feathers & glowsticks, pt. II

• 2012-03-26

  Trigger Warning: Eating Disorder

  adentrodemisojos:

  ladyatheist:

  myrrhactivism:

  camirebolledok:

  ladyatheist:

  

  [Anonymous asked you: I’m in recovery from an eating disorder. A big part of my ED was going vegan. I noticed how much I lost, and it became an addiction. If I go vegan again, I WILL backslide into my ED, considering it already happened once. I’m sorry, but my life is more important to me.]

  Veganism has helped many people with EDs too. I hope the person gets better though. Once it’s gone, veganism shouldn’t be a problem.

  Hello, vegan person with ED here. Being vegan certainly made it easier to starve myself, but the two were not related.

  I’ve been vegan for 5 years and mostly recovered from my ED for 4. You can be vegan and recover from your disorder. And you must, for the sake of the animals that die to become your food. It’s ok to need help but it’s not ok to use your ED as an excuse.

  

  Please please read this. I know I should not engage in discussion in the english side of tumblr but I  HAVE to do it now. I feel obliged to inform people that says that people HAVE to go vegan of a few things.

  I live in a country in which soy is the top exported good.  many multinational companies use my country’s land to plant soy. Soy is used for many things, and among them it is used to replace meat and produce a drink that replaces milk and many other foods that are very frequent in vegan diets. Now, while it must seem like a good thing to not kill animals and eat soy-based products as a source of protein I can’t even begin to explain how nocive and criminal the soy producing companies around the world are. I can tell you that in my country even cattle farming is done in a more enviromental-friendly way than soy production even as it sounds crazy. (And it is, because the system used for cattle breding, called something along the lines of extensive husbandry or extensive farming  is vastly different of the intensive model  used in the  USA, you can look it up  because I doubt I have the language to explain it well.)

  Soy Companies are destroying vast lands of forest and jungles  to plant soy as much as they can, until the soil is left  virtually void of minerals and  useless, so they go  plant somewhere else. And they plan to keep that up until there is no more fertile soil in my land. And they CAN do that, because soy is such a great bussines that they become richer and richer and richer everytime.  The jungles and forest I mentioned that are destroyed are the homes of animals and people that loose their homes and their food  sources.  Many  animals DIE  becuase of soy production, and so does many people.   Casually, the people who suffers more are rural workers, many of whom live in really miserable conditions and many of whom are native american.  Also, those jungles and forest are  full of many endangered animal and vegetal species that are lost forever. This is happening in the Chaco and the  Amazonas. 

  This happens because these companies bribe, coerce and intimidate senators and government figures to be allowed to do that to the land and our people. They  associate with and support finnancially the most opressive political parties in our country.  They have their workers in really horrible conditions and they show criminal behavior to the worker unions. 

  Also,  there are a few companies, like the most important soy companies in the world, that do many other terrible things. They  have copyrighted seeds so when farmers want to plant soy they have to buy only to them and pay rights to the company for their production. They sue farmers for using their seeds  without paying rights… wich means that whoever you buy soy from you are ultimately  benefiting THAT huge company anyway. I won’t type the name because it’s like Voldemort.  You can see a bit  of that in Deborak Koons García documentary, the future of food.  There are other movies and sources of information but sadly the most that I know of are in spanish.

  
  

  Please think that taking care of the environment is a lot more than protecting a part of it, the furry, big eyed part of the environment that has the ability  to stare acussingly at you. It’s a lot more than caring for the animals because we can tell that they can feel pain ( and if so, does that mean that  we should kill beings unguiltily because they don’t feel pain?), or becuase they’re cute, or because we like them and feel empathy for them. Taking care of the environment is taking care of how much impact  every action humans have on it. Forcefully, because we exist, we will have effects on the environment. We will serve from it, but thepoint is doing so with respect.  You can eat a cow, but if you eat the cow make sure that nothing is wasted.  Make sure of not wasting anything because an animal died. Eat that with respect, knowing where it came from. Use every part of the cow.  The same way your intestinal bacteria feeds from you now and will eat you when you die, we feed from nature and nature feeds from us.  You can decide not to wear leather, but will you buy plastic instead? You can decide not to eat meat, but will you buy soy instead? 

