​Fuzzy Feelings

“Syria can seem an endless black hole of misery, but in the northern, largely Kurdish region of Rojava, it is also the scene of a profoundly democratic and humanist revolution, which places the rights of ethnic minorities and women’s liberation at its centre.

Ironically, given the horror that surrounds it, Rojava is the site of the most profound experiments on grassroots, participatory democracy outside of the revolutionary projects in Latin America. Like in Venezuela, the ideal of “the commune” is at the heart of Rojava’s burgeoning democracy.

The Rojavan revolution came to the world’s attention largely through the heroic resistance by the fighters of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) and Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) in defeating an Islamic State group siege on the Rojavan town of Kobane in January. But many have noted the profoundly revolutionary ideology that drives Rojavan freedom fighters - which they are seeking to put into practice amid great odds.

 "If we speak about true democracy, decisions can’t be made from the top and go to the bottom, they have to be made at the bottom and then go up in degrees.The co-presidents are one male and one female … Female representation is guaranteed on all the peoples councils. No gender is allowed more than 60 percent representation. In addition, there are parallel women-only structures,“ he explained.

"Women’s councils exist in parallel at all levels, the commune, the district, the city, and the canton. The women’s councils don’t decide on general issues — that’s what the people’s councils are for. They discuss issues that are specifically about women … They have veto power on issues concerning women.”

Salih argued that the Rojava revolution is a “revolution of women,” explaining that they are involved in all areas of life. “We believe that a revolution that does not open the way for women’s liberation is not a revolution. There have been revolutions in Libya and Egypt and Tunisia … but the same status for women has persisted.”

Girlfig’s 55k giveaway! 

 Hello! There are 55k of us now and that’s wild! So in honor of that, I’m doing a giveaway. I want to thank all of you though because so far this has been a really positive and healthy environment for me that has actually helped me over the past year to become this happier, healthier version of myself. That wouldn’t be possible without all of you, who are all such nice people which I feel really grateful for.

If you win the giveaway you will get:

a letter from me to you

pressed flowers

some stickers (drawn by me)

a page of my doodles

a sticker of you

some tea

a postcard from the Getty Center (it can have a note from me on the back if you want)

me as a friend!

a postcard or two from the thrift store if I can find some cool ones

other little knick knacks!

the rules:

must be following me

you have to be okay with giving me an address for mailing (you don’t have to live in the US)

you have to reblog this post to enter

you can reblog as many times as you want

must have your inbox open!

have to be okay with letting me see a picture of you if you want a sticker drawn of you