heels over head

everyday stuff: breath, bike, wild food, yoga, books, aaaaand...

[uneco]

Industrial Hemp Is The Answer To Petrochemical Dependency

Many products made from petroleum-derived materials can be made from hemp.

Although industrial hemp won’t overtake petrochemical products any time soon, increasing hemp knowledge and infrastructure will give it a lasting place in our economy—one that will contribute to a greener, healthier world

[vital-information]

I told Miyazaki I love the “gratuitous motion” in his films; instead of every movement being dictated by the story, sometimes people will just sit for a moment, or they will sigh, or look in a running stream, or do something extra, not to advance the story but only to give the sense of time and place and who they are.

“We have a word for that in Japanese,” he said. “It’s called ma. Emptiness. It’s there intentionally.”

Is that like the “pillow words” that separate phrases in Japanese poetry?

“I don’t think it’s like the pillow word.” He clapped his hands three or four times. “The time in between my clapping is ma. If you just have non-stop action with no breathing space at all, it’s just busyness, But if you take a moment, then the tension building in the film can grow into a wider dimension. If you just have constant tension at 80 degrees all the time you just get numb.”

Which helps explain why Miyazaki’s films are more absorbing and involving than the frantic cheerful action in a lot of American animation. I asked him to explain that a little more.

“The people who make the movies are scared of silence, so they want to paper and plaster it over,” he said. “They’re worried that the audience will get bored. They might go up and get some popcorn.

But just because it’s 80 percent intense all the time doesn’t mean the kids are going to bless you with their concentration. What really matters is the underlying emotions–that you never let go of those.

— Roger Ebert in conversation with Hiyao Miyazaki

[cyclecycles]

Spirited Away is only movie I’ve watched more than 3 times.

[myjetpack]

for yesterday’s @guardian review

[lacorgi]

The Corgmobile. 

[wertheyouth-blog]

Infographic: Legally Married and Legally Fired, Center for American Progress

[veggieheather]

THIS THIS THIS

[rosalarian]

I’m continuously terrified that people will think LGBT rights is a finished fight as soon as marriage equality passes nationally. There’s still so much extremely important stuff to get to. Marriage is not an end goal.

[thesoftghetto]

[krxs10]

IN CASE YOU HAVENT HEARD YET

!!!!! MUST READ !!!!!!

Dominican Republic to be ‘Socially Cleaned’ of all Hatians/Dark Skinned Dominicans in two days

In two days about a quarter of a million people will be made stateless. They will have no homes, no passports, and no civil rights. There are several reasons for this, but the primary reason is racism.

 At issue is a ruling by the Constitutional Court in the Dominican Republic to strip away the citizenship of several generations of Dominicans:

According to the decision, Dominicans born after 1929 to parents who are not of Dominican ancestry are to have their citizenship revoked. The ruling affects an estimated 250,000 Dominican people of Haitian descent, including many who have had no personal connection with Haiti for several generations.

Dominican Republic has always had a longstanding hatred towards Haiti for years but what they’re doing is literally taking anyone who’s family lineage cannot be traced back to 1929, and putting them on a one-way bus back to Haiti, whether they were born in the DR or not. They don’t care. 

The US State Department has denounced the Dominican government for this plan, and pointed out that it is a gross violation of human rights according to the U.N. charter.

Below are 5 things you need to know about what is happening in the Dominican Republic:

The DR government has revoked the citizenship of more than 100,000 Dominicans born in the country of Haitian parents.

Many of the Dominican-born Haitians facing the looming threat of deportation have never visited Haiti or know anyone there.

The criteria the government will use in deciding who is to be bussed out of the country is “dark-skinned Dominicans with Haitian facial features.”

The DR government claims to have established a legalization process for Dominican-Haitians wishing to remain in the country, but the system is close-to-impossible, according to sources on the ground.

Even though currently the deportation of Dominic-Haitians persists as only a possibility, all evidence points to it happening.

Source / Source / Source

#StayWoke

[thisiseverydayracism]

WHAT. THE. FUCK.

[thisiseverydayracism]

10 Simple Ways White People Can Step Up to Fight Everyday Racism

By Derrick Clifton | September 4, 2014 | Mic.com

Let’s face it: Most white people don’t like being accused of racism or hearing that they have white privilege.

For many whites, these types of accusations have nasty connotations, hearkening back to slavery, colonialism, rape, genocide, segregation and disenfranchisement. But although it may be uncomfortable, these connotations can’t be swept under the rug. Learning about the history of racial oppression in America is an important step toward understanding why many people of color have a hard time trusting white people. 

For multiple generations, people of color have had negative experiences encountering institutional racism and microaggressions, so it is no surprise that they may prefer not to deal with whites altogether. 

