#individual voices are good but charities who are directly involved is better

[borealing]

i volunteer in oxfam and im enjoying how theyve gone from "its a complicated situation but palestine needs aid and we will be prioritising them" in volunteer-only emails to CEASEFIRE NOW posters in the windows

[locustheologicus]

The 8th World Day of the Poor Message was just released. It's message will be celebrated on Sunday November 17th which will be when CCBQ has its 125 anniversary celebration Mass. The message comes from the Book of Sirach: The prayer of the poor rises up to God.

The message highlights the message of our Catholic social tradition to have a preferential option for the poor. In these times, Pope Francis has us recognize that cultural measures of success cannot come over the basic responsibility we have to those who are without a voice and economically disenfranchised.

The mentality of the world demands that we become somebody, that we make a name for ourselves at any cost, breaking social norms in order to accumulate wealth. How sad of an illusion this is! Happiness cannot be acquired by trampling on the rights and dignity of others.

In the message Pope Francis reminds us also about the responsibility we all have to promote charity and to serve those who are in need, especially in times of war, violence and desperation. A message he shared back in 2013, the year he started his pontificate and released his first exhortation.

Each individual Christian and every community is called to be an instrument of God for the liberation and promotion of the poor, and for enabling them to be fully a part of society. This demands that we be docile and attentive to the cry of the poor and to come to their aid (Evangelii Gaudium, 187).

But this message has us focus on the place of prayer within our Catholic social tradition. This is the central feature of what he offers us with the 8th World Day of the Poor Message. Prayer cannot exist without an openness on our part to act. If we make empty statements of "thoughts and prayers" on any intention but do not involve ourselves to be the hands of God that responds to these intentions then Pope Francis is suggesting that such prayers are indeed empty. If we are asking God to respond to a situation then it is also implied that we, by virtue of our baptism and discipleship, are called to respond to these petitions that we have identified.

Prayer, then, is verified by authentic charity that manifests itself as encounter and proximity. If prayer does not translate into concrete action, it is in vain; indeed, “faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead” (Jas 2:17). However, charity without prayer risks becoming philanthropy that soon exhausts itself. “Without daily prayer lived with fidelity, our acts are empty, they lose their profound soul, and are reduced to being mere activism” (BENEDICT XVI, Catechesis, April 25, 2012). We must avoid this temptation and always be vigilant with the strength and perseverance that comes from the Holy Spirit, who is the giver of life.

At the same time, as we look to respond to social issues it is important to do so within a prayerful spirit. We respond to people's needs not because of some isolated do-good attitude but because we recognize a relationship and responsibility that we all have to one another. A relationship based on our God-given dignity. In order to combat our own hubris it is important we keep ourselves oriented towards God as we consider policies and actions that can help make the world a better place.

I want to add to this a contrbution from the great theologian Jurgen Moltmann who died this past week. His reflection on prayer in his "Ethics of Hope," connects directly to the Pope's message. Moltmann tells us that prayer, imbues us with hope, and this has us more open and attentive, it has us "watching."

In Christian life according to the New Testament, the call to prayer is always linked with the messianic wake-up call to watch... In watching we open our eyes and 'recognize' the hidden Christ who waits for us in the poor, the sick, the weary and heavy-laden (Mt. 25:37). In the faces of the poor we 'see' the face of the crucified God. Today the messianic awakening for God's future is often translated into sensibility for the little things in everyday life. That makes it more realistic but also weaker. Attentiveness in the messianic awakening surely lies in attentiveness for the signs of the times, in which God's future is heralded, so that Christian action, inspired by hope, becomes the anticipation of the coming kingdom in which righteousness and peace kiss each other. So Christian action is accompanied by prayer and watching, by the trust of the heart, by wide open eyes, and by attentive senses.

Prayer, in this case qualified as watchful prayer, directs us to God and God, through prayer, directs our response to the world. Through watchful prayer we gain a greater capacity for conducting an objective social analysis of the world's issues and theologically grounded reflection regarding our own response to these issues. The famous model of see, judge, act, which allows us to read "the signs of the times," is made objectively possible when we are oriented through prayer. Furthermore, both Moltmann and Pope Francis recognize that watchful prayer, prayer that is attentive to the messianic awakening, allows us to enter into a spirit of solidarity with others, especially those in need.

In the spirit of watchful prayer, Rome Reports also highlights the way Pope Francis discusses the issue of war and how it too stands contrary to Christian discipleship. The reminder here by Pope Francis is to reflect on "how many more people are impoverished by misguided policies involving weapons! How many innocent victims!" Certainly a question worth reflecting on.

[priyanjana]

Enhancing CSR Impact through Collaboration with Marpu Foundation

About us:- "Marpu" - a synonym for transformation - was established by the respected National Youth Awardee, Mr. Kadiri Raghu Vamsi. At Marpu Foundation, we harness individual potential to bring about positive change in the world. Our focus lies in promoting volunteerism, ecological mindfulness, and sustainable development. With a team committed to effecting change and providing a supportive space for all, we've earned the title of "The Best NGO in India" in 2020. We empower individuals to voice their aspirations, work towards sustainability, and form alliances with organizations with a shared vision. Our projects result in tangible changes, not through traditional charity, but via empathy-led, innovative solutions. Join us in our mission to craft a future that's more equitable and compassionate.

• In today's world, businesses are realizing that they have a big role to play in making the world a better place. This is where Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) comes in. By partnering with NGOs like Marpu Foundation, companies can ensure their CSR efforts have a real, lasting impact. Let's dive into how teaming up with Marpu Foundation can boost your CSR initiatives and help achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Why Partner with Marpu Foundation?

Marpu Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of underprivileged communities. Here's why partnering with them is a smart move:

Focus on Key SDGs: Marpu Foundation’s projects target crucial SDGs like quality education, clean water and sanitation, good health and well-being, and gender equality. This means your CSR efforts will directly contribute to global sustainability goals.

Expertise and Local Insight: With their deep understanding of local needs, Marpu Foundation ensures that projects are culturally sensitive and impactful. Their expertise means your CSR initiatives are more likely to succeed.

Transparency and Accountability: Marpu Foundation provides detailed reports on project progress and outcomes, ensuring that you can track and measure the impact of your CSR investments.

Amplifying CSR Efforts: Examples from Marpu's Projects

Here are some of Marpu Foundation's projects that show how businesses can make a significant difference through collaboration.

1. Education Initiatives

Project: Community Learning Centers

Marpu Foundation has set up Community Learning Centers (CLCs) in rural areas to provide quality education to children who lack access to formal schooling. These centers offer a holistic learning environment, including digital literacy, vocational training, and life skills education.

CSR Impact: By supporting CLCs, companies can contribute to SDG 4 (Quality Education). For example, a tech company could provide digital devices and internet connectivity, bridging the digital divide and empowering students with modern education tools.

2. Health and Sanitation Programs

Project: Clean Water Initiative

Access to clean water is a critical issue in many rural areas. Marpu Foundation's Clean Water Initiative aims to install water purification systems and promote hygiene practices among communities.

CSR Impact: Businesses in the manufacturing sector could collaborate with Marpu to fund the installation of these systems. This supports SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and shows the company’s commitment to improving public health.

3. Women Empowerment

Project: Women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs)

Marpu Foundation runs numerous self-help groups for women, providing them with skills training, financial literacy, and entrepreneurial support. These SHGs enable women to start their own businesses and gain financial independence.

CSR Impact: By sponsoring these groups, companies can advance SDG 5 (Gender Equality). For instance, a retail company could help market and sell products made by these women, ensuring a sustainable livelihood for them.

How to Get Involved

Here's how your business can start collaborating with Marpu Foundation:

Identify Synergies: Determine which SDGs align with your CSR strategy and explore Marpu’s projects that target those goals.

Engage and Plan: Reach out to Marpu Foundation to discuss potential partnerships and develop a detailed plan outlining the scope, objectives, and expected outcomes of the collaboration.

Execute and Support: Provide the necessary resources—whether funding, expertise, or volunteer support—to ensure the project's success.

Monitor and Report: Regularly monitor the progress and impact of the project. Marpu Foundation will provide comprehensive reports, helping you assess the effectiveness of your CSR efforts.

Conclusion

Partnering with Marpu Foundation offers a strategic advantage for companies looking to make a meaningful impact through their CSR initiatives. By leveraging Marpu’s expertise and established projects, your business can ensure its CSR efforts are effective and sustainable.

Join hands with Marpu Foundation today and make a lasting difference in the communities that need it the most. Together, we can drive progress towards a more equitable and sustainable world.

For more information, visit the link of Marpu foundation

[emy-loves-you]

Sanders Sides AU-gust Day 18: Bodyguard

When Logan signed up to be the bodyguard of a wealthy (and questionable) man’s son, he thought it would be an easy job. Just sit in the background and make sure the kid doesn’t get killed. He didn’t expect the kid to be his age. Or flirty. Or dating his ex. Logan POV, eventual Analogince with parental Moxiety

Day 17 | Masterlist | Day 19

Logan sighed as he twirled the ballpoint pen between his fingers. He was sitting in the middle of a cafe, filling out a crossword puzzle. He took a sip of his chamomile tea and bit back a grimace. It was exceedingly bitter; the coffee shop he normally went to served much better drinks. But he wasn’t here because of the drinks. He briefly looked up from his crossword to quietly observe the real reason he was here. On the other side of the cafe, scrolling through his phone while he sipped on an iced coffee, sat Virgil Tempest Sanders, son of Patton Sanders and heir of Sanders Financing.

Logan thought back to everything leading up to this moment. Before this, Logan was commonly hired to take out corrupt politicians and gang leaders. So when he got a call from Patton Sanders to be a bodyguard, he was shocked to say the least. Patton Sanders was seen as the epitome of goodwill; he frequently donated to charity, has never spoken ill will towards anyone, and always had a smile on his face. So it was extremely odd for him to contact an assassin who was frequently hired by much more sinister individuals. But apparently Logan’s skills impressed Mr. Sanders enough to provide Logan a more permanent (and well-paying) job.

The job was simple: shadow his son any time he was out of the house. Virgil was kept on an extremely short leash after he was ‘kidnapped’ 5 years ago. He was only gone for a few months, but it was enough to essentially put him on house arrest. Virgil was only allowed to be out of the house between 10 AM and 5 PM. Mr. Sanders paid Logan to watch Virgil during these hours. When Logan had first learned about the job, he’d nearly scoffed in disbelief. He didn’t want to be babysitting a child! But after hearing about what wages he’d earn, Logan quickly changed his tune.

It was also shocking to learn that Logan actually wasn’t babysitting a child. Virgil was 23 years old; shockingly close to Logan’s own age. The age surprised him for several reasons. First of all, why was Virgil kept on such a short leash at 23 years old? Sure, he was kidnapped for a few months (which Logan doubted was an actual kidnapping. It was more likely that Virgil ran away) but that still didn’t warrant such restrictions for an adult. Second of all, Virgil still looked like a teenager. He had an extremely youthful face, with large brown eyes hidden beneath an oversized purple hoodie. He was actually quite attractive, almost as attractive as-

Logan figuratively shook the thought away, attempting to focus on the crossword puzzle. There were a few words that he was stuck on, but he was most likely going to stay here for a while. One of the perks to this job was that Virgil only tended to go to four places: this cafe, the local library, a small music store on the other side of town, and the local park. Still, Logan had been following this pattern with Virgil for the past two months. A small part of Logan, the part that smiled slightly when he managed to shoot someone directly between the eyes, wished that something would happen to spice things up-

“Amir.”

Logan looked up and was surprised to see Virgil leaning over his shoulder, staring at the crossword puzzle. “What?”

Virgil smirked. “‘First name that can mean ‘prince.’’” He took the ballpoint pen from Logan’s hand, which he had been lightly nibbling on. Logan bit back a gasp as Virgil deliberately ran the pen against Logan’s bottom lip before using it to write ‘AMIR’ on the crossword.

Logan examined the paper and was surprised to see that it was the correct answer. He blushed as he turned back to Virgil, who had a smug look in his eyes. “Th-Thank you, Mr…?”

Virgil smiled, settling down in the seat across from Logan. “Call me Tempest. And you are?”

Logan smiled at the use of Virgil’s last name. He felt like he should at least reciprocate. “Adstrum.”

Virgil smirked. “Glory. Immortality.” He gives Logan a once-over before practically purring. “Divinity.”

Logan blushed at the implications. “I’m sure my parents meant ‘star’ when they named me.”

Virgil laughed before his expression darkened. “So, how much is he paying you?”

Logan put on a faux-innocent expression, but on the inside it felt like his blood had turned to ice. Mr. Sanders specifically said that Virgil couldn’t know about Logan unless absolutely necessary. Logan thought he’d been subtle and inconspicuous. “Who is paying me, exactly?”

