Twofer Tuesday: taking action edition

/ Tracy Abell / 11 Comments

Before I get started, I want to share an image from our walk today on a portion of the Olympic Discovery Trail.

I don’t know about you, but I take great delight in this moss-covered stump that reminds me of some kind of velour throne. Full disclosure: I fought the urge to sit on it.

That beautiful walk rejuvenated me and while I’d like to wander forever amongst the ferns and trees, it was time to return to reality. And as you know, there’s a lot going on and so much of it feels out of our control which is why I’m here to share a couple opportunities to take action.

ONE) Tomorrow (Wednesday, March 19th) #TeslaTakedown is holding a mass mobilizing call at 8:30 pm ET / 5:30 pm PT that will be livestreamed on YouTube. A link will be sent in the morning.  Register HERE & go to TeslaTakedown.com for more info on the people’s movement that’s making Elon Musk angry and tanking Tesla stock.

TWO) On Thursday, March 20, the American Postal Workers Union is holding a Day of Action as the Postal Service faces the most serious threat in its history as the Trump administration prepares a hostile takeover in order to privatize this bedrock institution! Go HERE to find an action near you (along with LOTS of resources including flyers, talking points, signs, etc). Here’s a sample that includes these FACTS about the United States Postal Service:

Even if you’re unable to participate in either event, please keep talking about what’s happening. As I talked the other day with the truck driver who’d driven our belongings from Colorado to Washington, I realized he had no idea about the many, many ways the unelected billionaire Elon Musk has been wreaking havoc in our lives. We’ve got to educate each other and I kicked myself for not having a flyer I could hand him with all the info from TeslaTakedown. Same goes for the Postal Service. I’m going to have some of these flyers with me so I can hand them to folks as we talk.

There’s a lot going on as they aim to shock and awe us into submission, so don’t feel bad about not being able to help on every front! None of us have that bandwidth. Instead, pick an issue or two that resonate and put some energy into that. Every little ripple we create adds to the tsunami of people-power. Solidarity!

From Kelly Hayes: Mahmoud Khalil and the Repression That Was, Is, and Will Be

/ Tracy Abell / 12 Comments

I’m not only grateful for my move to Washington, but also the distraction from the horrors being inflicted upon us by the authoritarians. However, I can’t keep my head down forever and today want to share an important read from Kelly Hayes: Mahmoud Khalil and the Repression That Was, Is, and Will Be.

Mahmoud Khalil is a Columbia University student, Palestinian activist, and permanent resident of the U.S. with a Green card who was abducted by ICE a week ago in retaliation for pro-Palestinian activities. The government agents removed Khalil from his housing against the protestations of Khalil’s wife who is eight months pregnant with their first child.

This is incredibly dangerous and ominous territory. And what makes it even worse is that there’s not an opposition party in this moment. The Democrats have made it clear via their support for genocide and the brutalization of students who speak out against that genocide that they will not magically become better people who will fight for civil liberties for all.

As Palestinian activist and University of Chicago professor Eman Abdelhadi recently told me, “The abduction of Mahmoud Khalil represents a major escalation in the wars against political freedom, higher education and Palestine activism that this administration is waging.” Abdelhadi noted that these wars are intertwined. “Palestine solidarity activists have faced repression and criminalization for decades, and these escalated to unprecedented levels with the assault on Gaza that began in October 2023.” Abdelhadi noted that participants in the Palestine solidarity movement have long warned that the repression being waged against them was setting the stage for greater escalations. “We warned, over and over, that the repression we were facing was setting a dangerous precedent,” she said. “Democrats and college administrators didn’t listen.” 

Abdelhadi says that by treating Palestinians and their allies as “fair game for repression,” Democratic officials and college administrators “opened the door for the far right to strip away constitutional protections from everyone.” 

“Trump is waltzing through the door that liberals opened for him, and we are all suffering for it,” Abdelhadi said. “It is clear this administration is testing what we are willing to tolerate, what we are willing to sit through. If Mahmoud Khalil has no rights, none of us do.”

We cannot afford to look the other way, to tell ourselves this is an isolated case. They are coming for all of us.

