws won’t help, what will? Well, you should still replace everyday objects with sustainable options if you can. If it fits in your budget and you can sustainably switch and continue using it, go for it! If not, that’s okay. There’s no need to stress over something that you logically shouldn’t do. For example, I bought some reusable snack bags, so I no longer have to use single-use Ziplocs. I didn’t get solar panels because we don’t have the money for it.

If the problem is the billionaires, how do I help the planet? It’s simple. Vote! Voting for leaders and legislature that help the Earth and force these companies to go green is the best way to see some change. Better yet, run for office or propose new propositions! Join a committee! Phonebank! Do whatever you can. Taking action is the only real way to get change.

It doesn’t matter what age you are or how much money you have. You don’t have to change your lifestyle entirely to keep your home, so don’t let anyone tell you you’re not doing enough. Do what you can, and you might save the world, but it doesn’t rest on your shoulders alone. Encourage others and make a difference, no matter how small it is. What matters is you’re trying, and that’s more than enough.
This will be my first publication on Medium. And I’m not sure how to start it. So I thought, I’d simply introduce myself. I want to write about important issues and topics where I feel the need to…
Tags: Activism, New, Introduction

About Me

17-year old girl, interested in politics, economics, psychology…

This will be my first publication on Medium. And I’m not sure how to start it. So I thought, I’d simply introduce myself.

Basic information:

I’m 17

doing my A-levels right now

based in Germany

What I like:

material arts (been doing MMA for a while)

Hello Kitty

good food

deep, controversial topics

discussions

What I dislike:

spinach

ignorance and stubbornness

imperialism

I want to write about important issues and topics where I feel the need to speak up. If you want me to write about a specific topic, I’d be happy if you’d comment that.

I also love photo- and videography and been doing it for almost seven years. Here are a few photos I took and edited by myself:

See y’all
What I wrote in 2020
By: Tom Wein
Tags: Research, Articles, Activism, Writing, Dignity

Writing about dignity, development and organising. tomweinresearch.me for more.
Holiday REfle
By: Diana Fishbein
Tags: Covid 19, Reflections, Activism, Holiday

This year, I felt that the only way to reach out to friends and family for the holidays is with a uniform message. First, I needed to ask forgiveness for being increasingly out of touch, not able to keep up with my personal exchanges, during a time when relationships have never been more important. I have been, quite frankly, overwhelmed, a tad depressed, intermittently enraged and generally unfocused. I’m sure many of you can relate.

Second, I find myself unable to send a simple holiday card when we have all just experienced the worst year of our lives. It feels insensitive and tone deaf not to acknowledge this universally painful reality. Yes, we have all suffered terrible tragedies on a personal basis. We have all lost loved ones, experienced grave medical problems, job loss and heartache. But never before have we found ourselves in a syndemic — multiple simultaneous crises — including the pandemic, racial injustice, homelessness, mental illness, marginalization and more. This is so much bigger than any one of us. And our hearts are filled with pain for the millions of people who are infinitely more impacted than us.

On the other hand, those of us who are economically secure and have access to supportive social circles and creature comforts during this global storm have much to be thankful for. But not for these most obvious reasons. Rather, our blessing is in the ability to “pay it forward” by aiding those less fortunate and fighting for so many others who have been systematically marginalized. There are many “quiet constituents” out there who have no voice without our advocacy. Perhaps our individual and collective activism will make some small measure of a difference.

And I hope it goes without saying that we have been presented with a rare opportunity to connect with loved ones in more intensive and meaningful ways, relishing every moment, even when virtual. We have been reminded that there is still humanity in the world. That there are still people who care about others. That not everybody is in it for themselves. And that certain privileges are worth sacrificing for the greater good.

