#demand more from your local education systems

[mralbertinho]

A part of me wants to respond to the many reductive, bad faith, and Just Plain Wrong responses to my post about the Zaslav-Nolan fight but like

I feel bad arguing with kids, y'know?

[brownbitchshit]

I currently have 700+ followers. And I will urge all of you to read about what is happening in Bangladesh. What has happened in Bangladesh. I am adding irrelevant tags of the fandoms I follow to garner more attention. I apologize in advance.

The government of Bangladesh killed pressumably 950+ people, innocent people, students, all because they demanded a system that will give them government jobs based on merit rather than quota. To suppress the students Sheikh Hasina and its government imposed 5 days of total internet blackout. While imposing this blackout they killed off anyone of the streets. They killed people from helicopters by shooting and throwing grenades. Many kids died in their own homes as the bullet shot them through their window.

Sheikh Hasina and its police took away all the dead bodies and the death registries from the hospital. The official death toll is 200. But various journalistic and medical staff sources confirm the death toll is over 950 in Dhaka alone.

That monster of a PM didn't acknowledge the death of the students. Instead she is crying over the infrastructure vandalism. I request you,rise up and speak out about this. Educate yourself and let other people know. The internet blackout have suppressed the truth at large. The Bangladeshi people are in deep surveillance and the government have made 2000+ arrests on false charges just because they have shared the Information. There is mass fear mongering. I know most of you people are not Bangladeshis and that's why you need to help us and speak up about it. Join your local protests, share the news in your social media, twitter Instagram. I beg you, don't let my people's murderers get away with it. Don't let my people's death be forgotten.

I am attaching some links for you to understand the horror of it all.

This Facebook page Bringing justice to you has documented all the horrors and the massacres that happened on Bangladeshi people. TW : all kinds of blood, gore, death bodies, every single horrible things imaginable but shows what went down.

This ig page is also another page that brings you the horror stories.

https://www.instagram.com/thebangladeshivoice?igsh=YXBpdzQyem54cmZj

Al-Jazeera has been a very credible news source while the Bangladesh was under blackout. They have made several segments. I am attaching the latest one.

UN Human Rights have called out Bangladesh for explanation regarding the crackdown

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by United Nations Human Rights (@unitednationshumanrights)

Amnesty International's report of Bangladesh government using lethal weapon against its people and mass murder

There are many more contents, proof and videos to show you the horrors that was unfolded in the crackdown. Sheikh Hasina killed her people like insects and violated every single human rights imaginable. Please share these. Support us. Help us. I beg you all.

[mesetacadre]

Another aspect about the student movement that's not made explicit a lot, alongside with the necessity of the centrality of the worker's movement, is that's it's almost always a purely reactive movement. Proactivity and a more constant activity requires a well-defined set of goals, independent of the comings and goings of national and local political trends, as well as a degree of consciousness you'd be pressed to find at your nearest faculty and high school in the imperial core. As a predominantly reformist space, conditioned by the economic sensibilities brought to the forefront by the hand of imperialist superprofit socialization, the student-unionist movement is not that distinct from the worker-unionist movement, or the neighbor-associationist movement. Since the goal is reformism or even the mere desire for the non-worsening of conditions, any action is defined by that reactivity. The only times when workers, students, or residents experience real mass movements are the times when a specific issue is brought to the forefront of social discussion. And crucially, since that massification requires the agreement between elements of all stripes, it very often ends up limited to opposition against the issue, and perhaps a broad slogan capable of summarizing every group's position, but essentially never a specific set of systemic demands or desires.

And as quickly as those mass movements come, they always end up submerged underneath history and the burn out of the most involved elements. Instead of a sustained fire, it's a bright spark which may char capitalism's skin, but never cut that skin open. These movements, again, conditioned by spontaneity and reactivity, go through periods of fluxes and refluxes. The strategy before this fact, as organized communists, is to, of course, carry on work through those periods of reflux, but also to participate in the periods of flux, bring class positions and a class analysis to the often politically shallow spaces those massifications take place in, and attempt to show through discussion and action how communists tackle these same issues. Once the inevitable reflux washes grifters, instagram infographics, and affinity groups away, only a competent communist party will remain, able to pick up the pieces, integrating whoever was convinced of their program during the flux's dusk, ready to once again educate class consciousness into anyone willing to listen, with better analyses and methods. This is, in broad terms, how communist parties should tackle social movements in the imperial core, as long as they are conditioned by the aspects I've explained.

[bithablu]

I'm having a difficult time with certain people I know IRL who say that both political parties are the same and it's not worth voting. The Palestinian genocide is usually their main talking point about how both parties suck and how they can't vote for anyone who wouldn't demand an immediate cease fire.

Ok. Cool. Name me one president who didn't have to deal with some kind of genocide. Now show me the one that dealt with it perfectly. No flaws. Quickly. Oh? None? Because politicians are deeply flawed people navigating an overly complicated system of checks and balances that are in place to prevent fascism and dictatorships? Huh.

Palestinians need humanitarian aid, support, political allies, and political pressure on Israel. Which candidate do you think would be more likely to provide ANY of that? The guy who moved the American embassy to Jerusalem, tacitly insinuating that Jerusalem was Israel's capital? Or the chick who called for a cease fire and has a history of supporting humanitarian aid programs?

Is she perfect? Fuck no. Is she good enough? Not on this topic. But which one of them is more like to adjust their policies?

Speaking of adjusting policies, have you heard the story of how Walz went from being beloved by the NRA to get constant F ratings from them? His daughter talked to him about how he was the only person she knew who had the power to prevent school shootings. So she talked and he listened. He prioritized life over lobbyists. Action instead of just thoughts and prayers.

Can you see JD Vance doing that? I can't. He's too busy insulting legal immigrants and letting women bleed out from miscarriages because doctors have to wait 'until the mother's life is in danger' to perform D&Cs. You know, that procedure to 'clean out' a woman after a miscarriage. It's technically an abortion and some doctors would rather wait until a woman is in septic shock than risk a jail sentence for obeying their Hippocratic oath. But Vance adjusting his stance on abortion laws to save lives is less important than making a stand against... I dunno, anti-evangelical behavior 🤷🏼‍♀️

Look, I know it's disheartening. It's fucking heart wrenching just to hear about what's happening in Gaza. But throwing your vote away does no one any good. If you want to make a difference, being indifferent with your vote is not the way to go.

Have you tried talking to your local/state politicians? Have you joined any organizations? Donated? What have you done?

For those of you who say that I'm afraid of the bad orange man, you know what- yeah. I'm afraid of what he could do. My daughter is already going to grow up with less rights than I had. Gods help her if she'd move to a different state; in some of the more restrictive states a woman has more bodily autonomy as a corpse than she does if she's pregnant.

Harris/Walz isn't the best choice but they are the better choice. Pro-union, pro-children, pro-education, pro-choice, pro-GBLTQ+, pro-environment.

If you're waiting for the perfect candidate, you're going to be waiting for a while.

[themirokai]

now I wanna know- why isn't drinking water free in the US?

Hi there friend! Thanks very much for taking the bait from this post. Buckle up, this is a long one.

If you want to put out a cistern and collect rainwater and use that, congratulations! Your water is free! Plus the cost of maintaining your cistern and keeping it clean. If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere with a high enough water table to have a well, then your water is also free + the cost of the well and well maintenance.

