please read this even if you're not indian. especially if you're not indian.
you've seen the jokes. india is "dirty", indians are "everywhere", why don't they fix their own country. ok. let me tell you why, and what's happening right now while nobody's watching.
first, the history you skipped: britain ruled india for two centuries and drained it. economist utsa patnaik's research estimates around $45 trillion in today's money was taken. the india that got independence in 1947 was one of the poorest countries on earth. every "why is india like this" question starts there. you don't get to profit off a robbery and then mock the crime scene.
now, what's happening RIGHT NOW:
in may the question paper for NEET leaked. that's the national medical entrance exam. over 2.2 million students took it. cancelled. years of studying, families' savings poured into coaching, gone overnight because someone sold the paper. students died by suicide after. these were kids who wanted to be doctors.
and out of that came a protest movement. a gen z group called the cockroach janta party, started by a 30 year old named abhijeet dipke, got 22 million instagram followers within DAYS. they've been doing a sit-in at jantar mantar in delhi demanding education minister dharmendra pradhan resign.
and then there's sonam wangchuk. if you've watched 3 idiots, he's the real engineer the character was based on. built solar schools in ladakh. invented ice stupas so himalayan villages have water. spent his whole life on education. he's 59 and he's been on hunger strike for 17+ days now. reporters went to see him this week and he was too weak to talk. and the troll armies are calling him "anti national" and "foreign funded". a man starving himself for other people's children. that's the thing here, anyone who asks a question is suddenly a traitor.
it's not one incident, it's everywhere you look:
• infrastructure worth thousands of crores failing within months of the ribbon cutting. tunnels collapsing in regions where heavy rain is a guarantee, not a surprise.
• youth unemployment near 10% for ages 15 to 29, 13.6% in cities. in a country of 1.42 billion where more than half the population is young.
• only about the top 3% of indians earn above 10 lakh a year. meanwhile billionaire wealth keeps ballooning and the headlines celebrate it.
• manipur burned for over two years. an ethnic conflict, tens of thousands displaced, and the prime minister barely said the word manipur while it happened.
• journalists raided. critics' houses bulldozed. activists sitting in jail for years without trial under laws like UAPA. our press freedom ranking has cratered.
• even the petrol is a fight now, ethanol blending pushed through while drivers complain about their engines and get no straight answers.
and through all of it, the PM, who came to power on religious polarisation (americans, sound familiar?), travels abroad for photo ops and has not held one single open press conference in over a decade. not one.
what i'm asking:
if you're not indian: share this. our media mostly won't cover any of it because the big outlets are owned by the same billionaires the government serves. the only reason wangchuk's fast is getting any coverage is people refusing to look away.
if you ARE indian: speak up even if you're comfortable. especially if you're comfortable. join the protests. add to this, correct me, translate it. staying quiet is a choice when nothing in this post touches your life.
india is not "dirty". india was robbed, and it's being robbed again, from the inside this time. but it's also the country where a 59 year old will starve for strangers' kids and 22 million young people will rally behind a party literally named after cockroaches, because cockroaches survive everything.
The movement, which began as a satirical protest, has evolved into a nationwide challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.
Supporters of India's youth-led Cockroach movement said Tuesday they will continue their protest in New Delhi, refusing to leave their sit-in site a day after police used tear gas and batons to disperse thousands of them as they tried to march toward Parliament.
Hundreds of protesters camped at Jantar Mantar, a designated protest site, under heavy police presence, saying they would stay until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns over alleged failures in India's examination system.
"We are going to continue our protest," said Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, which emerged just two months ago.
The movement, drawing students, professionals and families, marks a rare public challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's government in its third term, reviving criticism over its handling of dissent and its use of force to respond to protests. [...]
Sona Bisht, a 20-year-old student who was part of the protest, said the confrontation strengthened her resolve.
"If the government thinks that doing this with Gen Z, they can stop us, then that won't happen. We are here talking about education, talking about securing our future. And till the time our demands are not met, we will not move from here," she said.
