fashinpirate:

tufworld:

Dad

I had a dream last night John Waters was my date to an Alexander McQueen show and we both went in Litas because fuck the police

7:00 pm  •  23 May 2013  •  621 notes

mycypherkeepsmoving:

Decolonization

THE PROCESS OF COLONIZATION begins with the physical occupation of land and domination of the Indigenous people. Following the primarily physical aspects of colonization (ie. Military conflict, relocation, etc,), non-physical methods are applied. These include what could be called mental aspects. Religious indoctrination, cultural, social and economic assimilation are common examples. Therefore it could be said that colonization is comprised of two primary aspects - physical and mental. 

Prior to colonization Indigenous peoples were free and sovereign nations. Through colonization Indigenous people are deprived of their freedom and live in an oppressed situation. In order to be liberated from this oppressive state the process of colonization must be reversed. That is, it must begin with the mental aspects and move towards the physical. Colonization is always destructive. This destruction becomes internalized within the Indigenous person. Some basic characteristics of this are: 

1. Internal violence and aggression Anger and violence directed toward oneself, one another and family/community. This includes rape, murder, assault, sexual abuse of children, suicide, etc. The irrational violence within the colonized Indigenous person results from the oppressed conditions that colonization imposes upon people. (ie. Poverty, loss of identity, breakdown of family and nation structure, etc.) Some of this comes from specific methods used by the colonizing nation, for example Residential schools, the reserve system, etc. 

2. Individualism - self interest With the breakdown of the nation and the family, fragmentation and competition has come to replace the sense of unity, community and togetherness that was once the basis of Indigenous society. 

3. Neglecting one’s culture - assimilation A key tactic if colonization is to portray the Indigenous culture as negative and irrelevant to (modern) society. Once this belief is entrenched within the Indigenous person they have no alternative but to assimilate and conform to the colonialist society. 

4. Inferiority complex - identity crisis The objective of the colonialist is to have the Indigenous person believe that there is little or no positive aspects within the Indigenous culture. Physical and mental domination, constant negative portrayals of Indigenous people and history, and white supremacist attitudes play fundamental roles in the creation of the Indigenous inferiority complex. The indigenous person begins to question their identity and becomes caught between the historical concept of the traditional Indian and present day reality. “Who am I?” “What does it mean to be an Indian?” Major contributing factors to these questions are Residential/public schools, fostering of Indigenous children, inaccurate histories, centralization in urban areas, and loss of language and culture. 

5. Abandoning of traditional territories Colonization creates a feeling of Indigenous dependency on colonially established towns (reserve - towns) and cities. In order to benefit from colonial programs and institutes Indigenous people must migrate to these areas and leave their traditional territories. The act of relocating and isolating Indigenous people into the reserve areas is a tactic used to force the people away from the majority of their territory. This allows the colonial state to assume jurisdiction over lands that were once controlled by Indigenous Nations. It also removes the Indigenous people physically to accommodate the establishment of settler communities and resource extraction. The current BC Treaty process is a way of legally entrenching, and acquiring consent for an agreed upon abandonment and surrender of traditional territories. 

Decolonization, as mentioned earlier, is the act of reversing the process of colonization. It can be said that decolonization is constructive rather than destructive. the following methods of decolonization are aimed at reversing the destructive effects of colonialism that have been described above:

1. Raising consciousness of the oppressive state that Indigenous people live in by exposure to a more realistic account of history and by identifying an enemy that’s creating and maintaining that oppression. An effective strategy can include counter-action methods such as: educating oneself and serving as an example for others, advocating sovereign Indigenous rights, and exercising and defending those rights and traditional territory. These activities provide experiences that instill a sense of purpose by involving people in actions that make a positive contribution to their communities and ultimately to their sense of self. Individual, family, then community healing must occur. During this healing process, irrational violence and aggression is dissolved and a more purposeful facet may be identified to vent negative feelings that remain from colonization.

2. Understanding you are a people and a Nation sharing the same ancestry. During the early steps of recovery, unity and togetherness play a vital role in the strengthening of the family and community units. An Indigenous person who is conscious of their oppressive history is also aware that they are not alone. The individualistic attitude introduced through colonization gives in to the Indigenous natural inclinations of caring and supporting one another. Self-interests also deteriorate and communal or national Indigenous interests become a key focus as a necessity in the process of decolonization. 