But if you want water to come out of your tap on demand and you can’t or don’t want to maintain a cistern and you can’t or don’t want to have a well… you need public water!

How do we get public water? Well, a government entity (usually. there are some private utilities, but that’s a different post. I have strong feelings) has rights to take water out of a river or a lake, or they have a reservoir, or they have access to an aquifer. Then they have to transport the water out of the source. This generally requires aqueducts or massive pipes, which are expensive and need to be maintained, which is also expensive. The pipe leading out of one of my utility’s reservoirs is 12 feet in diameter.

Does the water go directly from the source to your home? Nope! It gets piped to a water filtration plant! The process of modern water filtration is complicated but it involves both physical and chemical treatment to make sure the water isn’t carrying any parasites, harmful bacteria, or pollutants and it has the right pH. Not only are these filtration plants extremely expensive to build and maintain but the process of operating them is extremely expensive, both in terms of hiring skilled staff and having appropriate materials for the filters and chemical treatment.

After the treated water (called “finished water” in the biz) is ready it does get piped to your house.

If you use public water, do you know where your local water filtration plant is? No? That probably means it’s not in your immediate neighborhood, which probably means it’s several miles or more away. To get to your house, the water needs to travel through an extensive pipe network. These pipes are smaller but they have to remain pressurized so that no contaminants can get into the water on its way to your house. But pipes break! Especially if you live somewhere with a freeze/thaw cycle. Maintaining this pipe network is, you guessed it, expensive! It requires materials and extremely skilled workers who perform in very very difficult conditions. Plus lots of engineering to keep the whole system pressurized even when one part of it breaks. Oh, and you know what lots of pipes were made out of in the early 20th century? Lead! So all around the country utilities need to make extensive and costly infrastructure upgrades because now we know lead pipes are really freaking bad.

Okay, so you get the basic picture. And I haven’t even gotten into Safe Drinking Water Act compliance, but most of that happens at the filtration plant. Oo! Or desalinization because some utilities pull their water from the sea and need to take the salt out. I know basically nothing about this except that it is likely complicated and expensive to do at scale.

This is essentially why I get frustrated by people who argue “why should we pay for something that falls out of the sky?” Because finished water doesn’t fall from the sky and it sure as hell doesn’t fall from the sky into your faucet. (Side note: as a public utility official I have been screamed at by the ���it falls from the sky” people. A thing I like about the private sector is that people scream at me a lot less.)

Now, there is a very strong argument to be made that because water is necessary for human life, it should be provided by the government for free to everyone. And just like the costs of roads or public education, this should be part of the public budget and paid for by taxes and no one should have a water bill. I don’t disagree with this. I’m sure that’s how it’s done in some countries.

I don’t have a well-researched answer on the history of water utilities but I do have some facts and some (very) educated conjectures. Water rights in the US are complicated (another separate post!) but they’re based on private ownership. Ever since white people came to this country people have been claiming ownership over water and charging each other money for taking water out of rivers or lakes or the ground. You can measure how much of it someone uses and charge them for it. Water is treated like a commodity because unlike other public goods, it *can* be treated like a commodity and then, you know, capitalism. Again, I’m not saying that’s right.

But as a society, if we believe that no one should have a water bill, then we need to figure out how to pay for all the very expensive steps in the process I outlined at the top. Could that just be taxes? Sure, if you have a system that supports taxes at that level. Do I believe that public funding of water infrastructure would be a fuckton better than a lot of things we use taxes for now? Absolutely! But that requires massive institutional change and this isn’t generally an issue that people know enough about to demand change.

If you read this far, congratulations! You now know more stuff about drinking water!

[myalgias]

Excerpts from the article:

Because it’s clear that being “the last public space” isn’t a privilege. It’s a sign that something has gone terribly wrong.

At the time, countless articles asked if new technology meant “the death of the public library.” Instead, the institution completely transformed itself. Libraries carved out a new role providing online access to those who needed it. They abandoned the big central desk, stopped shushing patrons, and pushed employees out onto the floor to do programming. Today, you’ll find a semester’s load of classes, events, and seminars at your local library: on digital photography, estate planning, quilting, audio recording, taxes for seniors, gaming for teens, and countless “circle times” in which introverts who probably chose the profession because of their passion for Victorian literature are forced to perform “The Bear Went over the Mountain” to rooms full of rioting toddlers.

In the midst of this transformation, new demands began to emerge. Libraries have always been a welcoming space for the entire community. Alexander Calhoun, Calgary’s first librarian, used the space for adult education programs and welcomed “transients” and the unemployed into the building during the Depression. But the past forty years of urban life have seen those demands grow exponentially. In the late 1970s, “homelessness” as we know it today didn’t really exist; the issue only emerged as a serious social problem in the 1980s. Since then, as governments have abandoned building social housing and rents have skyrocketed, homelessness in Canada has transformed into a snowballing human rights issue. Meanwhile, the opioid crisis has devastated communities, killing more than 34,000 Canadians between 2016 and 2022, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. And the country’s mental health care system, always an underfunded patchwork of services, is today completely unequipped to deal with demand. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, from 2020 to 2021, Canadians waited a median of twenty-two days for their first counselling session. As other communal support networks have suffered cutbacks and disintegrated, the library has found itself as one of the only places left with an open door.

When people tell the story of this transformation, from book repository to social services hub, it’s usually as an uncomplicated triumph. A recent “love letter” to libraries in the New York Times has a typical capsule history: “As local safety nets shriveled, the library roof magically expanded from umbrella to tarp to circus tent to airplane hangar. The modern library keeps its citizens warm, safe, healthy, entertained, educated, hydrated and, above all, connected.” That story, while heartwarming, obscures the reality of what has happened. No institution “magically” takes on the role of the entire welfare state, especially none as underfunded as the public library. If the library has managed to expand its protective umbrella, it has done so after a series of difficult decisions. And that expansion has come with costs.

[ceasarslegion]

the frustrating thing about communism is that it doesn't scale. you need to have a central government because if you don't, everyone around you who does have that coordination will either absorb you peacefully or violently. infrastructure requires maintenance, and that maintenance cannot be managed, trained or supplied for without an organizing body. a parliament or congress is the proper form for that body, imo, but you can't not have it.

To be fair, there are many types of communism that cover similar ideas of government. Within every major political ideology, there will be sects like agree on general ideas but differ when it comes to the details of how to make that happen or how to govern such a structure. But i do see where youre coming from, I've also noticed that the nitty gritty boring things that are nonetheless critical for the functioning of a major society are often left at the wayside in (online) communist circles in favour of the revolution pipe dream.

In my opinion, any ideology that hinges on the idea that we can achieve a perfect society at all is already doomed to fail, and often to fall into actual fascism for a number of reasons. Firstly, humans are inherently flawed. Flawed beings can not achieve perfection, period. Secondly, what "perfect" means is very subjective based on experience, ideology, and personal preference, meaning that my idea of perfect would be unlivable for many of the people living in my apartment building, much less within an entire society. And if i were to be put in such a position, it would be dictatorial of me to enforce my idea of perfection upon those people. Thirdly, you will never, ever, EVER have a legitimate society where nobody disagrees with the government. It just doesn't happen without mass enforcement. There will ALWAYS be someone who disagrees with how the show is run, there will ALWAYS be someone who is hurt by ANY system, and there will ALWAYS be someone willing to officially dissent against the government. You could have a society based on the idea that everyone gets free food and shelter and water and energy and free education and puppies and rainbows and unicorns, and you will end up hurting the farmers who have to work disproportionately to others to produce the resources to allow this to happen, and then how are you going to organically convince them that this is for the greater good without some kind of enforcement?

