#with no regard for the human or environmental cost

[sevenangrybees]

Not enough AI criticism out there that brings up just how fucking bad it is for the environment. Like all the art and writing theft, consent violation, collecting of personal and sometimes even HIPPA protected data, and labor issues should be enough to slam dunk it into the trash, but ON TOP OF ALL THAT it's also consuming massive amounts of water and electricity just like blockchain bullshit.

[read-marx-and-lenin]

I'm asking this in good faith, but this is something I'm genuinely confused about. Regarding the Holodomor, or the Soviet famine of 1930 in general, why does it matter if it was a genocide or not? At best it seems to be a natural famine exacerbated by poor decision making, and while that is far different from a genocide, I don't understand why that specification matters, because it was still made worse by Soviet intervention, unless I'm getting the facts wrong which I probably am.

It matters to the Western propagandists who were insistent for decades despite zero evidence that the famine was used to commit atrocities against the people of Ukraine. The refrain the whole time was that once the Soviet archives were made public, they'd finally have the proof they needed. The archives are eventually opened, and surprise surprise, there's not only no evidence of the deliberate withholding of grain, there's evidence of significant amounts of food aid being sent to help alleviate the famine. The myth of a Ukrainian genocide began as Nazi propaganda and was adopted as part of the "double genocide" narrative by Western reactionaries after WW2 to downplay the crimes of the Nazis and to maintain a narrative about liberal opposition to "authoritarianism", painting Western capitalists as the "free world" fighting against both fascism and communism. (Don't ask them why they stopped fighting fascism after WW2 though.)

As for the human elements of the famine, it is also part of the typical Western narrative, even among those who admit the Holodomor was not a targeted anti-Ukrainian genocide and who admit that there were environmental factors, to try and put substantial amounts of blame on the Soviet collectivization of agriculture. I am not going to lie and say collectivization went smoothly with no issues, but you cannot ignore the factors of reactionary sabotage by kulaks (including the destruction of animals and grain and the outright murder of party officials) and the effects of Western sanctions and sabotage on the economic development of the USSR.

While some have argued that there was a complete "gold blockade" on the USSR during the famine and so the Soviet Union was forced to export grain to facilitate international trade, the blockade was never enforced by all Western nations at the same time and the Soviets were still able to export gold and silver at various times throughout the 1920s. It is true, however, that gold reserves were stretched thin at the time and the Soviets simply didn't have enough gold to cover their international debts. Soviet gold mines had never been extraordinarily productive and the rest of the Soviet economy was still developing at the time, so grain was one of the few things that they expected to have in surplus. In addition, there were various other sanctions in place by 1930 that did limit who they could trade with and what they could trade with, but the export of grain was almost never restricted. The famine caught them off guard at a very bad time.

While international grain exports were restricted during the famine as grain was diverted to famine-stricken regions of the country (and grain imports were increased as well), the problems with hoarding only worsened as in the panic of the famine, kulaks sought to exploit the people and create a profitable black market on grain. A struggle against the kulaks coincided with worsening environmental effects and the spread of disease among both crops and humans.

The famine was not man-made, it was not entirely natural, and it was not the inevitable outcome of collectivization. It was a perfect storm of a variety of factors. Stalin was not some heartless monster condemning millions of Ukrainians to death for daring to defy the glorious Soviet Union. He was not some idiot who had no idea what he was doing, plunging the nation into famine out of ineptitude. He was not a stubborn maniac who refused to abandon failing economic policies even at the cost of human lives. He was a human being, one of many in charge of the Soviet Union, dealing with concurrent disasters as best as they could.

[marimoscorner]

Consumerism & Witchcraft

Written by Marimo (he/they)🌿

I’ve seen a turn for the better in some witchy spaces regarding consumerism in the past few years, but overall it still tends to be an issue for us as a community. I’ve decided to try and breakdown the pitfalls I’ve noticed in my own journey, in the hopes that it will inspire and assist others. I’ve also provided alternatives and ideas on how to make small changes in our practice to help us better protect the Earth, stick it to the failing system and still acquire our bits and bobs we love so dearly.

As always, I am no authority on any subject nor am I perfect—but we’re all learning as we go, so let’s dive right in 🌿

A Preface

There are some things that should be made entirely clear before we begin:

You are not a bad person for wanting an aesthetic

You are not a bad person for unknowingly falling into pitfalls. Only if you continue to purposefully do so after knowing better

You are not a bad person for consuming content/objects or for not always making the most sustainable decisions. At the end of the day, we can only control our small part of environmental impact, while the rest is left up to the major corporations that make more pollution than any of us ever will

You are only human. Show yourself some grace and understanding that the internet so lacks.

My Experience in Consumerist Hell

I have fallen victim many times to consumerism in witchcraft. Starting my journey at the ripe age of about ten years old and heavily in the broom closet, I was quickly drawn in by the shiny rocks, the brand new candles and scents, the promise of new tarot decks and pendulums and other fancy, shiny new equipment. I was consuming an online aesthetic along with my ideals, and it distracted me from starting my journey by learning well.

I began to spend my birthday and holiday money on the aesthetic of things. While, granted, I still did buy a few literary resources now and again from my local secondhand bookstore—I was stubbornly ignoring the sage advice to learn and understand first before diving in headfirst.

I purchased statues, crystals, too many tarot decks to use. I purchased osteomancy bones I later returned to the earth, for I had not done enough research to know that that animal was mine to practice with. I had a tankard full of incense sticks, and even a growing pile of books that would not be read. While I liked to consider myself crafty with my homemade Maypole and various hand-bound Grimoires, something was becoming apparent: this was all a distraction.

The aesthetic I was partaking in was providing me with a false sense of progress and practicality.

When I’d go to do a tarot reading, I’d become far too overwhelmed with choosing a deck to read in the first place. When making an offering to a deity, I’d feel pressured to also bolster the altars of all the other deities I’d set up, and with my wide pool, the connections felt muddy. Often times I’d be off-put on a project or spell because I knew I needed to film it and it needed to look nice.

In the long term, I don’t have many of these items today. I’ve sold and donated a vast breadth of them. Feeling overwhelmed costed me a few years retreat from my craft to recuperate. However, what has stuck with me is the knowledge I picked up along the way.

So, What’s the Issue? TL;DR

I’ve noticed a few issues here in making these mistakes myself.

Consumerism absolutely distracts you from learning and your craft

Overconsumption leads to environmental damage. If everyone hoarded supplies, there would not be enough to go around. And with what gets thrown away every year…it paints an ugly wound on the Earth

We damage our learning abilities by not allowing ourselves to be anything less than perfect

The need for aesthetic creates barriers to entry within the community and creates a divide of haves and have-nots

You won’t be able to truly follow your individual path if you are only consuming and not creating for yourself

Consumerist culture promotes appropriation. Metaphysical stores carry items from closed practices (such as white sage and palo santo, or coyote bones) because someone is buying them. Don’t be that person, and find alternatives relating to your own culture instead

Consumerism can influence your spiritual decisions based upon monetary inclinations (where some may sacrifice a quality ingredient over a higher quantity of a lower quality ingredient)

So, what can we do?

Firstly, I want to clarify that I am not against collecting, nor am I against maximalism or the beautiful visual aesthetic we carry as a community.

I am an artist a very visual person and understand the longing for a beautiful home and workspace. However, this aesthetic shouldn’t come at the cost of irresponsibly harming the Earth or another community.

Thus, I’ve compiled a list of small things that I will be incorporating into my practice to make it more mindful and sustainable. I hope that you’ll join me in a few of them.

Minimize Supplies. While I used to have a huge selection of stationary for my Grimoire, I now limit myself to a simple pencil and watercolor set if I’m feeling artistic. This helps me actually use my Grimoire for study, rather than to keep perfect. It’s also friendlier on my wallet!

Thrift Supplies. There are plenty of perfectly good items that get donated daily. You can get high-quality candles and holders, old crystal bowls for altar offerings, spare crafting supplies, fabric for alter cloths and even clothing if you so wish—all for a fraction of the cost new and while saving the planet just a little bit more. Hell, you can sometimes even find good silver!

Share Supplies with your Community. You can create a sort of barter system with other witches in your area. Perhaps you create a sigil for them, and they provide you with a candle spell. Play to your strengths and grow together!

Look for Creative Outlets. Do you really need to go buy an altar statue that’s been mass-produced? Or can you give your deity the personal gift of a drawing, painting or even hand-modeled or hand-carved rendition? This will also deepen your connection to your craft and your magic, and make it more meaningful and stronger. If you really like something, though, go for it!

If you aren’t the artistic sort, consider supporting an artist before going to a large company. While I haven’t purchased from them myself, Blagowood on Etsy has beautiful deity statues carved from wood by their small team in Ukraine for a comparable cost to the standard mass produced metal statues. I consider this extra labor of love going into these pieces and those of similar small companies to be much better energy for my practice. I myself may put out some art prints and other handmade supplies in the future, but I will likely spread them around my community first.

Try Secondhand Books. While not available in every area and further still not as available for witchcraft and occult books, you may strike luck! Not only are secondhand books less expensive, but you’ll be supporting a local business. That’s not to say you can’t buy firsthand books, but some searching around may be beneficial to the earth and to your wallet in the long run.

Be mindful of where you source supplies and decor. If you are a fan of taxidermy decor, make sure that you source cruelty free. Bats can practically never be sourced without cruelty, so if a shop carries them, I’d be mindful of their other specimens. The same goes for if a shop decides to forgo a culture’s wishes and carry supplies sacred to them, such as white sage or dreamcatchers. Supporting folks who turn a profit off of others’ suffering is not something many would wish to include energetically in their craft.

Search the Wild for Tools. Find sticks, flowers and other plants out in the forest. Learn how to rockhound in your area for crystals. Your craft will be more powerful the more connected it is to the land you are surrounded by. Be sure to reference guides for safety and legality!

Get Creative with Purposes. If you are having difficulty finding exactly what you need by thrifting or searching, make another tool multipurpose if it would do the job good enough. Find supplies that are easy to source and work as substitutes for other ingredients (ex. Quartz as a stand in for other stones)

Spend more time Doing. Go out into the woods (safely) and advance your connection to the earth instead of worrying over the perfect item for your collection. Your craft will benefit

At the end of the day, all of this is your decision. Take what you like, and leave what you don’t. Even if we don’t agree, I thank you for your time and open mind. I will continue updating about how I incorporate these steps, and I will also hopefully post more on witchy crafting in the future.

I wish you well, and hope you’ll decide to follow along on our journey!

[kcinpa]

TL;DR Project 2025

Project 2025 has crossed my dash several times, so maybe tumblr is already informed about the hellish 900-page takeover plan if Trump wins office again. But even the articles covering Project 2025 can be a LOT of reading. So I'm trying to get it down to simple bulleted lists…

Navigator Research (a progressive polling outfit) found that 7 in 10 Americans are unfamiliar with Project 2025. But the more they learn about it, the more they don't like or want it. When asked about a series of policy plans taken directly from Project 2025, the bipartisan survey group responded most negatively to the following:

Allowing employers to stop paying hourly workers overtime

Allowing the government to monitor people’s pregnancies to potentially prosecute them if they miscarry

Removing health care protections for people with pre-existing conditions

Eliminating the National Weather Service, which is currently responsible for preparing for extreme weather events like heat waves, floods, and wildfires

Eliminating the Head Start program, ending preschool education for the children of low-income families

Putting a new tax on health insurance for millions of people who get insurance through their employer

Banning Medicare from negotiating for lower prescription drug costs and eliminating the $35 monthly cap on the price of insulin for seniors

Cutting Social Security benefits by raising the retirement age

Allowing employers to deny workers access to birth control

Laurie Garrett looked at the roughly 50 pages within Project 2025 that deal with Health and Human Services (HHS) and other health agencies, and summarized them on Twitter/X in a series of replies. I've shortened even more here:

HHS must "respect for the sacred rights of conscience" for Federal workers & healthcare providers and workers broadly who object to abortions, contraception, gender reassignment & other issues - ie. allow them to deny services based on religious beliefs

HHS should promote "stable and flourishing married families."

Require all welfare programs to "promote father involvement" – or terminate their funding for mothers and children.

Prioritize adoptions via faith-based organizations.

Redefine sex, eliminating all forms of gender "confusion" regarding identity and orientation.

Eliminate the Head Start program for children, entirely

Ban all funding of Planned Parenthood

Ban birth control services that are "egregious attacks on many Americans' religious & moral beliefs"

Deny pregnancy termination pills, "mail-order abortions."

Eliminate Office of Refugee Resettlement; move all refugee matters to the Department of Homeland Security

Healthcare should be "market-based"

Ban all mask and vaccine requirements.

Closely regulate the NIH w/citizen ethics panels, ensuring that no research involves fetal tissue, leads to development of new forms of Abortions or brings profits to the researchers.

Redirect the Office of Global Affairs to promoting "moral conscience" & full compliance w/the Mexico City policy

The CDC should have no role in medical policies.

"Because liberal states have now become sanctuaries for abortion tourism," HHS should use every available tool, including the cutting of funds, to ensure that every state reports exactly how many abortions take place within its borders, at what gestational age of the child, for what reason, the mother’s state of residence & by what method.

I'm still looking for a good short summary of the environmental horrors that Project 2025 would bring if it comes to fruition…

[genericpuff]

completely off topic but regarding something that i saw pop up in my FB feed and i need to rant about

please do not fall for this shit

nintendo is NOT anti-AI.

it's really easy for them to say they're not going to use generative AI to create their games, because this statement has nothing to do with the very real issues with AI art such as the blatant theft of artists' work, environmental impact, replacement of humans in the industry, and just flat out unethical shit that AI has been designed around

it has EVERYTHING to do with their intellectual property rights, which Nintendo is NOTORIOUS for protecting with an iron fist even at their own expense. and i'm not talking the usual sensible argument shit like "ofc Nintendo wants to protect their IP's, they're a business!" i'm talking about the fact that this is the same company that just recently did a major takedown of the vast majority of Nintendo-licensed games on Vimm's Lair which aren't even being sold legitimately anywhere anymore-

i have so many fucking bones to pick with the flaccid bootlicking anti-piracy arguments out there but basically it comes down to this:

Nintendo is not a small indie company. They are literally one of the biggest, richest, most powerful gaming companies on the planet, rivalling Disney in just how many major franchises they own and profit off of. Many of their games are cultural classics, not just through the sentimentality and nostalgia of our childhoods, but also for all the innovations they made through games like Super Mario Bros, Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and many others that we, within the world of gaming, owe a lot to and should be able to access and play. It's not a matter of "wanting these games for free", it's a matter of wanting to be able to access these games, period, and Nintendo is deadset on making it as difficult as possible, even when it doesn't necessarily profit from them (need I remind you that many of the games that were taken down from Vimm's Lair are NOT available through their shitty, poorly-ported emulation subscription service - plus that subscription service can be altered and/or removed at any time, regardless of what you paid for, just like the Wii Virtual Console was, meaning you do not own any of the games you're paying to play on there.)

This isn't about being "cheap" or "not wanting to pay for games". This is about media preservation and the virtue of actually owning the things we pay for. If these games were resold at official outlets for reduced prices or made more accessible through e-shops that don't close down in between console generations or drip feed the odd legacy title every few months or release crappy ports on their outdated af tech for only a few months at a time for three times the price of their original value, people would gladly pay. It's the fact that people are having to put up with all of the hoops that Nintendo has put in place to prevent them from even handing them money to play their favorite titles that even drives them to piracy to begin with, and Nintendo will gladly shut those sites down to protect their IP even when it's an IP they're no longer profiting from and aren't making active efforts to sell.

Like, I would gladly hand over a reasonable amount of money (i.e. not the cost of a brand new triple A title in 2024 which is like $80-$100 here in Canada) for Diddy Kong Racing on the Switch, but ofc it's not on the fucking online play store and even if it was, I'd have to deal with paying an overpriced subscription fee for a port of the game that would undoubtedly run WORSE than it does on my PC, and that subscription service can be taken down at any time. But Nintendo wants me to not pirate the game that's not available on their shitty subscription service because... just don't do it, pretty please??

Nintendo is not anti-AI. They would gladly use AI in place of manual labor to scour the internet and dish out DMCA's to every emulation site, archived ROM hub, fan game, and artist alley creator if they could... oh wait, they already are.

Do not fall for the virtues of anti-AI when it comes to companies like Nintendo. They are not anti-AI. They're anti-ownership. They're anti-preservation.

[we-rule-the-kingdom-inside]

don't really care to add to the commentary on that particular post, but the "vegans are against animal death" argument being counter-argued with deer overpopulation and invasive species needs to be so fucking serious. bestie nobody eating deer at a widespread scale, and of course vegans understand that animals die in nature. generally the animal death being protested is the cruel and inhumane meat industry. those industrial farm complexes? have you ever seen those? they're a moral affront to the animals cruelly raised and slaughtered there, to the humans working in atrocious and unsafe conditions, to the damages that the meat industry does to the environment.

I'm not a vegan, but I do think it's important and worthwhile to be aware of the provenance of what we eat, and to understand our complicity and place in this system. and yes, this also includes the agricultural industry in regards to fruits, vegetables, and grains, and the human and environmental costs those entail. being aware of this is especially important if we don't struggle with food security or scarcity.

vegans can be really annoying, and they're far from perfect. but at least they're asking the right question in: "what if what is being done to these living creatures kinda really fucking sucks?"

[mariacallous]

On March 2, she was gone. The Belize-flagged, British-owned bulk carrier Rubymar sank in the narrow water lane between the coasts of Yemen and Eritrea. The Rubymar was the first vessel that has been completely lost since the Houthis began their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea—and its demise, with 21,000 metric tons of ammonium phosphate sulfate fertilizer, spells ecological disaster. A similar substance—ammonium nitrate—caused the devastating explosion at the Port of Beirut in 2020. It had been stored there after being abandoned on a vessel and authorities intervened to prevent an environmental disaster.

Because the Houthis have no regard for the environment, there are likely to be more such disasters. Indeed, groups set on destruction could also decide to attack the carbon storage facilities now beginning to be built underneath the seabed.

For two weeks after being struck by a Houthi missile in the Red Sea, the Rubymar clung to life despite listing badly. The damage caused by the missile, though, was too severe. At 2:15 a.m. local time, the Rubymar disappeared into the depths of the Red Sea. The crew had already been rescued by another merchant vessel that had come to the Rubymar’s aid, but there was no way anyone could remove its toxic cargo.

The ship’s owner had tried to get it towed to the Port of Aden—where Yemen’s internationally recognized government is based—and to Djibouti and Saudi Arabia, but citing the environmental risk posed by the ammonium phosphate sulfate, all three nations refused to receive it.

Now enormous quantities of a hazardous substance are about to spread into the Red Sea. IGAD, a trade bloc comprising countries in the Nile Valley and the Horn of Africa, points out that the Rubymar’s fertilizer cargo and leaking fuel “could devastate marine life and destroy coral reefs, sea life and jeopardize hundreds of thousands of jobs in the fishing industry as well as cut littoral states off from supplies of food and fuel.”

Not even shipping’s option of last resort, salvage companies, seems available. “The salvage companies that normally recover vessels are reluctant to go in,” said Cormac Mc Garry, a maritime expert with intelligence firm Control Risks. That’s because salvage ships and crews, too, risk being targeted by Houthi missiles. “If a salvage company knows it’s likely to be targeted, it will hesitate to take on the task. It has a duty of care for its crew,” said Svein Ringbakken, the managing director of the Norway-based maritime insurance company DNK.

It was only a matter of time before a Houthi missile brought down one of the many tankers and bulk carriers that still traverse the Red Sea every day. (In the first two months of this year, traffic through the Red Sea was down by 50 percent compared to the same period last year.) “The Houthis have no regard for life and even less for the environment,” Ringbakken said. “They shoot missiles at ships even though they know that there are humans and hazardous cargo on them.”

For years, the Houthis allowed an oil supertanker ironically named Safer that was moored off the coast of Yemen to rust away even though she was holding more than 1 million barrels of crude oil. By the beginning of last year, the Safer was close to disintegration: an event that would have cost hundreds of thousands of Yemenis their livelihoods because it would have killed enormous quantities of fish. Indeed, had the Safer’s oil leaked, it would even have forced the Houthi-controlled ports of Hudaydah and Saleef to close, thus preventing ordinary Yemenis from receiving food and other necessities.

It would, of course, also have caused permanent damage to all manner of marine life, including coral reefs and mangroves, in the Red Sea. Then the United Nations pulled off an almost impossible feat: It got Yemen’s warring factions, international agencies, and companies to work together to transfer the oil off the Safer. Disaster was averted. “It was a massive undertaking,” Ringbakken noted. “But for years and years and years, the Houthis were adding impediments against this undertaking, even though the Safer was sitting just off the Yemeni coast.”

Indeed, maritime terrorism itself is not new. “Besides guerrillas and terrorists, attacks have been carried out by modern day pirates, ordinary criminals, fanatic environmentalists, mutinous crews, hostile workers, and foreign agents. The spectrum of actions is equally broad: ships hijacked, destroyed by mines and bombs, attacks with bazookas, sunk under mysterious circumstances; cargos removed; crews taken hostage; extortion plots against ocean liners and offshore platforms; raids on port facilities; attempts to board oil rigs; sabotage at shipyards and terminal facilities; even a plot to steal a nuclear submarine,” researchers at RAND summarized—in 1983.

Now, though, the Houthis have upped the nihilism, and unlike the guerrillas, terrorists, and pirates of the 1980s, they have the weaponry to cause an ocean-going vessel to sink. The joint U.S.-U.K. military operation against the Houthis has failed to deter the Iranian-backed militia’s attacks; indeed, not even air strikes by U.S. and U.K. forces have convinced the Houthis that it’s time to stop. On the contrary, they’re escalating their attacks. They do so because they’re completely unconcerned about loss of life within their ranks or harm to their own waters.

It’s giving them a global platform. That, in turn, is likely to encourage other militias to also attack ships carrying toxic substances—even if it ruins their own waters. The local population is hardly in a position to hold a militia accountable. Indeed, militias interested in maritime terrorism could decide that the world’s growing sea-based infrastructure is an attractive target. And there’s a new form of sea-based infrastructure they could decide to make a preferred target, not just because it’s set for explosive growth but because attacking it would guarantee a global platform: CO2 storage.

With the world having failed to reduce its carbon-dioxide emissions enough to halt climate change, CO2 storage has become an urgent priority. Through this technique, carbon dioxide can be captured and buried underground, typically underneath the ocean. Norway has, for example, begun auctioning out licenses for CO2 storage exploration on its continental shelf. So has Britain. The United States has 15 carbon-storage sites, and another 121 are being developed. Even Big Oil has discovered carbon storage. ExxonMobil is buying offshore blocks to use for carbon storage instead of oil drilling.

Carbon storage sites are, of course, designed to withstand both natural perils and man-made attacks, but that won’t prevent destructive groups—especially ones backed by a powerful state—from trying. And because groups like the Houthis are so unconcerned about all forms of life, it won’t matter to them that releasing concentrated CO2 would cause extreme harm to the planet—including themselves. Even a tiny carbon-storage leakage of 0.1 percent per year can lead to additional CO2 emissions of 25 giga-tonnes, researchers have established.

Until recently, sea-based infrastructure was only lightly guarded, because it was in everyone’s interest that it worked. The sabotage of Nord Stream and various other pipelines and undersea cables over the past two years have demonstrated that such peacefulness can no longer be taken for granted. The new CO2 sites will need not just AI-enhanced monitoring but regular patrolling to communicate to potential attackers that it’s not even worth attempting an attack.

And for now, attacking merchant vessels remains a promising and economical strategy for the Houthis and their ilk. It doesn’t seem to matter that ammonium phosphate sulfate will soon be poisoning Yemeni waters and thus depriving locals of their livelihoods. Indeed, other bulk carriers and tankers may soon join the Rubymar on the bottom of the sea, poisoning the future for even more Yemenis.

For the Houthis, what matters is not the outcome: It’s the attention. That’s what makes them such a vexing problem for the U.S. Navy and other navies, shipowners, maritime insurers, and especially for seafarers. But there is another group that should be just as worried about the rampant insecurity on the high seas: ocean conservationists.

There is, in fact, a woman with an unsurpassed green platform who could make the growing scourge of maritime terrorism her new cause. (Nearly) everyone would thank you, Greta.

[milk5]

On the Skidelsky/Fuller post I reblogged, I absolutely welcome automation given the following criteria:

1. The output is identical or, holistically, more positive than human labor output

2. This automation occurs within an economic system in which GDP growth (or similarly fraught metrics) is not the primary objective

3. The automation aids the sustainability of nature and humanity

The USA's agriculture industry is a wonderful example of modern automation failing all three of these criteria. Throughout the entire industrial revolution, agriculture has trended away from being a society-wide confederation of family/community-scale, labor-intensive smallholdings to our current reality of a small number of monolithic industrial farms that are maintained by astoundingly few people who operate increasingly complex and expensive equipment.

Our massive-scale industrial farms are fantastic at what they were designed for; they grow as much of a staple crop as possible without regard to human or environmental health, doing so using minimal labor. Fundamentally, it is an extractive industry. Fossil fuels are extracted to power the machinery, processing, and logistics systems. Nutrients are extracted from the soil to the point that crop growth can only be sustained with heavy amounts of industrial fertilizer input. Entire ecosystems are sacrificed when forests are cleared to be exploited and repeatedly battered with pesticides. This is all primarily to produce soybeans, feed corn, and cotton to then process into products like factory farm livestock feed-slurry, corn syrup, junk food, and sweatshop garments. Secondarily, it is to produce flavorless, nutrition-void produce that can be sold year-round. Consistency is the goal, although one may find that nature itself is curiously inconsistent.

This case study of automation's failings can be traced back to a few major factors:

1. Old-style agriculture work is disagreeable to the USA's perverted fascination for infinite GDP growth; each farm laborer that can be replaced by a machine is a potential worker that could move into a city (or suburb) and put in the same amount of hours at a higher-dollar job. It's just opportunity cost, and this is more-or-less what Skidelsky and Fuller find offensive about our current labor zeitgeist; instead of the now-jobless laborers being free to pursue their interests, they are instead shoehorned into some shitty desk job that produces a relatively greater amount of money to be leeched by executives and shareholders -- this is "more productive" to our economy on the basis of GDP growth and thus must be prioritized over agricultural labor.

2. Industrial approaches to large-scale agriculture are inherently reductive to an extreme extent. Nature is far more complex than Liebig or any other enlightenment thinker ever imagined. Industrialization is great at making cars or computer chips or Gucci jackets or whatever, as these are things that can be standardized with relative ease. Nature cannot be tamed and standardized in a similar way; ecosystems, particularly soil ecosystems, can vary massively even in small areas of the same climate type. Our agriculture systems cope with this simply by ignoring such factors and reducing crop growth to a formula. In X region, plant Y variety of Z crop on A date and apply a regimen of B-type fertilizer and C-type pesticide on D date etc etc. This is the most egregious reduction of something in all of history.

Liebig's reduction of agriculture to the NPK model, just three elements, is good for achieving the singular goal of making your plant of choice come out of the ground, but it ignores all the nuance of soil, climate, and evolution. The other factors don't matter. Modern lab-designed fertilizers often feature a plethora of additional micronutrients, but the goal is still to produce a healthy crop, not healthy soil. Soil itself is an organism, it is something that must be nurtured to be healthy; industrial pesticide/fertilizer regimens are to the soil as feed slurry/antibiotic regimens are to factory farm animals.

Natural processes are, itself, the greatest form of automation for agriculture. Plants and animals that are native to a region have evolved to grow there regardless of human intervention. It is our disruption of these processes that forces agriculture to be labor/resource-intensive. This isn't to say that everyone must immediately abandon all non-native foods and adopt a primarily undomesticated Ötzi diet, but instead, it's worth considering that the complexity of modern technology is not even close to being at parity with the complexity of nature; nature has a several billion year head start. There is no way to flawlessly "tame" it with technological solutions, but a comfortable middle ground can certainly be found.

If sustainable, climate-friendly food production is the primary objective of agriculture, this is far more easily achieved by small, ecology-considerate farms than massive, largely automated industrial farms. A healthy soil ecosystem will aid in growth, flavor, nutrition, and, (quite importantly) carbon sequestration. Broadforking, shoveling, and wheelbarrow-pushing is absolutely more labor intensive than sitting back in a huge John Deere tractor with GPS-based autopiloting features, but the extra labor can turn a woefully extractive process into one that is instead highly regenerative.

[thoughtlessarse]

In a dilapidated warehouse in Rafah, Soha Abu Diab is living with her three young daughters and more than 20 other family members. They have no running water, no fuel and are surrounded by running sewage and waste piling up. Like the rest of Gaza’s residents, they fear the air they breathe is heavy with pollutants and that the water carries disease. Beyond the city streets lie razed orchards and olive groves, and farmland destroyed by bombs and bulldozers. “This life is not life,” says Abu Diab, who was displaced from Gaza City. “There is pollution everywhere – in the air, in the water we bathe in, in the water we drink, in the food we eat, in the area around us.” For her family and thousands of others, the human cost of Israel’s invasion of Gaza, launched after the Hamas attack on 7 October, is being compounded by an environmental crisis. The full extent of the damage in Gaza has not yet been documented, but analysis of satellite imagery provided to the Guardian shows the destruction of about 38-48% of tree cover and farmland. Olive groves and farms have been reduced to packed earth; soil and groundwater have been contaminated by munitions and toxins; the sea is choked with sewage and waste; the air polluted by smoke and particulate matter. Researchers and environmental organisations say the destruction will have enormous effects on Gaza’s ecosystems and biodiversity. The scale and potential long-term impact of the damage have led to calls for it to be regarded as “ecocide” and investigated as a possible war crime.

continue reading

[aroacegundamalex]

Meant to ask this awhile back:

I'd made a comment on your post about how the GUND format could work in a SRW game, and you had responded with something about going 'full alpha series'.

So, first, I'm pretty sure that's a compliment, so thank you, but second, I'm afraid I'm not familiar with alpha series. Is it an SRW spin-off?

In any event, I will say I've definitely enjoyed it whenever SRW kitbashes a connection between two series (like High Priest Zagato [Magic Knight Rayearth] referring to Koji Kabuto's Mazinger as a 'Magine' and wishing he could have laid his hands on such power, for example), and makes for a fun intellectual exercise for fan rosters.

Interestingly though, I've noticed it seems easier to kitbash the average Gundam show with the average non-Gundam mecha, than it is two Gundam shows together.

The Witch from Mercury + Shin Getter Robo vs. Neo Getter Robo? Not a problem! In fact, they're complimentary: The Dinosaur Empire is mad at humanity for all the environmental destruction, and tragically don't realize they should ally with the Earthians against the Spacians, attacking indiscriminately instead. Getter energy has been tarred with the same brush as GUND tech, and Hayato, as a former witch, has had his work at NISAR *heavily* scrutinized by Cathedra, until they were satisfied that plasma energy really *was* nothing like Getter.

The Witch from Mercury + Mobile Fighter G? Two of the most similar Gundams, and yet it must be addressed how the quadannual Gundam Fight is even allowed, and as well as the clash between the Neo colonies and G-Witch's more traditional fronts. These aren't irreconcilable differences (Those aren't Gundams! Those are 'G Fighters'...plus the tournament is really profitable... Meanwhile, the Neo colonies are part-museum/part-theme park [a la the Texas colony], with choice bits of culture 'liberated' from Earth), but it still requires a bit more thought and sanding the rough edges to fit together neatly.

Anyway, just wanted to share, thank you for reading : )

This was wonderful! I very much agree that it’s easier to mix any given Gundam with any given non-Gundam, especially super robots, given how little their takes on machines overlap. One can easily say that real robots make up the bulk of the military and consumer-oriented machines, with any given super being a one-of-a-kind super weapon not mass produced because of cost and complexity.

I love the idea of mixing G-Witch and Getter, and I can’t believe I didn’t think of just how well Shin Getter Robo vs. Neo Getter Robo would work!

My comment about going full Alpha series was indeed a compliment— Super Robot Wars Alpha is one of the most highly-regarded Super Robot Wars series, held in high regard specifically for its worldbuilding and how well it ties every series together into a single timeline! The only translated game as of now is Alpha Gaiden for the PS1, which is phenomenal. The original Alpha is 60% of the way done courtesy of Aeon Genesis, with only the real robot route left to translate.

[upismediacenter]

Batch 2024 participates in 2-week off-campus internship

University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS) Batch 2024 completed their 2-week off-campus internship at various sites from February 12 to 23.

Part of the Grade 12 work program is the two-week off-campus internship which aims to apply the knowledge and skills they have obtained from Kindergarten to Grade 11, to experience a real-world work environment, to understand and explore the careers they may pursue in the future, and to develop proper attitudes regarding leadership structure, employee interactions, and professionalism.

Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) Track

Grade 12 - Kalayaan, the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) track, had their work immersions at Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation, Interactive Children’s Literacy Program (ICLiP), M&P Creatives, and Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas. UP Diliman Information Office (DIO) and DZUP 1602, despite being within the UP campus, were also included as internship sites for the off-campus work immersion.

The sites offered internship tasks such as writing articles, creating scripts, designing social media posts and publicity materials, covering events, newscasting, hosting, observing and teaching classes, assisting video shoots, joining rehearsals, and participating in activities conducted by the sites.

Zaeda Wadi, a former UPDIO intern, shared some of the most important lessons she learned through her internship. “At the UP DIO, I learned that being attentive is such a helpful asset to have! Be it in article-writing, observing during programs, interacting with others, or following instructions, having a present mind makes things clearer—and easier. I also realized that there are various activities in UP Diliman that I can participate in! It opened more doors for me to venture that can set me on new experiences as a student and community member,” she stated.

Additionally, she talked about some of the discoveries she made through UP DIO. “UP DIO staff taught me that in the hustle of life, sharing conversations and laughs makes the office life bearable and memorable! I learned from their close bond how it is always nice, even essential, to check in daily wholesome chats with people we meet at the workplace,“ she shared.

Business and Entrepreneurship (BE) Track

Grade 12 - Kapayapaan, the Business and Entrepreneurship (BE) track, experienced working at Underdog Fitness PH, Revised Salon, Friuli Trattoria, Puff & Dough BakeLab, SGD Coffee, Street Kohi, Noki Japanese Fried Chicken, and Urban Chick for their off-campus internship.

Some of their work included taking orders from customers, cleaning and setting up the area, making orders and food products for the business, assisting in supply inventory, creating and designing social media posts, preparing financial reports, assisting in administrative-related tasks, and conducting market research.

Princess Tan, a former intern at Noki Japanese Fried Chicken, shared her thoughts on how different the off-campus internship is from completing regular coursework for classes. “The real world is less structured than the system in school. The tasks we had to do weren’t listed for us and weren’t taught to us from the very start to end. You are expected to learn the operations as you go through the work program. Additionally, mistakes would cost you more unlike in school where you’ll just get a deduction on your score,“ she said.

Applied Sciences and Engineering (ASE) Track

Grade 12 - Karangalan and Karunungan, the Applied Sciences and Engineering (ASE) track, held their internship programs at Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) - Department of Information Systems and Computer Science (DISCS), ADMU - Department of Electronics, Computer, and Communications Engineering (ECCE), ADMU - Department of Mathematics, Buri Technologies, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), DENR - Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) - Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI), DOST - Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), LCI Envi Corporation, New Era General Hospital, Smile Studio Dental, and Wilson Hobby Studio.

