BLM! Life is your game, learn to love it

Anti racism! BLM! Donate! Sign! Speak! Think! A person who helps, eats, learns everyday. Just remember nothing is constant, you choose what to enjoy and what to have.

[my-selfish-love]

🇺🇦 TO MY UKRAINIAN FOLLOWERS! 🇺🇦

Portugal opened it’s borders and anyone who knows people/has family in Portugal 🇵🇹 will be given a VISA if they wish to evacuate! Pls spread this it might help someone!!!

[tehtariks]

“Who can prevent all this from happening? The people. Public figures, journalists, musicians, actors, athletes, scientists, doctors, bloggers, stand-ups, Tiktokers, and more. Ordinary people. Ordinary, simple people. Men, women, old, young, fathers, and most importantly - mothers. I know that my speech will not be aired on Russian television. But the citizens of Russia have to see it. They need to know the truth.”

[memewhore]

"This is it." 😔💔

[weltenwellen]

[thechekhov]

Any thoughts on the Russian-Ukraine stuff or would you like to keep your opinions to yourself?

There is literally nothing I need to say in this situation.

I am watching and listening, and helping where I can. My opinion is irrelevant in the face of much more difficult things real people are facing.

I've seen many Russians make statements online apologizing on behalf of the country - cursing it, cursing Putin, cursing the government, and tearfully explaining how disgusted they are by it all, and how ashamed they are of being Russian.

I understand the urge, I really do, but the problem is that it ultimately does nothing. No matter how hard you punch yourself, your friend's wounds will not heal. That's not how it works.

At the moment, all anyone can do is:

Listen and read instead of posting - and think critically about which sources you get your news from (US media tends to be sensationalist, and Russia media is largely propaganda). There's also tons of misinformation online, and I've been trying to avoid posting/reblogging anything that I cannot 100% confirm as true.

Help out those directly affected by events - but be mindful of scams! Paypal and venmo is not available in the Ukraine, this is true. BUT - many Ukranians, especially those who have lived or live abroad are able to use it through connecting overseas banks or cards, and they CAN channel that money to family. It's ultimately YOUR responsibility to fact-check this before you reblog anything asking for donations. Be mindful of what you spread.

Keep informed and don't just spread fearmongering images/fatalist threads. Ukranians are currently trying to stay safe. Poland has opened borders to everyone with a Ukranian passport and suspended VISAs, and there is talk of other neighboring countries doing the same. They don't need more tweets about bombings. They don't need your jokes about WWIII and being drafted.

Ultimately I'm taking a seat and doing as much as I can, but the last thing you all need to hear is my casually uninformed opinion - or ANYONE'S uninformed opinion. Tweeting about current events does not make anyone an expert in foreign policy. If you're wondering what you should do - sometimes, the answer is 'nothing'.

Sometimes, not causing any extra damage through misinformation is the best thing you can do.

[garland-on-thy-brow]

Please stand up for Ukraine

Even though other people are saying it better than I will - I'm saying it because I need each of you to know. Because it is vital for me and my country right now.

There has been war in the eastern part of Ukraine for 8 years: Russia invaded us and occupied our territories. It was ugly. Many people lost their homes, many had to leave everything behind and flee. Others have been trapped there, unable to leave.

Now Russia is about to launch another invasion to try and cut off another piece of my country. Everywhere they come, there will be death and destruction. So many people will be killed, and many more will be forced to flee their homes.

And then, if Russia occupies any place, there will be terror. People will disappear in the night, and their bodies will be found after. If you've forgotten, if you did not know - that is how it happened in Crimea. People who are not Russian enough, not compliant anough, not cisstraight enough, or deny occupants anything, or look the wrong way - will be killed, or thrown into prison, or beaten and robbed.

Without international support, Ukraine cannot defend itself against the invasion. We need other countries to stand up for us to stop Russia's attack. We need it before it is too late.

So I'm sitting here, not knowing if my city is going to be bombed tomorrow, with an emergency bag packed just in case I need to run and hide in the middle of the night.

And I am asking you: please show your government that you want them to do everything to stop the war right now. Reach out to your government, to your local politicians. Boost Ukrainian voices. Don't stay silent about Ukraine. Tell them until they listen. You can help stop the war.

[they-call-me-thewildrose]

I live in exactly none of these countries but I cannot help feeling that this isn’t helping at all

[gaycism]

please be, at the very least, apprehensive about links/carrds/donation links you are seeing passed around here and other social media regarding ukraine/russia. this situation is extremely complicated and did not start last week so do your due diligence and learn about it before sharing donation links, etc. i'm already seeing carrds being shared with literal donation links to fund n@zi ukrainian paramilitary.

[starlightomatic]

As Russia prepares to invade Ukraine (or maybe is already doing so), I wanted to share this message and request from Rabbi Avraham Wolf, Chief Rabbi of Odessa & Southern Ukraine. It’s from a few days ago and I’m not sure if there have been any updates but it just feels really important to signal boost this:

“The Jewish community in the Ukraine is in need of your assistance during these dire times. As the threat of war intensifies, Mishpacha Chabad Odessa is preparing to support the hundreds of Jews who are unable to evacuate the country including orphans, students, and Holocaust survivors. Preparations are also underway to absorb Jewish refugees from the surrounding regions of Kharkiv, Kiev, and Dnieper.

$300,000 in donations are urgently needed to purchase medical gear, protective equipment, and basic necessities such as clothes and sleeping bags. Money is also needed to help stock emergency shelters with several tons of cereal, buckwheat, sugar, rice, flour and other non-perishable staples. These donations will also help defray the costs of additional security personnel arriving from Israel to help protect the Jewish community.

