ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
The official theme for World Book Day 2025 is:

"Read Your Way: Diverse Books for Every Mind"

This theme emphasizes the importance of inclusion and diversity in reading. It encourages readers to explore different voices, perspectives, and cultures through literature, promoting empathy and global understanding
.

Read more... )
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
The following is a growing reading list for the ReadPalestinianSpecFic challenge. This is a work in progress to create a list of all available Palestinian speculative fiction.
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
Indivisible reports that these Democratic senators in particular need to hear from their constituents right now to oppose HR22, a bill which would disinfranchise millions of people, mostly women, from voting.

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
Intro to the Web Revival #1: What is the Web Revival?

The Web Revival is about reclaiming the technology in our lives and asking what we really want from the tools we use, and the digital experiences we share. The Web Revival often references the early Internet, but it's not about recreating a bygone web; the Web Revival is about reviving the spirit of openness and fresh excitement that surrounded the Web in its earliest days. The Web Revival is not one single movement, but a loose collection of ideas and groups that fall under many names.


I heartily approve of this movement. I can't code, but I can boost the signal. So if you're involved in Web Revival, feel free to share your favorite links or other resources. Because we deserve better than enshittification.

Do you want to code your own website, or support others who do? Check out the FujoGuide.
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
April is Autism Awareness month, and we’re here to share (more) of our favorite queer autistic or autistic-coded characters! Last year we shared six books; three of those are back this year, and we’ve got 5 more.

Safety

Apr. 18th, 2025 08:46 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
WHAT MAKES A HOME FEEL SAFE FOR AUTISTIC PEOPLE?

Autistic children and adults often lack access to spaces that make them feel safe, or allow them to decompress and be themselves without interference or unwelcome scrutiny. Sometimes a lack of safe spaces is no one’s fault, as when living quarters have limited size or privacy. But too often, autistic safety, comfort, and ease are not considered due to a lack of autism understanding, or rejected outright due to insistence on complying with non-autistic lifestyle approaches.

While ideally all non-autistic people and professionals would understand what makes spaces feel safe for autistic people, the baseline should be that autistic people have at least one space to retreat to: their homes. We talked to autistic people from a variety of backgrounds—including autistic parents of autistic and neurodivergent kids—about strategies for making homes feel safe for the autistic people who live in them.


Read more... )

Safety

Apr. 18th, 2025 01:17 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
Survivor of notorious New Orleans child sex abuser priest speaks out for first time

Neil Duhon blames archdiocese for allowing his rapist to prey on children throughout his career.
The clergy abuse survivor who helped prosecutors secure the only conviction against a notorious child rapist and retired Roman Catholic priest in New Orleans is still hoping that authorities file criminal charges against his former high school principal and everyone else who enabled the clergyman.
“Everybody that had any part … needs to be held accountable. Period – period,” Neil Duhon, whose rapist was Lawrence Hecker, said in an interview with WWL Louisiana and the Guardian, the first and only time he’s ever revealed his identity to the public.



"Priests are fuckers."
-- Shiv
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
Copied from [personal profile] jayblanc for brilliant activism:

Here's a sample letter you might consider sending to your local authority if you live in the UK.

"To Whom it may concern,

I'm making a freedom of information request for information regarding your provision of toilets and changing rooms in Cherwell council operated buildings. As the new legal ruling requires the rights of Trans people not to be discriminated agains, can you please identify the Trans persons bathroom and changing facilities in all [LOCAL AUTHORITY] operated buildings, and certifications that they are of equal amenity to any other present bathroom and changing facilities. I advise that shared spaces currently dedicated to Disabled persons would not count towards such amenity, as it would be dilution of the provision for Disabled people.

Yours - Name and address"

And perhaps we can start a campaign of going into public authority buildings and asking where "The Trans person toilets" are, then explaining they now have a legal obligation to provide one.
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
The survivors of the Shoah remember, because they have seen this before.



Never forget. Never again.

And in case you need a reminder of why.
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
How a Navajo Scientist Is Helping to Restore Traditional Peach Horticulture

People have grown peach trees in the vast desert landscape of the southwestern United States for hundreds of years. Peach orchards in Canyon de Chelly National Monument were first sown by predecessors of the Hopi people and in the 1700s by the Navajos. They were part of a local economy of shepherding, small-scale farming, hunting, and gathering. Of the orchard fruits adopted by the Navajo people, the peach became the most culturally significant. It was a versatile food, trade good, and feature of traditional ceremonies. The peaches are now predominantly modern varieties, but young Navajo horticulturist Reagan Wytsalucy, who is collaborating with the National Park Service at Canyon de Chelly, understands there’s great interest in returning to the centuries-old, traditional peaches. Her groundbreaking research shows why.

Wytsalucy is working with Indigenous communities to increase the availability of traditional crops for original uses. She hopes this will counter food insecurity, increase resiliency, and perpetuate traditional cultural knowledge
.