They came for Mahmoud Khalil in the night, and they will come for us, too. They will come with immigration raids. They will come for us with AI searches, scraping our data, and compiling massive lists of political targets. They will come with RICO charges, as they have for Cop City protesters in Atlanta. They will come with bizarre allegations of “fraud.” They will accuse us of supporting and abetting terrorism. They will terrorize us, criminalize us, and attempt to silence us. Now is the time to speak out and to “flood the zone,” as Scot Nakagawa writes. 

As protests and support efforts for Khalil continue, we should all uplift demands for his freedom.

Do what you can, where you can.

Please read and share Mahmoud Khalil and the Repression That Was, Is, and Will Be.

 

Wordful Wednesday: travel edition

/ Tracy Abell / 4 Comments

Common Merganser in Umatilla River. Echo, Oregon. March 7, 2025

On our drive from Colorado to Washington, our second night’s stay was at a campground in Echo, Oregon. We arrived in the dark so it wasn’t until morning that I realized we were next to the Umatilla River. There was lots of bird song and movement, and I first grabbed the binoculars then the camera. The above photo was the first I took. I also saw a Belted Kingfisher, Greater Yellowlegs, California Scrub Jay, Mallards, Dark-eyed Juncos, and Eurasian-collared Doves. Zippy had to gently remind me that we had a full day’s drive ahead of us and so should leave.

I reluctantly said goodbye to everyone and everything there, thanking them for the gift of their presence. Echo was a lovely place to begin the day.

Friday Haiku

/ Tracy Abell / 1 Comment

look closely
who-who do you see
one great horned owl

Bear Creek Greenbelt Park. February 28, 2025

Thank you, Amy Law, for showing me the owl nest. While we didn’t see American Dippers, it was still a lovely walk and talk.

The #TeslaTakedown effect on Tesla stock

/ Tracy Abell / 4 Comments

The other day I posted about the #TeslaTakedown movement growing in response to  Elon Musk’s techno-coup of the federal government. Turns out, people aren’t happy about children going hungry, cancer research halted, National Parks employees getting fired, and veterans losing health benefits (just to name a few acts of cruelty).

The day after Trump’s inauguration, Tesla stock was $424.07 per share. Today? Tesla stock closed at $281.95 per share. This is the best news I’ve heard all week!

Even better, the Tesla Takedown movement keeps growing. Here’s a map showing upcoming #TeslaTakedown events:

Go HERE to find an action near you and to learn more about how the world’s richest man has chosen to spend his days inflicting pain and suffering on the people.

Solidarity!

How to join the #TeslaTakedown movement

/ Tracy Abell / 9 Comments

I’m momentarily setting down my roll of packing tape in order to create a quick post about a growing movement: Tesla Takedown which employs the same Boycott, Divest, Sanctions tactics used to end apartheid in South Africa. Remember, Elon Musk is from South Africa, so it’s especially fitting to use those same tactics to stop his techno-coup here in the U.S.!

UPDATE on 2.27.25: The day after Trump’s inauguration, Tesla stock was $424.07 per share. Today? Tesla stock closed at $281.95 per share.

Image from TeslaTakedown home page

The following info comes from the Tesla Takedown home page:

Get Involved

Take action at Tesla showrooms everywhere.


Sell your Teslas, dump your stock, join the picket lines.
 

Hurting Tesla is stopping Musk.
 

Stopping Musk will help save lives and our democracy.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. No one is coming to save us—not politicians, not the media.

Join us. Sign up to host or find an action near you.

#TeslaTakedown #BoycottTesla

Text MUSK to 51905 to join the fight!

By texting you agree to receive messages from Tesla Takedown.  

______________________________________________________________________________________________
You can find all sorts of good info at TeslaTakedown.com including local protests near you, flyers to distribute, a comprehensive list of all the damage Musk and DOGE have already inflicted on non-billionaires, and links to the coverage these #TeslaTakedown efforts are getting in the press (scroll down for those links).
Let’s hit the Nazi billionaire where it’ll hurt most: Tesla!

Thankful Thursday: rehomed piano

/ Tracy Abell / 25 Comments

For the past several months, I’ve been trying to find a new home for my beautiful old piano.