If you can not answer the questions of "how will you deal with dissent in your perfect society," or your answer is "there will not be dissent" then im sorry but theres more than a few red flags in there for me.

Like look, i dont mean to sound like im bragging but i think pointing this out is warranted. All my education is in politics. I have a 4.0 ivy league degree, i come from a family made up entirely of history teachers and local politicians, i have spent years on the frontlines of legitimate activist movements and i volunteer as many extra hours as i can with the NDP, at this point im on a first name basis with multiple local MPs and MPPs within the party. I have read whatever political theory youre about to demand i read to "change my mind." Ive probably read it multiple times in order to write a paper on it. And i still dont have an answer for the question of "so what system wouldnt cause all this hurt?" because all that experience and education has mostly taught me how incredibly ignorant i really am and how i would be a dictator if given absolute power, because everybody would be. Yes, you. You would be too. Sometimes the best answer you have is "i dont know, so right now lets do the best we can with what we have."

[doberbutts]

Sorry you've apparently become The Rabies Guy overnight lol. But since you have, and it was absolutely a childhood special interest/fear of mine that's 👉👉 laid dormant 👉👉 for quite some time, would you happen to know (if you're not sick of rabies asks by now)-

1) why is the rabies vaccine itself so much cheaper and easier to make and administer in dogs and cats than for humans? Obviously part of the cost equation is just that demand dictates production scale and its easier to educate and avoid in the human relationship to rabies, but it's interesting to me that we don't treat it like tetanus or other relatively-rarer and somewhat avoidable/environmental risks we do still vax for, and that are produced at scale accordingly and so are cheaper. I've heard the other factor of low demand is that it's also a pretty rough vaccine for people that work in relevant professions that *do* have to get it to receive (and is even worse if you have to get it after being potentially exposed). It doesn't seem that way for pets though? I'd be interested to hear if you have any insights into all that from the vetmed side.

2) are you aware of any changes that the recent mRNA vax advancements of recent years may be bringing to the way we approach the rabies vaccine in pets or people? That'd be cool and interesting!

Thanks! Hope people aren't being too rabidly annoying in your notifs lol

1: There's a couple different factors here:

To my knowledge the human rabies vaccination and the dog rabies vaccination and the cat rabies vaccination and the hoofstock rabies vaccination are all slightly different from each other with different methods of creation and ingredients and dosing. This will contribute to the difference in cost.

Simply put, animal medicine is often cheaper than human medicine because human medicine has inflated prices due to hospital and insurance markups. In other words, if your human hospital scaled the cost of services the way your dog's hospital does, and health insurance wasn't a thing that exists, the price would be astronomical. If you ever go to an ER and get fluids, compare the "before insurance" price of just your room and bag of saline and catheter to what your vet charges for the same thing.

The animals we vaccinate for rabies do experience a lot of the same side effects, but animals are stoic and do not often complain about the side effects. Lethargy, muscle aches, low grade fever, vaccine-site soreness and localized reaction (swelling, redness), depression, and irritability are all common side effects of the rabies vaccination in our domesticated animals. Usually these side effects resolve within 24 hours but can last in rare cases up to a week. Less commonly, vomiting, diarrhea, facial swelling, and trouble breathing, but those are more allergic reactions than side effects. This is why a lot of anti-vaxxers don't want to vaccinate their pets for rabies, it does put a lot of stress on the immune system and thus can result in some pretty dramatic symptoms. It's just that "1 to 7 days of feeling shitty every couple years" is a significantly preferable outcome to "rabies outbreak".

Post-exposure prophylaxes is something else entirely- immunoglobulin is administered in addition to the vaccination to give your body a running start on the whole "don't let rabies get to my brain" thing. This is not an option for exposed domesticated animals, so not only is this very expensive but it is also human-exclusive because immunoglobulin is not cheap or easy to get ahold of and thus all of it that we have is dedicated to human cases.

Remember, in countries with robust vaccination protocols for domesticated pets and a culture of keeping their domesticated animals contained and away from wildlife, human deaths are fairly rare and are caused by rabies virus are almost exclusively caused by encounters with wildlife, which is why in those countries the chosen path is "tell people to stop touching animals they can't verify vaccine status of" and not "vaccinate everyone". The US has maximum like 5 human deaths due to rabies per year. Compare that to India, where vaccine availability is not as good and there is a very serious loose, wandering dog problem, and that number soars to 21,000 human deaths due to rabies per year. If 21,000 humans in India are dying from rabies, what percentage of them are receiving an incomplete post-exposure prophylaxes (usually incomplete due to expense) and what are the numbers for people who were able to complete the series (largely those who either can afford it or who chose serious debt over a grisly death)? We need that immunoglobulin to help the people we can still save from rabies exposure, so it's not really available in large amounts to be experimenting with pets every time a dog picks a fight with a fox or raccoon.

(Also the problem is that rabies bites tend to cause severe trauma, which you can't really deliberately cause severe trauma to an animal in a laboratory ethically, and even if you could you can't do it to easily handled animals like mice because as said before most rodents can't survive that level of trauma for very long before they just die, and researchers very do not want to deal with the potential of handling known rabid dogs, so that's sort of at a standstill as far as studies go)

(Also also, the Milwaukee Protocol costs $800,000 to attempt to save a single person and as discussed has a significant failure rate, so if people aren't getting PEP due to expense, they very can't afford the incredibly expensive experimental treatment that's more likely to kill them than save them either, so it's not like with that amount of deaths we've gotten a lot of people trying anything more than strapping that person down and waiting for them to die)

In addition, of those 21,000 deaths, over 96% of them are caused by bites from dogs. This means that if we fix the loose, wandering dog problem, rabies cases should plummet very similarly to the way they did in the US when we started enforcing our own rabies protocols. There are programs in place to fix this problem but it is multifaceted in origin and not as simple as one might think. As said before, dogs are the #1 rabies vector in the world, even if rabies is technically a "bat virus". The only reason we blame bats here in the US is because we fixed the dog problem. Not every country has been able to do that.

So... very much a complex problem with not a very easy solution. This costs a lot of money and countries just do not have the funds to pour into experiments solving a disease that's more or less 100% fatal when they could just as easily tell people to stop touching animals that aren't vaccinated.

2: The only change I'm aware of is that there's an ongoing attempt to create a single-dose rabies and chemical castration vaccine as a one-and-done to help countries like India and others with loose wandering dogs, which will both cut down on the dog population because they won't be able to breed, and also will cut down on rabies infections within the dog population that currently exists. They have not yet been successful. Again, resolving the problem of the packs of unvaccinated dogs living in close proximity to humans will significantly reduce the instance of rabies deaths in humans as well, since that is the leading cause of rabies spread to humans at time of writing worldwide.

[foxofninetales]

How do public libraries choose which books to stock and which not to?

Somewhere, all of my coworkers just felt a shiver run down their spine because they KNOW what I'm like when I start talking collection development. Oh dear.