This is a great cultural accomplishment. It's also valuable in the face of climate change, which is causing droughts in many more places.  You can help by growing a climate-resilient garden with drought-resistant crops.

Success!

Apr. 16th, 2025 10:14 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
One of the rarest parrot species in Brazil doubles in population: 'An unlikely comeback'

Habitat loss and the illegal pet trade drove the red-tailed amazon (Amazona brasiliensis), endemic to the southeastern Brazilian coast, to fewer than 5,000 individuals by the end of the 20th Century
Thanks to a project to install artificial nests on an island on the Paraná coast, the number of parrots almost doubled in 20 years, taking the bird from “endangered” to “near threatened” status, the only case of its kind in Brazil.


It's good to see this kind of success story. \o/

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
Fossil fuels made up less than half of the U.S. electricity mix in March for the first month on record

In March 2025, fossil fuels accounted for 49.2% of electricity generated in the U.S. — beating the previous monthly record low of 51% set last year in April.

This also means that renewable sources reached all-time highs — accounting for 50.8% of U.S. electricity for the first month on record. Nearly half of that came from wind and solar alone, which have been seeing (and will continue to see) exponential growth
.

Well, it's progress.
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
Let's call the current recession the Trump Slump.  He deserves to have his name on it.  Make Depression Great Again!
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
Colombia created a first-of-its-kind territory specifically designed to protect a group of Indigenous people living in isolation

For the first time in the country’s history, Colombia has created a territory specifically designed to protect a group of Indigenous people living away from regular contact with the rest of the world.

Spanning 2.7 million acres, the territory is home to the uncontacted Indigenous Yuri-Passé people and reaffirms the country’s “commitment to their autonomy and survival.”



Holy crap, Colombia may be trying to claw its way up from the bottom ten.
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
... was on April 3.

On April 3, 2025, Jane Goodall — the renowned environmentalist, conservationist, and activist — celebrates her 91st birthday.

To celebrate, the Governor of Colorado, Jared Polis, declared a new holiday: Animals Matter Day.
[---8<---]
“Dr. Goodall’s groundbreaking work has inspired countless individuals to advocate for the protection of animals and their habitats. Let’s continue Jane’s legacy by fostering compassion and stewardship towards all living beings.”



10 Best Wildlife Charities to Support
I am amused that Sea Shepherd made the list. Support eco-piracy! It's more ethical than the capitalist kind.
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
Black woman develops 'Black Amazon' app to help shoppers find Black-owned businesses

What started as Petrie’s goal to “amplify authentic representation of the African Diaspora, and bridge the global racial wealth gap” is now a Black-owned marketplace with over 3,000 Black-owned brands across over 40 product categories.

“I mean every category,” Petrie said in her TikTok video. “Skincare, haircare, nail care, feminine care, hotels and villas, hair stylists, restaurants, grocery stores, luxury wear, handbags, wedding, home and kitchen, babies and kids, swimwear, lingerie, plus-size clothing. Y’all, the list goes on.”
[---8<---]
It’s integrated with Google Maps, which allows users to locate nearby businesses. Supporters can also shop online, with a marketplace directly integrated into the app that takes users straight to the websites of individual brands.



Just in case you're looking for an alternative to Amazon that lets you kick white bigots in the wallet by shopping at black-owned businesses. \o/ The map interface also makes it easy to find black businesses near you.
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
To stop the expansion of the Sahara Desert, people are building the Great Green Wall of forest. This video shows the use of demilunes or half-moons. Although related to permaculture swales, demilunes have a more complex structure and are deployed at large scale even though individual ones are not very big. The points of the half-moon shape aim upslope, the pits capture water, and the berm retains even more water. Native trees and grasses get planted to soak up and use that water, so if edible species are planted, the area becomes a food forest.

Read more... )
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
Acts of Restorative Kindkess (ARK) is a project devoted to rewilding the land and making space for wildlife.

Compare with my laissez-faire permaculture approach. I favor native plants, but I include other things too, some ornamental and others edible. I have small gardens and containers, but most of the space is loosely managed. The prairie garden is mostly wild and so is the forest garden.

Wildlife comes and goes as it pleases. I saw a skunk today wandering through the savanna after a storm. He wasn't bothered by my presence at all. We just shared the space, each going about our business. There are birds everywhere -- blackbirds, sparrows, finches, doves, crows, all kinds. Soon they'll be nesting, which is always fun to watch. Already there are a lot of bees out. Not many native flowers bloom this early, but I've got crocuses and other bulbs that the bees swarm eagerly.

So it's pretty nice. It's also very jungle-esque (I have an actual emergent layer) as the ARK is described as "untidy." One of my gardening hats came from the North American Dandelion Appreciation Society, which is about loving the weeds and the wildness. :D It's all fine.

Profile

ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
ysabetwordsmith

April 2025

S M T W T F S
   1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23242526
27282930   

Syndicate

RSS Atom

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags