Ways to support Ukraine 🇺🇦
More than 500,000 people have already left Ukraine due to the invasion by the Russian Federation. The European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management estimates that roughly 18 million Ukrainians will be affected by the conflict in humanitarian terms, with 7 million internally displaced and 4 million seeking refuge elsewhere. To help those still in Ukraine, as well as Ukrainian refugees, we’ve compiled this list of resources.
HelpUkraineWin.org has a collection of vetted and trusted resources, charities, and organizations to help Ukraine.
Some additional ways to donate:
Vostok SOS provides immediate evacuation support.
Malteser International provides essentials for Ukrainian refugees.
Ukraine Crisis Media Center provides fundraising links and a list of tips for sharing information.
Misinformation spreads fast on social media. It is more important than ever to share accurate, verifiable news and information. Here are some resources to learn how to identify misinformation:
This link from the nonprofit WITNESS shares tips for identifying authentic video sources (available in English, Spanish, Ukranian, Russian, and Arabic).
These visual verification tips, also from WITNESS, provide information on verifying images and videos (available in English and Spanish).
This interview with NPR contains tips for identifying fake TikToks.
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IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ IF YOU CARE ABOUT THE ASIAN COMMUNITY AND WHATS HAPPENING TO THEM!
hi guys! i dont normally make posts like this, but i feel like i need to speak out due to the platform i have on this app. recently, i’m sure you’ve been made aware of the violent and disgusting covid-based hate crimes targeted towards asians lately, not only in america, but pretty much everywhere. this type of behavior towards someone based on their race or ethnicity is absolutely inexcusable and vile. whether the attacks are micro-aggressions or physical assault, it is still harming the asian community and further associating asians with covid-19.
while this post may be informative, i am still white passing, meaning i have not experienced racism targeted towards me before. i can only provide so much information, as i have not been the target of racism-fueled attacks. i highly recommend that you read other resources written by bipoc in order to get a better understanding of what’s happening!
what can you do to help?
firstly, if you see a person getting attacked (verbally, physically, etc.) protect them! calmly intervene if it is safe for you to do so or inform the nearest authority figure near you.
reprimand your peers for their racism! racism comes in all shapes and form; it doesn’t just boil down to hate crimes and slurs. racist stereotypes you may think are ‘jokes’, micro-aggressions, and even drawing harmful assumptions on a person just because of their race are all examples of racism.
amplify asian voices! the asian community is speaking up against the surge of hate crimes, however, a lot of it is covered by media and algorithms! do research, listen to podcasts, watch interviews, repost, etc! the asian community is speaking, we have to listen.
use your privilege for the better. if you are white or white passing, it’s a given that you are born with more privileges based off of your appearance. while this privilege is unfair, we can still use our privileges for the better. if you see someone being discriminated against do not be afraid to speak up and say something! protect anyone you witness being the victim of racism-fueled aggression. use your platform to speak up about hate crimes!!
do not speak over bipoc voices! do not dismiss it if a bipoc person is telling you they would feel more comfortable if you did or didn’t do something; listen if they tell you a certain thing you or another person said or did was racist or wrong; let them use their voice! you can do this by allowing them to speak up on your platform (no matter the size), supporting them if they make a post or statement surrounding their experience as a bipoc, or just by listening to them!
finally, here are some resources that you should go read/support that will help you understand what is happening to the asian community and how you can help! this brief post i’ve made is only the tip of the iceberg, there is so much more you can do!
important + informational websites and articles
- report instances of hate crimes
- bystander intervention training
- learn about america’s long history of scapegoating its asian citizens
- ‘model minority’ myth
- the importance of asian and black solidarity
- stop covid-19 disinformation
- how you can help curb the surge of anti-asian violence
- what you can do about anti-asian violence
organizations
- stop aapi hate
- hate is a virus
- act to change
- asian americans advancing justice
- national council of asian pacific americans
- asian leaders alliance
fundraisers
- support the cause against anti-asian violence
- gofundme for vicha ratanapakdee
- (please message or send an ask if you have a personal gofundme or know of another gofundme surrounding this issue that you’d like me to add)
due to the fact that i am american, a lot of the resources are targeted more towards helping asian-americans. if you’re not from the states and have resources that could help support the asian community somewhere else, i highly recommend that you provide it whether it be in your own post or a reblog of this post!
please amplify asian voices! this post is not as informative as the ones i’ve linked and other posts that the asian community has made! please support those!!