"Definitions developed thus far about youth, like the Gen Z narrative, have largely been linked to roles attributed by the dominant system. The rulers have invented a whole range of terms — rebellious, irresponsible, apolitical, extremist, consumerist — not to understand youth, but to neutralize it. They know as well as we do that whoever wins over the youth wins over society. [...] Thus the question is not whether youth is powerful, but in whose interest this power is directed. Today’s uprisings — such as those in Nepal, Bangladesh, Madagascar, Indonesia, Kenya, Morocco, and beyond — demonstrate that youth continues to emerge as a decisive actor. Young women like Deniz Ciya have proven this with their lives. These uprisings are not expressions of generational temperament. These „Gen Z uprisings“ are expressions of a social force confronting structural crisis inherent in the current system. [...] Recent youth uprisings — whether in the form of environmental justice protests, labor movements, or uprisings against authoritarian governments — are proof that youth worldwide are not only responding to a set of circumstances; they are consciously and collectively rejecting the narratives that seek to define them. Thus, it is crucial to analyze what transpired, and draw lessons from these uprisings, particularly in the context of building a global youth democratic confederalism. For the power of youth movements is interconnected, despite being geographically distant." — "Beyond "Gen Z": Defending Revolutionary Youth Spirit" by Lêgerîn
"The youth in general, and especially the young women, are the spark of every revolution.We can’t look at the history and found a revolution without the youth. We are a fundamental factor. We should be aware of this reality, we should take conscience of our historical role. By doing this we will provide ourselves with a plan that will allow us the unity of action and objectives. The Youth should not be condemned to be a slave of the capitalist system. [...] If we reject the labels and mentalities imposed by the system, taking consciousness as Internationalist Youth in a global level and organizing ourselves, is there someone who can stop us?" — "The youth is the spark of every revolution" by Lêgerîn.
Oh wow so me saying "no government documentation should ever include a gender marker for any reason" has been right all along. For exactly the reason I stated when people were giving me shit for not supporting x markers on documents.
the sex binary is socially constructed and not actually descriptive of any biological truth. you know that, right? it's important to me that you know that
i know people can be a little overzealous in describing political backslides ("this used to be the feminism website!!!" etc.) but it's disturbing to me how much incredulity i've gotten from other trans people as of late just for, like, saying that "biological woman" is neither a real category nor a phrase that should ever leave your mouth uncritically
People who are like, viciously against prison abolition confuse me. I'll admit that, in the end, I also struggle to imagine a world in which, even when nobody has any reason to, someone or another won't act in a way that could only be solved with restricting their autonomy. But people who would act in such a way, even when all their needs and wants are taken care of, in a society that has methods of healing and retribution that isn't punishment, are exceedingly rare. People will do unreasonable things, even in a perfect world, but the amount of people who will do unreasonable things repeatedly with no way of stopping them are astronomically rare.
Best case scenario, we find a way around this issue and the number of people in prison is 0 (a way around that doesn't involve killing people, I will clarify). Worst case scenario, we don't, but the vast majority of people who would be in prison now most likely did not act in the way that originally got them in trouble and, in the scenario they still did, had ways of making up for that and doing better that does not involve punishment (which exasperates the issue). Its a win-win either way, but since prison abolitionists don't have a magic solution for every problem people are willing to throw away the whole concept, even when working towards that goal will only lead to benefits even if it is never 100% achieved.
I feel like this sort of thing maps over (nearly) identically to psych abolition, mainly because psychiatry is a carceral in itself. It is an extension of the prison system.
"What about the ~violent evil schizophrenics/murderers/rapists/sociopaths/etc~" has never been a productive question, because it misunderstands the whole concept at its very basis. "Restricting autonomy is inhumane, we should work towards a world that does not restrict autonomy as much as possible" has always been the thesis.
i'm not generally one to get overly precious about etymology but its fucking insane to me that people still call things "highbrow" and "lowbrow". Like amiguitas those words are about Skull Shape
idk i would personally rather give up access to certain products seasonally or locally than have people enslaved to give me the ability to have any product any place any time. i think i can go without tomatoes in january.
i truly do think that most people if confronted with it and pressed on it would agree. but it's comfortable to gain privileges from someone else's suffering, especially if you don't have to see that suffering directly.
The bombing in Gaza has returned to the ferocity and violence of the early days of the war. The airstrikes are relentless, the massacres continue, leaving countless martyrs and wounded. The situation is catastrophic beyond description, and we, the innocent, are paying the price, suffering injuries ourselves. For those who care, Gaza is bleeding without end.
Even worse, I was injured when our house was bombed while we were inside. I was hit by shrapnel that is still embedded in my body, and I need urgent surgery. I constant pain ever since. My surgery is very expensive, and I don't have enough money for it. Now I can't sleep because of the excruciating pain, and I can't afford the pain medication because it's so expensive.
I need your h@lp to get rid of my pain. Please, I don't want to die. H@lp me raiise the mOney I need for my medication and surgery as quickly as possible so I can travel to a safe country. Please stand by me.
Please help my friend Fadel. He needs funds urgently for his medication. He is in so much pain, and due to blockades, medication for pain relief is extremely expensive. Please have compassion and donate as soon as you have the means.
Generative AI and the artist discussion is such a distraction from AI’s military and police applications or its role in automating hiring discrimination.