Virgil sighed. “My father. Look, you almost fooled me at first. If I wasn’t always watching my back, you would’ve fooled me. But nobody ever visits this cafe because their coffee’s shit.” He gestured to Logan’s tea. “And I’m guessing the tea is too judging by how much you face screws up when you drink it. You could’ve been just a regular customer, but I’ve seen you at the library and the park, and I don’t doubt that you were at the record store too. And the people around here get really gossipy, so I knew that you were only here on the days that I showed up.” He leaned back in his chair, a smirk on his face. “So I’ll ask again: how much is he paying you?”

Logan looked him in the eye before sighing. “Too much to say no.” He carefully folded up his crossword puzzle. “Though I’m quite uncertain as to why this job exists in the first place. You obviously have no intention on running away again-”

“Running away?” Logan looked up to see Virgil confused and slightly angry. But Logan had dealt with enough people to see the acting for what it really was. “I was kidnapped and held against my will!”

Logan scoffed. “Kidnapped?” He straightened his tie as he spoke. “You disappeared in the middle of the night from a building whose security rivals the White House. There was no sign of struggle, nor was there a ransom note. Either your kidnapper was an extremely intelligent individual who wanted more than just money from Mr. Sanders, or you left on your own free will. And judging by my observations and personal experience, I’m inclined to believe the latter.”

Virgil stared for another moment before laughing. “Well, would you look at that! You’ve got a brain to match your bark. And I assume you bite, too. Because there’s no way you’re some random civilian. So, what’s your real job?”

Logan coughed. “I must admit, I’m not used to having my job description be, ‘keep client alive. ’”

Virgil blinked, and Logan suddenly felt like he’d said something wrong. “You stressed the word alive. ” Now it was Logan’s turn to blink. “You wouldn’t need to stress it unless there was something specific about keeping them alive.” His eyes suddenly lit up. “Are you an assassin?!”

Logan blushed. “Essentially. But now I am your bodyguard.”

Virgil vibrated in his seat. “How many people have you killed? Do you usually kill good people or bad people? Or does it only depend on the money? I wouldn’t blame you for that. The economy sucks.”

Logan chuckled. “I mainly target corrupt politicians and gang leaders. I turn down any jobs that involve families or children.”

Virgil mouthed the words ‘corrupt politicians and gang leaders’ before gasping. “Do you know Logan Croft?”

Logan blinked. “How do you know that name?”

Virgil gasped again, stars in his eyes. “Are you Logan Croft?” Logan decided to nod his head. Virgil already knew about his job, and his father was paying Logan. It wouldn’t hurt to give out his name, just this once. “Oh my gosh, you’re the guy who killed Jacob Smith four years ago! How did you do it? They say he was impenetrable behind his gang and-” Suddenly his phone ringed. “One moment, please.” He pressed the phone up to his ear, and Logan could hear his boss’ muffled voice on the other end, though he couldn’t understand what he was saying. “Hey, Dad. Yeah, I’m at a cafe. Yeah, I can come home for lunch. See you then. Bye.” He turned back to Logan with a grimace. “Sorry, I’ve gotta go. Maybe we can have a full conversation next time?”

Logan nodded. “I ask that you don’t tell Mr. Sanders about our conversation, or that you know about having a bodyguard. I’m afraid he might fire me if you do.” Or expose me to the world.

Virgil nodded. “Of course!” He stood there awkwardly for a moment. “Well, you know where I am… see ya, bye!” And with that, Virgil walked out of the cafe. Logan waited a few minutes before following. It was just to make sure that Virgil got home safe. It was part of his job, after all. It wasn’t because he found Virgil interesting and funny and cute-

Logan frowned, shaking away the thought. He would not get attached to Virgil. It would only serve as a cruel reminder of Roman. Roman and Logan had met in middle school and dated for several years. But Roman had fallen in love with another man a few years ago. And while Logan is polyamorous, it was dangerous enough to be attached to one civilian. So, they broke up on friendly terms. Logan had never felt so… empty, after leaving Roman. It had felt like Roman had taken Logan’s ability to be happy. Logan hadn’t fully smiled or laughed since their breakup…

Except for today, when he’d talked to Virgil. Virgil reminded Logan of Roman. He was charismatic, sarcastic, and funny. And with every butterfly that formed in Logan’s belly, a new knife stabbed him through the heart. Being with Virgil would only remind Logan of what he could no longer have with Roman. So, Logan would keep his distance (even if he could no longer do so literally).

---------------------------------------------------

When Virgil got home that day, he had a brief lunch with his father before retreating to his room for the day. Once he got there, he immediately pulled his phone out of his pocket and started texting his boyfriend.

V- (3:05 PM) Hey, your ex’s name was Logan Adsrum Croft, wasn’t it?

R- (3:06 PM) Yeah, why?

V- (3:06 PM) Guess who my hot new bodyguard is ;)

[astoryinred]

⭐!

One of the most telling and damning parts of “Eris Throws More Apples” is the time Marius turns up at a lunch party and accuses Enjolras and Eponine of trying to break up his marriage to Cosette. The Amis really let him have it at this point, till he realizes that he’s the one who should beg Cosette’s forgiveness for insisting that she live under the same roof with her former abuser, Thenardier. The way everyone responds is telling of what they have observed over the years about their friends and the circumstances surrounding the past and the present they are navigating. 

What is really interesting is Combeferre’s observation that in his own way, Jean Valjean contributed to the present state of affairs between Marius and Cosette. Combeferre is in a good place to make this observation, since he can compare his own situation with Claudine and his late father in law Valentin to the mess that is Marius and Cosette at this point. Combeferre had a more convivial relationship with Valentin till the latter died in 1833. To this day Combeferre’s marriage with Claudine is rather more egalitarian than most of the era. 

Although on the whole, Jean Valjean is one of the best father figures one could ask for in this story, his overprotectiveness towards Cosette can lead to some harm down the road. We see it in the first installment “When Apollo Met Persephone” when Valjean worries about Cosette being involved in her friends’ politics, and does his best to keep the Rue des Filles du Calvaire a safe haven from the outside tumult. This overprotectiveness is implied to have held sway until Valjean’s death in 1842. The result is that Cosette has rarely been in a position to directly confront the ugly traumas of her past, or to even contend with making decisions outside of her realm (which is childrearing and charities). Everything has so been arranged that Cosette would decide nearly everything in conjunction with Marius, or Luc Esprit Gillenormand, or even a business associate such as Bossuet. 

But this battle regarding Thenardier being close to her children is one that Cosette must fight, tooth and nail. To her dismay, Marius is not on her side here. Marius is the kind of man who believes that Cosette’s being an “angel in the house” extends to all aspects, even her psychological scars. He mistakenly believes that her forgiving nature will have her overcoming everything, even childhood trauma, for the sake of harmony in their home. It does not help that he has never asked, or Cosette has rarely brought up, what had happened in Montfermeil. Making it more complicated is the fact that Cosette has repressed much of her trauma as a psychological defense, as well as her still grieving for her father. In a more modern day and age, Cosette would be a great candidate for individual therapy and these two would need marriage counseling. 

But this is 1842, and the only recourse available is a rude awakening courtesy of the couple’s friends. Everyone agrees that Cosette needs to be mistress of her own home, and that the family’s move out of the Marais is long overdue. At this time, all of the women married to/living with the Amis (Eponine, Claudine, Charlesette, Azelma, Leonor, Therese, Musichetta, Marthe, Nicholine) and many of their friends have already experienced handling their own households and making decisions as equal partners. For lack of any ammunition, Marius hurls accusations that are essentially parroted from what his aunt has told him, from what Thenardier has told her. Eponine and Enjolras systematically debunk them, but most of it is Eponine’s work. 

Key to this whole argument is Eponine speaking out as to what she has witnessed and experienced. Enjolras knows better than to ask or compel her to reveal the past, since he understands that such an exposition has to be of her own volition. She outlines not only the physical abuse but also the emotional and mental abuse that was first inflicted onto Cosette and then later onto herself and Azelma. Although Marius accuses her of having been complicit in her parents’ actions, Eponine points out that she was a child being told what to think and do back in the day. She even goes as far to remind him that he was also just as ignorant about his own father, owing to his grandfather’s machinations. What Eponine does own up to are her actions as a teenager, which nearly got herself and Marius killed at the barricade. After doing this, she redirects the conversation back to the harm that Thenardier is capable of even in his later years, and emphasizes that she is so much more than just the innkeeper’s daughter. 

Marius is incredulous not only at this revelation, but at the fact that Enjolras and Prouvaire also knew of these things because of their own wives. Prouvaire points out that it would not have been his story to tell, tacitly respecting how Azelma has confided these things to him. Marius then and only then admits that he has confused Cosette’s repressing her memories for actual forgiveness and moving on. This leads him to feeling remorse at how he has treated Cosette, and prompts him to go out the door and meet her to ask for her forgiveness. 

More than getting her friends back together, this experience is cathartic for Eponine. Finally she gets to voice out more openly what she rarely contemplates or writes down. In a way this is part of her healing, and helps set her free. 

[babyatm1]

What Makes A Will Legal?

Residential Property You Should Not Include In Your Will

Content

If You Don'T Wish To Use A Lawyer

Indication Your Will In Front Of Witnesses.

To Determine Who Will Care For Your Minor Children

Secret Files To Have Together With Your Last Will As Well As Testament.

When Should You Obtain Legal Guidance To Compose Your Will?

Making Older Individuals'S Voices Heard.

Total An Inheritance Tax Type.

Using A Lawyer To Compose Your Will

What Is Probate?

A simple will is a basic will without any expensive stipulations or stipulations. You can state just how you want your stuff distributed and also that obtains it.

If You Don'T Intend To Utilize A Lawyer

Please keep in mind the table is sorted by Celebrity Rating adhered to by supplier name and also attributes web links straight to the carrier's website. Usage Canstar's life insurance policy contrast selector to watch a broader variety of policies.

Are online wills legal UK?

In order for a Will to be legally valid in England and Wales, you must sign your Will in the presence of two witnesses, and your witnesses must witness (sign) your Will in your presence; and this cannot be done online. clicking here 'll always need a physical document to be signed and witnessed.

Since Buddhists also turn down agenthood, the standard compatibilist methods are closed to them also. Rather, the Buddhist thoughtful approach is to take a look at the metaphysics of origin. Old India had several warmed arguments concerning the nature of causality with Jains, Nyayists, Samkhyists, Cārvākans, and Buddhists all taking somewhat various lines. In numerous ways, the Buddhist placement is more detailed to a concept of "conditionality" than a theory of "origin", particularly as it is stated by Nagarjuna in the Mūlamadhyamakakārikā.

Who should keep the original Will UK?

1. Leave it with a solicitor. If a solicitor writes your will, they will usually store the original free of charge and give you a copy – but ask them to make sure. Most solicitors will also store a will they didn't write, but there will probably be a fee.

Your will doesn't have to be a time-sucking frustration to create. You can make use of a simple will to describe who gets your things and also who deals with your kids if you die.

Check in to get going By checking in, I am signing up for get Canstar's Rate Checker e-mails as well as Home Loans e-newsletter. Specify-- for example, do not simply leave everything to 'my spouse'-- utilize your better half's complete name. The basic message is-- just utilize a Do It Yourself will if your desires are really straightforward and also your financial circumstance isn't complicated. If you live with your partner, yet are neither married nor in a civil collaboration, you might wish to take into consideration creating a common-law marriage agreement in addition to writing a will. While a will establishes what takes place to your possessions as well as items when you pass away, a common-law marriage agreement define what happens if your partnership breaks down-- so a bit like a will for the living.

That's because the enduring partner can not transform a joint will also after the death of their partner. So if an enduring partner remarries and also has a stepchild, they can't leave anything in the joint will to that stepchild. To learn more concerning making a will-- and to see every little thing Nolo has to use when it pertains to intending your estate-- visit our Wills, Trusts & Probate Center. Tell your administrator where your will is as well as how to obtain accessibility to it when the moment comes.

You will be asked to leave a gift for the Stroke Association in your will, but the decision is your own. The Stroke Association uses a complimentary simple will to over-60s or stroke survivors that are 18+.

TheCancer Study UKFree Will Service enables over-18s to obtain a cost-free simple will. Please keep in mind that which of the above charities is funding the system relies on your place. However, you can select to leave gifts to any type of charity you such as. You are under no commitment to leave a present (known as a 'legacy') to among the Free Wills Month charities.

If you are seeking to change an existing life insurance plan, you need to consider your personal scenarios, consisting of continuing the existing cover until the replacement policy is provided and also cover confirmed. Your existing policy might have various features to products presently in the marketplace. Please consider what functions are ideal for you when comparing insurance items as well as refer to the supplier for additional information on a policy. If you decide to look for Life insurance policy, you will deal directly with an insurance policy supplier, and not with Canstar.

Indicator Your Will Before Witnesses.

Since your will is full, allow your successors and also administrator know you have created a will and also where you are keeping it so that they can access it after your fatality. If you are married or have kids that are alive, checklist the names of your spouse and children and also your marriage day. You can produce your will either as a published computer record or handwrite it. Phone number the pages of the file (1 of 3, 2 of 3, 3 of 3, etc.) to ensure that it is clear the amount of web pages there are. While a lawyer can be very practical, you can produce a will yourself if you favor.

If your children are minors, decide that you wish to increase them in the extremely unlikely occasion that you as well as their various other moms and dad can't. Every will have to name someone to work as executor, to execute the regards to the will. Be sure that the person you desire agrees to offer-- the task should not come as a shock. Here are minority simple actions you need to take to make your will.

You can also pick the person who will ensure your will is executed as well as name a guardian for your kids if something takes place to you. And also you can even name the individual you intend to care for your favorite ferret.

If this intuitive photo became incorrect, after that presumably that we can not legitimately be held ethically in charge of our actions. Besides, if I do not have free will in a feeling that involves alternate possibilities, after that I have to pick what I really pick. And also if I have to choose what I perform in reality select, then probably I am compelled so to select, and can not rather be considered morally responsible for my selection. It is extremely possible, after that, to accept something like the "Concept of Different Possibilities", according to which a representative is morally responsible for an action only if he could have done otherwise. If is true, then moral duty needs free choice; and if causal determinism dismiss such different opportunities, it would therefore dismiss ethical obligation.

Credit scores solutions for Aussie Elevate items are provided by AHL Investments Pty Ltd ACN Australian Credit Score Permit (" Aussie") and also its appointed credit rating representatives. Credit history and also any applicable balanced out make up Aussie Elevate are issued by Bendigo and Adelaide Financial Institution Limited ABN AFSL/ Australian Credit Permit. ASIC mentions the general public Trustee could not credit make your will if you are aged older than 60 or choose the Public Trustee to be your administrator. You may want to check with the Public Trustee in your state or area to recognize the needs that relate to making a will where you live. If you're contrasting life insurance policies, the contrast table listed below screens some of the policies currently readily available on Canstar's data source for a years of age non-smoking male working in a professional line of work.

However, many individuals do not maintain a recurring connection with a lawyer, as well as it is common for attorneys to dissolve law office and also create brand-new ones, so it might be challenging for your executor to find the will when the demand occurs.

Because your administrator is somebody you depend on, no person else needs to recognize the components of the will or that it also exists.

Also, if you relocate some range away from where your lawyer methods, it would be more difficult for your administrator to acquire the will.

Usually, the best location to save your will is with your executor.

Your lawyer may keep the original-- often for a nominal fee.

Such on the internet archives may be a good location to save information for an administrator, nevertheless, a court of probate might not accept a published duplicate from such a digital will vault when an initial is required.

In order to satisfy your duties as the administrator of an estate, you must first be approved the authority via a letter of testamentary.

If you do not recognize who that is or if you are uncomfortable approaching them, you can look the probate court documents in the area where the deceased person lived.

There are firms offering on the internet storage space of documents as well as individual info.

In Buddhism it is shown that the concept of absolute liberty of option is ill-advised, since it denies the reality of one's physical needs as well as situations. Just as wrong is the concept that people have no option in life or that their lives are pre-determined. To reject flexibility would be to reject the initiatives of Buddhists to make moral progress. Pubbekatahetuvada, the idea that all happiness as well as experiencing emerge from previous activities, is thought about an incorrect sight according to Buddhist teachings.

To Identify That Will Look After Your Minor Children

Credit scores services for Aussie Select, Aussie Activate and also Aussie Elevate products are given by AHL Investments Pty Ltd ACN (" Aussie") and also its appointed credit report reps, Australian Credit score Licence. Credit Rating for Aussie Select items is supplied by Residential Home mortgage Team Pty Ltd ACN, Australian Debt Permit (" RMG"). RMG is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN AFSL and Australian Credit Report Licence. Credit Score for Aussie Activate products is provided by Pepper Finance Corporation Limited ACN (" Pepper"). Pepper Group Limited ACN, Australian Credit report Permit acts upon behalf of Pepper.

How much does an attorney charge to draw up a will?

Flat Fees. It's very common for a lawyer to charge a flat fee to write a will and other basic estate planning documents. The low end for a simple lawyer-drafted will is around $300. A price of closer to $1,000 is more common, and it's not unusual to find a $1,200 price tag.

The trick is recognizing your state's details needs and also making certain your will meets them. It's additionally possible to create a will that serves in every state so that you avoid any possible problems.

Trick Files To Have Alongside Your Last Will And Testimony.

How much money before probate is required UK?

It's generally considered that if everything the deceased person owned is worth less than £15,000 Probate won't be needed, but this isn't true in every situation. This is because each financial institution has their own limit that determines whether or not Probate is needed. This ranges from £5,000 to £50,000.

When Should You Get Lawful Recommendations To Draft Your Will?

signed by the proprietor of the will and be seen by 2 individuals. " If you utilize an online will package, get it examined by a lawyer or Public Trustee," economic regulatory authority ASIC's Moneysmart.com.au web site states, which adds that a solicitor or Public Trustee are most likely to bill you for doing so.

Nonetheless, there could be different guidelines in various locations of Australia when it involves wills, according to the Australian government's australia.gov.au info portal. The site advises that each person examine the rules that apply in their state or territory prior to beginning any service a will.

Complete An Inheritance Tax Kind.

This advice is basic as well as has not taken into consideration your objectives, monetary situation, or demands. Consider whether this suggestions is best for you, having respect to your very own goals, monetary situation and needs. You might need economic suggestions from a suitably qualified adviser. Consider the product disclosure declaration before making any type of monetary choice. For additional information, readCanstar's Financial Services and also Credit History Overview, and check out ourdetailed disclosure, important notes as well as responsibility disclaimer.

How much do solicitors charge to execute a will UK?

Some probate specialists and solicitors charge an hourly rate while others charge a fee that is a percentage of the value of the estate. This fee is usually calculated as between 1% to 5% of the value of the estate, plus VAT.

Nonetheless, the hope is that many will see this as a chance to aid their preferred cause. The advocate of PAP believes that the lack of the flexibility to choose or else does not by itself explain the lack of moral duty. see this page is because he thinks that when this absence acquires, its getting is itself discussed by, and can only be described by, the event of causal determinism in the actual series of events. The Concept of Alternate Possibilities and also the Frankfurt-type Instances. As I recommended above, we normally think that the future is a garden of forking courses-- that we a minimum of at some essential points in our lives have more than one path branching into the future.

It's after that inspected by a Farewill will specialist, who'll send you a web link to download your finished will, which you'll need to print, sign and also have actually observed. As soon as you more than happy and have actually authorized it, Co-op shops your will. As soon as you have actually done what you can, you'll obtain a follow-up phone call from a specialist will writer. You make use of an on-line layout, which is after that examined by Co-op Legal Solutions.

What To Expect From Your Lawyer

As soon as this impression is revealed, one's initial conviction that the absence of an alternate choice is sufficient for the lack of ethical duty is vindicated. There can be two various ways in which some variable makes a representative unable to select or do or else. In one way, the factor does not play a role in the actual sequence; it does not flow with the real program of occasions. In one more means, the element does move through the actual series.

[lsesu]

Your guide to: Extra curricular activities

You asked for more information on extracurricular activities, well buckle up people because there is LOADS that you can get involved in outside of study at LSE! It shouldn’t be all work and no play. You should be spending part of your time at university doing things that are not related to your course – it’s good for your mental health, wellbeing, happiness and your personal or professional development.

No matter what your interests or what you would like to achieve, we are sure that there will be an extracurricular event, project, initiative or “thing” that will take your fancy. Here’s a quick insight into the things that you can get involved in:

Events

Perhaps one of the easiest ways to make the best use of your time outside of lectures. We have tons of events that run every day, every week and every term! Some are run by us, some are run by students and some are run by LSE.

We (your Students’ Union) are the home of all the fun things, so you can expect our events to be ones to remember! In our recent SU Awards, it was the “Sweeney Todd” theatre performance by the Drama Society that won in the Best Event category, with a cultural showcase called “Ablaze” by the African Caribbean Society coming in a close 2nd. To find out more about LSESU events, keep an eye on our What’s on calendar.

The school itself also holds a variety of events throughout the year, these range from public lectures all the way through to fairs and workshops. For some LSE events, you can even catch up on what you missed if you weren’t able to attend with the LSE Player. To find out more about LSE events, keep an eye on the LSE events website.

RAG

Maybe you want to give back to the community? Do your bit for a good cause? Raise money for people in need? We have just the thing!

The LSESU Raising and Giving society (RAG) is a three-times award winning society that raises money every year for amazing causes and allows students to get involved in fun and exciting acts of charitable fundraising.

Getting involved with the RAG society could mean that you are granted with some of the most memorable experiences that you can have while at university. “Jailbreak” is an infamous annual RAG event, that challenges participants to get as far across the globe as possible from their starting point…with absolutely no money. Past winners have ended up in Thailand and Belarus!

What makes these once-in-a-lifetime experiences so great, is knowing that you are giving back to a good cause at the same time (as said by students who have been involved in RAG). Head over to the RAG page on our website to find out more

Oh, and keep an eye on their dedicated Facebook Page, as announcements regarding the 2019 RAG Band (LSE’s official Welcome week events) will be coming soon!

Funding

Have you got a big idea? Think it could really benefit the rest of the students at LSE? Well, you better get reading about our funding pots!

Here at LSESU, we are excited by student ideas and encourage students to develop and implement their own projects. So much so, that we have even set aside pots of money especially for you guys, so that you can make your big ideas happen!

We have a Student Union Fund that grants sums of money to students who have ideas for projects or initiatives, and you can apply for up to £20,000! Funding can be granted to any idea for any project, by any student or any student group…all you have to do is apply!

If there is something missing from your student experience or if there is a project that you’ve always wanted to try out, applying for one of our funding pots­­ is a great way to make it a reality, enhance the lives of your fellow students AND build your CV in the process. You benefit, we benefit, your fellow students benefit – everyone is a winner!

Find out more about the Students’ Union Fund, the criteria and how you can apply for it here.

Fitness classes

Keeping fit doesn’t have to be a chore at university. While we have got our very own LSESU Gym on the 4thfloor of our building, we know that this won’t be everyone’s cup of tea for getting active.

Our fitness class timetable is a great way to get moving in a more social environment, where you can make friends and get fit at the same time. Exercise can often help to clear the mind and promote wellness, and many students have found that getting involved in our weekly classes is a fantastic way to maintain good wellbeing and mental health at LSE.

A class pass can cost you as little as £15 and will grant you unlimited access to all of the fitness classes that run throughout the term! Our class timetable includes Pilates, Self Defence, Yoga, Boxfit, Zumba, Swimming, HIIT and so much more.

Find out more about our Fitness Classes here.

Campaigns Hub

Is there an issue or a cause that you feel passionate about? How would you like the support, guidance and funding to be able to actually act on that particular issue?

At LSESU, we have a dedicated Campaigns Hub, which helps students facilitate, plan and run their own campaigns. In the past, students have seen big wins both at LSE but also in the wider world due to their involvement with Campaigns Hub.

Whether you are an activist to the core or are simply interested in acting on one particular issue, Campaigns Hub will be able to support you in the ways that you need. This is also a way to connect with and meet like-minded individuals, who also share the same passion that you do of making a difference in the world.

What better way to start an interview than by explaining how you had an idea for addressing an issue, you acted on it and it resulted in making a permanent, long lasting and historical change? There’s no reason why this can’t be you!

Elections

If you want to impress your future employer with an application or CV with ample experience, this is the BEST way to do it!

Every year we run Michealmas (1st) term elections and Lent (2nd) term elections. Students will nominate themselves for one of the student officer positions that we have available before campaigning for your votes. Whoever receives the most votes in the count will be elected as the new officer for that category.

Ok, so why are these officer positions so important? Our student officers actually have the power to change policy and decision making among the highest levels of LSE’s management…basically, they get to tell the big dogs at the school what to do. It’s important for the senior leaders at the school to get sign off and agreement from our LSESU Student Officers, which is why these positions hold great amounts of power and authority.

Now, if you haven’t already realised…these Officer roles are incredible leadership opportunities where you can negotiate and persuade the highest levels of management and shape the direction of a multi-million pound organisation. Plus, you’ll be managing massive budgets, project managing your own large scale initiatives, all within a highly politically charged context. If that’s not going to make your CV shine, then we don’t know what is!

We have 5 full time officer positions and 12 part time officer positions, which include Social Mobility & Class Officer, Raising & Giving Officer, International Students’ Officer and LGBT+ Officer. If you want to enrich your skillset and professional experience alongside your studies, then you should definitely consider nominating yourself for one of these officer positions!

But even if you don’t fancy standing for one of these roles, you should familiarise yourself with who your officers are and make sure you voice any concerns you have about LSE directly to them, as they have the power to do something about it! And at the very least, you should vote for your favourite candidate. After all, you don’t want someone who isn’t going to benefit you being put in charge!