  Please think again. Look at the bigger picture to know if you ARE taking care of nature or not. 

  And if you decide to eat soy products don’t be offended if I paraphrase you, and tell you MUST, for the sake of the world, the endangered species, the fertility of the soil of my land, the welfare of MY PEOPLE, my people’s ability to fight for their rights without the interference of  multinational companies, the lives of my native american brothers and sisters, my country’s working class, our trees, our flora, our fauna, our soil, our culture, our lives, and the safety of future generations  eliminate soy as a part of your diet.  It’s NOT ok to use your simpathy for animals as an excuse for contributing to what is done to the environment  while feeling wholesome about it. 

  
  

  I really am telling you this guys to she dlight about what happens here everyday. Of course it’s not your fault if you don’t know this things  but please please listen. 

  Source: brashblacknonbeliever

• 2012-03-25

  

  adriofthedead:

  misterjmasters:

  legitimatelyabsurd:

  hamandheroin:

  The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily so they can meet their quota of getting FREE FOOD donated every day to abused and neglected animals in their shelters.

  It takes less than a minute (only about 15 seconds actually) to go to their site and click on the purple box titled, ‘Click Here to Give - it’s FREE!’. Every click gives about .6 bowls of food to sheltered dogs. You can also click daily!

  Keep in mind that this does not cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for advertising. [via.]

  Go to the website here.

  This was literally like my 3rd post on tumblr. Bringing it back.

  Clicked dat bitch four times, I did. >:(

  I CLICKED IT

  (via pagannews-deactivated20130221)

  Source: hamandheroin

• 2012-03-04

  

  (via kahs2012-deactivated20120329)

  Source: inspirinquotes

• 2012-02-26

  (via lokavinr)

  Source: copkillar

• 2012-02-24

  queerintersects:

  Soooo, every one of these except one includes Intersex as an identity which fits under the Trans* umbrella.

  This notion is problematic for a number of reasons, most notably because the majority of people born with intersex conditions do not identify as trans*, and are in fact perfectly content with the gender assigned to them at birth. A large proportion of these people actually identify as heterosexual, and may not necessarily identify with the Queer community or movement at all.

  For a while, I wanted very much to be one of those people. I wanted to embody the heteronormative ideal of an AIS woman that I saw when I first attended an AIS conference, and that was ascribed to me when my parents first half-explained what was “wrong” with me (how I would be able to get married and adopt children with my husband and have a “normal” sex life - despite this unnamed problem that was just dropped on me like a bomb).

  Of course, many Intersex folks do not fit this mold, in any number of ways. This includes those who are not satisfied with the gender to which they were assigned - either wholly or partially. However, the issues faced by such individuals are very different from those faced by your average trans man or woman. It also includes people like me, who don’t have an inherent problem with the gender to which they were assigned, but who identify as queer in some way.

  Certainly, I think the heteronormative framework employed by some sects of the intersex movement, including the singular reliance on a medical model, has more than a tinge of transphobia to it. The transphobic panic I felt when I first found out the entire reality of what my condition actually was is something I cannot fully describe. However, thanks to the continued work of activists and a continuing conversation among people with intersex conditions, I believe that framework is beginning to change.

  In terms of my own progression, I am no longer afraid or insulted at being included in such an umbrella. However, I know my lived experience is very different than that of most who fall under it, and so i respectfully don’t believe I should be included.

  From the end of the queer movement, it seems that Intersex is often used as an example which serves to theoretically shatter the concept of the gender/sex binary, rather than a diverse set of lived experiences of real people who may simultaneously face any number of intersecting identities or struggles (including a trans identity). While I understand how this tendency is naturally tempting for those in the queer community or anyone thinking about gender as a social construct, in order to conceptualize intersex with respect to the presumed biological basis of the gender/sex binary, it is imperative that people get the full picture first.

  what the fuck is up with these pictures. Jesus christ. I am so fucking sick of trans people doing this.