I don’t play nearly enough to justify paying out of state moving costs and so offered it up for free on the local Buy Nothing and Craigslist forums. Various people expressed interest over the months and one woman even came to play it. She’s used to playing a baby grand but is also moving and needs a piano that takes up less space. She asked me to play so she could hear how it sounded. HAHAHAHA I knew better than to put my “big note” skills on display for someone who’d brought her own sheet music and instead went in the other room while she played. Oh my goodness, that piano never produced such beautiful music, at least not while in my possession. And although I never heard from the woman again, I was grateful because I now knew for sure the piano had life left in it. I was more determined than ever to keep it out of the landfill.

However, our departure date was drawing closer and I was getting nervous. So I posted the piano again, this time offering to split piano-mover costs. I got exactly one response from someone who lives in a small mountain community and said he’d pick it up himself. I was skeptical on multiple levels. But today, he showed up in a car pulling a trailer rigged out with a pulley system. Zippy helped him get it on the ramp and the guy did all the rest. A friend in his community has a music studio and has been wanting a piano, but if he doesn’t want it the man would turn the piano into beautiful furniture, same  as he’s done with a bunch of other pianos over the past few years. I’m hoping his friend want this one and that my beautiful old piano has new musical adventures.

While waiting for the man to arrive this morning, I’d played one last song: Melancholy Baby. But the sadness lifted as I watched the piano leave the driveway. In addition to happiness about its potential new life in a music studio, I got a boost from the man who told us he approved of our yard signs and has a license plate holder that says “FREE PALESTINE. END APARTHEID.”

Solidarity, Mr. Piano Man! Melancholy no more.

In which Garrett Bucks lists “Thirty lonely but beautiful actions you can take right now”

/ Tracy Abell / 12 Comments

Hello, friends. I’m just popping in to share this awesome list from Garrett Bucks, the founder of The Barnraisers Project which I attended two years ago. I can vouch that Garrett is ALL about our shared humanity, plus he’s funny and an incredible writer.

Garrett published his list on February 12th and the entire, very long title is actually:

Thirty lonely but beautiful actions you can take right now which probably won’t magically catalyze a mass movement against Trump but that are still wildly important
Why? Because others will see you do them, and it will make it easier for them to take their own (slightly less lonely but equally beautiful) action by your side

Sandhill Cranes, Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge. March 12, 2024

Garrett prefaces his list with this:

I wrote this for people who, like me, have spent much of the past few weeks hoping that somebody else would do something bolder in this political movement. We are downtrodden because we’re full of rage and heartbreak, but the polls tell us that our neighbors don’t share those feelings. We realize we’re seeing something that so many aren’t, but we’re not sure how to bridge the gap. We have wished (appropriately) for bravery from our media, from elected Democrats, from public officials in general. However fair those wishes are, they come with a risk: that we miss the opportunity to be the lonely voice for justice in our own community, the person who makes it a little easier for a second and third and fourth lonely voice to start perking up by our side.

I don’t pretend that all it takes for a social movement to succeed is a bunch of individuals throwing the activist equivalent of spaghetti at so many isolated walls. Nothing I offer here will be enough. And yet, so many of us are waiting for something we can join, which presents a true opportunity to be the first person in your circle welcoming fellow travelers into halting, shaky, earnest action.

Finally, I’m certain that not all of these ideas are applicable to your situation. You’re tired. You’re busy. You’re sick. You don’t have a robust social network. You have anxiety about putting yourself out there. Those are all real. And also, my hope isn’t that every one of these is for you, but that a few might be. And if none fit the bill, what an opportunity: I’d love to hear your idea for what you and others could do.

Enough scene-setting. Here are some ideas. In list form, but there’s a narrative if you’re looking for it. They’re all offered with love:

I’m confident if you read his full list, you’ll find something there that speaks to you. It’s very accessible and guaranteed to spark other ideas in your head. It’s a list worth bookmarking so you can return to it again.

Before I sign off, I want to share a promising development from my own neighborhood: one of the most pro-Trump households on my street had a small Trump sign in their front window (they took down their huge flag several weeks after the election), but today that window sign is gone. Each time we walked past, I’d check their window, wondering when the level of cruelty would exceed their tolerance levels. Well, apparently something in these past days of Trump and Musk’s smash-and-grab actions went too far for my neighbors. The sign is gone. While I wish they’d seen the light sooner, I welcome them to the revolution!