Union General Meetings

Guess what! There is this awesome little thing at your Students’ Union called the Union General Meeting. Sounds really clunky, but we’re going to break it down for you:

The Union General Meeting happens every month during term time. It is an opportunity for you guys to submit motions for changes that you want to see at LSE. Previous motions have included the introduction of bean bags in the LSE Library (no, this isn’t a joke) and free menstrual products in the LSESU toilets.

At the meeting, the motion is pitched by the student who has proposed it, which is all captured on live stream so that any student can tune in to see all the action. Students can then vote for or against the motion on our website. If the motion gets more than 250 votes in agreement, then the motion passes and we HAVE to implement your changes!

So, this is why you will see the pre-mentioned beanbags in the library and free menstrual products in LSESU toilets, because the motions passed and we got it done!

Why not make your student life even better for yourself? Put forward your changes, campaign for your fellow students’ votes and make them happen! You can make long lasting changes at LSE, all you have to do is get involved.

Find out more about past motions and the Union General Meeting process here.

LSE Volunteer Centre

Here’s another way that you can give back in your spare time. The LSE Volunteer Centre runs tons of events and programmes where you can get involved in helping out some fantastic causes.

The great thing about the LSE Volunteer Centre is it has a range of flexible initiatives, so no matter what kind of student you are, they should have something to suit you. They run #JustOneHour opportunities, which are ways for those time-strapped students to do their bit for the community in an hour or less. There’s also one off volunteering and ongoing volunteering opportunities that you can sign up to.

Some of the causes that students have gotten involved with in the past include working with dementia patients, food distribution charities as well as NGOs in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Volunteering was a big part of your General Secretary, Zulum’s, experience here at LSE and he says it made his LSE journey so much more rewarding. Find out more about the LSE Volunteer Centre here and keep an eye on their page for new and upcoming opportunities.

AU Sports Clubs & BUCS

And now for the more obvious ones, joining a student group. Joining one of our LSESU Sports Clubs also means that you become part of the Athletics Union. The Athletics Union is a large community of students who are interested in playing sport at any level, and it is a great way to make friends.

We have over 50 Athletics Union Sports Clubs that you can join, read more about them on our website. Most student groups will be running Give it a go sessions in the 1st term, so keep an eye on the Give it a go Calendar to spot any free taster sessions for the clubs that you’re interested in.

Societies

From Debate and united nations to beekeeping and cocktails, we’ve got such a huge range of societies for you to get involved in. No matter what your interests, beliefs or hobbies, we’re sure that you’ll find at least one that takes your fancy (we have over 200!). Or even if you don’t, you can easily start up your own society with the help of our Societies team.

Another great way to make friends and engage in your favourite things or pass times. Check out the full list of societies here. There will also be give it a go sessions for societies, so keep your eyes on the give it a go calendar.

Student Media Groups

Interested in gaining some experience in media? We are lucky to be one of the only student unions in the country with 4 student media groups, which means more opportunities for you guys! You can get involved with The Beaver (student newspaper), LooSE TV (youtube channel), Clare Market Review (journal) and PuLSE (radio station).

Find out more about the Beaver, LooSE TV, Clare Market Review and PuLSE on our website.

Basically, there are tons of activities that you can get involved in outside of study, all you have to do is get stuck in!

[w-ht-w]

compatibility of effective altruism and political decision-making?

https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/post/2021/04/dont-we-need-political-action-rather-than-charity/

A common criticism of effective altruism is that it neglects political action and institutional change in favour of philanthropy, which can't solve the world's most fundamental problems on its own. ... However, the dichotomy between political action and philanthropy is a false one.

https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2018/12/14/18088514/effective-altruism-poverty-philanthropy-william-macaskill

When it comes to politics, there’s no reason in principle why effective altruists shouldn’t get involved. But we’re less likely to enter longstanding political debates, such as what the tax rate should be, where a few more voices are unlikely to make much difference. Instead, we’re more likely to look for comparatively neglected policy areas — for example, what to do with new technologies such as artificial intelligence and synthetic biology.

https://harvardpolitics.com/effective-altruism-an-interview-with-steven-pinker/

HPR: Another critique of effective altruism is that it does not focus on political and institutional change, which economists have argued are most crucial in reducing poverty. Should EA shift its focus towards achieving more institutional change instead of excessively focusing on the individual?

SP: I think there’s merit to that criticism ... But they’re not mutually exclusive. And philanthropy absolutely makes a difference as well, especially in the poorest parts of the world ... Someone who is committed to effective altruism ought to keep in mind the massive benefits of sheer economic growth, and should in addition to their philanthropic efforts, support political and policy prescriptions that promote economic growth and support the institutions that support it. ... at the margins, philanthropy can save lives as well, so both should be pursued.

https://bostonreview.net/articles/emily-clough-effective-altruism-ngos/

The politics of state service provision for the poor is a messy business. The simplest thing for far-away philanthropists is to simply sidestep politics and fund programs that appear, on the surface, to be positioned outside the political arena. 

The focus on impact makes [randomized control trials (RCTs)] appealing to effective altruists. However, ... RCTs only capture a narrow view of impact. While they are good at measuring the proximate effects of a program on its immediate target subjects, RCTs are bad at detecting any unintended effects of a program, especially those effects that fall outside the population or timeframe that the organization or researchers had in mind. it would be less likely to capture whether the program unintentionally demobilized political pressures on the government to build a more [effective state-run program with larger impact].

In the worst case, the presence of NGOs induces exit from the state sector. ... [and] may interrupt channels of democratic accountability.

Effective altruists are committed to evidence-based selection of charities, but in interpreting RCTs as the “best available evidence” they have prioritized certainty, narrowing the scope of impact they consider in identifying top charities. [But] all charities exist within a broader ecosystem of service providers that includes the welfare state. 

[Effective altruists] must contend with the fact that the state remains the primary provider of basic social welfare for most poor citizens in most poor countries, and that pumping money into a parallel set of providers—even good ones—without a plan for reaching the coverage or scale of a state may do serious harm to the poor who are left in the state system.

advocacy organizations may be in a better position than service provision NGOs to broadly improve services delivered to the poor, though this type of welfare-improvement work involves a longer timeframe. Because advocacy directly targets the root problem underlying inadequate services—the problem of state accountability—successful advocacy can have profound welfare payoffs.

[But] advocacy “intervention” is less likely to lead to immediate, measurable improvements than, say, a nutrition supplement or a malaria vaccination. Thus this type of organization is unlikely to meet the criteria effective altruists currently use in selecting charities.

Effective altruism without a political blind spot would revisit its funding philosophy with a cautious eye toward state substitution. It would narrow its scope of direct service funding to non-substituting types of service delivery, and redirect substantial funding toward advocacy organizations that specifically work toward strengthening the accountability of the state sector. There may be some specific types of services—eye surgeries, for example (an effective altruism favorite)—that service delivery NGOs are especially efficient at delivering, and that can be delivered in a targeted way without building a parallel apparatus that decouples citizens from the government.

...at some point, once bed nets and eye surgeries are no longer the most pressing need, the movement will be faced with the thornier problems of development, which reside in the political arena. Engaging with the complexity of those problems now, and beginning to develop best practices for funding organizations that work to improve the quality of state services, will give effective altruists a head start on doing the most good they can—for those most in need—in the long run.

https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/706867

The measurement-based methods that allow effective altruists to identify promising assistance programs do not carry over well to political reform.

https://80000hours.org/2015/07/effective-altruists-love-systemic-change/

posits that effective altruism is supplemental, or the first step - instead of counterproductive - to more fundamental, systemic change (ex. policy/institutional reform).

Our career profiles on politics and policy careers are already positive; we just haven’t done enough research to confidently recommend them over all the alternatives. 

Why there is a sense that effective altruists are hostile to working for systemic change.

‘earning to give’ was one of our most media friendly and viral ideas, and has dominated coverage of [effective altruism] among the general public ... Earning to give is usually perceived as anti-systemic change. ... [But] in fact, someone who ‘earned to give’ in order to pay the salary of someone else working for systemic change is working for systemic change themselves. (ex. Freidrich Engels for Karl Marx).

Effective altruists favor certain, measurable impacts. Which usually take the form of incremental change

Effective altruists are usually not radicals or revolutionaries, ... My attitude, looking at history, is that sudden dramatic changes in society usually lead to worse outcomes than gradual evolutionary improvements. I personally favour maintaining and improving mostly market-driven economies, though some of my friends and colleagues hope we can one day do much better. Regardless, this temperament for ‘crossing the river by feeling the stones’ is widespread among effective altruists, and in my view that’s a great thing that can help us avoid the mistakes of extremists through history. The system could be a lot better, but one only need look at history to see that it could also be much worse.

However, even this remains only an empirically founded belief – if I find evidence that revolutionary change has been better than I thought, I will reconsider working for revolutionary changes.

Sometimes we view existing attempts at systemic change as more symbolic or idealistic than realistic, and so push back against them (ex. U.S. gun control policy).

We have been taking on the enormous problem of ‘how to help others do the most good’ and had to start somewhere. The natural place for us, ... was by looking at the cause areas and approaches where the empirical evidence was strongest...

We don’t want to burn the existing system to the ground, but almost all of us want to make enduring improvements to national and international systems to ensure the future is better than the past. The only question, which we and others are investigating right now, is how best to do that.

[sdg-laf]

The Sustainable Development Goals

Have you heard of them? 

No matter where you live, there will always be things to fix, whether it be the fact that half of your neighbors have to choose between groceries or electricity or how your towns school curriculum is ten years out of dare, something there could be made better, to help people, help their quality of life, help the world they live in.

And the global goals are there to help out.

The Sustainable Development Goals were a series of ideas that the United Nations first devised on 2015, made to improve quality of life, the environment and how we utilize the world we live in by 2030. By everyday working towards there in what is definitely an uphill climb we are actively making this world a better place, you are! just by learning a little bit more about them, so now lets list all the SDG’s with a brief description each and a little something you can do to directly help out on them.

End Poverty

This goals works towards ending poverty in all forms everywhere, including systematic poverty and discriminating against poor individuals

You can help out on the accomplishing this goal by heling out in relief campaigns that try to support poor people and donating any helpful items you might have to charities you trust will work on this 

Zero Hunger

Here we are working towards ending hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture so that no one every has to go hungry or malnourished again with no regards to their economic position

Since the plan is to achieve this by fixing agriculture planning and food distribution tactics the best thing you can do from home, is to waste as little food as possible

3. Good Health and Well Being

This goal promotes healthy lifestyles, preventive measures and modern, efficient healthcare for everyone, which while quite the big goal truly is imperative for the bettering of this earth

There are many things you can try to do to help people out on need at home, things like donating your blood to a blood bank or putting your organs out on a donors list, its all saving lives

4. Quality Education

The point of this goal is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all no matter their background or age or any other thing that might've stopped them from getting a good education before

To help out on this one of the best things you can do is donate to education institutions, whether that be money, recourses or your time as a tutor, they most probably need it and you're directly helping everyone there out

5. Gender Equality

By the point of completion of this goal we are supposed to have achieved gender equality (in all of it's sorts and forms) and empowered women and girls around the world with however many differences they might all have between each other

You can make sure to help out here by making sure your voice is heard on these matters, directly helping women in your life out, and by trying your best to stop any sexist adjacent actions that you see (including any that might subconsciously come from yourself)

7. Clean Water and Sanitation

This goal is trying to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, in a way that's affordable and easily accessible for everyone to have a clean environment

To help out on this one of the best things you can do is raise awareness, run a campaign explaining how important access to clean water is for a good life, talk about how many communities around earth lack proper sanitation tools, make sure everyone knows that there's an issue, a problem, that needs solving

8. Decent Work and Economic Growth

The point of this one is to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all, across the world, in a manner that is not forced nor bad for everyone involved

Supporting your local communities economic influences is a very important thing that everyone who cans should be doing, just as well as they should try to be conscious of what they consume and doing their part on helping workers rights be enforced

9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

With this goal we are trying to build resilient infrastructure for the wellbeing of all, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization that hurts everyone as little as possible and to foster innovation across communities for the general betterment of the world

While changing the world with your new and innovative architecture ideas every other day would be an incredible thing to do, its also not a very plausible thing, and thus you should consider helping out in the small scale, nudging companies around you to convert to clean and safe infrastructure as well as the normal people around you

10. Reduced Inequalities

To reduce inequality within and among countries, in all shapes and forms, is a big goal, but its something that's well within our rights to ask for

To help out on reducing any discriminative actions you might find around your many circles in life one of the best things you can do is talk about it, let everyone know its not right talk about why, let those who are being discriminated against know that you're on their side

11. Sustainable Cities and Communities

This goal is going to make all cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable to as many people as possible.

You can help out by bettering the community you already live in, whether that be by taking care of the public spaces you exist in or by sustaining your local shops that definitely need the revenue

12. Responsible Production and Consumption

This goal tries to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns that everyone can take advantage of, and make sure that everyone gets to enjoy a safe and hopefully enriching working experience

To help out you can be a better consumer, by doing things like consuming locally and choosing the least wasteful products available, but you can also advocate and ensure that companies are trying to be better producers themselves

13. Climate Action

With this goal the point is to take urgent action to combat climate change and reduce its impacts as much as is possible, reshaping the systems that let this happen in the same place so that we ensure were doing a permanent change.

