wake up and for what? more asbestos

After 15 years of repudiating claims that the invasion of Iraq was only initiated to seize Iraqi resources, large oil corporations fronted by former architects of the war who vacated to the private sector are flagrantly advertising their contracts for exploration and production of Iraqi oil fields to potential investors.

The British oil and gas company BP won the contract to operate the Rumaila Oil Field back in 2009, and now proudly boast of its new drilling capabilities on Twitter. Rumaila is simply huge; by some measures it is the third largest reserve of crude oil on the planet, and is currently extracting 100 million dollars worth of oil every day – enough to cover the annual health budget of Iraq under the wartime rule of the US coalition every five days.

One of the board members of BP at present is Sir John Sawers, the former Chief of MI6 from 2009 to 2014 who acted as UK special representative to Iraq during the occupation. He cashed in a few favours and joined BP as an Independent Non-Executive Director in 2015, one year after he departed MI6 and two years after BP had been handed a licence to exploit one of the most valuable pools of liquid gold on the planet. There was seemingly no regulatory oversight of this very British oligarchy.

In March 2003, just before Britain went to war, BP denounced reports that it had held talks with Downing Street about Iraqi oil as “highly inaccurate” and denied that it had any “strategic interest” in Iraq, while Tony Blair described “the oil conspiracy theory” as “the most absurd”.

However, memos disclosed by The Independent in 2011 tell a very different story. In a series of meetings in 2003, BP revealed that they had approached Labour Peer Lady Symons to lobby the Blair government into demanding a share of spoils from the Iraq War in return for UK military support.

Minutes of a meeting with BP, Shell and BG (formerly British Gas) on 31 October 2002 read: “Baroness Symons agreed that it would be difficult to justify British companies losing out in Iraq in that way if the UK had itself been a conspicuous supporter of the US government throughout the crisis.” The minister then promised to “report back to the companies before Christmas” on her lobbying efforts.

The Foreign Office also invited BP in on 6 November 2002 to talk about opportunities in Iraq “post regime change”. Its minutes state: “Iraq is the big oil prospect. BP is desperate to get in there and anxious that political deals should not deny them the opportunity.”

Not for the first time in their history (see the 1953 Iranian coup d’etat) BP succeeded in convincing the UK government to forcibly seize the resources of a sovereign foreign nation to bolster the share prices of large corporations like themselves. Cronies who endlessly spin around the revolving door between military/government positions like Sir John Sawers no doubt made a fair few quid in dividends and obscene salaries; in fact, Sawers is now a regular feature at Bilderberg conferences, rubbing shoulders with Hillary Clinton and George Bush. I imagine they got on famously.

Listen, friends, I have to get serious for a second here.

This is Asriel. You may have seen me post about her. Like all good pet owners, I love her. She’s my little baby girl.

And yes, she loves walks! She also loves cuddles and flowers and pets! People have fully stopped their cars on the streets to tell me how cute she is. They stop and ask if they can pet her or hold her. They ask if they can feed her a blade of grass or a clover. And I usually say yes (provided the lawn in question doesn’t use pesticides) because Asriel loves attention and she loves getting a little sun and a little exercise.

But then I always hear it. Every single time I walk her, it’s inevitable. Someone will say, “What a great idea! We should look into getting a bunny!”

STOP

Or at least pause. I’m here to tell you a few things about bunny ownership that are less glamorous than when I walk her in the park.

Rabbits poop. I know what you’re thinking, you’re thinking, “lol my dog is a poop machine!” but you don’t get it. If you dismiss this then you have no idea how much a bunny poops.

This is Asriels litter box after one day. I came home from work to this. Doesn’t look like a lot? Imagine if I forgot to clean it one day. Picture this doubled. Picture it tripled. I clean her litter box twice a day, three times if you count the one in her sleeping pen. It is required that I do this, or else she will get sick, and so will people who come into my apartment. And on that note

Just because MY bunny is trained, doesn’t mean YOUR bunny can be trained. Not all rabbits will poop or pee in the litter box. Not all rabbits walk on a leash. Not all rabbits want to cuddle. Not all rabbits want to be picked up. You didn’t raise Asriel, and you didn’t see me train her. So you don’t know that I got her at a mere month old (the older a rabbit is, the harder they are to train). You didn’t see me follow her around the apartment for weeks with rubber gloves on. You didn’t see me spray her with a water bottle for trying to eat the carpet. You didn’t see me observe her behavior as carefully as possible so as to conform to her behavior, rather than expecting to train her in the same manner as a cat or a dog.