Remember to breathe. Find moments of joy in every single day. Stay hydrated.

Solidarity! ✊🏾

Trump Wants All Palestinians Out of Gaza

/ Tracy Abell / 5 Comments

As much as I’d like to pretend none of this horrifying stuff is happening, I feel obligated to share the latest from Jewish Voice for Peace’s THE WIRE. The article starts with this:

Yesterday, Trump hosted his first foreign leader: war criminal and international fugitive Benjamin Netanyahu. 

As Netanyahu beamed, Trump made the shocking announcement that he expected the 1.8 million Palestinians in Gaza would leave permanently (or be removed) — “ending the death and destruction and, frankly, bad luck.” His reference to 15 months of genocide as “bad luck” revealed his posture of humanitarian concern as an obvious farce. 

Please take 5 minutes to read the entire article that outlines the far-Right’s faux concern about antisemitism, including this:

In reality, the far-Right is weaponizing false accusations of antisemitism as a cudgel to both defend Israel’s genocide and lay the groundwork for trampling on all of our fundamental rights and freedoms.

Just look at Trump’s sham executive order to “combat antisemitism,” which would lay the groundwork for deportations of non citizen student activists.

This executive order is pulled directly from the pages of “Project Esther”: the far-Right’s plan to destroy the Palestine solidarity movement. It is a scare tactic: a transparent attempt to shut down criticism of the Israeli government, and does nothing to keep Jews safe.

Criminalizing criticism of Israel — an aim the far-Right shares with Israel’s extremist government and its backers — is the entryway for the Right to completely dismantle fundamental rights and freedoms.

Again, you can read the article in its entirety here. When you’re finished, please go here to personalize a message to your electeds, demanding they oppose Trump’s billion dollar weapons shipment to Israel during a supposed ceasefire. ARMS EMBARGO NOW!

I know they haven’t listened to us thus far, but we cannot stop demanding an end to the genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. Solidarity! ✊🏾

UPDATE to yesterday’s Elon Musk post

/ Tracy Abell / 10 Comments

Yesterday I wrote about how Elon Musk is systematically trying to destroy the federal government while also gaining access to our personal information. I also mentioned the decision to shut down USAID and how some Representatives had gathered to denounce that decision.

I want to share additional critiques of what’s happening:

“Donald Trump and his billionaire buddies are determined to take over this government to make it work better for themselves and worse for everyone else.”

That quote pretty much sums up where we’re at.

Solidarity with the people! ✊🏾

Elon Musk now has our Social Security #s & more

/ Tracy Abell / 7 Comments

We’re getting slammed by wave after wave of executive orders, the disappearing of government websites, and cruel policies in an attempt to overwhelm and numb us to the coup happening before our very eyes. The world’s wealthiest person, Elon Musk, now has full access to the Dept of Treasury, despite not being elected to his “DOGE” position. Repeat: MUSK IS NOT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. Musk and his minions are currently looting federal government infrastructure. This morning, Musk announced they’re shutting down USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development). Fortunately, some Representatives are speaking out. None of this stuff is ethical or legal. And yet, here we are. UPDATES on this POST here

I attended a mass call to action last night with about 50,000 other people.

The immediate strategy is to put pressure on the Senate to stop the confirmation of Russell Vought who is the architect of Project 2025. If Vought is confirmed to head the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), he will follow through on his promise to “put civil servants in trauma.” That means an end to air traffic control, food and water safety, and everything else we rely on.

It was stressed over and over during the mass call that what is happening is NOT a partisan issue–this isn’t Republicans vs Democrats–this is ALL OF US vs the billionaires. Every single Senator needs to know we need them to fight like hell for the programs and policies that help us.

The strategy is to show up in person at the local offices for your Senators. This map shows where actions have been planned. If you can’t make it in person, CALL and EMAIL YOUR SENATORS to let them know you are not happy with what’s happening. And the Democrats specifically need to know we demand they get a spine. I like to remind mine that the Republicans prevented Obama from appointing a Supreme Court justice because they know how to obstruct. In fact, Republicans distributed a memo outlining every tactic they could use to shut down 2009 attempts for healthcare.

Here’s what Democrats can be doing right now.