Help out at home with the little things at first, reduce waste and consume consciously, cut off your carbon emissions when you can and try to source everything as locally as possible, then, when you're already doing everything you can at home, you can then start also bullying companies into not killing our planet to make some quick buck

14. Life Below Water

There are many things that are worth protecting in the ocean, and thus this goals point is to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development while causing as little of a negative obstruction as possible.

To help out, keep your nearest bodies of water clean, raise awareness of what happens when you pollute the ocean, what can you do to fix it, and, most importantly, bully as many companies as you can into also helping out by not dumbing all of their waste into near bodies of water and also utilizing some of their ludicrous amounts of money into going green (or in this case blue I'd suppose)

15. Life On Land

The point of this goal is to protect, restore and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

While effects like these were definitely made mostly by big companies dumbing all their waste on various ecosystems (and contributing to global warming at a truly alarming rate) you can also help! by reducing your carbon foot print and trying to undo the effect of the ruined land in the small case with whatever natures around you, supporting conservation efforts and just not harming the land whenever you can truly does help, so do what you can, and always bully megacorps when possible

16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

This goals general gist is to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, to provide access to justice for all no matter their background and to build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

This goal is a tough one, for its mostly in the hands of highly ranking people, some things you can always do though, are donating to relevant charities and speaking up abut the change you want to see, event voting in this case is a really important thing to do, so just, figure out what's needed, and try to make yourself be heard

17. Partnerships For The Goals

With this goal we're trying to strengthen the means of implementation of the goals around the world and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

The best thing you can do for this goal is actively participate on it, work on each of the goals as much as you can from wherever you are and you are doing your part, then maybe try to convince others (companies) of also doing theirs

So now you know of the Sustainable Development Goals, try to implement them whenever possible, we're trying to make a change here after all

[facesofcsl]

My-Han T., Student (MSc, Speech Language Pathology)

My-Han Tran is in the final semester of her Masters of Science in Speech Language Pathology at U of A. In 2019, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Psychology, where she completed CSL 100. 

Which course did you take with CSL? 

I took CSL 100 in my last year of undergrad, where I completed my placement with the Gradual Rising of Women (GROW). There were six CSL students, including myself, and we all had different tasks that we completed. My project was to collect stories from successful immigrant women and write about what deems a person to be successful. This was part of their Project 150 and I believe they published a book of some of these stories as a result.

Another project through GROW was Press for Progress, where I asked people what it meant to be a woman leader, what a woman leader is to them, and why it’s important to have women in leadership. 

How did your CSL projects impact your experience with the course curriculum? 

I loved being able to connect things to real life. I liked the project component because it allowed me to apply content that we were learning in class to real life situations. My placement with GROW was pretty flexible in terms of what we could do and the extent to which we wanted to be involved.  I was able to use the knowledge that I was gaining in class to practical scenarios instead of only theorizing about what we had learned.

What newfound knowledge did you gain from CSL?

There are two examples that resonated most with me. Before CSL, I thought that donating your old clothes to well-known nonprofit organizations was such a good thing to do because I thought I was giving it to people in need and really helping out. Then I took CSL, and I learned that all of that donated clothing gets sent off to a third world country and it becomes a mountain of textiles that just piles up and damages their environment. I was pretty shocked by that. Now, I’ve sought out local charities in Edmonton to donate my clothes to and I know it’s going into the hands of those who are in need. 

Also, I used to love shoe brands that promoted giving a pair of shoes to someone in need when I purchased a pair, and this made me feel really good about myself. But in CSL 100, we learned that they disrupted the economy in third world countries that they sent the extra pairs of shoes to because the shoe makers lost their jobs and bare form of income. CSL taught me that even though we may think we’re doing something good, there are a lot of other implications and other social dynamics that are occurring which you might not always think about when you’re doing ‘service.’

How has CSL impacted your academic and/or personal life?

Essentially, it made me more aware of the social dynamics and issues that are present within the communities that we live in. CSL helped me to understand the implications of my own actions and how I present myself to others within my own communities. CSL helped me broaden my experiences in my university career by allowing me to develop other skills that are outside of just learning how to study, such as creating relationships with those in communities that I probably would not have come into contact by myself. I volunteered before I took CSL, and I continue to do so now, but it helped me come to the realization of what I like to do when it comes to volunteering and the types of services that I like to do. 

I enjoy volunteering with organizations and positions that I am passionate about and care about. For example, I am currently volunteering with March of Dimes. Throughout COVID-19, people have become very socially isolated. I volunteer with a child who uses an augmentative alternative communication device, which is like an iPad as his voice. I work with him, have weekly check-ins, and do activities together to keep that social life going as I believe it is important for everybody to still be able to socialize, despite the current circumstances. 

How can CSL help you in your career/future endeavours? 

Before CSL, I hadn’t ever really reflected on my ‘why’ and a lot of my community engagement was motivated by stacking the resume for grad school applications. That being said, CSL made me reflect and evaluate where I wanted to put my effort and my time. Prior to CSL, I volunteered at community-oriented organizations, such as the Zebra Center for child protective services, at a tutoring program, and at the Center for Autism. In addition, I worked in positions that were not as directly involved with the main focus, and in the grand scheme of things, I was helping out but I wasn’t hands-on with the project or face-to-face with other individuals. That piece of knowledge influenced the types of volunteering that I sought out going forward.  

I would recommend CSL because it provides you with the opportunity to develop so many transferable skills, such as the soft skills of communication and how to problem solve, which will definitely help you when looking for a job. If you’re ever stuck or feel like you’re going through rote motions of university, including getting good grades, being involved, or making new friends, I’d recommend CSL to expand and broaden your experiences during your undergrad. 

CSL inspired me to get more involved in my local community and the University of Alberta. I sought out a club on campus that I thought was really cool, the English Economics Conversation Club, where I was a facilitator for the international students on campus. We talked about Canadian customs and exposed them to information that they might not have known because even though they went to school here, they might have felt disconnected from the Canadian lifestyle. This allowed me to meet new people and make new connections with other students on campus.  

How would you sum up your experience with CSL in one/few sentences?

Through taking CSL, I was able to get a better understanding of social issues that are present within society. CSL taught me about the different social dynamics that occur everyday and how these impact all of us differently. It has helped me to understand the implications of my own actions and how I present myself to others within my own communities.

[dannygrose]

Client Studies Module - Exhibition Assignment (part 1/3)

September 25th, 2018

The Brief

Our brief was as follows; “In groups, you will organise and curate a pop-up exhibition to held over 3-7 days at some point between the 9th and 26th of October”. The teams we would be put into would be responsible for everything that consists in conceptualising, producing and executing such an event.

(An image of the brief is just above)

During the introductory lecture with Sarah, after explaining our seemingly monumental task she continued to give examples of past exhibitions held by prior student bodies and she began to give planning tips and ways to help us structure the tasks we needed to accomplish and in what order/succession of each to each the most cohesive and effective plan of action for our exhibition.

Once we had been divvied up into our two teams we were advised to convene amongst ourselves and begin to allocate roles based on our skills, desired area of interest or, in some cases, necessity; as some areas/roles needed an minimum body count to effectively function and/or to avoid the over saturation of minds in other areas. An example of this level of intrigue was seen in such roles as “Branding and Design” and “Promotion”; drawing quite a lot of attention from the group with those areas having those involved almost solely in the creative element and visual side of the overall project (aside from the individual artwork we would all later produce as exhibits).

(These are roles we were to allocate to ourselves within our groups to achieve success in our assignment)

My Team

As a group we began to decide who was to be in what category of role and proceed from there. 

The more vocal of the group initially took charge of the “voice” of the group and began to call out the role categories and whoever seemed interest in the area of work would proceed to make their interest known. We did this until everyone was in a category and, as stated before, there were imbalances in the roles so we decided to let people volunteer to fill gaps until eventually our needs were met. Granted by the end of the “deciding” I’m sure there were some people who were unhappy or not as thrilled with their specific area but this couldn’t have been helped.

An example of this was myself. I was made to locate myself within the role of “Location and Logistics” and although I do believe I offered some sound advice, reliability and took initiative when required I still believe that my skills would have been best put to use in the areas of branding and design or promotion. Now, this sounds like a generic and cliche retroactive response to the situation but I genuinely believe I would've been a far greater asset to myself and the team if I involved myself within the design and image element of the project but unfortunately that wasn’t the case and I only have myself to blame as I didn’t make a good enough case for my claims or put up much of a fight on that front.

We had initially began brainstorming ideas themes for the the exhibitions. We even played with the idea of choosing a title first and then evolving the concept from there. Another avenue we though of was to make the exhibition a non profit event and to raise money for a charity, which in turn, would act as our theme. Even with all of these ideas and us seeming to be on the cusp of progress we were advised by Sarah and as a group agreed to make tangible progress by brainstorming locations for the event as that was deemed the most important aspect of the process and would hold the most power in dictating all other aspects of the project; timing, curation and work limitations, budgeting etc.

My Role

As stated before i had been allocated to the role of “Location and Logistics”.

As a team we pulled together about 20 different locations we knew of that could be possibilities for the event; ranging from independent shops and stores to established places of business and interest. Some from individual expedience and others from information given/learned from past student bodies.

Even though we had allocated a few people the role of finding a location and securing it, as a team we chose to pull our effort as a true team and decided to separate for lunch and if anyone had a contact or in with possible location on our list to take the initiative to act on it and show interest as soon as possible. We decided to meet back up about an hour later with our results in which numerous of us had visited locales and even emails/contacted places of interest.

(Screenshots taken from the Facebook messenger chat we had set up)

Throughout the rest of the day we had constant contact with each other within our group chat. The focal topic being cutting our list of possible locations. Which with the majority of us being involved meant that we were constantly removing and adding new locations with every update via people emailing, direct messaging and directly visiting the sites of interest.

Locations such as Tiny Rebel, the Old Library, Flamingos, Cardiff creative and even the arcades were on our radar for possible exhibit sites. 

In reflection of my own actions I believe that i wasn’t, personally, giving everything i could have in the situation at the time. When it came to casting votes or decision making i was as vocal as any but as for initiative or acting instinctively on actively seeking out locales I seemed to take a back seat (like quite a few of my less vocal classmates within my group) as there was a definite driving body of students within our group that were leading the location hunt charge; to name a few would be Freya, Rae, Lucy, Lleucu and Elena (A fellow associate in the “Locations and Logistics” role).

I had been in close contact with Elena who was allocated the same role as I and together we decided to begin investigating and checking out the supposed front runners for our locations. The main one of the first day being Big Moose just off of the high street. I had visited it myself and later met up with Elena and others to discuss my opinions and the logistics and details of the place etc.

September 26th, 2018

As the second day progressed we seemed to settling on two locations. Bug Moose and Castle Emporium. Big Moose, although meeting our initial idea quota for having our exhibition and theme relate to a charity it unfortunately did hold up to the size and display space of Castle Emporiums, which not only dwarfed the just coffee shop but the space has had countless exhibitions and shows put on of this calibre and style and a wealth of knowledge and resources at our disposal, them being literal resources or the employees that worked there.

(Here are some initial shots we took of the space at Castle Emporium we were considering at the time)

Upon our first visit and contact with Castle Emporium Freya decided to enquire personally on behalf of the group to secure information and discuss prices etc.

(Above is the response The Sho Gallery at Castle Emporium send to Freya after enquiring about the space detailing much needed information)

As we continued with our search for the perfect or better described “most ideal” location we continued to throw Ideas back and fourth as a group in hopes to unanimously agree on an agreeable topic/theme which isn't too vague but at the same time isn’t oppressing/restricting anyone creatively.

In amongst this flurry of emails and decisions we set up resources such as google drives for work to come, Facebook pages and polls helping us decide themes and locations to come.

September 28th, 2018

Finally! We settled on a theme and that theme was “Nostalgia”. It was just vague enough for all of us to creatively latch onto whilst not leaving us into the dark; many of us would create sub themes or genres within the theme of nostalgia based around our childhood, toys and games and memorable media from our past that shaped us or held importance in our lives at a time.

The Brief Set Ourselves

“The name of the brief is ‘nostalgia’, it is a broad theme and can be interpreted however you choose; this could be childhood nostalgia, the concept of nostalgia, memories, history- however you want to interpret it! You can work to your own dimensions for the piece, but there is a size limit of an A3 frame (30cmx40cm/16”x12”) for the sake of sharing the space with other students and making sure everyone can have a piece up. We will be framing the pieces as the exhibition will be up for a week and the gallery has recommended this. Everyone must provide their own frame, in whatever style they like, but it must be black. If you are mounting your work within the frame, it must be on a white background. No frame can exceed this size, if it does you will risk your piece being cut from the final exhibition. Everyone’s piece of work will be accompanied by a small information card with your name (or preferred pseudonym). It is up to you to provide your own business cards and/or merchandise if you so wish. The deadline for your finished piece is Friday 5th October 05/10/18 and must be uploaded to the google drive provided in the Facebook group. Please also have your frame ready by Monday 8th October 08/10/18 so we have the week to get everything done. Good luck guys, have fun and please send progress and WIP shots to the promotion team so they can share it!”