While we grapple with this new reality we find ourselves in — which too often seems to have been overtaken by selfishness, greed, polarization, and anger — just beneath the surface is the goodness, optimism and compassion deep within us. And although we may not physically be with all our family members, our holidays will be filled with hope that human kindness will shine through after we conquer this damned virus and regain our civility.
Former Ms. Black Ontario Contestant Champions Women’s Rights Through Empowering Songs
By: Michael Stover
Tags: Music, Activism, Empowerment, Women, Canada

Jade Faith is one of the most multi-talented people you can ever meet. The singer and songwriter of various genres from Reggae, Gospel, R&B, Lovers Rock to Pop, etc., has over the years proven the true strength of a woman. The vibrant singer believes in the mantra that each day is a gift that is not meant to be wasted, therefore, pushing her to live each day with a sense of wonderment and profound gratitude.

The former Ms. Black Ontario Contestant beauty queen has over and over portrayed her prowess in the industry through her three singles ‘Here’s my number’, ‘I won’t suffer’, and ‘ So we roll ‘. What began as a modeling and acting career has seen her grow into a voice we enjoy listening to across the globe.

Earlier this year the talented songbird blessed our airwaves with two of the most throughout songs in the industry. New love and Tell me how I’m blessed are songs that we can all relate to. These two songs are the true definition of creativity, excellent song-writing, perfection in the message and delivery topped up by undisputable talent.

The Jamaican-born artist not only produces excellent music but also selflessly acts as a vibrant women’s rights activist. She has continuously champion for women rights everywhere she goes and remained on the forefront for women empowerment. Her voice is part of the revolution the women rights activism.

“I am very passionate about life, my music… Writing and singing.” Jade Faith.
Walls of Color: Winona LaDuke
By: Lindsey Tucker
Tags: Environmental Issues, Indigenous Rights, Native Americans, Activism

WE PRISM is an employee resource group for WE and Codeword employees, and it’s designed to create a diverse and inclusive environment.

Several times each year, WE PRISM hosts what’s called “Walls of Color,” our way of honoring known and unknown voices in all communities of color. Our team put together a few Walls of Color entries for Native American Heritage Month, and we hope you find them as inspirational as we do.

You can also read about Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, Madonna Thunder Hawk, and Maria Tallchief.

Environmental Champion

“Power is not brute force and money; power is in your spirit. Power is in your soul. It is what your ancestors, your old people gave you. Power is in the earth; it is in your relationship to the earth.” — Winona LaDuke

Born in 1959, Winona LaDuke is a member of the Ojibwe tribe, living and working on the White Earth reservation in Northern Minnesota. She’s dedicated her life to working on sustainable development, renewable energy, and food systems. Through her organizing, she’s ignited support for these issues and inspired many to join her.

In 1985, LaDuke established the Indigenous Women’s Network, a group devoted to increasing the visibility of Native women and empowering them to participate in political, social, and cultural processes. Just a few years later, she founded the White Earth Land Recovery Project (WELRP) in 1989 to recover and buy back ancestral lands of the Ojibwe people that had been taken by the U.S. government. WELRP has since grown into one of the largest reservation-based nonprofits in the country, and is recognized as a leader in issues of culturally-based sustainable development strategies. LaDuke currently serves as Program Director for Honor the Earth, a nonprofit founded to raise public awareness and financial support for grassroots Native environmental groups.

Aside from her work in the nonprofit sector, LaDuke is also an accomplished political figure. She ran for vice president on the Green Party ticket with Ralph Nader in 1996 and 2000. Then in 2016, she received an electoral vote for vice president, making her the first person in the Green Party to ever receive an electoral vote. LaDuke has been a prominent voice in the fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline, participating in resistance camps and using her platform to denounce the project.

LaDuke’s commitment to Indigenous issues and environmentalism has garnered many awards, including an induction into the National Women’s Hall of Fame and a nomination to TIME’s list of America’s 50 Most Promising Leaders Under the Age of 40.
THIS TITLE IS EVERYTHING
By: Stirling Gets Creative
Tags: Kids, Activism, Socialism, Capitalism

The Kids are Socialists Because Capitalism is Dickslapping the Planet

The Kids are Socialists Because Capitalism is Dickslapping the Planet
COVID-19 Relief
Tags: Social Activism, Covid 19, Activism, Newsletter

View this email in your browser

Issue 23 — December 14, 2020

Coronavirus cases are at an all-time high, hospitals are running out of beds, indoor dining has been suspended in major cities, and frontline workers are being tested like never before.

