#and who are extremely against things like rewilding

[pterodaustro]

that post is a bit overly harsh & does ignore all the shit that colonists did to try to murder everything that moved but the screenshotted tags are nuts & so are 90% of the british people defending it in the replies

[okat235235]

I'm looking into adopting some brumbies soon because I'm one of the few people who have the desire to house a brumby, the skills to train them, and the moral standing to not exploit them. I had hoped that the brumby community would be a little pocket of, if not veganism, then non-exploitative horse loving in the broader equestrian world, but I've been increasingly frustrated by what I see.

Brumbies are invasive species in Australia, brought here by colonizers in the 1800s and used as tools to oppress the Indigenous peoples of our land. The general sentiment in the pro-brumbies communities is one that is worryingly racist and anti-science, as well as very right-wing. The rehoming group I'm in has spread conspiracy theories, with people even voting no on the recent referendum to try to save the brumbies - which is completely ridiculous and outrageously racist. The criticism seems to be leveled at the Labor government, who - while /far/ from perfect - aren't the issue. The libs would, of course, also shoot the brumbies, and more importantly, stand against animal rights. The problem with how the government treats brumbies is a symptom of the broader views of animals: as objects that can be removed with no regard to their individual rights whenever it becomes convenient.

This is where our view of animals as objects impacts our pet animals. While horses aren't strictly pets, and are almost universally exploited, dog and cat culling faces similar outrage. An example being the recent initiative to control cat numbers, where cats were sprayed with poison that would kill them when they groomed themselves. Feral cat, and to a lesser degree feral dogs, are slightly different to brumbies, in that their destruction of the environment and killing of our native animals are very well documented and extreme, whereas evidence of brumby destruction is more open to interpretation.

Personally, I do believe the evidence that brumbies cause destruction in the wetter areas of NSW and Victoria, for a number of reasons. However, I find it disgusting that we are slaughtering innocent animals in horrific ways rather than addressing the much more pressing issues of animal agriculture, deforestation, outdoor cats, pet breeding in general, and car-based infrastructure. My preference would be to address things that humans cause and benefit from first, in conjunction with rewilding to provide habitats for native animals, after which invasive animals are addressed in the least cruel way available, if they remain a problem.

I find it very disappointing that brumby groups do not condemn culling in general, but extend their protection and outrage only to brumbies - going as far as to advocate specifically for the culling of other species deemed less valuable, like pigs and goats. These animals are just as capable of suffering as brumbies, and are treated much worse than brumbies, with pigs being hunted in absolutely tortuous ways, and having no option of rescue like horses do.

They don't even seem to value the brumby's intrinsic value. The focus never seems to be on the animal's right to freedom, and the appreciation of an animal primarily viewed and valued by their exploitation thriving free - but rather their standing as an icon of colonizer heritage. I believe this is part of the reason why brumby advocates are so quick to throw other animals under the bus: those other animals didn't contribute so heavily to the success of colonization, and therefore didn't become part of the image of white Australia.

[hackneyoutdoors]

10 tips for outdoor learning in wet or cold weather

One thing is for sure when you go out of your way to do outdoor learning - is that you have to be prepared for the weather. Now I can tell you I literally hate being cold and wet. But after years of experience dealing with music festivals including an epically muddy Glastonbury, I am now bringing my festival experiences into my forest school learning.

So please read this “happy campers ten top tips” and kit everyone up, if you want to ensure you and your kids stay warm and dry while accessing nature in all weathers, especially as we move into autumn and winter. Afterall, some of the most beautiful natural experiences can happen just after its stopped raining.

Get fitted with some wet weather trousers. Wet weather trousers literally transform your outdoor experience. If you don’t believe me, read ReWild Yourself by Simon Barnes who makes the best case for everyone owning a pair of “magic trousers” I have ever read. If it rains, you can pop these on and stay dry. If it stops raining, you can still sit on the wet grass or mud and still stay dry and clean. This opens up many many more outdoor experiences to you, such as sitting still for a long time, which means you can engage in outdoor meditation or quietly watching wildlife whatever the conditions. They are transformative. You can get quite swanky ones too that are very easy to put on and off even over shoes.

Get a good showerproof weather jacket or poncho. I have a good quality poncho as I find it's very flexible. I can throw it over my head and cover my head, shoulders, body, the top part of my legs, most of my arms and also any bags I am carrying. It has a little peak in the hood meaning a shower is also directed away from my face. Even better - a poncho is really portable and can pack down into a small space. I’d definitely recommend getting one for autumn and spring, when you can layer over a jumper and leave your coat at home.

Get some waterproof walking boots. Wellies are fine if you intend to potter rather than walk, but if you are traipsing about and (like me) have issues with your feet, waterproof walking boots offer better support as well as protection against the wet than standard wellies. 

Invest in some merino thermals or a proper ‘base’ layer. I hate the cold. HATE IT. So I have learnt to layer. Merino is the best as it's light and thin but helps keep you warm while also wicking away sweat. My son has bright orange thermals which he loves, which also double up as a pumpkin Halloween outfit!