3. Revitalizing a sense of nationality and appreciating the knowledge and ways of Indigenous ancestry.  Traditional philosophies of respect and appreciation for the Earth, life, others and oneself are positive parts of Indigenous culture that are still relevant today. An understanding of the negative and positive aspects of the colonial society is important and education on the negative aspects must be emphasized, while positive aspects are utilized. It must be acknowledged that all Indigenous people are assimilated to one degree or another, no one is immune from colonial influence or assimilation. While this remains true, it must also be accepted that Indigenous culture and ways are not static. If Indigenous people had not undergone the influence of colonialism, they would not be the exact same societies as those that existed at the time of initial contact. The Indigenous person must now learn to exist within a colonial environment in a decolonized manner. 

4. Recognizing the strength in Indigenous ways. While undergoing exposure to the truths of history, the Indigenous person realizes the fallacies and disinformation that the colonialist society circulates in regards to Indigenous history, culture, and practices. To broaden the process of decolonization, it is important to begin circulating more accurate and truthful accounts of Indigenous society at this stage. Re-education must first be directed towards the Indigenous Nations and then focus may be directed towards people of other nationalities. As Indigenous people have acquired an inferiority complex through the oppressive lifestyle that they have become accustomed to, their initial reaction may be to overthrow their oppressor and gain control of the reigns. The Indigenous person must understand that the colonial society is destructive and the few positive aspects it does contain are the only beneficial components that can contribute to the process of decolonization. It is not feasible for a colonized Indigenous Nation to return to a totally traditional lifestyle, as their mentality and environment has been drastically transformed. However, an incorporation of positive aspects of (modern) society and ancestral Indigenous ways will contribute to overcoming the effects of inferiority and identity crisis. 

5. Reoccupying traditional territory. This includes establishing permanent or semi-permanent camps and communities in areas previously occupied by the Indigenous Nation and now abandoned, as well as increasing traditional activities such as fishing, hunting, and other food gathering. A primary goal of such reoccupations is to eventually establish selfsufficient and independent communities beyond the range and influence of colonial society. From these, sovereign and free territories can be reconstructed, ultimately removing Indigenous people from the colonial society - a primary aim of decolonization. Colonization is constructive to the colonizing society, but destructive to the Indigenous society. In contrast, decolonization is constructive to Indigenous society, but destructive to the colonial society. 

Zigzag & Keyway Long Hot Summer ‘99

http://decolonizingmedia.tumblr.com/

(via radfaglinks)

8:05 am  •  23 May 2013  •  8 notes

Salem - BruStreet

(Source: sarahsandsphillips)

11:54 pm  •  22 May 2013  •  3 notes

Isabel Chen, a medical student at UBC, is part of a team that has invented a mobile panic button for street-based sex trade workers on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

(Source: sexworkerproblems)

9:23 pm  •  22 May 2013  •  47 notes

grrlyman:

cocoku:

oldatheart:

fweeble:

gryphynshadow:

littlemissbatterwitch:

clothoboorocracy:

stormybabe:

I have to say this is completely legit - someone tried to steal her handbag and she simply went “Fuck this- *suplex*”

My hero

someone teach me this pweeze-ooc

Ok Ladies, here’s the info on this move.

We are blessed with a low center of gravity. This means that when we get ahold of someone and tip over backward like that, it’s easy peasy for us to do. Especially on a guy. Think of it like a fulcum and lever: they’re the lever, we’re the fulcrum, and because their center of gravity is up in their chest, instead of in their pelvis, when we get down low and lean back, whupsy there they tip right over.

Now, here’s the real deal on that particular move. Check out how this gif end, with the guy’s head on the floor like that? How his torso seems straight up and down, his head and neck on the floor, all his body weight and the momentum of having been tossed over her shoulder?

Yeah, he’s pretty messed up from that. In the really real world, if you do that move correctly, toss your whole body into it, seriously oomph it up and give that mugger a throw, you can snap his neck.

All that said, here’s how you do it!

This is something you do fast, ladies. Move quickly and with assurance, and don’t worry about whether you’re strong enough to do it or not: you are. This is about physics, not muscle.

Get low, bend your knees and hips. Our strength is largly concentrated in our lower bodies, and when we put our knees and thighs into a move, we bring some of the largest muscles in the human body to bear. You’d be surprised what you can move with your legs.