The silver lining: the FDA has approved Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine, and distribution will begin today. High-risk healthcare workers are first on the list to receive the vaccine, and millions of Americans will be vaccinated over the coming months.

In the meantime, let’s do our part to contribute to the COVID-19 relief effort where we can — keep scrolling to help out!
Deep Space Nine’s “Past Tense, Pt. 1” has only become a more relevant indictment of American culture’s lack of compassion since its release
By: Alex Fox Rudinski
Tags: Homelessness, Inequality, Star Trek, Activism, Deep Space Nine

Still from the Deep Space Nine episode “Past Tense, Pt. 1” (1995), depicting the start of a citizen uprising.

As we find ourselves in a world that appears to be falling apart at the seams, I found myself strangely familiar with the carnage of the 2024 that Deep Space Nine’s “Past Tense, Pt. 1” imagines. Its ruinous outlines were recognizable, almost… comfortable. This immediately terrified me.

The homelessness, the encampments, the helpful but powerless bureaucrats, the violent cops marauding unsupervised without fear of punishment… it was an America I realized I’ve come to know too well. That so many of us have come to know, sometimes forcibly.

For me, the most affecting moment of the episode comes as Sisko and Bashir walk through what is essentially a massive homeless encampment, and Sisko exposits to Bashir about how things could possibly get this bad.

“It got to the point that they didn’t care how many people were here,” says Sisko, “They just wanted them out of sight.”

If that isn’t still an on-point critique of how we deal with the homeless in the United States, I don’t know what is. Living in Los Angeles, I see the human wreckage caused by our failure to manage this problem daily. It is a problem that we have apparently decided not to solve, though we will keep tossing out our ineffectual gestures.

“And once they were out of sight,” asks Bashir, “what then?” He sees an obviously mentally-ill man lying in the street, points to him. Bashir’s anger is easy to understand.

“They could cure that man now, today, if they gave a damn!”

So could we. If poverty, homelessness, police violence was as important to us as the national defense, as well-funded and unquestionably critical to our national identity, we could solve these problems. Or, finding solutions unattainable, at least make the best possible effort in the history of humankind.

We could build a monument to kindness, charity, compassion, care. If we are a “Christian nation,” as so many bloviating gasbags wrongly insist, what could be more Christ-like than helping the needy? Treating the sick? Housing those that sleep under bridges? But fighter jets don’t pay for themselves, I suppose. Lord knows we need F-35s to fight people who build bombs in rice cookers.

“Causing people to suffer because you hate them is terrible,” Bashir goes on to say. Terrible, I might add, but at least comprehensible: wanting your enemies to suffer might be callous, but it is deeply human.

“But causing people to suffer because you’ve forgotten how to care… that’s really hard to understand.”

I’m right there with you, Doc. It is hard to understand.
Op-Ed: Performative Activism and Joe Biden
By: Left, Right Contributors
Tags: Joe Biden, Activism, Election 2020, Politics, Social Media

Image Source: The New York Times

Performative activism is a phrase that’s been thrown around a lot in recent months, often referring to this new wave of “social media activism” surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement.

These criticisms are often thrown upon teenage liberal girls, but are the real culprits of “performative activism” our nation’s politicians?

Joe Biden’s empty appeals to the progressive vote say yes. Biden promises to make strong climate action a number one priority, but refuses to align himself with the Green New Deal. He plans to reverse Trump’s attacks on the LGBTQ community, but will not answer the HRC’s push for his administration to take an explicit stand against the cruelty of conversion therapy. His administration claims to support racial law enforcement equity, but plans to pump more money into the police, rather than considering the ideas of reallocation of funds.