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Finally Free: Episode Six, Part One
DISCLAIMER: I don’t own Julie and the Phantoms and I only own Malia Patterson. Anyway, stay safe and have fun ya’ll! Also this is part one for this episode - part two will be posted sometime tomorrow night (I apologize for the messed up schedule; life keeps on throwing curveballs)
@school - Lia’s perspective
I was chilling at the front of the class, cause well... I can’t dance. All of a sudden Julie ran in, very late. Flynn and I had made the collective choice to not wake Julie up after last night. Ms. Benji (our dance teacher *sidenote IDK if she actually had a name in the show sooo let’s go with this) had decided that since I couldn’t dance I would have to write a song to go with the dance. I was currently browsing through my notebook and playing with my guitar, trying to find the perfect song. All of a sudden Coach Barron and the lacrosse team walked in. This was gonna be... interesting to say the least.
“Right on time Coach Barron,” Ms. Benji said, “So students! Coach Barron and I have decided that his lacrosse team will be apart of our dance class for a few weeks.”
I watched Flynn and Julie fix their position and posed, staring at the guys. Dylan waved at me and I gave him a wave back, slightly cringing at the awkwardness.
Ms. Benji continued her speech, “many pro athletes have used dance to help them with coordination and mobility.”
“This isn’t about flirting with girls,” Coach Barron interrupted. Giggles flew around the classroom, “it’s about making us better so we can actually win a game. We lost again Burbank. BURBANK!”
“Well, lets all remember that composure is a big part of dance,” Ms. Benji said, looking towards Coach Barron, “Everybody pair up!”
The boys all went to find a partner. I watched as Flynn got pulled away and Nick walked up to Julie. She sent me a please send help look. I let out a giggle and wiggled my eyebrows suggestively.
“So ladies let’s do what we learned last week. And we will perform this with the boys this Friday,” Ms. Benji said, “Coach Barron and I will demonstrate.”
Coach Barron turned his head to the side so fast, it felt like I got whiplash, “No. I don’t dance. So...”
“You do now,” She dragged him towards her.
“Oh.”
I took out my phone and started recording. This could be some good blackmail. I laughed as they all started dancing. It was horrible.
I hobbled over to Ms. Benji, “Would it be okay if I worked on the song in the cafe? This is a little... distracting.”
“Sure just don’t do anything bad.”
I hobbled over to a table in the empty cafeteria, guitar and notebook in hand. Settling down, I opened up my notebook to the song I had written years ago but never truly finished. Perfect Harmony bolded at the top. I let out a huff as I stared strumming the beginning of the song, trying to get a feel for it.
“That sounds pretty.”
“AHH!” I raised my guitar, ready to hit whatever that was, only to come face to face with Reggie, “Oh Ma Gash why’d you scare me?”
“Hey!” He put his hands up, “I didn’t mean to.”
“What do you want?” I let out a huff. I might have a habit of holding a grudge.
“I was wondering if you’ve forgiven me?” He put on his best puppy eyes.
I glanced around to make sure we we’re actually alone. Letting out a sigh I turn to face him, “Why’d you do it?”
“Do what?”
I mentally face palmed at that, “Why’d you do whatever you did yesterday rather than show up? When’d you decide that revenge was more important than then future? Why’d you let Julie down?”
“I just... I thought that if maybe Bobby had shared the money - the credit - with my family then maybe they’d still be around and could find them,” He looked down at his hands.
I went to reach for his hand but pulled back, realizing that I couldn’t touch him, “I can understand you’re hurting,” He looked at me with tears in his eyes, “First, I promised and I still promise - I’m doing whatever I can to find your family ok? In fact,” I reach down to pull another notebook from my bag, “I think I found their facebook page.”