When she got low on him, her right arm was around his waist, her shoulder roughly at or under his ass, her left arm wrapped around his left leg. Feet shoulder width apart for a nice stable base, big deep breath in, and lift just a bit while falling backwards. It doesn’t take much strength but it will really mess with the dude’s day. Landing on your head will at the very very least knock you silly for a minute.

Interestingly, we can use these same basic principles to ruin a guy’s day if he’s the one to grab us! Imagine, if you will, mugger dude runs up behind you and bear hugs you in preparation for dragging you into the alley. Scary, right? Yep.

If he lifts you too fast, and you find your feet off the ground, kick him in the shins, scrape your shoes down his legs, aim for the knees and his feet. Toss your head back and head butt him. Bite him. Squirm. Do what it takes to get your feet back on the ground.

Feet on the ground, grab his arms and hold on to them. Don’t let him get away, because this move, ladies, will put him down and out, and if he moves away he may go for a distance weapon, or start using his fists. Hold onto his arms and keep him in close.

Again, feet shoulder width apart. Use your booty and hips now, like you’re trying to hit his not-so-manly bits with your ass, get your hips back, bend your knees and flex your hips. If he’s shortish, you should at this point have picked him up and be balancing him on your back. If he’s tall, you’re now in position to put a crimp in his style in a big way.

Tuck your head to your chest and roll forward, just like you did when you were a kid. Flip yourself forward and let gravity do the rest. You will have your head tucked down, aiming to land on the upper back of one shoulder; he won’t. This means he’ll land on his face, with the full force of his own body weight behind it as well as any momentum you’ve built up. You may very well land on top of him too.

From here, get up, run like hell towards a light source while yelling “help, fire, call 911 (or whatever emergency services number exists in your country)”

Remember, ladies, with just a little understanding of comparative anatomy and physics, you too can put a man on the ground and seriously mess up his day. But then, that’s what he was planning to do to you, so fair’s fair.

Reblogging again because of Gryphyn’s awesome comment. C:

THIS IS AWESOME.

Practice with friends!

Good tips for people with lower centers of gravity, but let’s keep in mind not all women are born the same.

(Source: odd-marissa)

5:03 pm  •  22 May 2013  •  158,078 notes

As part of national marches in cities across Canada on June 8th, 2013, Montreal’s sex worker and allied communities invite you to join us in Montreal’s first ever:

SEX WORKER SOLIDARITY MARCH

SATURDAY JUNE 8th, 2 p.m., Place de la Paix (corner of St. Laurent, north of boul. Réné-Lévesque).

Brave the fight with us as we march in solidarity with sex workers fighting for autonomy, self-determination and the need for better working conditions — which includes decriminalization, the removal of laws and policies that make sex work a crime.

We march in solidarity with the sex workers in Bedford v. Canada — a constitutional challenge to be heard at the Supreme Court of Canada this June 2013, that argues to strike down three major criminal provisions that criminalize sex workers.

Be vocal and visible with us in your support!

> On Facebook and poster.

Organized by:
Stella, l’amie de Maimie
Projet Travailleuses du sexe d’Emis-sère
Action Santé Travesti(e)s et Transsexuel(le)s du Québec (ASTT(e)Q)
Feminist Alliance in Solidarity for Sex Workers’ Rights
Pink Bloc

Supported by:
2110 Centre for Gender Advocacy
ACME Burlesque

5:01 pm  •  22 May 2013  •  2 notes

nosoytuchiste:

I’m Not a Joke is a campaign spreading awareness for the LGBTI community through art and design, created by Daniel Arzola (@Arzola_d) for the school of Visual Arts Rafael Monasterios in light of the recent violent acts against the sexually diverse community in Venezuela. It initially seeks to expand in the online community. If you’d like to share your opinion please do so via twitter using the hashtag #ImNotaJoke. Like our page on Facebook and share our designs to support our cause! 

(via navigatethestream)

10:24 am  •  22 May 2013  •  8,762 notes

Naomi and Djimon Hounsou by Herb Ritts for Interview Magazine, December 1991

i didn’t even know how much i was missing men in corsets in my life, but this sure feels right

(Source: naomihitme, via grrlyman)

8:24 am  •  22 May 2013  •  1,070 notes

“The more they told me: you’re a girl, you can’t paint graffiti, you can’t go to subways, because you’re a girl, you’re a mere female; I had to stand up and just shut them up.” —Lady Pink

(via grrlyman)

8:19 am  •  22 May 2013  •  8,401 notes

4:19 pm  •  21 May 2013  •  1,532,128 notes