We cannot fault Joe Biden for playing politics and trying to appeal to three bases at once (progressive, moderate, and independent.) This, however, does not mean that we cannot criticize him. Many claim that Biden will be the most progressive president of all time, and while that’s yet to be seen, his progressivism may only run election-deep.

However, I would say it’s unfair of me to say this without acknowledging the doable progressive promises the Biden administration has made. The Equality Act, which would include gender identity and sexual orientation as sex discrimination under Title 14 and has remained in the Senate for over a year, is a top priority for the Biden administration to pass. Similarly, his platform promotes racial equity training in the workplace and hopes to rejoin the Paris agreement.

While I agree that reversing Trump’s wrongdoings remains a number one priority, I hope to see progress during this administration, rather than just a return to the politics of pre-2016.

This, also, does not mean that we cannot critique the performative action of teenagers on social media, but holding the Biden-Harris administration on a pedestal for the simple fact that they are not the Trump-Pence one is a dangerous game for progressives to play.
Making New Year’s Resolutions That Benefit the Planet
By: Sandra Barrett
Tags: Environment, Climate Action, Climate Change, Activism, New Year Resolution

Making New Year’s Resolutions That Benefit the Planet

Photo by Carson Arias on Unsplash

It’s time to think about those dreaded New Year’s resolutions. Every year, we make them and most years we give up before the end of January. This year, I challenge you to take action for the planet. Your actions will make a difference.

Every time you do something it matters, even if it feels minuscule. For example, by starting the conversation around straws it elevated the conversation around single-use items and plastic waste. The issue made many restaurants, manufacturers, and individuals think differently. It also meant more eco-friendly options were made as an alternative.

When you make eco-friendly choices others take note. If you consciously buy more items with less packaging, your friends and family notice and many do the same. Likewise, manufacturers take note of the increase in sales of those items and produce more eco-friendly items. Meanwhile, manufacturers of the other items take note as well, after all, their sales begin to suffer. They learn they will either have to adapt to consumer will or go out of business.

Of course, small changes won’t get us where we need to be in the fight against climate change on their own.

We need new government policies and support for clean energy, water, and air.

We need to elect politicians that will implement policies for the environment and aren’t outwardly climate change deniers.

We need to let governments and companies know that this is THE fight for our survival and we won’t allow greenwashing or further destruction of the land, water, and air.

We need to listen to Indigenous peoples and give them the tools, land, money, and resources they need to allow the traditional knowledge they have practiced for centuries to heal our planet.
The Poet Andrew Practices Activism Through His Music
By: Kendal Mcgurie
Tags: Music, Activism, Artist

Andrew Carson is a New York City-based independent artist. Although originally born in Texas, he grew up competing in poetry competitions as early as thirteen. Through his deep passion for creativity, artistry, and language, he found a love for performance, known by his stage name, The Poet Andrew. His music is a mix of different genres and styles, from alternative pop to classic hip-hop, which gives him that unique edge. The Poet Andrew is a rapper, singer, and producer who believes music should always aim to pass a message and have a meaning behind it, and because of this, he has used his music and platform for activism.

In “Hold Faith,” a 2019 single he produced himself, he tried to create and bring awareness and raise money to help with the legislation of Transgender equality. And this year, even though there was a pandemic, he still managed to release an EP titled “Stargazer.” For The Poet Andrew, his art is considered a gateway to the mind and understanding. And since music is a universal language, he tries to connect the world with his message through his creative expression and dope beats mixed with his soulful and resonant voice.

He describes his artistry as unique because he is an independent rapper and singer responsible for producing all his works. He has also been able to break into the digital streaming market and feature his music on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal and VEVO, etc., all from his apartment in Queens. Also, being able to release an EP despite the pandemic and a music video while the country was on lockdown and everyone in quarantine makes the Poet Andrew believe that his story is a unique story about artistry and triumph. Especially considering how despite being a new artist and coupled with the pandemic, he could make music and take the industry by storm and hopefully bring people together through the message his music contains.