(As a disclaimer, I am answering this very specifically from the viewpoint of an adult fiction purchaser for a public library, because that's what I do. There are other considerations for nonfiction, juvenile, etc that I can't speak of with as much experience.)

The short answer is: our goal is to develop a collection that meets the needs of the local community.

The most obvious facet of this is purchasing, and the most obvious driver for purchasing is demand. How you calculate that demand varies: mine involves a combination of 1) fancy analytic software 2) pulling specific reports from our ILS data 3) patron requests 4) seeing what terms are being searched in our catalog 5) getting input from front-line staff about trends and chatter and 6) longterm knowledge of the general likes and dislikes of our community. Longterm authors are known quantities and pretty easy to predict, while new authors require reading reviews and evaluating their potential. It can vary from "this genre/author always circulate well in general" to "I know this book will be read by these three specific people". Bestseller lists are useful and you definitely need to pay attention to them, but those are national trends, and a good collection development librarian who really *knows* their community can look at two books that are selling almost identically nationally and know that locally they need to buy ten copies of one and one copy of the other. Heck, I buy for a multi-branch system, and I can tell you which genres and authors will do better at one branch versus another 20 miles away. Local means. *local*.

Anyway... another facet in meeting the needs of the community is providing representation. Here's where you get into fun things like GIS maps and census statistics and keeping up with local populations trends, etc., as well as just paying attention to who walks through the library doors, and who doesn't, and why that might be. Communities are diverse and you want everyone to be able to see themselves represented in your collection. This is where budgets really come into play, and how much money you have left after purchasing the must-have bestsellers. (See again: James Patterson rant.) This is also, unfortunately, restricted by what the publishers are putting out that is available to purchase - sometimes the representation you want to buy just isn't out there, especially if your supplier isn't good about small-press books.

"Quality" is a factor in purchasing, but sometimes people misunderstand this and think that this means that the library should buy nothing but classics and literary or educational books. NOOOOOOO. We evaluate books for quality before purchasing, but it's "quality as a representation of what it is" versus "quality against all books of all time". What this basically means is that yes, if the demand is there, we are going to buy that lurid potboiler that is written on a third-grade reading level, because that is that is what provides enjoyment for a specific level of reader, but it's going to be the best example of that genre that we can find. Those category paperback romances? Excellent examples of category paperback romances. The goal of fiction isn't foremost to educate, but I do get particularly excited when I find what I call "eye-openers", which are books that are absolutely typical genre fiction *except* they have one little facet that exposes the reader to something they aren't usually exposed to in that genre - a different race of protagonist, a queer sidekick, a facet of history that is looked at in a slightly more nuanced way.

Besides purchasing, another aspect is collection maintenance. For the most part, this is "weeding", which is the process of removing older books to make room for new ones. Collection space isn't infinite: for new books to come in, old books have to leave. This is comparatively simple for adult fiction, as it is largely based on what is still circulating and what has been gathering dust for three years, though the physical condition of the book also comes into play. For nonfiction, you also have to evaluate whether the information the book contains has become old/outdated/downright dangerous. Because i am fortunate enough to work in a library with ample collection space and a good budget, collection maintenance for our collection also involves strategic replacements where needed, not just of battered classics, but also of older series books that are still popular. (Agatha Christie is still one of our top 20 circulating authors, nearly 50 years after her death!)

The overall goal is to have a collection where everyone in your community will be able to walk through the door and find a book that appeals to them and is what they need right then, whether it provides a moment of startling revelation that shapes their life or just gives them the companionship to get through one more sleepless night.

[eobarried]

let’s talk about the parallels in spiderverse between visions academy and spider society because this is driving me insane as an educator. 

in order to do that, we need some context about what visions is, because not everybody lives in a place where there’s a lot of charter school. basically, a charter school is an independent school that still receives government funding. it’s not required to adhere to the same curriculum or standards as the public school systems - instead it runs off of a “charter” or a document that chronicles the school’s mission and academic standards. the school is publicly funded only if that charter is upheld. because charter schools are not limited in the ways that public schools are, they often have a better student to teacher ratio, higher student achievement and graduation rates, and better facilities. 

because of this, in cities like new york, desire for charter schools boomed. this was because at the time charter schools were instituted in nyc, the public schools were struggling to just keep up with the number of students enrolled. not only were schools overcrowded, but they were underfunded, and especially those in low-income neighborhoods were struggling with academic success and graduation rates. nyc thought that charter could help with these issues. but charter schools were so popular because of these issues, that not every student was able to attend.

and that leads us to spiderverse. at the start of the movie, miles is driving to school with his father. his jefferson (his father), is excited for miles to start at visions academy, the charter that miles has been accepted to. miles, however, isn’t so sure. miles replies that the only reason why he’s there is because he won the lottery.

lotteries were implemented in places like nyc where the demand for charter schools was incredibly high. parents could place their child’s name in (a la hunger games) for a chance to attend a school similar to visions academy. a clean, high-achieving school that would ensure a bright future for their student. miles points out that he’s just one of the lucky students who has his name pulled.

meanwhile, jefferson disagrees. he tells miles that he still passed the entry exam required to attend visions, and that miles earned his spot at the institution based on his own merit. 

this conversation helps to distinguish a main theme that carries throughout the spiderverse saga. miles believes that everyone is capable of great things. he resents the fact that he was chosen by pure luck to attend visions, because it took the opportunity away from someone else. he doesn’t view himself as someone special, unique, or more worthy of a quality education than others. his view is that everyone should be given the same opportunity that he was afforded. he’s upset that luck was the deciding factor here. miles doesn’t feel that he’s welcome at visions - he feels isolated and would rather be with his community at his local public school.

meanwhile his dad insists that luck was not the deciding factor - that hard work and merit were. jefferson calls the people at visions “your people” - signifying how he thinks that smart individuals like his son deserve this specialized education. jefferson clearly believes in the american dream - that if you have the talent and put in the work, you can achieve greatness. he’s upset that miles doesn’t see the value in this opportunity, since not every kid would get the chance to go to such a good school. 

all of this being based around charter schools is a fantastic way to tie miles and jefferson’s viewpoints back to the real world. miles values community and uplifting everyone as a whole. his desire to attend a local public school connects to the arguments of those who don’t support charter schools. like miles, they believe that charter schools disrupt communities and take away valuable resources from them. charter schools don’t source their student population by districts - instead, they allow any student to attend (or, they allow those who win a lottery and pass an entrance exam to attend). in addition to that, the less students that attend public schools, the less funding they will receive, and the more funding the charter schools will receive, further depleting public school resources. 

jefferson, however, supports charter schools and sees them as a sort of meritocracy. he believes that individual achievement is more important than uplifting whole communities - perhaps he believes that uplifting one person will uplift the whole community. it’s especially interesting how jefferson points out and makes fun of gentrification (with his comments about the new coffee shop and how he doesn’t understand why so many people are lining up outside of it), which is ironic considering the school he’s sending his child to. 

this becomes especially interesting when we apply this conversation to miles’s transformation and initiation as spiderman. we usually see spiderman’s story as a coming of age, but when you read into the parallels of miles’s journey at visions academy, it becomes a bit more sinister.

going back to miles and jefferson’s conversation - it directly mirrors miles’s spiderman storyline. miles’s bite was “luck” - or, in this film, he believes it to be. in miles’s perspective, anyone could have been bitten by that spider, and imbued with that great power (and responsibility). 