Your generous donation will help ensure that the Jewish community of Odessa is prepared for all eventualities and is able to provide security, shelter, and food for everyone in need during this dangerous time. $130,000 has already been spent in food alone - but much more is still needed.”

https://www.mishpachaorphanage.org/templates/fundraising/default_cdo/aid/5405630/jewish/Campaign.htm

[anoonimthepoorchad]

About the Russian invasion - how is everyone feeling there? What can we do to help?

Thank you so much for asking!

A little bit of history: it's actually been 8 years since russia first invaded our country. But for the last years it was getting more and more quiet. And now BOOM again

Many people evacuated from the destroyed by war cities in 2014 and some still live there even though they support Ukraine. It's hard to leave your home. So it's emotionally different for everyone. There was a joke that people from Kyiv worry more than people from Eastern Ukraine. Because they have experienced a similar thing in 2014 and now they're more prepared than ever before.

Personally, I'm panicking from time to time, because, yup, it's stressful. Most people don't really speak about the war and evacuation because it's scary. But I feel like everyone's trying to be prepared for the evacuation or fighting. Every night does feel like a last one, after all.

Since the beginning of the war, our people have been giving money to military charity. One of the most famous military charities is "Return alive" (Povernysya zhivim). Many Ukrainians donate here every month. Here is a link for Facebook page of the charity, let me know if it translates to English or if i should make a post with translation:

There is also a charity that helps military. Yana Zinkevych, a Ukrainian politician and a commander of the Hospitallers Medical Battalion, leads this charity. In 2015 she was paralyzed during a mission and since then she has been using a wheelchair. She has personally saved more than 200 soldiers and she's awesome.

https://www.facebook.com/100020149602229/posts/914756185872693/

In her post here she makes a list of needed ammunition and the needed money.

I tried to write about the charities that Ukrainians trust in. They are famous, they have been trusted by people all these years, so as far as I am concerned, they can be trusted.

Here is a post by @everlasting-burnout who provided more links. They seem trustworthy.

All links are from these threads by Ukrainians: https://twitter.com/bluegreymoon/status/1495165689220505606, https://twitter.com/olgatokariu

Thank you so much for reading and I encourage to reblog. Just to remind you, I'm trying to tell about Ukrainian situation as objectively and as truthfully as I can

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

@emilyisliving on Instagram

[jehovahhthickness]

Praying that $1500 randomly comes to you when you need it the most this year.

[2realll]

this actually works 🤞🏼

[pianta]

◾️ zwarte piet is racisme // black pete is racist ◾️

where i’m from, Sinterklaas is celebrated today; a winter holiday like Christmas, but imagine instead of jolly elves giving you presents and bringing you joy, it’s white people in blackface - Zwarte Piet, a racist caricature.

because of this, late november - early december is Hell for black people in the Netherlands and Belgium. you walk down the street seeing white people doing blackface minstrelsy, you grow up seeing tons of blackface imagery in stores or on TV, and the conversation on whether or not its racist is being dominated by complete disregard to the Dutch colonial & slavery history. 

while changes are being made (slowly), the amount of gaslighting and racist violence black people and POC here have to endure is draining and traumatizing. “it’s for the kids!” they say, but i’ve seen first hand how it has negatively impacted black kids in my family, making them question their place in society, myself included. black activists have campaigned against the tradition and those speaking out have been beaten and harassed by both the police and the far-right. and yes, this happens in a country that prides itself on being sooooo tolerant.

it should not take that much effort to change a “fun, family friendly holiday tradition for kids” in such a way that is inclusive for EVERYONE - in a way that remains fun and pleasant without harming others, especially marginalized folks.  today i wanted to speak up and use my platform in hopes to educate, spread awareness and advocate for change.

[raisinchallah]

happy chanukah!!

[adventuresoutsidethegenderbinar]

“The police don’t target black people,” says the white person.

“LGBTQ+ people have plenty of protection,” says the straight, cisgender person.

“Women don’t feel harassed at work,” says the man. 

“Poor people don’t need more government help,” says the rich person. 

“Immigrants feel welcome here,” says the natural-born citizen. 

Please stop invalidating the concerns of people who have problems that you’re not experiencing. Instead, listen to them, and learn what you can do to help. 

[galactic-octopi-deactivated2023]

BLACK HISTORY SHOULD BE TAUGHT EVERY F***ING MONTH!

[superhoeva-old-deactivated20240]

i was having a pretty good day until derek chauvin's mother spoke.

with not one an ounce of sympathy, carolyn pawlenty proceeded to ignore all the pain, tears, and death that her son has caused the floyd family and countless others. instead of apologizing and acknowledging someone else's pain other than her own, she whined about how she believes that her son "has a good heart and he has always put others before own." she even went as far as to say that he was innocent and "a good man." pawlenty also mentioned how she won't get to see her son, or talks to him on the phone, or give him a "special hug." how dare she cry about not getting to see her son when gianna will never get to see, talk to, or hug her father again, because of her son.... when floyd's siblings will never get to see, talk to, or hug her father again, because of her son... when floyd's other family and friends will never get to see, talk to, or hug george floyd again because of her son...

not only did her words enforce the idea that his parents are a large part of the reason chauvin is the horrible person that he is, but they are a perfect example of white delusion and white disregard of the suffering that black and other racial minorities go through and have been going through for centuries.

no carolyn, your son is not a good man. he is not innocent. he is a murderer, and he deserves a lot more than 22.5 years in jail.

with all of that being said, here are a some important links: official gianna floyd fund (george floyd's child), george floyd memorial foundation, the official peace and healing for darnella fund

(feel free to reblog with other helpful links!)

edit: (changed to regular text so it’s easier to read!)