  INTERSEX DOES NOT FIT UNDER THE TRANS UMBRELLA. Intersex people do not exist to justify trans people’s lives. Trans people just fucking stop this.

  Source: furry-furrets

• 2012-02-23

  local control of production and distribution is power. equality is not equity. justice comes through equity. equity comes through local control of production and distribution.

  (via guerrillamamamedicine)

  Source: iinventedeverything

• →

  Consent

  tommyxvx:

  lets-blog-about-sex-baby:

  Consent is one of the single most important aspect of any relationship, especially one that is sexual or might become sexual. The biggest thing to remember about consent is that it is not ongoing, meaning that a partner may give consent at one point, and then remove that consent at another. Consent is not given automatically simply because one has given it in previous situations, and healthy relationships utilize strong communication, both verbal and physical, when exercising consent. 

  Here’s some stuff to keep in mind when it comes to proper consent:

  Physical consent/body language/enthusiasm 

  Things to ask yourself/look for.

  • Is your partner responsive and enthusiastic to your advances? 
  • Does your partner seem nervous, upset, afraid, or timid? 
  • Is your partner encouraging you by pulling you closer or getting closer to you? 
  • Is your partner being hesitant, turning away, or trying to move away or get out of an embrace or position?
  • Does your partner seem like they want to speak out against an action/activity? 
  • When giving verbal consent, are they enthusiastic or half-hearted? 
  • When bringing up something new you want to try, does your partner seem eager to participate or are the hesitant to proceed? 
  • Does your partner pull away from your advances. 

  Feelings that you should consider when giving consent.

  • Do you really want to do this?
  • Are you enthusiastic about your partner’s advances? 
  • Does anything that your partner is doing make you feel uncomfortable?
  • Do you feel like you can’t say no? 
  • Do you say yes and then regret it? 
  • Do your feel afraid about what your partner is doing? 
  • Does your partner frighten you? 
  • Do you feel like you HAVE to say yes? 
  • Do you feel like you want to stop but are afraid to say it? 

  Many people don’t think of body language as a form of consent, but it very much is! A person can say “yes,” but their feelings and body may be saying otherwise. Good consent requires good communication, and a part of communication is listening. You have to, essentially, “listen” to your partner’s body actively as well as the fluctuations in their voice to be really certain about whether or not they’re comfortable with what is happening. 

  Verbal consent

  Things to ask/say:

  • “Are you comfortable with this?” 
  • “Can I continue?” 
  • “Do you enjoy this?” 
  • Where do you want me to touch you?”
  • “Tell me when to stop.”
  • “Tell me if I hurt you.” 
  • “Use the safe word if it’s too much.” 
  • “Can I touch you here?”
  • “What do you want me to do?”
  • “Is this too much?”
  • “Do you want to stop?” 
  • “Tell me if you want to do something different.” 
  • “Is it ok if we try/do this?” 
  • “Do I need to slow down/speed up/stop?” 
  • “If I do ___ will it be ok?” 
  • “Are you ready for this?” 
  • “Can we try something new?”

  Answers that do not give consent/revoke consent.

  • “I’m not comfortable. Can we stop/slow down/try this later?”
  • “I don’t want to do this/continue with this.”
  • “I don’t enjoy this.”  
  • “*Uses safe word.*
  • “I don’t want you to touch me me here.” 
  • “I don’t want you to ___.” 
  • “You’re hurting me.” 
  • “This is too much, please stop.” 
  • “I want you to stop.” 
  • “I’m not ready for this.” 
  • “It’s not ok for you to do this.”
  • “I don’t want to try that.” 
  • “I want you to stop now.” 

  Answers that do give consent/reinforce given consent. 

  • “I like that, please continue.”
  • “I’m ok with this.”
  • “I’m comfortable with what you’re doing.”
  • “Don’t stop.”
  • “I like it when you ___.” 
  • “I enjoy this.” 
  • “I want you to go on.”
  • “I want you to touch me there.” 
  • “I want to try/do this.” 
  • “Speed up/slow down/do this..” 
  • “I want to do more.” 

  Ways to not pressure partners. 