Some specific tasks given by the sites consisted of conducting playtests, exploring and programming with Artificial Intelligence (AI), attending workshops and seminars, testing websites, creating courses on websites, performing Test Case Documentation, listing products and packaging of companies, managing and operating with information and cybersecurity, weather research and reporting, assisting in dental-related work, input and documentation of dental procedures and prices, assisting in tech support with 2D software, 3D printing, and attending discussions and seminars held by the sites.

Enjoce Lampa, a former intern at ADMU - Department of Information Systems and Computer Science (DISCS), shared the skills he was able to develop or enhance through his experience. “The skill I used the most during the internship was definitely my knowledge in programming. I think I already had pretty good programming [or] coding knowledge from my experiences but this internship further enhanced my skills because I was able to use it on a real project. I learned the Godot game engine and its native language, GDScript, to create our game and I think I will be using this knowledge more in the future,“ he stated.

Batch 2024 is the first batch of Grade 12 students to experience separate cycles for their off-campus and on-campus internship since the pandemic. Last year, they finished their on-campus internship, which lasted from December 4 to 15. //by Mira Leaño and Ria Bautista

[capitalism-is-a-psychopathy]

The Psychopathy of Capitalism and the Realm of the Unbeknownst

Beneath the surface of our economic systems lies an unsettling truth. Capitalism, often hailed as the engine of progress, operates with a psychopathic detachment that manipulates the unsuspecting.

At the heart of this system is an inherent disregard for the individual. Capitalism thrives on the exploitation of resources, both human and natural. It drives innovation, but at what cost? The system prioritizes profit above all, reducing people to mere cogs in an ever-turning machine. This reduction strips individuals of their humanity, treating them as commodities to be bought and sold.

The term "unbeknownst" captures the essence of this hidden manipulation. Many are unaware of the true impact of their labor and consumption. This ignorance is not accidental. It is a calculated necessity for the system's survival. If workers and consumers understood the full extent of their exploitation, the system would face an existential threat. Hence, a veil of ignorance is maintained, ensuring compliance and continuity.

Consider the environmental impact of unchecked industrialization. The relentless pursuit of profit leads to environmental degradation, often out of sight and mind of the average consumer. This detachment is psychopathic in nature. It mirrors the lack of empathy seen in clinical psychopathy, where actions are taken without regard for the suffering they cause.

Moreover, the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few exacerbates social inequalities. This wealth disparity is another symptom of capitalism's psychopathic tendencies. The affluent few exercise disproportionate control, reinforcing structures that perpetuate their dominance. Meanwhile, the majority remain unaware of the intricate mechanisms that keep them marginalized.

In conclusion, the psychopathy of capitalism lies in its ability to exploit the unsuspecting. By keeping the true cost of progress hidden, it ensures its survival and perpetuates a cycle of exploitation. Recognizing this reality is the first step toward a more equitable and humane economic system. Understanding the power of the unbeknownst is crucial in unveiling the true nature of capitalism and its impact on society.

[drenvs3000w24]

Blog 2: My role in the environment 

My role in the environment 

*I have highlighted captions that introduce some of the paragraphs content* 

Although I do not plan to pursue a career in environmental interpretation, I will discuss how I will apply environmental interpretation techniques to my relationship with the environment and potentially to my future professional endeavors in this post. 

I don’t want to cause harm when fixing a problem 

As an environmental interpreter, my ideal job would be to offer a humanist perspective on the earth, since it is incapable of defending or speaking for itself. In this instance, the terms "humanist" and "humanism" refer to the advocacy of an ethical life approach toward the natural environment. Consider if a solution would negatively impact other beings.  

Be aware of what is being done 

Processes regarding the protection of the environment seem to be overlooked by the general public. I don’t mean to say the current situation is perfect, but efforts are made to conserve and mitigate impacts. Finding a realistic co-existence of human (we already do this but the thought behind the comments is based on the context of exchange) and natural environment.  

Ask questions. How do you understand the topic? Consider all outcomes. 

What actions are required of humans by the environment? achieving more carbon neutrality? Moving away from energy sources that produce emissions? What is eco-friendly's cost-benefit ratio? Do solar panels produce more waste than energy that is efficient? Every option and alternative needs to be considered. These questions should be asked of anyone who is passionate about the environment. Being an environmental activist and advocate involves more than just picketing; it also involves raising awareness and coming up with solutions. I became aware of the extent to which lobbyist groups influence the political process and, consequently, the potential impact of environmental stewardship through my involvement with an environmental consultant. Those who are environmental activists tend to ignore this element.  

In natural interpretation, it's critical to identify environmental issues and devise remedies that will both enhance the situation of a particular problem and avoid having a detrimental effect on others. 

Manage expectations, be realistic, be critical

As a Canadian I also try to be aware of the realism of popular solutions and how effective they can be in Canada. An example I’ll use is the use of EVs (Electric Vehicles) many Canadian cities are very far apart which can cause an issue with charging availability and another looked-over factor some parts of Canada are too cold for EVs to start. In a role as a natural interpreter I believe it is not only important to understand science but also to understand the socio-economics and reality of how humans make improvements for the environment. 

In my approach of natural interpretation I want to include understanding the livelihood of others when coming up with solutions.

This concludes the second blog on how I see my role as an interpreter. Please let me know if you relate on some topics and how you see your role.

Thank you :)

[depraved-perfumer]

unpopular opinion coming up:

every US election period, a bunch of libs come out of the woodwork to tell us that if we don’t vote blue, if we don’t approve of the democratic candidate, then the horrific consequences of republican policies and leadership are on us.

What this is, is basically telling the de facto most powerful voting base in the world that its principles don’t matter, its desires don’t matter, because there are more important things to worry about than the ongoing deterioration of the us' relations with the rest of the world, the massive failures in internal policy, or the ongoing genocide happening with our government's knowledge, collusion and funding.

i would like to remind this crowd that before the biden presidency, we did not have a complete destabilisation of europe's geopolitical landscape with the war in Ukraine. we did not have an openly adversarial relationship with two other superpowers. we did not get weekly articles in our feed regarding nuclear war bunkers and the safest places to live in, in the event of a nuclear apocalypse.