Rabbits have very specific diets. This isn’t like most pets where you can buy a specific brand of food and leave it at that. Asriel requires a harmonious mix of hay, pellets, vegetables, and fresh greens to keep her healthy and strong. The diets will vary depending on the individual rabbit and breed. ALL rabbits require CONSTANT access to hay for fiber and dental health. Pellets and vegetables (especially carrots, because they are high in sugar) should be given in limited amounts. Going against this diet is DANGEROUS. Digestion problems are very real in rabbits. Fun fact - did you know a rabbit can’t vomit? They have no way of expelling toxic substances aside from allowing their body to (at least attempt to) digest it.

Rabbits eat and chew on everything. This is not a habit you will break them of. It is in their nature. They see a cord hanging from the wall and it looks just like a delicious blade of grass to them. I have heard of rabbits eating entire textbooks, clothes, toys, cords, plastic, chewing on metal. They do not know how to differentiate between your favorite necklace and a tasty piece of celery.

Rabbits are EXPENSIVE. Asriel has to go to a specialized vet who has his office set up out of town. We have to take a cab to get there because no bus lines run there. That’s a $50 cab ride in addition to the $300 vet bill. Having her spayed alone was $350.

Vet visits are NOT optional Just because America doesn’t have any laws requiring rabbits be vaccinated or spayed/neutered, doesn’t mean you can neglect the healthcare of your rabbit. Regular veterinary visits are necessary to detect small issues before they become big ones. You need to seek out a vet who specializes in rabbit care and rabbit surgery. Spaying or neutering your rabbit will prevent hormone-driven behaviors and uterine cancer in female rabbits.

Rabbits need lots of space Bunnies have powerful hind legs that need to stretch, hop, jump, and run. A bunny trapped in a cage all day not only risks stress (which reduces your rabbit’s lifespan), but also depression and even muscular dystrophy. They need exercise and lots of freedom.

Rabbits bite and scratch Even Asriel does. As used as she is to being handled, when she wants down, she’ll let you know quick. They have sharp teeth and will nip if you do something they don’t like. Hell, some rabbits are cranky and will nip for no reason. Not all rabbits like to be handled. Just because Asriel cuddles under your chin doesn’t mean every rabbit will.

“But Typhon!” You may be saying, “Why even keep a rabbit if it’s so much work? Don’t you love your rabbit?”

YES! Asriel is the sweetest bunny and I am the luckiest bunny owner to have her. Dogs and cats are lots of work too, and nobody would argue that it isn’t worth keeping one.

But here’s the thing …

Every year, thousands of rabbits are adopted or purchased as Easter presents.

Every year, thousands of rabbits are abandoned, set free (a death sentence for domestic rabbits), or die because the people who receive them as presents do not know how to care for them.

It breaks my little bunny-loving heart. These are not bad people. I’m sure they wanted the best for their bunny. I’m sure they tried their best and just didn’t expect the commitment, or didn’t know any better.

Adopting a bunny means a commitment of 10 or more years. It is a financial and emotional commitment, and one that you should not take on without some SERIOUS research and preparation. I have sunk thousands of dollars into the care of my bunny, and while I cannot say enough that it is worth every penny, I bought her knowing what I was getting myself into.

So please, please, please say it with me …

Bunnies are not good Easter presents

Bunnies are not good Easter presents

BUNNIES ARE NOT GOOD EASTER PRESENTS

BUNNIES ARE NOT GOOD EATER PRESENTS

DO NOT BUY A CHILD A BUNNY FOR EASTER

DO NOT BUY ANYONE A BUNNY FOR EASTER UNLESS THEY ARE FULLY PREPARED TO CARE FOR IT

If you’ve read all of this and you still think you’d like a bunny - great! Goodness knows the shelters will be full of them a few weeks after Easter. I recommend giving https://rabbit.org/ a visit, and perhaps picking up a copy of The Rabbit Handbook by Karen Gendron. You should also do some research on veterinary care in your area, as well as calling up local pet stores to make sure they carry the supplies you’ll need to care for your rabbit. Make sure to get the supplies BEFORE you get the rabbit. No bunny should come home and not have a pen to sleep in.

Bunnies are great pets. They have a wide range of personalities just like cats and dogs. They can be shy, friendly, playful, skittish, cuddly, or nippy. All rabbits are good rabbits. I just beg of you, this Easter season, to remember that they are living creatures. They need constant care and attention, and while it’s well worth the effort, it’s not something to take lightly.