but when he starts meeting other spider-people, they greet him in a way that i think is very telling. my their spider sense, they all know that they have the same powers. when miles meets peter parker, the first thing he says is “you’re like me.” the same thing happens when all of the spider-people meet in aunt may’s basement. “you’re like me.”

but miles isn’t like them - not yet. he experienced the luck. the chance spider-lottery. he was selected to attend visions academy.

but now he has to take the entrance exam. he has to prove his merit, earn his way in. the spider-people want him to succeed, but they don’t accept him when he fails. when miles is unable to perform the way they want him to, they leave him tied to a chair in his dorm bedroom. 

once miles proves himself to the rest of the spider people at the reactor, he feels a newfound sense of community. he’s passed the entrance exam. he feels like he’s worthy and special.

but what about visions? we see miles’s first few weeks at visions - after he’s passed his actual entrance exam, and they don’t welcome him in at all. even when he tries to talk to them after his dad drops him off, many of them brush miles off. a few even make fun of him. we can’t compare visions to spider-society if visions actively rejects miles like that, even after he’s proven his merit!

but actually, it does make sense. because in across the spiderverse, miles isn’t invited into the spider-society, despite the fact that he’s proven his merit. the way the students at visions treated miles was foreshadowing for how miles would be treated in the spider-society. that even though he had proven himself on merit, he still wasn’t welcome. he still doesn’t belong.

this is why the parallels are sinister. this is why miguel’s insistence that miles is an anomaly is so thematically important. 

miguel and spider-society believe in pre-destination. fate. maybe they call it canon, and it has to do with science instead of divinity, but it’s the same thing. they believe that everyone’s life is set out for them, and that there is no chance. that every spider-person was already destined for greatness before the spider even existed.

this belief in pre-destination is especially heinous when compared to both miles and his father’s philosophies - miles’s being that every person is capable of greatness, and that communities are paramount, and his father’s being that individuals are rewarded based on their merit and earn their greatness. miguel’s reliance on predestination reflects that of an elitist society, that believes everyone was born into the social sanction they deserved. when taken to extremes, belief exclusively in fate enforces rigid, oppressive social structures, such as caste systems and slavery. 

in modern times, such extremes don’t exist, but exclusionary social practices still do. visions academy’s students aren’t evil people that bully miles for being a lottery student, in fact, most of them ignore him. ganke lee, miles’s roommate, is a good example of this. after fighting the spot, miles asks him to call the cops. ganke refuses, stating that he’ll end up as miles’s “guy in the chair” and that he doesn’t want that. ganke sees relationships as transactions - that friendship with miles will lead to responsibilities that he’s not interested in taking on. after all, spot isn’t interested in harming him - visions academy is an insulated institution separate from the rest of nyc. the students aren’t even allowed to leave due to curfew. ganke sees no reason to interact with his community at large, because it’ll only lead to obligations to it. instead, he pursues selfish indulgences, like video games, and takes what he wants from others (wearing miles’s jordans). although ganke isn’t the one that created the system, he’s still actively participating in it by refusing to help miles, or the greater community.

this is further emphasized by miles’s guidance counselor when discussing college applications. she suggests that miles lie about his lifestyle in order to seem more appealing to college recruiters - to say that his family struggled financially and that his life was difficult growing up. the story that this woman suggests that miles portray helps reinforce what miguel believes in - that everything is predestined. a college recruiter looking at a student like miles morales would expect nothing less than a stereotype, so the counselor insists that miles should play into that stereotype if he wants to get into a good college. because any other story? well, that would be an anomaly. it wouldn’t make sense to a college recruiter, and it certainly wouldn’t illicit any sympathy. 

the counselor and miguel both are expressing something overtly racist to miles: you shouldn’t be here. miguel blames miles for getting bitten (something miles has no control over), and for disrupting a canon event (using the merit-based skills he has in order to help others). miguel not only calls miles an anomaly, but blames him for issues across spider-society. miles is the original anomaly, he’s the core issue.

if we compare this to the guidance counselor, what she’s saying becomes even more apparent. - the only reason you succeed in this society - this education system - this country -  is because we allow you to. your worth is based on your sob story, how you overcome tragedy. yes, you may have has luck. yes, maybe you even have merit, with how intelligent you are, how strong you are. but it doesn’t matter how smart or strong or lucky you are. because you aren’t one of us. 

spider-society, and by extension visions academy, are meant to represent institutions that disrupt community in our society. they may seem harmless, or even make sense in a way - you may find yourself saying “well, charter schools make sense. shouldn’t smart students receive a superior education?” but eventually, you realize the damage they really do. because if charter schools are funded like they are public schools, how are they so much better, really? why do they have newer books, and better desks, and a lower student to teacher ratio? how have they been able to maintain that over the years?

and then you realize that charter schools accept massive donations by billionaires. you realize that in order to adhere to their charters, some schools are able to expel students for poor academic performance. you realize that by requiring an entrance exam, students with academic or intellectual disabilities might be barred unjustly from these institutions, despite the fact that charter schools are required to provide special education services. but, they don’t answer to the school board, and they have to abide by their charter, so who would really be able to tell if they’re being ableist? who would be able to tell if they’re being bigoted?

there’s so much more i could talk about here, but i just want to end with this. in college, for one of my education classes, i had to watch a movie called waiting for superman. the film focused on students striving to attend charter schools in new york, highlighting failing educational infrastructure, and touting those same charter schools as a godsend. as the filmmaker states, when he was a child, he learned that superman didn’t exist. as he put it, “there is no one coming with enough power to save us.”

afterwards, we watched another film. this one was called “the inconvenient truth about waiting for superman.” it described how the first film had used bad statistics and cherrypicked ideas in order to garner support for charter schools. how those schools disrupted communities and took funds away from children who needed them. how there was no need to wait for superman. how our community public schools were right in front of us the whole time, and all we needed to do was support them instead of trying to save ourselves.

just thought the superhero motif was interesting. anyway.

[madamepestilence]

I live in TN, which is an almost guaranteed Red State. Is there anything I can do in the leadup to the election?

At the moment, Dr. Jill Stein is still working on gaining ballot access in Tennessee, but she is rather close, with 150/275 ballot petition signatures, meaning you can help get into contact with more people in Tennessee to sign ballot petitions

As the state of Tennessee doesn't allow photocopies, the Green Party recommends you contact Beth Dachowski directly at edachowski@bellsouth.net or (615) 500-8026

She has a Tennessee ballot access website here

You can find Tennessee volunteer information and donation information here

She also provides a website detailing how to register to vote in Tennessee

There is also an official Green Party of Tennessee website

Given that your state is a Republican state, people in Tennessee fighting for a free Palestine and a better US have multiple tasks:

Convert existing Democrats to vote for Dr. Stein instead. In the event that she doesn't gain direct ballot access, use mail-in written votes to bypass polling centre restrictions, which are generally exclusively Republican and Democrat

Your single most important task is the spread of information to and spurring to action of people who normally don't vote. Convince non-voters to actually vote in this election, teach them that their votes are not useless (worst case scenario, these votes will show up in the popular vote, voicing that there is in fact demand for someone other than current dominant parties), and directly assist them in voting

If you have the capability, especially given the SCOTUS just ruled that arresting homeless people isn't cruel or unusual punishment somehow, do your best to grant homeless people housing (while 70% of homeless people are employed, you need an address to get a job, a bank account, voting access, etc.) and help them vote for Stein. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES USE HOUSING AS LEVERAGE AND THREATEN TO REMOVE IT. ENCOURAGE AND TEACH BUT DO NOT THREATEN. WE DO NOT NEED AND WILL NOT USE THE WEAPONS OF FASCISTS.