We decided that to efficiently move forward and not waste time whilst securing a location was to set a brief for our exhibition artwork/pieces to be finished and available by a certain time to ease the tasks fro the curation team when it came to setting up the exhibition space and making sure all pieces are accounted for etc.

In retrospect I feel we should have either focused on finalising and securing a definite location OR quickly deciding on a theme and thus producing a brief for the rest of the group to engage with. As having both up in the air the same time or allowing one to overshadow the other in a seesaw like fashion constantly stopped and started the entire operation and kept us from making more efficient progress. If we were to do it again or if I had full control over the situation as a Project Manager I would have set deadlines for particular aspects of the project to be met i.e. the location before theme or and content, then artwork brief and so forth. All of which to ensure efficiency and a reliable time frame of completion.

[queernuck]

Beauty And Death In The Semiotics Of Neocolonialism

In the first chapter of Violence, Žižek discusses the semiotic weight of violence as well as the means by which it may be articulated, the way in which the very possibility of death is in fact precluded from many such that their passing (along with their entry) into life is in fact unconscionable due to the manner in which a concept of the West must first be structured in order to make death meaningful, how the investment of the West requires a certain gaze in order to observe death, how one does not in fact encounter or even remember death outside of this except as an individual, except as a non-event within a larger entry of the personal into the liberal paradigm of consciousness.

Žižek discusses this in raising a historical discussion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and how Leopold II predates what he calls the new “liberal communist”, a sort of affectation of the bourgeoisie that sees itself as the inheritor of Marx (to use Derridean terminology) in a far truer sense than any communist proper, that communism is in fact not only realizable, but already realized through the paradigms of liberal advance, and that through automation and technological restructuring one may realize what Bill Gates terms “frictionless capitalism” such that capitalist exchange occurs in a manner that continually enriches, that in fact restructures the capitalist class entirely. The entire world will be bourgeoisie, and all will celebrate it.

To return to the discussion of semiotic weight of the body, one need only think about current discourses on death and violence in order to see the means by which individualization is necessary in order to convey these semiotic burdens, and that it must first enter into a sort of plane of consciousness that the semiotics may then flow within. Even in attempts to voice a converse one in fact rearticulates the previous semiotics, one makes it so that the same paradigm is preserved, albeit reversed. In film, the means in which singular deaths are given to the soldiers in Black Hawk Down contrasted with the formlessness given to the people of Mogadishu, the victims of empire, is specifically precluding their deaths from visibility, from a semiotic relationship with the deaths of soldiers despite the ostensible “peacekeeping” nature of Operation Gothic Serpent. The rearticulation involved in the naming of “military-age males” involves a series of colonial and neocolonial maneuverings that allows for a quantification and articulation of death without admitting the specific semiotics that are at hand, the way in which one acknowledges these deaths but specifically precludes them from becoming-individual, from precipitating into the consciousness of the American people.

The weapons used to bring about these deaths are sophisticated, and moreover predicated on globalization as a structure as well as the results of globalization that have become present within the structure of the arms industry. The way in which engineering departments across the country have become a means of recruiting contractors, soldiers at a remove, who are vital to the calibration of instruments such as the avionics of Tomahawk Missiles is not to be ignored. Moreover, as bombs get smarter and smarter, their reliance upon Rare Earth Metals increases, and that these are specifically conflict resources, better described as Conflict Metals, is of note. The way in which the blood diamond was created out of a manufactured need, out of a change in the bourgeoisie structuring of taste that in turn influenced a larger cultural semiotics of taste is realized again, this time in an even more direct fashion, such that not only does one create war over minerals, but in fact is able to wage war through and with minerals. These metals allow the smartphone, the new monad of the internet, to function, such that one can in fact be connected to the apparatuses of the war machine at any moment, simply by reaching into one’s pocket.

Žižek attributes the hacker to a sort of conceptual monad where rather than being a node within a larger rhizomal internet as one might take from Massumi, they are simply a singular component within the structure of disruption that is in turn reappropriated by “liberal communists” in the modern era. Žižek discusses these liberal communists as figures who inherit directly from Carnegie, whose brutal industrial ventures and maintaining of a private army for strikebreaking was matched with a far more easily remembered legacy of philanthropy, especially in the presence of Carnegie Hall: the beauty of art realized within is only possible through the expanse and support of capitalism. Similarly, he uses the example of Bill Gates as a former-hacker, as a disruptor who in turn grew out of that subversive spirit and instead took to “disrupting” the means by which one can interact with capitalism through the creation of computer hardware that dramatically restructured the American experience, the entire concept of the West. To deny that the schizophrenic structure of affinity the internet allows is indeed a new paradigm is to ignore that which presents the greatest challenge when critiquing these liberal communists: the manner in which a neoliberal, neocolonial semiotics is in fact embraced by them rather than repudiated means that the very language that would be formed in critique of them is in fact the one that they are most comfortable with. The telos of hacker to capitalist is one that sees disruption in the fashion that Badiou (as well as Žižek) ascribes to many former protestors: the eventual development of this new liberal-democratic paradigm allows for this liberal communism, for the realization of utopia without sacrifice, a utopia through decadence.

The aesthetic realization of this paradigm is seen in the way that one finds the open offices and undefined hours of the New Laborer: the coder, the software engineer, part of a paradigmatic of the Virtual expanse that characterizes late capitalist thought. The manner in which one finds the Virtual as part of the means in which the hacker becomes a member of the new bourgeoisie, and the means in which the Virtual structures the ideological turn from a liberalism that is expressed through hacker anarchism into neofascist ideology exhibits the shifting structure of this Virtual in relation to the hyperreal of the nation. That the operation of this fascism is distinct from that of other fascist reclamations is summarized by the way in which ideologies such as LessWrong create the feeling of a supposed frictionless capitalism, such that one enters into an ideological operation that is contingent upon the manner in which fascism is related through the despotic, capitalist body to socialist thought: the manner in which the capitalist body is codified, is entered into an aesthetic and ideological relation that in effect mirrors certain paradigms of the socialist is an effect of the means by which one disguises the semiotics of violence, of fascism, through an operation of this silicon valley sheen. 

This sheen constitutes the operation of ideology. Ideology is complicated, is inextricable from the structuring of politics as a measuring from the state, and moreover structures not only the measure of politics, but the state and the acceptability of the political. That there is a supposed apoliticism in fascism, that the fascist ideological turn precludes the political is an operation of politics, is a measuring from the state that in part is structured by the new conceptualization of a private, of a deferred state that can in effect be the structuring, arborescent skeleton of the political body. Even in fascism, one realizes a sort of advocacy: while there is the vulgarity of fascist gesticulating in regards to the political, this is merely a singular ideological posturing, such that the greatest part of reactionary ideology takes the form of the apolitical, of the specific ideological driving of semiotics that creates the supposed frictionless capitalism: the Virtual is the escape from the physical, is the only manner in which to realize this frictionless. Thus, one gains the aesthetics of this late capitalism, of this fascist liberalism structured by supposed liberal communists. 

Žižek points out an example of his favorite coffeeshop, Starbucks, joining with charities in order to create a sort of new semiotics of buying a cappuccino: One walks in and is greeted by a reminder of the company’s charitable ties, and is told that in effect, by buying this drink one is providing water, a meal, a good of some sort to a populace elsewhere, that through consumption one is in fact bettering another, as well. The specific means in which this is realized are not terribly new, but have been commodified again and again (Žižek wrote Violence in 2008, but these campaigns have only intensified) from Livestrong to Lokai. In fact, Lokai is a further intensification of the semiotics involved: one reaches “balance” by wearing the Lokai, by purchasing it in different colors such that different causes are supported, the height and depth of Mount Everest (contained in one bead) and the Dead Sea (contained in the opposite bead of the bracelet) are at once on one’s wrist. One should not forget that the Breast Cancer Research Foundation is one of the causes Lokai has donated to: the means by which Breast Cancer has been seized by liberal communists in order to create a realization of a specific sort of body-of-the-woman and assert it as part of an imperial outreach, as a means of talking about women’s bodies without discussing the violence that gender as an artifice presents, without entering into how the semiotics of gendering are instituted through the very colonial apparatus that allows for this advocacy, and instead concentrates on a sort of advocacy that is often sexualized, harkening back to a concept of women’s bodies as erogenous zones, the breast a particular partial-object upon the body, is emblematic of the sort of advocacy at hand.

Žižek points out that the fortune Leopold II gained in the Congo was in fact the means by which Belgium rose to what Belgium is now, a city of European importance and one of the most artful cities in the world. To deny that, at least by the aesthetic standards and semiotic relations it suspends itself in, Belgium is beautiful is to in effect deny a vital part of what is so horrifying about the city. It is in constructing such elaborate beauty, a system of semiotics that is physically manifest in a proliferation of this beauty throughout an entire city, that the operation of imperialism is in fact realized. The creation of Dubai as a city of the future, a city of radical renewal is predicated on a similar relationship where incredibly exploitative labor is used again and again in order to create the next World Cup city, the next Global City: the liberal order would be able to critique fully the city if it were ugly, but the beauty cannot be denied, it must be affirmed even as it is predicated upon a structuring of finance and death. Death leaves the semiotics, and is overtaken by the beautiful. Belgium’s beauty, its ability to be a sort of city outside history, one that has a continually thriving architectural life is due overwhelmingly to Leopold II, and the way in which the continuation of this is justified is that, in effect, the conquest of Leopold II, the deaths that built Belgium, are for nothing if the city is not beautiful. And thus it must be beautiful, the death involved in creating its riches are beautiful, Leopold II did not conquer the Congo for himself, he did so for Belgium. Thus, according to Žižek, the semiotic preclusion is completed, the violence of the Congo and the violence that results from neocolonial apprehension of the congo is prevented from entering Western semiotics. It is only at a moment where the singular, the individual can be reappropriated that it may enter these semiotics again.

This much was evident in the manner that, in a renewed bipartisanship, there was a rallying behind Trump’s singularity of Syria, the response to a chemical weapons attack that is merely one action in a far larger structure of civil war, a sort of turning-against that was in no small part realized through the structures of individuality. Trump in fact consulted with Putin (and thus Assad) before striking, ostensibly in order to avoid targeting Russian assets in name (although the notion that one cannot consider the Syrian Air Force a Russian asset is itself suspect, the measure of politics that separates them is present) which in turn allowed for the Syrian Air Force to bunker their planes, preventing the overwhelming deal of destruction that could have been imparted through such a strike. In fact, not only were most of the planes at the airbase unharmed, there was an entire airstrip left untouched, to the point where the next day there were raids being conducted out of that airbase. In effect, a slight tactical impeding of the Syrian Air Force was agreed upon by all parties in order to create a relationship of conflict that could then shift the semiotics of negotiation between the three. Thus, death in Syria becomes meaningful for a moment. Even in reversal, the means by which support was offered to Assad as a maneuver against American imperialism ignores that this strike was rather friendly to him, that this is a single moment of difference that is little more than a semiotics of war within hyperreal exchanges of technology so sophisticated that they are far more computer than weapon.

When Brian Williams speaks of the “beauty of our weapons” less than a year after Leonard Cohen’s death, the irony is that indeed, he is earnest: the irony is present but only serves to heighten the distance between the intent of Williams’ remark and the content imparted through it. The paradigm of this liberal communist, this inheritor of Marx, is in not only conducting business ruthlessly, but giving ruthlessly, creating a means of finding a giving-algorithm or a sort of new patronage be it Kickstarter or Patreon, finding a means to wage aid such that the colonial is scrubbed away, and the neocolonial is raised in smiling pictures, short videos, and well-designed websites. Žižek discusses Bill Gates questioning the meaningfulness of computers when there is death in the Third World, but he goes further to say that the implication is in fact that there can only be life in the Third World thanks to these computers, these liberal communists. The USSR is not only dead, but so is the totalitarian paradigm: instead, the new postmodern field of immanence, the expanse of capitalism and even the transition from Oedipal neuroticism to schizophrenic affinity is complete. One can engage in a new sort of cyberpatriotism, one can signal the allegiance to a future of frictionless capitalism by contributing to this neoliberal semiotic of caring and obsolescence, such that the globe is realized through a neocolonial structuring of hyperreality, where the “real” violence of colonialism is realized alongside a new paradigm of aid-as-a-new-colonialism, where the creation of a private aid industry in effect realizes statelessness in a way alien to Marxism, but apparently emblematic of his spirit. This supposed spirit of Marx is thus laid to rest, exorcised, through liberalism, simply one more question that the resourceful capitalist is able to answer.  