But we don’t need to get all wonky in our messaging, we only need to let them know we DO NOT WANT billionaires and tech bros to have access to our personal information. Tell them about the programs you and your neighbors rely on (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, etc.)

Please, make noise! Do not let them overwhelm you with their cruelty. Stand in community with your neighbors. Share information and resources. Don’t stop talking about what’s happening before our very eyes. I added WIRED to my independent journalism post because they’re taking the lead on Elon Musk and his dismantling of the federal government.

Solidarity! ✊🏾

Independent journalism: some recommendations

/ Tracy Abell / 18 Comments

Our reality is very chaotic and bleak right now, and one of the best defenses against what’s happening is to expand our horizons so we’re not relying on the corporate media’s acquiescence to fascism but, instead, seeking information from independent outlets that are, by definition, independent from corporate influence. I’ve linked to a number of these before and decided it would be helpful to have them all in one place.

Image from wearethecity.com

In no particular order, here are some individuals and organizations I value:

  • Marisa Kabas at The Handbasket. Kabas broke the story about the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo earlier this week.
  • Sarah Kendzior has pretty much predicted everything we’re living right now and expresses herself in incredibly beautiful language that includes observations of our natural world. Sarah is a very smart and decent person. She has a Substack newsletter and published books.
  • The Lever, founded by David Sirota in 2020, “holds accountable the people and corporations manipulating the levers of power” and broke some of the biggest stories of 2024, including their Master Plan podcast series which traces the decades-long efforts to legalize corruption. These journalists dig deep to root out the truth.
  • Truthout focuses on social justice issues. Kelly Hayes writes for Truthout and also has her own newsletter called Organizing My Thoughts. Kelly is an incredible organizer who never fails to lift my spirits with her wisdom and insights. Highly recommend.
  • Drop Site News, founded by Jeremy Scahill and Ryan Grim, focuses on politics and war. This organization has a more international reach and offers solid insights on what’s happening in the Middle East.
  • The Real News Network‘s mission statement is to make media connection you to the movements, people, and perspectives that are advancing the cause of a more just, equal, and livable planet. We broaden your understanding of the issues, contexts, and voices behind the news headlines.  
  • Adam Johnson contributes to The Real News Network and The Nation, and also has his own newsletter: The Column (Note: he’s working on a project so won’t be posting much until April)
  • Ken Klippenstein‘s focus is to shine a light on the national security state. He has a newsletter on Substack. I also recommend following him on Bluesky (@kenklippenstein.bsky.social) where he publishes LOTS of government info people send from the inside such as yesterday’s tip from a pilot stating that starting February 1, there will be no air traffic control at San Carlos Airport which hosts two flights schools and is only 10 miles from San Francisco International airport, which means inexperienced pilots will be taking off into airspace shared by planes landing at SF airport.
  • Al Jazeera offers breaking news with an international overview.
  • Rolling Stone and Teen Vogue both cover politics, and aren’t pulling any punches regarding what’s happening.
  • For news and perspectives on Palestine, I recommend The Wire from Jewish Voice for Peace and Shalom Rav: A Blog by Rabbi Brant Rosen.
  • Heated is a climate-focused newsletter from Emily Atkin.
  • Erin Reed reports on trans and queer news and legislation at Erin in the Morning: “I summarize it all complete with links to source documents.”
  • Wired is doing a stellar job reporting on Elon Musk’s efforts to dismantle the federal government.
  • Reader Frank J. Peter recommends The Young Turks.
  • Reader Rosaliene Bacchus recommends Tom Dispatch and The Conversation.
  • Reader Mara at The Dirty Sneaker recommends Consortium News, Black Agenda Report, Scheerpost, and Counterpunch.

I welcome any thoughts and insights you have in regard to this list, as well as further recommendations. While I’m not a big fan of Thomas Jefferson, I do agree with this sentiment: “A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.”

Climate Movement Monday: Bill McKibben on “How We Make Progress Now”

/ Tracy Abell / 4 Comments

Hello! As mentioned, I’ll be scarce around here as I prepare to move out of state (scroll to the bottom of this post for a quick action on behalf of the United States Postal Service), but wanted to share Bill McKibben’s “How We Make Progress Now” today because I think it contains important info, including a list of Trump’s actions in his first days back in office:

The attacks on sensible energy policy have been swift and savage. We exited the Paris climate accords, paused IRA spending, halted wind and solar projects, gutted the effort to help us transition to electric vehicles, lifted the pause on new LNG export projects, canceled the Climate Corps just as it was getting off the ground, and closed the various government agencies dedicated to environmental justice. Oh, and we declared an “energy emergency” to make it easier to do all of the above.