Additionally, if you work in a public space where you frequently interact with customers, you can leverage your position as a point of rapid spread of information. Customers will generally be upset about something - how little they make, how expensive things are now, car-dependent infrastructure, pollution, climate change, etc.

Republicans are also not unconvertable. I personally come from a place where I've seen multiple people with alt-right tattoos (remember y'all, they use more than just swastikas), but that's certainly not all of them.

Bigots are the base of both major parties now, but many are just moderate white people that don't want to come to terms with internalized racism.

Use politically charged language that appeals to them, like discussing how Biden and Trump's policies are an attack on traditional values or damaging the economy.

They suffer under capitalism just like the rest of us, and ironically I've seen a lot of Republicans that actually just want socialism, they just don't have the education (and that's not an insult, I just mean they've been misled and are missing crucial context) or experience to understand the root of the problem is the socioeconomic system, not minorities.

Most importantly, after this election, do not give up here. Keep fighting. If protests suit you, then protest. Make sure to participate in gubernatorial (state governor) and local elections and convince others to do the same.

Spur socialists to run for gubernatorial and local positions (many of them literally just have an age restriction and I've seen multiple states with no gubernatorial term limits).

Read the works of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels and help learn what class consciousness is. I personally recommend the all-time classic The Communist Manifesto. Das Kapital is a bit obtuse to understand and is broken into multiple parts so I would recommend a clif's notes of it.

I also recommend studying the later actions of Martin Luther King, Jr. (he may have been homophobic but his contributions to black rights are undeniable, and he was assassinated because his later contributions were literally advocating for socialism) and Malcolm X.

If you're looking for some socialist YouTubers, I recommend Balkan Odyssey (a Balkan Communist),

Hakim (an Iraqi socialist),

NonCompete (an American(?) anti-fascist),

and Yugopnik (a Slavic socialist).

If you'd like more general BreadTube (leftist YouTube) that isn't entirely focused on socialism, I recommend Any Austin (doesn't explicitly mention socialism, but his choice of words and analysis of video games shows a strong leftist influence),

Folding Ideas (an Albertan documentarian who appears to have taken an interest in internet activities recently)

hbomberguy (a self-described gaming YouTuber who may be the only man on the planet eligible for the title of world-famous detective),

Innuendo Studios (responsible for the series teaching how the alt-right works and recruits people, The Alt-Right Playbook),

Jacob Geller (a Jewish video essayist often covering existential topics with socioeconomic context),

Philosophy Tube (a transfem professional political philosopher),

Shanspeare (a video essayist who breaks down the spread of fascist ideologies, especially in internet spheres),

and Tom Nicholas (a British political, historical, and cultural video essayist)

Education of class consciousness, the spread of information, and working class solidarity and organization are the key pillars to improving ourselves

We can do this

[studymaterialanindita]

The Value of a BCA Degree: Is It Worth Pursuing?

In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology and business, the Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) degree has emerged as a popular choice for students aiming to carve out a career in the IT sector. As technology continues to influence every aspect of our lives, the demand for skilled professionals in the field has never been higher. But is a BCA degree truly worth pursuing? Let’s explore the benefits and considerations to help you determine if this path aligns with your career goals.

What is a BCA Degree?

A Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) is a three-year undergraduate program designed to provide students with a strong foundation in computer science and applications. The curriculum typically covers programming languages, software development, database management, networking, and other core areas of IT. In addition to technical skills, BCA programs often include training in problem-solving and project management.

Benefits of Pursuing a BCA Degree

Foundation in IT Skills: The BCA program equips students with essential IT skills, including proficiency in programming languages like Java, C++, and Python. This foundation is crucial for any career in technology and prepares students for various technical roles.

Diverse Career Opportunities: Graduates of BCA programs can pursue a wide range of careers in IT and related fields. Job roles such as software developer, web developer, system analyst, and network administrator are just a few examples. Additionally, the skills gained from a BCA degree can also be applicable in sectors such as finance, healthcare, and education.

Gateway to Advanced Studies: For those interested in further specialization, a BCA degree can serve as a stepping stone to advanced degrees such as a Master’s in Computer Applications (MCA) or a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA). These advanced degrees can open doors to higher-level positions and increased earning potential.

Practical Experience: Many BCA programs emphasize practical experience through internships, projects, and industry collaborations. This hands-on approach helps students gain real-world experience, making them more attractive to potential employers.

Growing Demand for IT Professionals: The tech industry continues to expand globally, and the demand for skilled IT professionals is on the rise. A BCA degree can provide a competitive edge in a job market that increasingly values technological expertise.

Considerations Before Pursuing a BCA Degree

Cost and Duration: While a BCA degree is often less expensive than a four-year engineering degree, it’s still a financial commitment. It’s important to weigh the cost of tuition against the potential return on investment in terms of job opportunities and salary.

Job Market Saturation: In some regions, the job market for IT professionals can be competitive. It’s important to research local job markets and employment trends to ensure that there are sufficient opportunities available.

Interest in IT: A BCA degree requires a strong interest in technology and computer science. If you’re not passionate about these fields, you might find the coursework challenging and less engaging.

Long-Term Career Goals: Consider how a BCA degree aligns with your long-term career goals. If you aim to work in highly specialized or advanced IT roles, you may need additional qualifications or experience beyond a BCA degree.

Alternative Paths: There are various alternative paths to a career in IT, such as coding bootcamps, certifications, and online courses. These alternatives can sometimes offer a more flexible or cost-effective route to entering the tech industry.

RERF , while primarily known for its research on radiation exposure and health effects, is not directly related to educational institutions like BCA colleges. However, for students interested in a Best BCA college in Kolkata, the city offers several reputable options that provide a solid foundation in computer applications and technology. These colleges prepare students for diverse IT careers and often include advanced research opportunities in their curriculum. If you're looking to pursue a BCA in Kolkata, you'll find institutions that can equip you with the skills needed for a successful career in the tech industry.

Conclusion

The Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) degree offers a solid foundation in computer science and opens doors to numerous career opportunities in the technology sector. For those with a passion for IT and a desire to work in a rapidly growing field, the BCA degree can be a worthwhile investment. However, it's essential to consider your personal interests, career goals, and the job market in your area before making a decision. By carefully evaluating these factors, you can determine if a BCA degree aligns with your aspirations and offers the value you’re seeking in your educational and professional journey.

[vezlayfood1]

Health and Environmental Benefits of Buy Vegan Food

Introduction

Switching to a vegan diet can feel like a big leap, but the rewards are worth it. Vegan food is not just about excluding animal products; it's about embracing a lifestyle that promotes health, environmental sustainability, and ethical eating. But why should you Buy Vegan Food? Let's dive into the many reasons and benefits that make vegan food a compelling choice.

Health Benefits of Vegan Food

Nutrient-Rich Options

Vegan Food are packed with essential nutrients. Think of fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds – they are all powerhouses of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Incorporating a variety of these foods ensures you get a broad spectrum of nutrients essential for maintaining good health.