Jill Collen Jefferson, the founder of JULIAN, explains what happens when a transgender woman’s death is ruled a suicide and a community call
This is grim and unsurprising but I’m heartened that there are people devoting themselves to bringing this horrific pattern to light. Lynchings never ended, and reports of suicides among Black transfems in particular should be cause for suspicion
China on Tuesday voiced support for Cuba at a UN General Assembly debate on the decades-long US economic, commercial and financial embargo a
China on Tuesday voiced support for Cuba at a UN General Assembly debate on the decades-long US economic, commercial and financial embargo against the Caribbean country, saying the measures have caused serious hardship for the Cuban people and should be brought to an end.
The General Assembly voted earlier on Tuesday to proceed with the debate by 136 votes in favor, nine against and 30 abstentions, despite opposition from the United States.
Speaking at the debate, Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said China supported the convening of the meeting and voted in favor of holding it. The 136 votes in favor "fully demonstrated the aspiration of the international community and the call for justice", he said.
The debate, convened at the request of Cuba, focused on "the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba". The General Assembly last held its regular annual debate on the issue on Oct 28 and 29.
Fu said the United States has, for more than 60 years, imposed an economic blockade and unilateral sanctions on Cuba, "causing enormous suffering to the Cuban state and people".
"Cuba has suffered accumulated losses of more than $170 billion as a result of the blockade, while hospitals, schools, water supply systems, grain storage facilities and other infrastructure related to people's livelihood have come under severe pressure," he said.
Cuba is facing serious fuel shortages, a worsening electricity and energy crisis, and continued obstruction in the supply of medicines, medical equipment and other essential goods, with vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women bearing a heavy impact, Fu said.
Cuba, which depends heavily on fuel imports, has received only one oil tanker in the past six months, the Russian vessel Anatoly Kolodkin, carrying about 100,000 metric tons of crude oil, Xinhua News Agency reported. The country needs about eight fuel tankers a month to maintain normal operations.
"Such acts violate the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including sovereign equality, the peaceful settlement of international disputes and the prohibition of the use or threat of force," Fu said.
They also "infringe upon the Cuban people's rights to subsistence and development, and undermine the international order based on international law and the basic norms governing international relations", he said.
"China urges the United States to stop its blockade against Cuba and all forms of coercive pressure, and to stop infringing upon the Cuban people's rights to subsistence and development," Fu said.
Fu called on the international community to support Cuba in safeguarding sovereignty, equality and national dignity, and to jointly resist illegal blockades, sanctions and military threats.
He said countries should uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, adhere to sovereign equality, oppose interference in internal affairs, adhere to the peaceful settlement of disputes and oppose the use of force.m
Fu also called for opposition to all illegal unilateral sanctions, saying unilateral sanctions without authorization from the UN Security Council "have no basis in international law and damage the sovereignty and security of other countries".
"The international community should safeguard the Cuban people's rights to subsistence and development, and urge relevant countries to implement General Assembly resolutions, immediately terminate all kinds of sanctions and secondary sanctions against Cuba, refrain from frequently threatening sanctions, and protect the Cuban people's right to pursue a better life," Fu said.
Fu said international fairness and justice concern the survival and development of all countries. In the face of hegemonism and power politics, no country can remain immune, he said.
"No country can appoint itself as an international policeman, nor can any country style itself as an international judge," Fu said.
"The Chinese people empathize with the suffering of the Cuban people and China will, as always, provide Cuba with support and assistance within its capacity," Fu said.
He called on countries and UN agencies to step up humanitarian assistance to Cuba, help address shortages of fuel, food and medicines, ease the crisis facing the Cuban people and safeguard the bottom line of international humanitarianism.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla welcomed the Assembly's decision to hold the debate, saying Cuba rejects the claim that it represents a threat to the United States and condemns Washington's policy of hostility and aggression.
"Cuba is not a threat. Cuba is the nation that is under threat," said Parrilla, noting Cuba's commitment to "peace, international law, multilateralism, truth and justice".
Speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, Laura Dupuy Lasserre, Uruguay's permanent representative to the UN, said the embargo "affects all the critical sectors of the Cuban economy, including public health, nutrition and agriculture, as well as trade, investment, tourism and banking".
"The Group therefore calls for the immediate, complete and unconditional lifting of the embargo, including all measures with extraterritorial effects," she said. "Ending these restrictions is essential not only for Cuba's development and the well-being of its people, but also for upholding the Charter, international law and the credibility of multilateralism."
if i was in an alien movie i'd be luring the xenomorph into a hot wok and adding chili, garlic, ginger, shaoxin wine, scallions, white pepper and sesame oil
there was a hole here @silenthill2gameoftheyearedition - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag
blakekathryn
stormborns
pixelskylines
origamiaround