  • “It’s ok if you don’t want to.”
  • “I don’t want to do anything you’re not ready for, so we can wait.”
  • “I respect your choice and won’t go further then you want.” 
  • “I can wait until you’re ready to do more.” 
  • “Tell me what you want, and we can do just that so you’re not uncomfortable.” 
  • “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, so we’ll stop.” 
  • “I understand you’re not ready. It’s no big deal.” 

  Again, communication, communication, communication. Verbally establishing what is and isn’t ok while also being aware of the physical signs of consent is key. Keep in mind that you don’t just have to ask these questions during sexual activity. Talk about these kinds of things outside of the bedroom too! You can get into detailed conversations about how you want things to go, what you are and aren’t comfortable with, and if anything changes while you’re engaging in sexual activity, you have the power to change your consent. Giving, receiving, and respecting consent is an ongoing process. 

  Consent while under the influence of alcohol. 

  Things to ask yourself before you drink.

  • Do you want to engage in sexual activity while under the influence? 
  • How much are you planning drink?
  • What kind of people are you going to be around?
  • Do the people you’re around know your boundaries? 
  • Are you in an environment where you’ll be safe? 
  • Are you going to hook up or be with a repeat partner? 

  Things to ask others before they drink.

  • “Do you wanna hook up?”
  • “Are you comfortable with drunk sex?” 
  • “Is it ok if we mess around while we’re drinking/drunk?”
  • “I know we’ve had drunk sex before, but do you want to do it again?” 

  When consent cannot be given while drunk. 

  • When someone is passed out.
  • When someone has blacked out.
  • When someone is wasted, slurring words, stumbling, ect. 
  • When someone has specified before drinking that they don’t want sex. 

  What is NOT drunk consent, and can be considered rape.

  • Pretending to help someone to bed and then sleeping with them while drunk/wasted. 
  • Having sex, touching, or doing other things to someone who is unaware of what is going on. 
  • Doing the above things to someone who is drunk/wasted who makes it verbally (no matter how slurred or muttered) clear that they do not want you doing these things to them. 
  • Having sex, touching, or doing other things with someone who is drunk/wasted who the next day says that they did not consent to those activities. 
  • Having sex, touching, or doing other things with a drunk/wasted significant other who the next days says that they did not consent to those activities.
  • Having sex, touching, or doing other things with a drunk/wasted person who later feels that they were taken advantage of or coerced.   

  Important things to remember about drunk consent.

  • People who are drunk have impaired inhibitions, which means they might do things they would not do otherwise if they were sober. Being tipsy and being drunk/wasted have differing levels of consent accuracy, and it is up to you, the person asking for consent, to make wise decisions. Even if it is a partner or friend, you must take into account the situation and ask yourself if they would give you consent in a sober situation, and if THIS situation is one they would give consent it. Be mindful of signs that show that people cannot give consent or haven’t given consent. Even if your advances are not malicious in nature, the other person may not have actually given you consent, and you could end up in an unpleasent situation. 
  • Please, please, please remember that a person who is drunk is not a “target.” It is never good to pin-point people who are drunk or wasted for sex because those people may or may not actually be consenting, and the decision to seek out drunk people because they’re “easy,” or “asking for it” perpetuates the idea that if you’re drinking and someone has sex with or does sexual things to you without your consent, that it’s YOUR fault that you were raped/taken advantage of, and NOT the person who did the raping/assault. 

  Things to remember about consent.

  • Consent is not ongoing or automatic. Fuck buddies, monogamous partners, open partners, spouses, friends with benefits, all of these relationships and more HAVE to practice consent. Saying “yes” one day does not guarantee a “yes” the next. Being in a relationship or having done sexual things prior is not an excuse to ignore lack of consent. 
  • Another thing to remember is that it’s just women*/female-identifying people who give consent, nor is it just men*/male identifying people who have to get it. If a person is not comfortable with something, they should be respected by their partner to not be pressured, no matter what their gender identity is! 
  • Consent is all about communication from all participants. If someone does not give enthusiastic, genuine consent, even if it’s a yes, it is not truly consent. 