“Facebook,” He watches with intent as I flip through the notebook, “What’s that?”
“It’s a... you know what nevermind. There isn’t much on it other than the fact that they live to the other side of the country after... you know.”
“They’re still together?” He looked at me with the biggest, most innocent eyes.
“Yeah love, they are. I promise I’m gonna get them to you okay?”
He wiped his eyes before clearing his throat, “What’s this?” He points towards my music notebook, opened to Perfect Harmony.
“Oh... this is just something I’ve been working on for... sometime now.” I go to close the notebook.
“What’s it about?”
“I don’t actually know?” I let out a sigh, “I kinda wrote it about the future? It was supposed to be a song about how I’d feel towards someone I liked in the future.”
“Well...” He cleared his throat again, “Did you find that person?”
I chuckle and scrunch my nose, before looking straight into his eyes, “I’d like to think so... I even changed some things to suit him... but he kind of did some dumb stuff and now I’m kinda mad at him.
Catching on, his lips turned upward into a smirk, “Well. I’m sure he’s very sorry and would do anything for you to forgive him.”
I smile down at my guitar, fiddling with it, “Well... as much as I want to be mad at him,” I look up at Reggie as I say the next part, “I might kinda be leaning towards forgiving him. He does have a cute smile.”
“Well maybe he could help that process by helping you finish your song?”
“I’d really like that.”
I just stared into his eyes for a second, falling deep into his ghostly brown eyes. You would think that being a ghost - your eyes would be dark and hollow. His shined bright - but hid pain beneath them to. He reached forward to touch my cheek only to pull back a second later, “Why don’t you play a little bit of the song?”
“Yeah okay... sure,” I pushed the notebook towards him, “I always imagined it being a call and response kind of song. So essentially, the blank spaces are lyrics I thought that maybe... that special person could fill it in? Anyway before I start babbling - this would me my part in the first verse.”
Feeling his eyes burn into my soul, I let out air I hadn’t realized I had been holding in before starting - strumming with my guitar,
Here in front of me
They're shining so much brighter
Than I have ever seen
Life can be so mean
But when he goes, I know he doesn't leave
“You have a really pretty voice,” He says as I look back up at him.
“Thanks. Umm here’s what the pre chorus and chorus would sound, but I thought maybe the other person could harmonize along and then yeah”
I started playing again,
The truth is finally breaking through
Two worlds collide when I'm with you
Reggie joined in with me at that point - singing along and harmonizing,
Our voices rise and soar so high
We come to life when we're
In perfect harmony
Whoa-oa-oa, whoa-oa-oa
Perfect harmony
Whoa-oa-oa, whoa-oa-oa
Perfect harmony
“Yeah, that was...” I stumbled for the right word, “Beautiful.”
“What about the ending?” He asked, pointing at the highlighted section in my notebook, “Why’s it bright?”
“Oh... It’s just my favourite part of the song I guess.”
“Play it.. i’ll sing along too.”
I started strumming again, this time just looking at him,
In perfect harmony
Whoa-oa-oa, whoa-oa-oa
Perfect harmony
Whoa-oa-oa, whoa-oa-oa
We moved towards eachother until their was barely a gap between us,
We say we're friends (we play pretend)
You're more to me (we create)
Perfect harmony
I closed my eyes and leaned in towards him, when Flynn suddenly shouted, “Lia! Nick totally just fell flat on his face and it was hilarious. Come back!”
Startled, we both jump apart, “Yeah just a sec!”
“Okay!” She turned around and walked away.
Reggie scratched the back of his head as I quickly shut my notebooks and stuffed it in his bag.
“Umm... I guess I have to head back to class... umm” I stumbled as I got off the bench and slung my bag across my shoulder.
“Yeah. Yeah! I have to meet up with the guys anyway. Umm maybe I could come over later tonight and we could work on the song?”
I smiled down at my feet before looking back at him, “I’d really like that um... bye. For now.”
I turned around and started walking away. OMG I can’t believe I almost kissed a ghost! Can I kiss a ghost? Oh my gosh what....
Gif credit - @cryinghimbos
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