honestly the main reason i care about harm reduction is that i believe addicts are deserving of life. "what if they don't get clean?" they still deserve to live. "what if they don't contribute?" they still deserve to live. "what if they 'abuse' the system?" they still deserve to live.
addicts deserve to live by virtue of them being human. nothing will change that. nobody deserves to die of an overdose.
"i would kill a pedophile to protect my child" ok but would you teach your child how to say no? even to adults? even to adults you like? would you teach your child the words "penis" and "vulva" and then use them? would you let them ask questions about their body? would you answer them honestly? would you learn how to cope with your feelings when you talk about human bodies, so they don't feel ashamed? would you set a positive example for how you talk about your body? would you tell your child they don't have to hug or kiss anyone? would you tell your family the same? would you stand by them when they refuse to hug someone? even someone you know has never done anything to hurt them? would you let your child avoid food they don't like? would you let you child avoid people they don't like? would you believe them? would you sit in the discomfort of not knowing all the answers and not take it out on them? would you love your child the same if someone did hurt them? would you make them feel valued just as they are? would you let them talk to doctors or nurses in private? would you let them express their feelings? would you show interest in their life? would you let your child say no to you? would you help your child feel safe coming to you when they make a mistake? would you apologize to your child? would you believe them? would you put aside your anger to focus on what would make your child feel safe and loved? would you put your ego aside for your child? would you take your child's concerns seriously? would you listen to your child? would you believe them?
but have you ever even heard of the fynbos biome ?!!?!?!?!
a biome so unique in south africa that it's earned an entirely new biome classification for itself. so many plants are endemic to this area, and ofc it's under threat of extinction.
It's a wonderful place! I had the privilege of visiting the fynbos last year and it was as amazing as these photos show and more!
holy trinity batman!
fun weapons left to right - tonfa, double headed axe, brass knuckles and push dagger
renegade with nightwing-esc design (2024)
Monster Mashtober by Samantha Mash
the way this is genuinely life changing stuff for me
in the contemporary world, the most fundamental human right - and, it often seems, the least protected one - is "being both Allowed and Able to go Somewhere Else." the rest is commentary.
the torments of prison are predicated on Not Letting You Leave. the most terrifying and degrading aspects of childhood are predicated on Not Letting You Leave. misogynists wail and moan and fearmonger about divorce and equal opportunity employment because they Allow Wife To Leave. borders and immigration restrictions exist, in no small part, to Prevent People From Leaving countries where they will be exploited and/or oppressed. fuck you for trying to leave. fuck you for exerting any control over your life whatsoever. that makes you the one at fault, actually.
david graeber described three fundamental freedoms: freedom to move, freedom to disobey orders, and freedom to reorganize social relations
fundamental human right
If you're at work in a retail or hospitality environment and you see a sex worker with a client... no you didn't.
If your boss asks you if you think that person's a sex worker, you tell them you do not believe that. You don't report their presence to anyone. You don't joke about it with a coworker. You don't eavesdrop or bother them.
We're working the same as you are. Leave us alone!
Some examples of situations where you might need to keep your mouth shut about a potential sex worker:
I do not care what kind of retail or hospitality setting you work in. If you see a sex worker, no you didn't!
if the cops get involved, you know who gets punished? not any of the clients, only the sex worker. not a pimp, not the hotel manager, only the worker; and the cops are liable to sexually assault them as well.
if you have any qualms about sex work, you can start by improving workers' rights as a whole. demilitarizing police. increasing comprehensive sex ed for all ages. battling misogyny in the workplace. under the boot of capitalism, we all suffer - the most vulnerable, such as sex workers, suffer worst. leave them be.