[devontroxell]

17+ Free and Creative September Marketing Ideas

They say a relaxed mind is a creative mind, but it's hard to come up with creative marketing ideas when you're running a business. Luckily, there’s a slew of awareness themes, observances, and holidays each month of the year that can save you from having to start from scratch. In fact, you can find a national day for just about anything (e.g. National Fish and Chip Day).

In this post, we’re going to cover all things September to help you come up with unique and interesting ways to engage your audience, attract new customers, and keep existing clients coming back. The ideas will be divided into: 

September awareness causes to support engagement and brand messaging.

Holidays and observances great for social media and blog posts.

September themes and associated local marketing tips.

September awareness marketing ideas 

Here are just some of the many causes highlighted in September for which you may want to express support through your marketing: 

Self-improvement

Childhood cancer

Addiction recovery

Disaster preparedness

Food safety

Wilderness

Life insurance

If you’re an insurance company or life coach, great! But your business doesn’t necessarily have to be in an industry directly tied to any of the above causes. Consumers pursue businesses that share their values, so going off-topic does not mean you’re going off-brand. Here are some ideas for incorporating these September causes into creative, low-budget marketing.

1. Self-improvement challenge 

Host a virtual 30-day challenge in September encouraging your followers with a daily call to action geared toward self-improvement.

2. Personal growth poll 

Run a poll inviting people to share favorite books, places, or activities that inspire them to grow. Encouraging follower interaction and feedback on your social media pages builds customer loyalty and helps them feel like part of a bigger conversation.

3. Childhood cancer awareness  

There are several ways to engage your audience and your employees in the name of childhood cancer awareness. Host a fundraiser where you sell T-shirts like the below example in support of a particular child or the cause in general.

Or, register your company on an app like Great Cycle Challenge and get your employees out on their bikes. Not only will you be fighting kid cancer, but you’ll be promoting good health and friendly competition among your employees. Encourage photo sharing so your audience can follow along throughout the month.

3. Food safety

With September being Food Safety Month, this is an opportunity for health specialists and restaurants to promote their services, publicize their best practices, and reassure customers.

4. Safe foods

It’s not just about being sure you wear gloves and that your meat is kept at a certain temperature. Come at the cause from a different angle, where you promote healthful foods. Check out how this businesses incorporated the cause into their Instagram marketing:

5. National Wilderness Month

Go wild in September. Don't worry, we’re talking about the actual wilderness here. 2020 has seen enough mayhem. With fewer businesses open and more people exploring the nature around them right now, what better month to post scenic photos and inspiring Insta posts than National Wilderness Month? Reintroduce local gems to followers or share personal photos of your favorite hiking trails.

September holiday marketing ideas

The most obvious September holiday is Labor Day, but there are a few other days of note that can help you in connecting with customers.

6. Labor Day

Brush up on your local marketing to make sure consumers visiting your town for the long weekend can find you. The higher your business ranks on Google Maps, the more customers you’ll attract. 

For businesses that slow down during the summer, host a Labor Day sale to encourage as many existing customers as possible to come back. If you have a customer loyalty program, mention it in your email newsletter or on your website. It can be as easy as creating a punch card toward a free or discounted product or service, or just asking customers for their email addresses.

7. NFL opening night

Opening night for the NFL falls in September—even this year despite the mixed-up COVID-19 sports schedules. Celebrate the season opener with some creative marketing for your business. Here are some ideas: 

Engage customers on Facebook (or in-store, if applicable) by asking about their favorite teams or running a trivia contest.

If you’re open, decorate your storefront, restaurant, or studio in team colors, run a football-themed special, or offer discounts on game days or when your team wins.

8. First day of fall

The autumnal equinox (for the Northern Hemisphere) typically occurs in the last week or so of September, which means that the number of daylight and nighttime hours is the same. This celestial holiday (yay) marks the official end of the summer (sad). 

But the first day of fall is a beautiful second new start granted to us each year. It’s a great opportunity to publish blog posts, promote products, and share social media images around fresh starts and new beginnings.  

Businesses with seasonal offerings, like photographers with senior picture or family sessions (socially distanced, of course), should start inviting bookings now as well.

September national day marketing ideas

Unfortunately, National Fish and Chips Day (see intro) does not fall in September, but there are plenty of uplifting and marketing-friendly observances that do.

9. Positive Thinking Day

Positive Thinking Day falls on September 13 every year and never gets any less versatile. Any business can use this holiday for just about any reason: to cheer up, motivate, encourage, compliment, thank, help, inspire, or [insert any positive verb your heart desires here]. Dentists can connect this to smiles, physical therapists to recovery, interior designers to decorating, and the list goes on.

10. National Working Parents Day

National Working Parents Day (September 16) is particularly special this year given the impact of COVID-19 on our lifestyles. If your audience includes working parents, take the time to acknowledge their hard work and resilience. Humanize your brand by recognizing that your clients are individuals who care for their loved ones while also forming the backbone of your organization. Also, don't forget about your parent employees!

11. Good Neighbor Day

Good Neighbor Day, on September 28, is a good time to do some outreach across your Instagram, LinkedIn, or geograpically local network. Acknolwedge fellow neighboring businesses on social media to encourage a sense of community, or come up with a contest where followers or employees can nominate good neighbors for a grand prize.

12. National Read a Book Day 

National Read a Book Day is a creative way for preschools, tutors, and other education-oriented businesses to market themselves. If your business isn’t related to education, read a book related to your industry and share your insights and learnings on your blog or social media profiles. 

This is also a good time to give back to your community by reading a book to children or the elderly. Volunteering is not only a honorable thing to do, it will make you feel good and as a bonus, likely increase brand awareness in your local market. 

International September marketing ideas 

International observances send powerful messages that can align with many a brand's core values. Connecting your marketing to theses observances can help to highlight your mission statement and company culture.  

13. International Day of Charity 

September 5 is the International Day of Charity. Choose a local charity to support and get your employees involved, whether in person or virtually.

Or, if you're already supporting a charity, feature them on your blog or social media profiles and invite your followers to support them as well.   

14. International Day of Peace 

This day has been recognized around the world every September 21 since 1981. It has always been an important day, but with all that has gone on in 2020, it is especially relevant. The United Nations says it all:

"As we struggle to defeat COVID-19, your voice is more important than ever. In these difficult times of physical distancing, this International Day of Peace will be dedicated to fostering dialogue and collecting ideas. The world will be invited to unite and share thoughts on how to weather this storm, heal our planet and change it for the better. Even though we may not be able to stand next to each other, we can still dream together."

Final September marketing themes

Time to wrap up this list of September marketing ideas with the two themes that are strongly associated with the month.

15. Back to school 

Any type of business can participate in the back to school season. Run student discounts, a back-to-school promotional week, or offer back-to-school themed products. If your business markets to college students, this is a great time to generate buzz on social media or partner with student organizations for virtual events.

16. Fall harvest 

September is the time pick up corn stalks and hay bales from a local farm to decorate the outside of your brick-and-mortar location. Take pictures and show off your new decor on social media, remembering to include creative hashtags to increase engagement and reach for your posts. You may even want to upload photos of your fall-themed decorations and products to your Google Business profile. 

And with the first day of fall falling (yes, I went there) on end of the month, you can run a visually appealing countdown series all month long.

17. Moving day

September 1 is a popular moving day across the country. This is a good time for movers, furniture stores, and other moving-related businesses to make sure their website and listings are optimized for Google local search. People new to the area will resort to their go-to search engine to find what they need, and you want to appear first.

The most efficient way to imrove your local online presence is by optimizing your Google Business Profile. You should:

Publish Google posts

Within your Google My Business account, you can create posts that publish directly to your listing about special offers and promotions. These posts will appear whenever your listing appears on Google Search and Google Maps.

Update your Q&A Section 

You can, and should, populate your own Q&A section on your Google Business Profile. This helps you to get ahead of common customer questions and increase their confidence in choosing your business. Take this time to address of any questions that may be particularly relevant for fall, such as:

Do you have student discounts? 

Does your back to school package include sauna use? 

Do you have the back to school supply list for my local elementary school? 

What are your hours on move-in weekend? 

Update your fall hours

If you have a seasonal business, make sure to reflect any changes in your hours on your Google listing. When it comes to local marketing, the details are key.

Hopefully these September marketing ideas and examples have given you some material to work with for your blog, social media profiles, websites, and other free marketing channels. If you're interested in running ads, check out our post on PPC for seasonal businesses.

17+ Free and Creative September Marketing Ideas published first on https://wabusinessapi.tumblr.com/

[coin-news-blog]

Government Hates Crypto Because It Empowers the People, Not Because It’s Used for Crime

New Post has been published on https://coinmakers.tech/news/government-hates-crypto-because-it-empowers-the-people-not-because-it-s-used-for-crime

Government Hates Crypto Because It Empowers the People, Not Because It’s Used for Crime

Government Hates Crypto Because It Empowers the People, Not Because It’s Used for Crime

A recent article from MIT Technology Review has leveraged a somewhat sensationalist headline to stir up fear about bitcoin and crypto. The article, written about a “hidden” government weapon to be deployed against Bitcoin, references September 3 senate subcommittee testimony by Washington D.C. consulting firm Financial Integrity Network. In the testimony, Vice President of the firm David Murray calls for the Bank Secrecy Act to be expanded to include regulating bitcoin miners as traditional financial institutions. With the U.S. dollar already backing most crime worldwide, one is left to wonder why so much focus is directed at crypto, and so little at the largest perpetrators of violence on earth — governments.

Sordid Affairs at MIT

While the MIT publication drums up fear of unfeasible regulation of bitcoin miners via an almost 50-years-old “hidden weapon,” things at the crypto-involved Massachusetts Institute of Technology aren’t looking so regulated, either. Last week’s resignation of head of the MIT Media Lab, Joi Ito, follows the revelation that he had been secretly accepting huge donations from then-convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who was arrested for additional charges of sex trafficking of minors in July, and reportedly killed himself in a Manhattan jail cell on August 10.

MIT is conducting an internal review of the Epstein matter, which could be connected to donations from such influential tech-savvy billionaires as Bill Gates. The school has a history of taking underhanded jabs at disruptive and subversive tech like Bitcoin, and remaining tellingly silent when human rights activists are put on the spit of government persecution, or when ties with brutal, U.S.-supported dictatorial regimes like Saudi Arabia are concerned. In a joint-authored MIT Media Lab-connected piece published to The Atlantic in 2016, the writers state:

The [bitcoin] cryptocurrency is a powerful tool for early adopters and middle-class entrepreneurs, but it may not provide the opportunities in the developing world that its advocates claim.

That’s fair enough, and at face value a pretty innocuous and possibly substantial claim. But the Bitcoin critical hint-drops continue throughout the piece, suggesting to readers that they “dig into the ways mobile money is embedded in new, networked systems of control and value enclosure, as opposed to being a purely grassroots phenomenon for social inclusion.”

Tellingly, the url for the piece includes the word “hype” and the original title, prior to being edited, was “The New Bitcoin Myth.” For anyone that can read between the lines here, The Atlantic piece is an attempted attack on the utility of crypto and its revolutionary potential, coming from a massively government-funded university. According to a 2017 letter from MIT president L. Rafael Reif:

Congress will shape the final terms. But because we rely on federal funding for 66% of our campus research support, we must take this “blueprint” seriously, for both what it says and what it signals.

The Atlantic has since changed the title of the 2016 MIT-penned crypto hit piece to “Can Bitcoin Be Used for Good?”

Indeed, the block size limitation critiques made in the article are valid, but that was 2016, prior to the BCH fork remedying this issue. Even the sometimes lagging transactions of that time didn’t make legacy services truly better, anyway, and for someone looking to escape the anvil-heavy shackles of the fiat banking racket, BTC still held great utility. The MIT/Atlantic piece promotes fiat transfer services over crypto alternatives, and takes aim at so-called “Bitcoin do-gooders.” At the end of the day, it reads a lot like any other crypto faux intelligentsia screed.

True Power Through P2P

In the crypto space, seeing which altruist can shout the loudest about adoption and inclusion is the norm. But prattling on about government regulation helping to mainstream crypto, or stablecoins like USDC helping to “bank the unbanked” is largely fruitless when it comes to real world application. One voice is noticeably underrepresented here: that of the simple peer-to-peer trader.

What the aforementioned MIT secret weapon piece fails to note is that crypto can indeed already help anyone. If the banks would get out of the way, and with them, the state. Thanks to ever-increasing regulations designed by global groups like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), tax agencies like the IRS, and government talking heads or financial regulators, the “unbanked” still cannot access these revolutionary technologies freely.

News.Bitcoin.com pointed out in a recent article on stablecoins that even access to the services supposedly tailor-made for the unbanked can require bank account information. A simple wallet, internet connection, and willing market is all that is truly required. So why do governments seek to complicate crypto? Maybe they’re not so much concerned with human trafficking and terrorism, after all, but more with maintaining control of the global money supply.