He states, “I am looking to bring more people into my world of music.” The writing, composition, recording, mixing, and mastering of his songs are all done by him, which is why he believes his music is inherently unique because it does not necessarily fit a specific mold. He says the idea of crossing genres and taking samples from a different style of music is what drives him every time he is recording, and he believes as a musician, making music doesn’t have to put or restrict the artist to a box. “What makes my sound different is that it is something that can only be made by me.” He concluded.

To know more about The Poet Andrew, check out his website.
Fight for 1 Point 5! Actions
By: Fff Digital Team
Tags: Environment, Climate Change, Activism, Youth, Politics

FFF Activists strike at the Brandenburg Gate, Germany

December 12th marks the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement. But there is little cause for celebration. Every single government has failed to contribute to a 1.5°C pathway, and current measures are nowhere near ambitious enough to reach a 1.5°C limit. Continuing to move down this path places our environment at unacceptable risk and risks accelerating a degradation not only of our natural resources but also of human life.

It is of vital importance then, that we make a stand on this day and remind governments around the world that we have not forgotten the commitments made at Paris, the promises made and the astounding lack of progress seen. On these two days [11th and 12th] we call on everyone who has understood the urge to act and realises the necessity of action to #FightFor1Point5!

There are a number of offline and online actions you can take to ensure that governments are reminded that people will hold them accountable for their promises:

Offline

Light candles, use LEDs, or your phones to form the words “Fight for 1 Point 5” to demonstrate to governments that this is not a celebration, but a vigil for a planet increasingly being put at risk by governments that aren’t committed.

Social Media

Post pictures of your offline action and include the hashtag #FightFor1Point5 in the text

Connect with other actions worldwide and show each other support.

Add #FightFor1Point5 to your Profile Picture!

Watch out for infos and videos on Fridays for Future Social Media channels.

Online:
19-Year-Old Student Youngest Commissioner for the City of Jackson
By: Maurice Imhoff
Tags: Activism, Change, Youth, History, Democracy

Commissioner Maurice Imhoff seeks to create a greater tomorrow for his community.

Several name plates of the City of Jackson Human Relations Commission - City Hall Jackson, MI

Jackson, MI — High school student Maurice Imhoff is the youngest to serve on any commission for the City of Jackson. In December of 2019 Jackson Mayor Dobies put forth a recommendation to city council for Imhoff to be appointed to the city’s Human Relations Commission & Historic District Commission. On December 17th, 2019 city council unanimously voted to appoint Imhoff to both commissions making him the youngest to serve at only 18 years old.

“Maurice is very engaged, he comes in prepared, he’s done his homework, he’s a very birght and intilgent young man — his concerns are naturally geared more from the perspective from where he is in life and that's refreshing, thats also something that we need to have more of.” said Chief Equity Officer John Willis.

One of the major projects Imhoff has worked on is the drafting of a Civilian Police Oversight Commission ordinance. Outside of the commissions Imhoff is a student at Northwest Community School’s. After graduating he hopes to attend college to study history.

“I’ve enjoyed every moment of being apart of these commissions so far. Being able to strive for a better future in my community means a lot to me.” said Imhoff. “During this pandemic I have seen my generation come together more than ever. It makes me beyond happy to see all my friends get involved to make a difference, always lending a helping hand where needed”

Commissioner Maurice Imhoff speaks at an unveiling of the Michigan historical marker at Jackson’s Bucky Harris Park.

Within the past two years several of Jackson’s violent crimes involving a firearm have someone under 21 involved, whether that individual is the victim or the perpetrator.

Earlier this year in February a 14 year old boy, Cameron Kasprzycki, was killed on Orange Street in Jackson. This devastated the community, especially those within the younger generation. Imhoff has made reducing the violence one of his top priorities. Along with a local chapter of Moms Demand Action & Save Our Youth, Imhoff hopes to get more of his generation involved in the effort.