Lower Risk of Chronic Diseases

Studies have shown that a vegan diet can lower the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. This is largely due to the lower intake of saturated fats and higher intake of fiber and antioxidants, which help protect your body from harmful diseases.

Weight Management

If you're looking to manage your weight, vegan food might be your answer. Plant-based diets tend to be lower in calories yet high in nutrients, helping you feel full longer and reducing the urge to snack on unhealthy foods.

Environmental Impact

Reducing Carbon Footprint

Buying vegan food significantly reduces your carbon footprint. Animal agriculture is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. By choosing plant-based foods, you contribute to lowering these emissions and combat climate change.

Conservation of Water Resources

Did you know that producing animal products consumes a massive amount of water? For instance, producing a single pound of beef requires thousands of gallons of water. In contrast, plant-based foods generally require much less water, making them a more sustainable choice.

Less Land Use

Vegan food production requires less land compared to animal farming. This helps preserve natural habitats and reduces deforestation, contributing to the conservation of biodiversity.

Ethical Considerations

Animal Welfare

One of the strongest arguments for buying vegan food is the ethical stance against animal cruelty. By opting for vegan products, you support a system that does not exploit animals for food, promoting a cruelty-free lifestyle.

Cruelty-Free Products

Beyond food, the vegan lifestyle often extends to other products like clothing and cosmetics. Many vegans choose cruelty-free options that do not involve animal testing, aligning with their values of compassion and ethical treatment of animals.

Economic Benefits

Growing Market for Vegan Products

The demand for vegan products is on the rise, which means more innovation and better options for consumers. This growth in the market also drives prices down, making vegan products more accessible.

Supporting Local Farmers and Producers

Buying vegan food can also support local farmers and small businesses. Many vegan products come from local sources, and purchasing them helps stimulate the local economy and encourages sustainable farming practices.

How to Start Buying Vegan Food

Research and Education

The first step in transitioning to vegan food is education. Learn about the different plant-based foods and their nutritional benefits. There are plenty of resources available online, including blogs, documentaries, and books.

Reading Labels

When shopping, make it a habit to read labels. Look for products that are clearly marked as vegan or plant-based. Familiarize yourself with ingredients to avoid any hidden animal products.

Exploring Vegan Recipes

Try experimenting with vegan recipes. There are countless delicious and easy-to-make vegan dishes available online. Start with simple meals and gradually incorporate more variety into your diet.

Where to Buy Vegan Food

Grocery Stores

Most grocery stores now have dedicated sections for vegan and plant-based foods. Look for these sections to find a variety of vegan options.

Farmers’ Markets

Farmers’ markets are great places to buy fresh, local, and often organic produce. Many vendors offer vegan-friendly products like fresh fruits, vegetables, and homemade plant-based foods.

Online Retailers

Online shopping has made it easier than ever to find vegan products. Websites like Amazon, Thrive Market, and specialty vegan stores offer a wide range of vegan foods that can be delivered right to your door.

Popular Vegan Food Brands

Beyond Meat

Beyond Meat is known for its plant-based meat substitutes that mimic the taste and texture of real meat. Their products are widely available and a great option for those transitioning to a vegan diet.

Daiya Foods

Daiya Foods offers a variety of dairy-free products, including cheese, yogurt, and desserts. Their products are perfect for those looking for vegan alternatives to traditional dairy products.

Follow Your Heart

Follow Your Heart is a well-known brand offering vegan mayonnaise, salad dressings, and cheese alternatives. Their products are popular among vegans and non-vegans alike.

Vegan Alternatives to Common Foods

Dairy Alternatives

Switching from dairy to plant-based alternatives is easy with options like almond milk, soy milk, and oat milk. Vegan cheeses made from nuts and seeds are also widely available.

Meat Substitutes

Meat substitutes like tofu, tempeh, and seitan are excellent sources of protein and can be used in a variety of dishes. Products like veggie burgers and plant-based sausages are also great meat alternatives.

Egg Replacements

For baking and cooking, egg replacements like flaxseed meal, chia seeds, and commercial egg replacers work wonderfully. These alternatives provide the same binding properties as eggs without the animal product.

Budget-Friendly Vegan Shopping Tips

Buy in Bulk

Buying in bulk can save you money and reduce packaging waste. Staples like grains, beans, and nuts are often cheaper when purchased in large quantities.

Seasonal Shopping

Buying fruits and vegetables that are in season is usually cheaper and ensures you get the freshest produce. Seasonal shopping also supports local farmers and reduces the environmental impact.

Homemade Meals

Preparing meals at home is not only healthier but also more cost-effective. Homemade vegan meals allow you to control the ingredients and portion sizes, reducing food waste and saving money.

Cooking and Preparing Vegan Food

Essential Vegan Pantry Items

Stock your pantry with vegan essentials like grains, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, and spices. These staples form the basis of many vegan meals and ensure you always have ingredients on hand.

Quick and Easy Vegan Recipes

Start with simple recipes like stir-fries, salads, and smoothies. These meals are quick to prepare and can be customized with your favorite ingredients.

Meal Prep Tips

Meal prepping can save you time and ensure you have healthy meals ready to go. Cook large batches of grains and beans, and prep vegetables in advance to make meal preparation easier during the week.

Eating Out as a Vegan

Finding Vegan-Friendly Restaurants

Look for restaurants that specifically cater to vegans or have a variety of vegan options. Apps like HappyCow can help you find vegan-friendly dining options in your area.

Vegan Options in Non-Vegan Restaurants

Many non-vegan restaurants offer vegan options or are willing to customize dishes to make them vegan. Don't hesitate to ask your server about vegan choices or modifications.

Using Apps and Online Resources

There are many apps and websites dedicated to helping vegans find suitable dining options. Use these resources to discover new places and read reviews from other vegans.

Addressing Common Myths about Vegan Food

Protein Deficiency Concerns

A common myth is that vegans don't get enough protein. However, plant-based sources like beans, lentils, tofu, and quinoa provide ample protein to meet your daily needs.

Vegan Food Being Expensive

While some specialty vegan products can be pricey, a basic vegan diet centered around whole foods like grains, beans, and vegetables is often cheaper than a diet that includes meat and dairy.

Limited Variety

Some believe that a vegan diet is limited in variety, but this couldn't be further from the truth. There is an abundance of delicious and diverse plant-based foods and recipes to explore.

Vegan Food for Special Diets

Gluten-Free Vegan Options

Many vegan foods are naturally gluten-free. Look for gluten-free grains like quinoa, rice, and buckwheat, and always check labels for gluten-free certification.

Nut-Free Vegan Foods

If you have a nut allergy, there are plenty of nut-free vegan options available. Seeds, grains, and legumes can provide similar nutritional benefits without the risk of allergens.

Soy-Free Vegan Choices

For those avoiding soy, there are numerous soy-free vegan products. Look for alternatives made from peas, lentils, and other legumes.

Conclusion

Buying vegan food is more than just a dietary choice; it's a lifestyle that benefits your health, the environment, and animal welfare. With the growing availability of vegan products and resources, making the switch has never been easier. So, why not give it a try? Embrace the vegan lifestyle and enjoy the numerous benefits it has to offer.