The Crypto Revolution Is Now

If politicians and lawmakers of the world truly want to help abused children, impoverished people, and victims of all sorts of other crimes and violations of humanity, they should turn the camera — and the handcuffs — back on themselves. Demanding that the unbanked and financially struggling of the world first pass through impossible KYC drawbridges, treating everyday P2P traders of crypto as criminals, and gaslighting an entire movement based on actions the government itself is more guilty of than anyone else — like murder, sex abuse, trafficking, and terrorism — perhaps it’s time to let the free market and local communities regulate themselves. This can be, and is currently being done in spite of the prevailing evil paradigm, via the understanding of individual self-ownership and economic sovereignty.

Eat BCH is a bitcoin cash initiative helping to feed people in Venezuela and Africa.

Wonderful charities and aid initiatives for helping the underprivileged of the world directly, already exist. Eatbch, for example, is a “Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash-to-Food System” that collects BCH donations to feed hungry people in economically struggling regions of the world. A member of the South Sudanese team reported to Bitcoinafrica.io:

We started the charity part-time on weekends in the capital, Juba, in our neighbourhood and then expanded to some of the most affected areas by the conflict, such as the town of Yei or Bor. There, we were able to feed over 500 internally displaced people, mostly elderly and children. We were able to do that through our colleagues whom we trained after coming back from the blockchain conference.

Other notable crypto-friendly initiatives include Airdropvenezuela, Coins 4 Clothes, and EFF. Beyond organized efforts, though, the real revolution of peer-to-peer electronic cash is individual financial sovereignty. The more wealth everyday individuals can build, the better they can help themselves, their communities, and grow their visions for making the world a better, more free and humane place. This is something no centralized government can ever do, as the intimate, one-on-one relationships and knowledge held by private individuals in community with one another can not be “processed” or formalized by monolithic, inefficient, violence-based institutions like the state.

The reason that so many crypto regulations are being introduced while governments evade scrutiny for the very same crimes is simple: their money is not sound. Not even conceptually. Bitcoin is. If critical mass is reached, and everyday folks realize that economic sovereignty is possible, it’s game over. The Monopoly board will have to be folded up, and the sulking bullies sent home. It’s highly unlikely they’ll go without a fight.

Source: news.bitcoin

[dxringred]

unleashing-a replied to your post: unleashing-a replied to...

This is so true. I feel they should mix up their cast a bit too, that would be a nice change

I’m putting this under the cut because I accidentally went full rant/essay mode. I’m so sorry asdfghjk.

I feel like their cast, for the most part, is relatively decent in terms of personality and character. They have an even gender split, give or take one, and their only weakness is their staggering lack of diversity across the board.

Most people feel the cast needs a mix-up because the show focuses too much on certain characters. With the horde of obsessed fans, comes the need to shoehorn Robert into every storyline, and make him as prominent/central as possible in as many as can be. It gets them the views, it gets them the tweets, and it gets them the slew of votes that guarantees most of their wins at awards shows. Emmerdale are rooted in their comfort zone, because they know it works for this particular group of people, even if it doesn’t for everyone else. 

The bigger ships, too, get all the drama and are written on/off so much due to their popularity. The idea is to break them up for as long as feasibly possible, and subsequently persuade viewers to keep watching in the hopes that their ship will finally reunite - and, most times, Emmerdale caves, regardless of how blatantly obvious it is that the ship is toxic/abusive.

In soaps there should be no explicit background characters, and even tertiary characters should get their storylines. The idea in soaps is to rotate between the individual characters one by one - Emmerdale has a big issue with rotating between the same 7-10 characters out of 50, and occasionally breaking the pattern to include 1-3 characters you wouldn’t really see much of. They also have a massive issue with isolating characters once they enter an individual storyline, which is yet another reason why some of the cast get left out and forgotten. 

For example, I’ve noticed that whenever Rhona enters a romance storyline (particularly with Paddy), Vanessa gets sidelined more often than not, or vanishes completely, despite the two of them being best-friends. Similarly, Aaron’s family commonly seem to abandon him whenever he enters a solo storyline. Chrissie has been isolated ever since, well... the entire Lachlan/Alicia storyline, I think, and that’s the reason she gets no content/storylines of her own - because there’s no-one outside of her family to participate. 

So, sometimes it’s a little bit of a surprise when two characters interact or show their strong bond/friendship, because their lack of interaction (whether in the background, as filler, or amidst a bigger storyline) made you forget just how close they really are. 

With Emmerdale, you can genuinely split the cast into four categories, with perhaps only a few anomalies: core, primary, secondary and tertiary characters. Below is my opinion of that sorting. 

Core characters: they’re the ones you see most frequently, even if they’re not involved in any of the current ongoing storylines. Core characters tend to be related and/or strongly connected.

Robert, Aaron, Cain, Adam, Moira, Chas, Victoria, Debbie, Liv.

Primary characters: the ones who get a lot of screentime, but not as much as the core characters - oftentimes, they’re seen in storylines outside of their own to fulfill a certain role/voice, or because they’re connected to the person whose storyline it is.

Paddy, Marlon, Rhona, Charity, Rebecca, Tracy, Leyla, Ross, Priya, David, Pete, Laurel, Gabby, Belle, Gerry, Faith, Diane, Doug, Lachlan, Bernice, Lydia. 

Secondary characters: sometimes they’re in the background, but mostly will only appear prominently when they’re directly involved in a storyline, or when they’re needed to fill up a scene/add some variety.

Nicola, Jimmy, Megan, Eric, Jai, Lawrence, Dan, Kerry, Sam, Zak, Lisa, Harriet, Jacob, April, Sarah, Amelia, Arthur, Daz. 

Tertiary characters: who? The ones you almost forgot about, who get their own storyline once in a blue moon, usually serve to further someone else’s, and are mostly backgrounders/scene fillers.

Bob, Brenda, Frank, Rodney, Noah, Sandy, Samson, Rishi, Pearl.

I’m only missing one character from my list, as far as I know, because I can’t determine where she would fit, and that’s Chrissie. Due to her screentime overall, she fits in with the primary characters, but because she spends so much time confined to Home Farm, and has essentially no connections in the village, she fits the secondary description to a T. Some others do fit into multiple categories, based on both how one views them as well as what storylines have happened recently, but she’s the only one I couldn’t confidently place. 

That many characters is a lot, even excluding the children, so I can understand why some get under-utilized, but if it’s to the point where they almost never appear, then it’s either time to get rid and replace them, or make a conscious effort to involve them more and finally give the core characters a backseat. After all, at this point, a lot of the secondary/tertiary characters can be viewed as expendable, which is never good. If you want shock deaths and storylines, Emmerdale could benefit from turning these four categories into just two.

I know massive casts are per the norm for soaps - hell, I think CS has bordering 60 characters or something - but if you can’t control that many characters effectively - and Emmerdale really can’t - then you shouldn’t have that many, and you certainly shouldn’t be adding more. Looking at you and your 12-month contract, Tom. Nobody wants to see their favorite character(s) go, but it’s inevitable here when Emmerdale have exceeded the amount they can effectively control/write. It’s why so many have gone this year - Emma, Finn, Ashley, Joanie - and why so many more are set to go - Adam, Lawrence, potentially Lachlan and Chrissie. 

Maybe it’s easier for me to pick on Emmerdale specifically because I haven’t watched another soap in a while, or because I’m used to shows that aren’t soaps, and have much smaller casts. But, from what I have seen of Coronation Street, Neighbors, and Home & Away, they seem to juggle their big casts much better than Emmerdale can. 

[giveabeat]

Vizual Records’ Joshua Iz Talks About His Passion for Charity Work and Volunteerism

DJ Joshua Iz Shared What Inspires Him about Philanthropy, Music, and Culture

By Jordan Strong

Recently, we had the pleasure of teaming up with one of our favorite DJ/producers and people, Joshua Iz, AKA DJ Iz who has been a house music innovator since the ‘90s. Historically, as house music gained traction, Joshua’s music was some of the most sought after. Not only does he produce incredible music to this day, but currently holds residencies as a DJ in Chicago, San Francisco and London.

Last year, at the Detroit Music Festival, Give a Beat had a blast producing a game of Giant Jenga, where some of house music’s all star DJs competed against each other and people placed their bets on the winner. Joshua has been a major proponent of this and we couldn’t wait to do it with him again this year.

Jordan Strong: How long have you been involved with charity work and what is your experience with it?

Joshua Iz: I've tried to be involved locally in volunteering and supporting local causes. When I lived in San Francisco, I began teaching a DJ class to middle schoolers at a community center and that was really rewarding. That was probably my first direct experience. I couldn't find anything quite like that in Chicago but I started doing web development work for United Way of Metro Chicago which opened my eyes to the whole world of nonprofits. Through my connections at UWMC, I have had a lot of web development clients in the nonprofit space. While nonprofit organizations are, well, nonprofit, that doesn't mean I don't get paid to do my work. However, I do have nonprofit rates vs. my regular rates so in essence that is an in-kind donation.

How did you get involved with Give a Beat and what are you doing for them?

I've known Lauren Segal for many years but first got involved with Give a Beat last year leading up to Movement. Aside from donating small amounts, I played Giant Jenga last year and it was a lot of fun and seemed like a great way to get DJs and fans involved. This year, I don't think I will be able to play because of time constraints but in lieu of that I'm working on the signup website for the game and doing that for free.

Do you have any inspirational people, groups etc. when it comes to philanthropy?

Organizations like United Way of Metro Chicago and Chicago Commons both do a lot locally. While Chicago Commons helps individuals directly, United Way collects money from both individuals, corporations and employee campaigns and distributes that money to local organizations that do the most good. In that way they are different models but both can have great impact.

Globally, organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are quite inspiring. There are several foundations giving microloans to people in the developing world and these are having a huge impact as well.

Still, there are many more inspirational organizations and people doing miraculous things in every community so it's hard to narrow it down to just a few.

What would you like to see more of when it comes to philanthropy?

Even though Americans are the most generous people on earth when it comes to giving to charities, I think more people should volunteer in their own communities. I should do more, too.

What’s new with your music? Releases, mixes, tours, etc.? What can we look out for?

Diz and I have recorded a new album called 'Fort Nightly' that should be out sometime this year. I have quite a few releases on Vizual Records coming as well. Beyond that, we are planning a big fall tour as we speak.

Who are your current musical inspirations? Who should we look out for or check out?

Some of my favorites right now are Max Graef, Frits Wetnink and Eli Escobar. All that said, there are lots of great new people making music from all over the world.

What do you like most about the current state of affairs with house music? Least?

With the proliferation of technology, this has democratized the music creation process so it has made it easy for anyone with an idea to make music. Overall, I think that is a great thing and given a voice to many more people. This is also a problem as there is way too much crappy music. People still need to work and pay their dues.

Probably the thing I like least is the rise of the Instagram DJ. People get hired now almost solely on the basis of the number of social media followers, without any regard to whether they can actually DJ and put a set together. While I believe the cream still rises to the top, people are getting huge bookings with little or no talent and it doesn't seem to matter. This trend can't end soon enough.

Any advice for the younger generation of DJ/producers?

Practice, know your history, and host a night in your hometown. All of these things will make you a better DJ and producer.

Where do you like to shop for music these days?

Mostly Traxsource but I still like to buy vinyl at Gramaphone and at record shops when I'm traveling.

What’s your advice on living through the Donald Trump era?

Consume a lot of news from different sources and yet be critical of where the news comes from. I think actual journalism is needed more than ever and it's important to place value in objective facts.

It's also important to participate in the democratic process, especially locally. More people need to vote and get involved with local government.

One thing people can do (and I've considered it), is moving to a red state and becoming active in the political process there. While there was a lot of talk about 'urban educated elites' living in a bubble in the cities after the election, I don't think there is anything wrong with living in a city or being educated. New York City or Chicago is just as much 'Real America' as anywhere else.

More broadly, I think we need more compassion and more love in the world so in this sense we need more philanthropists in the sense of people spreading goodwill. As Americans, we need to listen to each other and at least try to understand others' points of view without the vitriol.

Is there anyone or anything special politically or socially you’d advise people to check out?

I think women more than any other group have stepped up and asserted themselves in the wake of Donald Trump so they have been a point of light of late.

Are there any current books, articles, people, webisodes or anything you think people should see?

“Chef's Table” and “Abstract” on Netflix are really inspiring series’. I also quite liked The Expanse on SyFy — about as good as it gets for science fiction on television.

The last great book I read was “The Hidden Life of Trees,” by Peter Wohlleben, which will change the way you look at the forest and life in general. Highly recommended.

Check out his Sound Cloud! It’s a treasure trove! 

Back in the late nineties, at a now legendary event called Melodic, Iz dropped this set! For those who were there, you can remember just how special this set was. We were lucky enough to have the event producer Alvaro Castro post for us online for the first time ever so we could share it with you!

Follow Joshua Iz on Twitter or check him out at Vizual Records, Bionic [SF], and Myspace.