“Firearms are the leading cause of death for American children and teens. In 2018 alone we saw 3,335 deaths of America’s youth due to firearms. The U.S. gun homicide rate is 25 times that of other high-income countries. We must make an effort to reduce this, we must save our youth.” Said Imhoff

One of Imhoff’s favorite things about Jackson is the deep and rich history it holds. Just recently, he worked with several other local historians to found the Jackson County Michigan Historical Society. The goal of this new organization is to perpetuate Jackson County’s history.
This Week in Wizard Activism: Accio Books Ends in 5 Days!
By: The Harry Potter Alliance
Tags: Books, Literacy, Activism, Week In Wizard Activism, Reading

This Week in Wizard Activism: Accio Books Ends in 5 Days!

Graphic of our This Week in Wizard Activism logo! It features the words “This Week in Wizard Activism” and our logo on a blue background.

Happy Thursday, everyone! I hope your December is going well so far! Let’s jump right into This Week in Wizard Activism.

Yuri On Ice: Makkachin, the poodle, greets Yuri by jumping and knocking him over to lick his face.

Accio Books!

Yuri On Ice: Yuri is running in the cold while smiling at someone off screen

It’s that wonderful time of year! It’s Accio Books time!! Just like many events this year, Accio Books look a bit different. We want to keep everyone safe while still participating in a truly magnificent event! Our original plans for Accio Books may have changed, but we still believe sharing stories is exactly what the end of 2020 needs.

Head over to acciobook.org for more information on how to participate! We’re still collecting books until December 15th. If you’re unable to donate physically or monetarily, that’s okay! You can help us spread the word and let folks know.

Sale! Sale! Sale!

Folks, we got a sale on our hands! Have you been eyeing any of our pins or patches? Then head over to our DFTBA store and grab one (or more) for 20% off with code MUSICAL. And for an extra special treat, if you email us your DFTBA receipt, we will send a free script to Starkid’s A Very Potter Christmas!

Volunteering

Yuri On Ice: Yuri and Victor are practicing skating on the ice together

Interested in volunteering or know someone who could be? Have a passion for Harry Potter and social justice? Why not join our amazing volunteer family! Whatever your strengths may be, we’re certain to have a place for you here at The HP Alliance. Check out our Volunteer page for more information and position openings!
What is an activist?
By: Maria Rattray
Tags: Blue Economy, Environmental Issues, Activism, Change Management, Inspirational

What is an activist? It’s a person who believes strongly in social change and does something to effect that change.

Activists build new models.

They also work to get rid of the old.

An activist doesn’t see that the river is unclean. Instead he cleans the river.

An activist is at the same time, an optimist.

And who is this student?

Her story begins in a small village in Zimbabwe. A small village where a young girl, Chido Govera, grew up shouldering a weight of responsibility that no child should be asked to endure, rising at 4am to ensure that her blind grandmother and younger brother had water and food, before she set off for school

If you’d like to read this article, please click on the link below. Thank you.
Activist Spotlight: Elizabeth Gurley Flynn
By: Suzanne Grandt
Tags: Feminism, Suzanne Grandt, Womens Rights, Activism

Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, champion of labor and advocate for women’s rights, was born in August of 1890 in Concord, New Hampshire. She came from a family of activists and Irish nationalists.

From an early age, Flynn dedicated herself to the socialist movement. She saw the Irish suffer from discriminatory practices and felt the socialist views were more in line with creating fairness and equity toward the common man. Elizabeth’s journey started when, at the age of fifteen, she gave a speech on socialism. That speech propelled her into a lifelong journey advocating for the average worker.

In 1920 Flynn took part in founding the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). By being part of the Union, she was able to assist in the legal defense of immigrants. These immigrants were on trial because of their strong support for socialism and communism. This was during the Red Scare, where communist ideology was perceived as traitorous to this country.

Because of her support, she became the target of scrutiny and was later arrested and served two years in prison. The ACLU met and decided that Flynn’s views were controversial at best and treasonous at worst. In either case, they chose to expel her as a member; she was posthumously reinstated.