Image by Nino Souza Nino from Pixabay

McKibben continues on to lay out different strategies for the coming years and ends with this [emphasis mine]:

” . . .in the climate movement we have something else going for us. All those years of pipeline fights and divestment battles occurred in a period when fossil fuel was the cheapest way to power a society. That’s no longer true; now it’s Trump and his friends fighting uphill against economic gravity. And they know it—Trump moved so fast to ban new wind and solar—indeed to literally define ‘energy’ to exclude them—because every poll shows they are far more popular than hydrocarbons.

We need to figure out how to leverage those facts in the years ahead—creatively, in ways that make use of our advantage in truth and beauty and minimize our current lack of political power.”

You can read the piece in its entirety here. It’s clear that over the coming years, the climate movement will need to apply different strategies and creativity in our efforts. We need to be fierce, agile, and show up for each other as needed.

On another front, go here to take a quick action on behalf of the United States Postal Service which is also under attack, which would be especially catastrophic for rural communities.

Thank you for reading this far. Solidarity! ✊🏾

Friday Haiku + notes: on Nazism

/ Tracy Abell / 9 Comments

new administration
billionaire’s Nazi salute
believe what you see

NOTES:
1) The above shows Elon Musk at Trump’s inaugural parade on January 20, 2025. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)
2) The American Defamation League (ADL) which supposedly exists to combat antisemitism, responded to Musk’s Nazi salute with this [emphasis mine]:
“This is a delicate moment. It’s a new day and yet so many are on edge. Our politics are inflamed, and social media only adds to the anxiety,” the ADL wrote in a Monday post on Musk’s social platform X. “It seems that @elonmusk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge.”
In case you’ve forgotten, last year the ADL decried the “antisemitism” of college students (many of them Jewish) who protested their tuition and taxes being used to fund the genocide in Palestine. Notably, the ADL url for their “Campus Crisis Daily” contains the words “no tolerance for antisemitism.”  Apparently, ADL can tolerate Nazi salutes from white supremacist billionaires, but draws the line at Jewish students speaking out against genocide.
3) It’s not only the ADL tripping over themselves to excuse a Nazi salute, a TV weather forecaster from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was fired after calling out Musk’s Nazi salute on social media.
4)  NBC News edited their footage to remove the Nazi salute while the Washington Post referred to Musk’s appearance as “exuberant.”
5) Religion Dispatches breaks down the media coverage in the U.S. and around the world: While Global Media Are Clear on Musk’s Nazi Salute US Media Engage in ‘Nazi-Washing’ 
6) This is a very good time to remember George Orwell’s book 1984:

For above graphic: h/t to @thelazycanuck.bsky.social

Take them at their words and actions. Believe what you see. Reject the gaslighting.

Martin Luther King, Jr. on Solidarity

/ Tracy Abell / 5 Comments

“History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition
was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.”

Martin Martin Luther King, Jr. in Montgomery Alabama, 1958.      //       Grey Villet / The LIFE Picture Collection

The above quote is from 1958, Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story” and it speaks to our current moment. We cannot remain silent in the face of cruel and inhumane policies. We are all connected, people and planet.

Solidarity! ✊🏾

Sunday Confessional: fractured focus

/ Tracy Abell / 14 Comments

Tomorrow is the return of Agent Orange and his merry band of billionaires who are hell-bent on inflicting violence on the most vulnerable members of society while further consolidating the billionaires’ wealth and power. Tragically, there is no opposition party as the Democrats are too busy enabling horrific policies (see Laken Riley Act) which they believe will elevate their standing in voters’ eyes. But I digress.

The purpose of this post is to say upfront that I don’t anticipate posting much in the next couple months despite the hell that’s been promised by those odious mobsters and soulless ghouls. Why? Because Zippy and I are preparing to move out of state at the beginning of March. We’ve lived in this home for nearly 28 years which means we’ve accumulated lots of stuff. (Good time to revisit the genius of George Carlin!) I’ve been giving away things at a pretty good clip for months now and still lie awake in the middle of the night, seized with panic about getting everything sorted before the moving van arrives. Where did all that stuff come from?!