But even so, let’s say you don’t give a shit about the possibility of world war, because of course you don’t, you are American, and for you war is something that happens abroad, and your home is not what is threatened. Our legacy for these past four years is an absolute failure of a pandemic response, an even bigger failure in safekeeping reproductive rights, a total ongoing disaster at the US border, zero progress on gun control, ZERO real progress on environmental protection, an increasingly polarized, illiterate and impoverished society and a complete defeat against inflation. As if those things aren’t enough for me to not want to vote for this candidate, we are, once again, active participants (through our taxpayer dollars) in the genocide and starvation of an entire population by the only active apartheid regime in the world. this is beyond the idea of voting for a “lesser evil”, or a cost-benefit analysis (though to me, anything that avoids nuclear conflict is a benefit at this point). This is about how much your principles can take, as a human being. Mine are exhausted, and cannot go any further in support of these shameless warhawks out of fear for the alternative. They brought out Joe Biden for a second term. With record low approval rates and nothing to offer except lies and promises that he has already proven are AIR, and that his only concern is his weapon manufacturing funders and friends. Obama came out yesterday in a fundraiser and said this:

The kind of callous, imperialistic “realism” that seems so self-evident to Obama and his ilk disgusts me to the core. A president doesn’t have the luxury of making a humane decision, says the guy who used to be the most powerful man in the world, quivering in fear against the genocidal settler government that the US has funded fabulously and with abandon throughout these past months. There are other priorities, you see. What’s a few more thousands of starved and brutalized Arabs? None of us are innocent after all. We’ve been at this for a while. We all benefit from this “security” in the west, don’t we? I feel nothing but shame for my adopted country, and only have respect for those who stand against this obscenity. All that said, I’m done. Bring me a better candidate or wrap it the fuck up.

[omegaphilosophia]

The Philosophy of Scarcity

The philosophy of scarcity is a perspective or worldview that centers on the belief that resources are limited and insufficient to satisfy all human wants and needs. It acknowledges the fundamental reality that there are finite resources available in the world, and that individuals, organizations, and societies must make choices about how to allocate these resources among competing uses. The philosophy of scarcity influences attitudes, behaviors, and decision-making processes in various aspects of life, including economics, politics, and social relations. Here are some key aspects of the philosophy of scarcity:

Resource Limitation: At its core, the philosophy of scarcity recognizes that resources such as land, labor, capital, and raw materials are limited in supply relative to the demand for them. This scarcity of resources necessitates trade-offs and choices about how to allocate scarce resources efficiently and effectively to meet competing needs and desires.

Opportunity Cost: One of the central concepts in the philosophy of scarcity is opportunity cost, which refers to the value of the next best alternative forgone when a decision is made. Every decision involves trade-offs, and choosing to allocate resources to one use necessarily means sacrificing the opportunity to use those resources for other purposes.

Competition and Allocation: Scarcity leads to competition among individuals, organizations, and nations for access to limited resources. In economic systems, markets play a central role in allocating scarce resources through mechanisms such as price signals, supply and demand dynamics, and market mechanisms. Government intervention and regulation may also influence resource allocation in response to perceived market failures or social objectives.

Rational Choice Theory: The philosophy of scarcity is often associated with rational choice theory, which posits that individuals make decisions based on rational calculations of costs and benefits to maximize their utility or satisfaction given limited resources. Rational decision-making involves weighing the benefits and costs of different options and choosing the one that yields the greatest net benefit.

Scarcity Mindset: Beyond its economic implications, the philosophy of scarcity can manifest as a scarcity mindset, characterized by a pervasive sense of lack or insufficiency. Individuals with a scarcity mindset may feel anxious, competitive, and preoccupied with acquiring and hoarding resources out of fear of deprivation or loss. This mindset can influence behaviors related to consumption, saving, and interpersonal relationships.

Distributional Justice: Scarcity raises questions about fairness and distributional justice in the allocation of resources within societies. Debates over economic inequality, poverty, social welfare programs, taxation, and redistribution policies often reflect competing values and principles regarding how scarce resources should be distributed to ensure equitable outcomes and promote social cohesion.

Environmental Sustainability: The philosophy of scarcity also intersects with concerns about environmental sustainability and the finite carrying capacity of the Earth's ecosystems to support human populations and economic activities. Addressing environmental degradation, resource depletion, and climate change requires recognizing and mitigating the impacts of resource scarcity on ecological systems and future generations.

Overall, the philosophy of scarcity underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing the inherent limitations of resources in human societies, and the need for thoughtful decision-making and resource management strategies to navigate the challenges posed by scarcity.

[beguines]

Below is the list of demands outlined in the release:

1. Relocation for anyone who wants it: Folks don't feel safe and aren't getting their questions answered. Anyone who wants to be relocated to hotels or safe housing should have the opportunity to do so, paid for by Norfolk Southern.

2. Independent environmental testing: The EPA must immediately begin and continue to test soil, water, and air, including for dioxins throughout the region, and commit to regular public meetings to explain findings. Norfolk Southern must pay for an independent scientist, hired by residents, to represent the community and participate in all technical meetings regarding testing, cleanup, and safety plans.

3. Ongoing medical testing and monitoring: We still don't know what the short and long-term health impacts of this disaster will be. Federal Health & Human Services must provide ongoing health monitoring to evaluate those in the impacted region, guarantee health coverage, and Norfolk Southern must cover the cost.

4. Dispose of the toxic waste safely: The EPA cannot take the solid waste from the derailment and dispose of it in the Heritage Thermal toxic incinerator, in nearby East Liverpool, that has already been polluting our communities for years. This will only further spread the contaminants. Norfolk Southern must stop destroying evidence – we need a safety plan before resuming cleanup from the derailment site.

5. Norfolk Southern pays 100% of the costs: Taxpayers shouldn't foot this bill. Norfolk Southern made this mess, they should clean it up. The company must commit to paying 100% of the costs for testing, relocation, cleanup, medical monitoring and costs, and an independent science advisor. Stop putting people above profit.