Flynn, like her mother, was a supporter of women’s rights. As World War II got in the way, Flynn sought wage equity and child care for working women. She believed in a woman’s right to use birth control and the right to vote and make changes to the laws.

Elizabeth married John Archibald Jones. He was an activist and part of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), a Chicago labor union. Their relationship was unsuccessful and subsequently ended in divorce. They had two children, but one died. Although things were difficult in her personal life, Flynn immersed herself into her causes to ultimately create a strong legacy.

Elizabeth Gurley Flynn died in September of 1964. She was in Russia at the time of her death, and because of her notoriety around socialism and communism, they gave her a ceremonious burial. Flynn was a member of the ACLU, head of the Communist Party, and supporter of women’s suffrage.
A Boy who Loved Boys: Our Life
By: Thursday Rain
Tags: Childhood Memor, Queer

A couple years ago, I was digging around in old boxes and came across some of my school things from 2nd to 3rd grade. Journals, projects, and worksheets, with sloppy handwriting and crude drawings.

I’d heard somewhere that every time you recall a memory, it’s altered. Each remembering adds more context, loses details, shifts things slightly. In my case, most of my memories of childhood are either gone or well-touched, covered in a patina of 20+ years, and feel almost like adult memories. My problems — an overbearing father, struggling focus in school, my extremely early start to puberty—are seen through my adult eyes. “Wow, that was rough, wasn’t it! I made it through okay, didn’t I?” is the impression I would get whenever I thought about it.

When looking at my old things, however, the sensation of the memories was very different. Untouched, something like a moth trapped in amber. Smaller and younger perhaps? I’m not entirely sure, but seeing physical evidence of my age and the surreal sensation these objects brought up gave me a much better understanding of who those memories belonged to: a little, gentle boy, who liked butterflies and whose favorite color was pink.

Our Life’s writing, especially in the first two ages, does an excellent job of getting you into this headspace of being a child. Choices are often oriented around how your character might be feeling, inviting you to roleplay instead of merely following along. There is a focus on things children care about and find important. Are you too shy to ask for ice cream directly, having to whisper your answer to your mom instead? What sort of a backstory do you imagine for your new dolphin balloon? You worry about whether your Cove will care about the snail you found, worry about building sandcastles that are too similar, worry if your friends consider you a friend, too.

It touched me very deeply, and I found myself on the verge of tears often. Cove, a shy boy, reminded me of myself at that age. Instead of roleplaying an introverted, quiet child, the one I remember being, I found myself making choices that would comfort and encourage Cove. I wanted him to be happy, and to be happy with him.
queer, even during the holidays
By: Kierra B. Jones
Tags: Queer, Sexuality, LGBTQ, Family, Holidays

a letter for the holigays

I hope today’s letter finds you safe and warm . I especially hope today’s letter greets you at a time in which you feel most seen and empowered—at a time in which you feel empowered to love and be loved by whomever, however.

I hope.

But I know, realistically, that safety and warmth and love are conditional for some…for many.

I know that for some of us, a warm family must be diligently chosen. For some of us, a safe community must be purposefully created. For some of us, love must be vehemently fought over.

If this is you-- I see you, and I am so very proud of you.



And I am proud of me too.

The holiday season can be extraordinarily tough for lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning/queer, gender nonconforming, and transgender (LGB/GNCT) people. LGBQ/GNCT people often experience violence, rejection, and trauma from those who claim to love them most (aka. blood relatives). LGBQ/GNCT youth and young adults are at heightened risk of housing instability and/or becoming unhoused and familial rejection, forcing many into unsafe environments (or further exacerbating those already-existing conditions). The burden of this rejection may be particularly heavy and exhausting during the holidays, and in a year like 2020, the burden is a goddamned elephantine bag full of bricks.

While attitudes are shifting and, globally, LGBTQ acceptance is on the rise, this acceptance at the aggregate level may not be fully realized at the individual or even community levels. For me, as someone whose “coming out story” is still being written, I think about this a lot.