  One last thing…

  Always remember that CONSENT IS SEXY. There’s nothing better then fully immersing and engaging in sex that you’re 100% enthusiastic about!

  -P

  Monumentally important, especially the “I know we’ve done X, but are you comfortable to do it again?” part.

  (via drowningxlessons)

  Source: lets-blog-about-sex-baby

• →

  

  theveganarchist:

  sinidentidades:

  Low-wage Facebook contractor leaks secret censorship list

  A secret list curated by social network giant Facebook was published online recently after an employee for one of the company’s third-world contractors, upset at his poor working conditions and meager wage, decided to fight back.

  The document reveals exactly what Facebook’s censorship brigade looks for on the social network, which boasts over 850 million users spanning the globe.

  Referred to internally as the “bible,” the list prioritizes deletion of materials pertaining to Holocaust denial, graphic nudity, depictions of any sexual fetish, racial slurs and bullying — all of which are unsurprising — but a few of the other entries are raising eyebrows.

  Namely, female nipples or even the impressions of nipples under clothing are unacceptable to Facebook censors, whereas male nipples are fine. Images of breast feeding, too, are forbidden if they show an exposed nipple. “Crushed heads” and mutilated limbs are also fine, so long as the person posting such images does not express delight and no internal organs are visible. The list specifically says that on this point, no exceptions would be made for news media.

  Also verboten: images of bodily fluids, including ear wax and pus; dead animals; advocacy of violence; advocacy of eating disorders; racial jokes where “the humor is not evident”; and “any photoshopped images of people, whether negative, positive or neutral”; “pixelated or black-barred content showing nudity or sexual activity”; “digital/cartoon nudity”; and images of drunk or sleeping people with “things drawn on their faces.”

  All that aside, images depicting marijuana use are fine, unless an individual appears to be growing, buying or selling the drug. “Art nudity” is okay, and so are videos of schoolyard fights — unless the video was posted with the intent to humiliate another user.

  The list’s disclosure by gossip blog Gawker marks the first time that the public has been given a glimpse at the inner-workings of the planet’s largest social network.

  Facebook has long been criticized by free speech activists for barring images of breast feeding and deleting accounts created by Palestinian resistance groups, but since it is a private company, Facebook is allowed to obstruct virtually any content it wishes.

  The list also shines a light on Facebook’s darker underbelly: how it uses third-world laborers to police first-world content.

  Amine Derkaoui, the 21-year-old Moroccan who leaked the document, claimed he was hired by a firm Facebook uses to outsource content policing, only to be paid $1 an hour for his efforts.

  “They are just exploiting the third world,” he told Gawker.

  Facebook’s media relations department did not respond to a request for comment.

  Facebook’s application for an initial public offering (IPO) on the U.S. stock markets was valued earlier this month at somewhere between $75 billion and $100 billion, making it the largest IPO request ever. Shares in the company are expected to go up for sale later this year. Facebook said it made over $3.71 billion in 2011, largely from advertising fees.

  When will they learn: you can keep secrets, or you can exploit your workers, but you can’t do both for long?

  Source: sinidentidades

• →

  

  guerrillamamamedicine:

  mohandasgandhi:

  thisheartwontdie:

  theconjecturer:

  Why yes, that is Rick Santorum’s face made out of gay porn.

  Oh. My. God.

  Sometimes, I have great hope for this world.

  I Cant even believe im reblogging this but…this is too good. 

  Source: theconjecturer

• 2012-02-22

  I can lose my legs
  and go on living
          I can lose my eyes
  and go on living
          I can lose my ears
  and go on living
          I can lose my hair
  my nose
                  my hands
                  my arms
                  and go on living
           but if I lose the water
  I die
           If I lose the air
  I die
           If I lose the Sun
  I die
           If I lose the plants and animals
  I die
           For all of these things
  are more a part of me
           more essential to my being
           than is that
           which I call “my body”.  

  — 

  Jack D. Forbes, 1934 — 2011

  “We do not die by ourselves.”

  (via cuntymint)

  (via fyeahderrickjensen)

  Source: cuntymint