Asriel and I thank you for listening.

However, the rest is very true. You must be rigorous in training and handling. We got our rabbits (a few months old) when I was in elementary school and while we kept up with care such as cleaning, varied diets, letting them out often to run around our room, we didn’t handle them as much as we should have. As a result they hated being picked up and carried as adults and it was a nightmare trying to handle them in necessary situations such as nail clipping and vet visits.

Rabbits personalities vary just as often as a dog or cat. My rabbit was grumpy but loved to be stroked, all grunt and no nip. She was a sweet thing. My sister’s rabbit, on the other hand, (which still lives at a whopping 11 years, ancient for a dwarf rabbit whose LE is like 7 years) is a feisty personality. She’s the runt of the litter but makes up for size in attitude. She’s graying but that doesn’t stop her from boxing and biting anyone who tries to stick a hand in her cage without permission. When you adopt a rabbit, there is no guarantee they will be sweet and cuddly.

Constant source of hay is vital for rabbits. They have very fast metabolisms and basically need to be eating continually throughout the day to keep their digestive system healthy. Additionally, rabbit teeth grow rapidly, and without the constant grinding down from munching hay, their teeth will outgrow their mouth and make eating painful.

[tw: racial slur]

*note before I start* These are only a few things I thought of today which could answer your question seeing as this question is dissertation (broad but very heavy) worthy to begin with. Also, I’ve been on vacation and just got off the plane so this is 7 hours late and not proofread because most of this was started on my phone. I’m also probably going to get a lot of hate after I publish this saying how all of this is fairy tale and unrealistic but you asked so you get an answer *end note*

First white people would look at what they’ve done to society and stop seeing just greatness.

They’d see the Diasporas they’ve caused and instead of complaining when white guilt sets in, actively do things to change it. Get the fuck out of African Nations(give them back their free water supply, stop invading for oil, trees, metals, and gems). They would see the pain and the illness in this world and not pass over it in the name of Manifest Destiny, economy, profit gains, or means to an end. They would throw away Manifest Destiny from this day forth. They would apologize to Natives, and treat them with respect, they would lower the prices of food on the rez, get them proper shelter, and get them off of all mascot signs, shirts, pins, backpacks; etc positions because they are people, not tokens. They would dismantle the KKK and other Brotherhoods(Aryan, Italian; etc).  They would redo history books to include original thinkers and creators whose names were overlooked in favor of white apprentices/thieves. They would apologize and compensate the Chinese for the railroads they built. They would look back at the Industrial revolution and see how big of a role race played in getting Lithuanian and other migrant countries to accept lower wages and apologize to them. They would look at what it means to be white and understand whiteness for the stepping stool that is made of the backs of people of color that it is. Look at projects,”ghettos” and jails and realized that historically the color scheme has gotten darker in those areas for a reason. Poor white people during the industrial revolution moved into these places and when white privilege made it easier for them to move up in the world and into the suburbs, the broken down developments became home to more people of color than sometimes humanely possible. Respect Rroma people and understand that they suffer too. Stop calling them ‘g*psies’! They are not a costume, they are a people who have long “earned” the respect white people have refused them. Speak to them about whether they want to be considered white people. Respect their lives. Give what they ask in terms of respect and resources.

And so and and so forth. 

Second, they shouldn't beg people of color for their opinions and advice about race to alleviate their guilt like we are mammy milkmaids.

They would do what white privilege denies them and that is to be accountable for what happen and let it mark their history because no one else (besides men in general) have gotten a free pass at globally editing history and having it accepted as universal truth. 

Third, when someone has said or done something racist (in an “isolated” incident[s]) there is no consoling the racist. Period.

They are to feel ashamed for what they have said or done because HISTORICAL WEIGHT GIVES NO JUSTIFICATION FOR SUCH THINGS TO CONTINUE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE SUFFERED ENOUGH FOR A MILLENNIA. Stop thinking other people of color can’t say problematic shit but don’t think that it’s OK to rip them apart for it either. Your boat for that sailed a long time ago. Say your piece and educate the racist and go away. Also, stop treating lighter people of color or straight haired people of color better than others. You are only adding to the disgusting institution your ancestors created and institutionally uphold.

Fourth, I need media/Hollywood/etc to realize that people of color can have complicated roles, dark skin, natural hair, and are human beings.