This isn’t to say that all white people are racists, or even that all white people have direct culpability in creating or sustaining racism in America. Indeed, being pushed away by people of color or being called-out on racism — directly or indirectly — may instead inspire feelings of resignation or hurt. And some whites truly wish to help as best as they can while cultivating strong relationships with people of color. 

Unfortunately, there isn’t extensive education in American classrooms that examines racism throughout history. As a result, there are not nearly enough opportunities for whites to learn how they can bridge gaps of misunderstanding, distrust and guilt towards achieving true equity and inclusion for people of color. For too long, whites have only heard about racism in the context of what not to do, but rarely, if ever, do white people hear about how they can be proactive about the issue.

By taking the leadership of people of color in the broader conversation about eradicating racism, whites can take steady, even simple steps towards becoming allies in the fight against racial inequality, not merely bystanders — or worse, perpetrators:

1. Listen when people of color talk about everyday racism and white privilege.

When a white person speaks up about racism, other whites tend to listen carefully and respectfully, even if they disagree. But more often than not, when blacks and people of color speak about racism, the instinct is to jump to conclusions, to interrupt, call them liars, question their intelligence or walk away from the conversation altogether. 

Ending such a dialogue because one might feel uncomfortable does little to push the conversation forward, and reinforces white privilege. People of color live with the burden of institutional racism, but there are little-to-no consequences for whites who choose to ignore a historically violent and oppressive system from which they benefit every day.

Instead, a more productive solution comes through listening carefully and reserving judgment when people of color openly discuss the pain they have endured.

2. Honor the feelings of people of color in the discussion. It is not about your white guilt.

If white people are tired of hearing people of color “whine” or “rant” about white privilege, then imagine how exhausting and burdensome it is to directly contend with racism every day for years. 

The last thing people of color need to hear from white people is how they should deal with or talk about encountering racism. Even with the most well-intentioned effort, white people must acknowledge they will never have the same understanding or range of experiences that people of color bring to the conversation. This is not to say that white people can’t join the discussion, but that they must focus on a solution.

Too often, white people overreact to criticism, become defensive and turn their feeling of uncomfortableness back on their peers. People of color have long been policed for their “tone” or “overemotional attitude,” feelings that are human and valid after dealing with something as infuriating as racism.

3. Ask plenty of questions. Earnestly seek to understand people of color before trying to have your viewpoint understood.

During a heart-to-heart about racism, don’t assume that everything being said immediately makes sense. The best way to seek clarity and bridge any gaps of knowledge is to simply ask for more information, just as you would for any other topic that isn’t your area of expertise.

It’s OK to admit that you don’t know how it feels to be racially profiled by cops, surrounded by advertisements that reinforce Eurocentric beauty standards or be presumed unintelligent or inferior until proven otherwise — all because of the color of your skin. By being inquisitive, you’re more likely to reach a place of understanding and empathy. Once this connection is established, you have a stronger foundation to share your own personal experiences. 

4. Educate yourself about racism as much as possible before asking people of color for help.

It’s important to listen and defer to people of color during discussions about racism, but remember that they, too, are humans with limits on their time, resources, attention spans and emotional reserves. Sometimes, they may not have the energy to educate white people about racism because they’ve talked about it so much already. It may also trigger pain, resentment and sadness from dealing with oppression. 

So if a person of color backs away from the conversation and asks for space, respect that. There is no lack of information on the topic. Take responsibility and educate yourself, using the many books, recorded speeches, poems, news articles, research studies and other sources of information publicly available. 

5. Challenge other white people in your life to think critically about racism — family, friends, coworkers, teachers and even public officials.

If you see or hear something, say something. Don’t ignore discussions of racism when they emerge in the news cycle or sit by idly while someone perpetuates racial stereotypes or blatant disrespect — even if that disrespect is coming from a close friend, family member or superior. Encourage white people in your life to engage in the same kind of critical thinking that you yourself are engaging in.

6. Direct peers towards the perspectives of people of color. Becoming a “savior” is not cool.

It’s crucial not to hog all of the air in the conversation, or act as the spokesperson for people of color — because white people can’t truly present the perspectives of people of color. In addition, white perspectives and voices have historically been given priority over the lived experiences and knowledge produced by people of color. 

Instead, actively affirm the leadership of people of color in the conversation. Consider limiting the amount of personal perspective you offer and refer other white people to the same sources of enlightenment and insight that helped you best understand how to put anti-racism into practice. 