[yenmek-immigration]

Canada's Immigration Policy 2024

485,000 New Permanent Residents Welcomed In a bold move aimed at boosting economic growth, encouraging diversity and meeting labor market needs, Canada has unveiled an ambitious immigration strategy for 2024. In planning this year, Canada aims to welcome up to 485,000 new permanent residents, years that show significant growth from the past . This announcement demonstrates Canada’s strong commitment to immigration as a cornerstone of its national identity and economic prosperity.

The need to increase immigration:

 Canada’s decision to rapidly increase immigration is the result of a variety of factors, including an aging population, falling birth rates, growing demand for skilled workers in various industries and welcoming more immigrants , immigration plays an important role in fostering entrepreneurship and cultural enrichment.

Immigration Strategy Highlights:

The 2024 Immigration Strategy sets several key priorities to achieve its ambitious goals, including:

1.Skilled Workers:

The plan places greater emphasis on attracting skilled workers with qualifications and expertise in demand. The Canada Express Entry system, which screens applications for skilled immigrants, plays an important role in selecting eligibility based on factors such as age, education, work experience and language skills.

2.French-speaking immigrants:

Consistent with Canada’s commitment to bilingualism and multiculturalism, the immigration policy seeks to increase the number of French-speaking immigrants with prospective French-speakers benefiting from additional points if in some immigration policies, reflecting Canada’s efforts to promote language diversity and integration.

3.Provincial Nomination Programs (PNPs):

Canadian provinces and territories continue to play a major role in immigration selection through their Provincial Nomination Programs (PNPs). PNPs allow counties to nominate individuals with the skills and qualifications necessary to support their local economies while addressing local labor market needs and demographic challenges.

Family Reunion:

The immigration process reaffirms Canada’s commitment to family reunification by facilitating the support of spouses, children, parents and grandparents. Family reunions play an important role in fostering social togetherness  and supporting immigrant integration, ensuring that newcomers can build strong ties in their communities.

Conclusion :

Canada’s Immigration Plan 2024 represents a bold vision for the future of diversity, innovation and economic growth. By welcoming diverse immigrants, Canada reaffirms its commitment to building a vibrant and inclusive thriving society contributed by people from around the world. As the country prepares to welcome 485,000 new permanent residents, it is poised to embark on a journey of shared growth, prosperity and success.

For more information on immigration services and how to navigate Canada's immigration system, you can contact Yenmek Immigration.

[ivygorgon]

Sharing Women's March open letters and petitions. Please sign and share!

14 states have already banned abortion, and more restrictions are on the way. Here are a few of the latest GOP proposals:

⚫ A 12-week abortion ban in Nebraska

⚫ A 6-week ban (because GOP attempts at a full ban failed three times) in South Carolina

⚫ A bill that charges abortion patients with MURDER in Alabama

We HAVE to fight back.

Our state-level mobilizations *are working.* We helped elect a pro-choice state Supreme Court justice in WI and brought national attention to the abortion pill case that started in TX. But we CANNOT stop now.

TY! -Women's March

SIGN ON: TELL THE COURTS TO STAY OUT OF FDA APPROVAL OF ABORTION MEDICATION Medication abortion is safe and effective, and it should be readily available everywhere. Add your name right now to DEMAND the courts stay out of FDA approvals >>>

SIGN ON: TELL THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM TO STAY OUT OF FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION APPROVALS! A Trump-appointed judge may strike down the FDA’s approval of a critical abortion medication later this month. The ruling would set a dangerous precedent that radical right-wingers can challenge the approval of ANY medication they don’t approve of — like the birth control pill or emergency contraception (aka Plan B). We need you to take action to tell the courts to stay OUT of FDA approvals!

ATTN: SOUTH CAROLINA LEGISLATIVE REPUBLICANS Check out our letter to the South Carolina GOP below, then sign it as is or add your own spin:

Make your voice heard

As you well know, abortion bans will not end abortion. Instead, you propose penalties so extreme – so draconian – that they will terrify women into compliance. Your goal was never to “protect life.” It is to control our bodies. You should know: We won’t go back. We’ll fight back. I’m signing this letter to voice my ongoing commitment to opposing any rollback of our human right to reproductive freedom.

ATTN: RON DESANTIS, FLORIDA REPUBLICANS, & THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION Sign our open letter condemning the Don’t Say Gay law in Florida! Make your voice heard The cruel “Don’t Say Gay” law is harming Florida students, teachers, and families. Instead of expanding it, you should be repealing this attack on LGBTQ+ Floridians! Despite your fear and hate-mongering, LGBTQ+ people — including kids — always have existed and always will. We will keep fighting for them to be treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. We know that more of us are in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community than agree with your regressive and cruel legislation. Women’s Marchers and our allies WON’T stop fighting for a world where all of us can be safe as our authentic selves. We WON’T let your hateful legislation stop us from supporting LGBTQ+ Floridians, and we condemn the “Don’t Say Gay” law.

ADD YOUR NAME TO OUR DEMANDS TO PROTECT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE ACCESS! We demand reform of our broken judicial system. We demand that state and local leaders defend access to mifepristone despite this illegitimate ruling. We demand the FDA issue guidance to disregard the decision. We demand the Biden administration implement a whole-of-government response to this public health crisis. We demand pharmacies execute their mandate faithfully and with the health of their patients rather than the personal ideologies of a few politicians in mind. Sign on to sponsor our demands >>>

REMOVE CLARENCE THOMAS FROM THE SUPREME COURT Congress must impeach Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas now! Justice Clarence Thomas has violated his oath and broken the law by failing to disclose decades of luxury vacations and private jet travel from billionaire and GOP megadonor Harlan Crow. Crow also paid the private school tuition for a Thomas family member. Sign our petition, stating loud and clear: No one is above the law, and Justice Thomas must be held accountable and removed from his position of power.

[srkshaju]

The Economic Hitman: Friend or Foe to Developing Nations?

Imagine a world where seemingly helpful experts convince countries to take on massive debts for fancy new infrastructure. Sounds good, right? But what if these projects benefit foreign companies more than the locals, leaving the country drowning in debt? This is the story of the economic hitman.

Who are they?

Economic hitmen aren't your typical assassins. They're consultants, often working for big banks or international organizations. Their job? Persuade developing countries to borrow huge sums of money for things like dams, power plants, and highways.

The Pitch:

These consultants paint a rosy picture. They promise economic booms, job creation, and a brighter future. But the reality is often different.

The Hidden Costs:

Crushing Debt: Countries get stuck with massive loans they can't repay, diverting money from healthcare, education, and other crucial needs.

Broken Promises: Many projects fail to deliver on their promises, leaving local communities worse off than before.

Environmental Damage: Dams and other mega-projects can harm ecosystems and displace people from their homes.

Is there hope?

Yes! We can hold these "hitmen" accountable by:

Demanding transparency: Shining a light on how these deals are made and who benefits.

Investing responsibly: Supporting projects that truly benefit local communities and the environment.

Speaking up: Raising awareness about the dangers of unsustainable debt and unfair development practices.

Remember:

Economic hitmen operate in the shadows, but their impact is real. By being informed and engaged, we can help developing countries avoid the debt trap and build a brighter future for themselves.

Let's keep the conversation going! Share your thoughts on economic hitmen and how we can create a fairer development system in the comments below.

Additional Resources:

John Perkins's "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man"

The Centre for Economic and Policy Research

The Bretton Woods Project