If you intend to be outside in downpours invest in a tarpaulin. These are relatively lightweight, can be packed down into a small space, and can be tied to trees to create a dry space to wait in until the worst of the rain passes. Alternatively stay put and do an activity underneath! 

Accessorise for your extremities. Invest in great gloves, socks, hat - and possibly a handwarmer too. I prefer waterproof gloves, and two layers of socks - a thin one with a thick pair pulled over the top. In terms of handwarmers, try to get the old-school ones which include lighting a charcoal bar and then placing it in a metal casing. Much more eco as they are reusable, than the single user ones that heat up when they come into contact with the air. 

Don’t forget a decent waterproof bag! If your poncho doesn’t cover it make sure you have a bag that can withstand the elements, or at least pop your stuff within a black binliner before you use your usual non waterproof haversack. 

Invest in a cold weather coat. If you intend to be out in the very cold, and possibly in the very wet, a poncho will not cut it. Research which coat will work best for your needs eg will you also walk long distances in it, possibly use it on the roads, have it on for a long time etc. I have one which has a waterproof jacket and a detachable fleece underneath (warm layer) which is multipurpose. 

Learn to light a campfire fire. Sometimes, the best outdoor activities involve helping yourself stay warm. Lighting a fire, cooking bannock bread or making warm spiced apple juice, or using the fire to make charcoal for drawing, are all perfect for cooler, darker days. There’s also nothing nicer than sitting around a fire together, simply telling stories. Lighting a fire is easy if you have the kit with you. Matches or a fire steel, some cotton wool and vaseline for tinder, and some kindling and fuel. Do bother with some fire safety training, however before you light fires with children. 

Give up sometimes! If it's just too cold, too wet, or you and the kids just don’t feel like it, I think it's fine to remember that not all outdoor learning has to be done outside! For example, you can forage berries on a dry day, and then use them to make a necklace or freeze them to make ice cream later on, when you are snuggled up indoors. At the end of the day, outdoor learning is as much about noticing, touching and learning about natural things as it is about understanding and experiencing nature outdoors. 

[scifimagpie]

Stuff I Learned This Week: July 22nd-July 28th, 2019

I'm trying something new this week, something that may or may not stick - just a way for me to share the reading materials, videos, and podcasts I've enjoyed this week.

- Blackwater Security is run by Eric Prince, Betsy DeVos' little brother. They're a highly unethical private security firm that started out working for the CIA in a training capacity. After being pushed away by the Obama administration, Blackwater has been brought into the new administration - even after becoming internationally active as a "shipping company" selling mercenary training and services throughout the Middle East and in China. Eric Prince views himself as a "modern day crusader" and he's basically a freelance war criminal.

- The Border Patrol  in the United States is 95% male, mostly Chicano and Latino, and has an absolutely horrifying culture of sexual assault and dehumanization of migrants. Their actions are being spurred on by both the history of racism and the present-day autoimmune-disease-like flare-up of racism that is the Trump presidency. 

- Private prisons in New York are basically run by gangs because of extremely poor oversight, low wages, and improper staff training.

- Astronauts struggled with peeing in space for decades, and basically just had to wet themselves in their suits and put their poop in bags. This was not dealt with until the first woman astronaut went up - and even now, poop baggies are still required to deal with the issue.

- Busing and segregation have had pervasive effects to the present day. It's something Democrats don't like talking about, but it's still really important.

- People on the radical left think Stalin was a good guy and still respect Mao, which is extremely messed up and makes me quite angry. (Twitter and Facebook commentators are the source for this one; I do have an upcoming article about it as well)

- I'm not the only person who thinks Stalin and Mao did the same bad thing as other genocidal fascist dictators. That said, some takes from the radical left on social democracy are also very wild. That said, as "Breadtube" or "Leftube" has risen in prominence, it's quite disturbing that the usual leftist fractiousness has reared its ugly head once again. 

- The depth of inequalities in the US is absolutely horrifying and shattering. 

- China and the Phillipines are shipping back plastic recycling, which means Canada and the US need much better ways of handling their recycling.  - Boris Johnson is the new Prime Minister of Britain, unfortunately. 

- It's hard to make changes for the environment - but there are some cognitive tricks we play on ourselves that can let us fix those problems. 

And now, some fun things!

- This discussion of unreliable narrators, and the series in general, is fantastic!

- apparently, blood is repulsed by magnetism, even though blood contains iron in haemeoglobin. So that's weird. 

- Some reptiles have penes, some have cloacas like birds (except ducks, which famously have weird corkscrew penes), and some female bearded dragons have penes while in the egg! 

- Endangered animals thrive in ghost towns! Tiny "rewilding" preserves make an absolutely spectacular difference in the fight against extinction. 

- a particular fungus turns cicadas into sex zombies...

- This song was so beautiful that I absolutely had to include it, even though it's not necessarily something I "learned" this week. This one is so intimate and awkward, too, that it's lovely. 

*** Michelle Browne is a sci fi/fantasy writer and editor. She lives in Lethbridge, AB with her partner-in-crime and Max the cat. Her days revolve around freelance editing, knitting, jewelry, and learning too much. She is currently working on other people's manuscripts, the next books in her series, and drinking as much tea as humanly possible.

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