7. Avoid conflating other oppressions with racism unless it’s directly relevant to the conversation. 

In an often well-intentioned, yet half-hearted way of empathizing or identifying with someone else’s struggle with racism, it’s easy to say “I know what that’s like” because I’m gay, or a woman, or poor, or disabled or a religious minority. These other identities may intersect with racial inequality, but are not about race. Yes, experiencing another form of oppression should help you empathize, but that doesn’t mean that you’ll ever really know what racism feels like. 

Instead, it can come off as insulting, or make it seem like you’d rather shift the discussion toward a subject you feel more comfortable talking about. Even worse, this type of conversational pivot can imply that your differing oppression takes priority, something that strains the potential bond that could be formed in the conversation.

8. If you make a mistake, ask people of color how you can fix it.

It’s good to admit you’ve done wrong and own up to your mistakes — it’s a much more positive and effective reaction to backlash than dismissing racism critiques or denying there’s a problem. As with any other situation that reveals a personal fault line, ask how you can behave better in the future and show that you genuinely care about ensuring that people of color are truly welcomed, affirmed and respected.

Keep in mind that as a person who has power and privilege in the situation, you have a responsibility to ensure others aren’t being continually impacted by oppression, especially if it comes from you.

9. Adopt intersectionality as an approach to all aspects of everyday life and start taking it seriously.

Intersectionality is much more than just an abstract academic theory developed by feminist scholars like Kimberlé Crenshaw and writers and advocates of color. Indeed, it’s a liberating way of living, working and even connecting with other people.

Intersectionality matters because it acknowledges that there are multiple perspectives that need to be honored and understood on any given issue — big or small — because each individual experiences a variety of privileges and limitations based on their identities. For example, a person can experience prejudice because they aren’t heterosexual and because they aren’t wealthy, but still can exercise their racial privilege as a white person. All of those identities coexist.

For the individual above, the experience of being white, gay and poor will differ from someone who shares the same set of identities, but is instead a person of color. Intersectionality teaches us that race impacts the amount of difficulty or relative ease two individuals of different racial backgrounds will experience, while navigating an otherwise similar set of institutional challenges. 

10. Openly call out and reject any and all white privilege you witness or experience.

Yes, this means giving up your privilege in order to level the playing field. 

This could mean speaking up when a cab zooms past a black woman and picks up you and your white friends instead, a phenomenon known as destination discrimination. Or it could mean objecting when asked to speak about racism in lieu of a person of color who is more qualified, or after witnessing a person of color receive harsher punishment for something that earned you a mere slap on the wrist. 

Reject and name that privilege — because you didn’t earn it and it’s not one you chose. Recognize it for what it truly is: a perpetuation of some of the worst, lingering elements of racism and white supremacy.

To the many white people who have asked us what they can do to stand up against everyday racism - here…start with these 10 things. 

[puppypu]

Career goals...

[lookmumimalawyer]

[notyourlife]

Same

[teesadutta]

[swagloids]

tbh more people should talk about the issues faced by native people. because like:

Many young Native men and boys are cutting their traditional braids simply over fear of racism and ridicule from non-Natives.

“Half of status First Nations children in Canada live in poverty, a troubling figure that jumps to nearly two-thirds in Saskatchewan and Manitoba”

“Aboriginal suicide rate two to three times higher than the non-Aboriginal rate for Canada, and within the youth age group the Aboriginal suicide rate is estimated to be five to six times higher than that of non-Aboriginal youth.”

“RCMP statistics released in 2014 show that Indigenous women are four times more likely to be murdered than non-Indigenous women.“ and the prime minister of Canada doesn’t even want to talk about it.

“Native Americans are most likely to be killed by police, compared with other racial groups. Native Americans make up about 0.8% of the population, yet account for 1.9% of police killings.”

Not to mention that many northern Native communities are starving and the government is doing nothing to subsidize costs.

and those are just issues i can think of off the top of my head. this doesn’t even dip into the racial bias, fetishing, and cultural appropriation we as a people face everyday.

being a young native social justice advocate can be disheartening when you hear so much about the problems of every other minority group while yours is practically invisible.

[keraleda]

“Lighten Up” by Ronald Wimberly

Beautifuly written- and drawn.

[cyclecycles]

Wow.

[mymodernmet]

[cyclecycles]

Skateistan: an Organization that Empowers Afghan Girls by Giving Them Strength and Freedom Through Skateboarding

[teachersgazebo-deactivated20200]

I think the average guy thinks they’re pro-woman, just because they think they’re a nice guy and someone has told them that they’re awesome. But the truth is far from it. Unless you are actively, consciously working against the gravitational pull of the culture, you will predictably, thematically, create these sort of fucked-up representations.

Junot Diaz  (via ceedling)

[mulderapologist]

[ourwayswillchange]

[corecorrupt]

Guerrilla Artist Fills Chicago Potholes With Flower Mosaics

[gifstrips-blog]