Like Games of Thrones (which is fucking fictional but has almost exclusively European/white characters for the first 3 fucking seasons) has 2 people of African descent it and one is a pirate with less than 100 words spoken combined if that. I’m tired of all of the stories, movies, books, making me feel like white people are the only people who ever had adventures, were heroes, have conflicts, and doubt their abilities even if they are excellent people. I’m tired of race being a way to reel in viewers with controversy instead of because it makes sense that people of color should be involved in everything white people are involved in. Shows like NBC’s Scandal need more light but I shouldn’t have to be excited because 5+ of the 14+ characters are people of color. The point is we have rich history and stories to be told to. They can be just as good as Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Dexter, BBC Sherlock or Supernatural.

Fifth, white people realizing money is a part of privilege in a very real way.

Let’s see white people refuse their inheritance and give it to DREAM organizations or black youth or other self-development organizations run by people of color. Find the families your ancestors worked to the bone and pay reparations to children of laborers. Rebuild places like Newark, NJ where race riots are still historically visible in broken down/fire damaged buildings and NOT gentrify them like white people are doing now.  Go to schools where white people aren’t the overwhelming majority in both classrooms and faculty rooms and see how different your education turns out.

Six, Most importantly. People of color are intelligent, efficient, and capable just like white people. Don’t think you need to coddle us forever.

Once we have sufficient tools for ourselves we will not stand for White Saviors; that’s just another way to keep people of color from being their own people and being their own heroes. We don’t need collective parents, we need peers.

Don’t just live out change on the internet. Don’t just go to the projects for a class assignment. Actually cut off the white-only bootstraps and live with us. 

So those are 6 or so ways I think racist institutions can be dismantled.

hey, y’all! i am ren, the original author (aka “thelittlekneesofbees” —–[ me changing urls bc i could not giving a single fuck about branding ]—-> blkwknd ) !

it’s been a rough start to the year for me financially but i see this has over 2k notes

so:

if this post has impacted you or your peers at all, please consider the following:

donating:

[ venmo: @Ren-Stone | cash.me/$renleigh | paypal: paypal.me/ipayren ]

hiring me to write something else or do a follow up for this:

[ pure inquiries: [email protected] | insta: blkwknd ]

finding me housing (i’m Black, femme, and trans, it’s been really hard, y’all) as i continue couch surfing:

i’m interested in continueing to live in (NW or NE) or moving to bushwick, nyc !!

thank you all for reading and for inspiring me to answer questions even when i seem “mean” to antiblack bullies!

Le Lac des cygnes, costume pour la Reine d’après Tomio Mohri, Opéra Bastille, 1992. Coll. cncs/onp.

There are other problems with relying on market forces to drive a “renewable revolution.” One of those was highlighted in a recent issue of the Economist, under the tantalizing headline: “Clean energy’s dirty secret.”

This wasn’t, as you might think, a form of clickbait for coal industry executives or Australian politicians looking for a “dirty” centerfold spread on how wind farms and solar panels are bad for the environment. As a mouthpiece for the liberal wing of the Anglo-American bourgeoisie, the Economist is prepared to admit the benefits of moving toward a decarbonized global economy.

The “dirty secret” is that renewables are too cheap. “It is no longer far-fetched,” the magazine says, “to think that the world is entering an era of clean, unlimited and cheap power.” There is, however, “a $20 trillion hitch”:

To get from here to there requires huge amounts of investment over the next few decades…Normally investors like putting their money into electricity because it offers reliable returns. Yet green energy has a dirty secret. The more it is deployed, the more it lowers the price of power from any source.

I saw a mother brag about how she took her twelve year old’s phone away for four months until their grades came up… but got angry when people asked what OTHER methods she used to help the child.

Was she sitting down and helping the child with their homework? Was she asking if there was something going on in the child’s school life that was making things harder? Trying to help her study? Actually teaching the child to self-regulate and prioritize tasks? Helping the child keep up with due dates and taking them to study groups?

No, nothing. Just punishing the kid for not doing well, without anything else. Of course the mom was real defensive, even though no one was even judging her—it was other parents interested and seeing if the mom had tips and tricks to make it work! And then it came out that the child had been being bullied in school, leading to their grades slipping. Nothing to do with the phone to begin with.

Zalipie, the “painted village” near Ternow. Houses are completely painted on the inside and outside by their owners. 1976.

Location: Zalipie, Poland