The good news is that downsizing is liberating. The other good news (on a purely personal level) is that sorting through decades of stuff means I literally don’t have time to wade into the ugliness of our reality right now. BUT, I’ve taken steps to help me get locked in to our new community once we’re settled in Washington (we’re looking at the northern tip of the Olympic Peninsula, so please holler if that’s near you!).

The incomparable Mariame Kaba organized online workshops at the end of 2024 to get people ready for what’s coming, and I was able to participate in three of them: “Where Do I Begin: Identifying Social Change Roles and Ecosystems,” “We’re All We’ve Got: Mutual Aid for Survival and Resistance,” and “Move the Needle: Activism for Artists, Crafters, Creatives, and Makers.” Each workshop included tons of resources I’d love to share (so please ask!) A big takeaway came from Shannon Downey who led the Move the Needle workshop: she recommends choosing ONE ISSUE and focusing on that for the rest of our lives. I’ll write more on that idea later and will add this image as a placeholder for now:

“It can be overwhelming to witness/experience/take in all the injustices of the moment. The good news is that they’re all connected, so if your little corner or work involves pulling at one of the threads, you’re helping to unravel the whole damn cloth.” ~ Ursula Wolfe-Rocca

This quote really puts that ONE ISSUE idea into context. I’m thinking/hoping the one issue approach will alleviate my Whack-a-Mole tendencies that lead to burnout.

Anyway, Shannon Downey wrote a beautiful book that I bought and look forward to reading when I have time. Let’s Move the Needle: An Activism Handbook for Artists, Crafters, Creatives, and Makers. I’d love to read and discuss with other creative folks, so please let me know if you’d like to do that with me. We might be in different locations, but we’re still all connected in the struggle.

Okay, there are literally hundreds of books calling for my attention right now. And photos. And pillows….why oh why do we have so many pillows?! Thank you for reading and please know I appreciate you and your kind heart.

Ceasefire has arrived

/ Tracy Abell / 2 Comments

There is a ceasefire! It’s the very same deal that was on the table in May but that Biden allowed Netanyahu to torpedo as the U.S. continued to send billions of dollars of weaponry and political cover to Israel.

Jeremy Scahill of Drop Site News is on YouTube now discussing the situation with two Palestinian guests. I’m going to add to this post but want to share the Live link now.

Today, just minutes after receiving If I Must Die: Poetry and Prose by Refaat Alareer in the mail, I learned that a ceasefire was reached.

It’s horrific it took this long. It’s horrific that Refaat Alareer (and members of his family) were murdered by Israel before this day came, along with the thousands and thousands of other Palestinians (the majority of them children). It’s horrific that it took Trump’s upcoming inauguration to rein in Netanyahu.

Jeremy Scahill’s Drop Site News piece from yesterday, “The Trump Factor: Gaza Ceasefire Deal Appears Close” outlines how Biden refused to use his power to stop Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people.

The fact that Trump emerged as the decisive player in pushing a potential ceasefire forward is evidence that Biden never used the full powers available to a sitting U.S. president to seal the deal in the summer. While Trump has publicly repeated his threat that he will “unleash hell” on Hamas if the Israeli hostages are not freed, his pressure has not been solely focused on Hamas; Trump and his aides have made clear to Netanyahu that the president-elect expects Israel to comply with his demands, too.

In case you’re unable to join the Live discussion, here’s a video link to a discussion of the ceasefire deal from this morning.

I also want to link to Ryan Grim’s piece: Kamala Harris Paid the Price for Not Breaking With Biden on Gaza, New Poll Shows (subtitle: Twenty-nine percent of non-voters who supported Biden in 2020 said U.S. support for the genocide was the top reason they sat the 2024 election, according to a survey by YouGov).

I’ve been listening to the Live discussion as I write this (so my concentration is fractured in both directions), but one of the Palestinian guests talked about a “Trump gift bag to Netanyahu” which includes allowing Israel to unleash more violence against Palestinians after a momentary ceasefire. Unfortunately, that wouldn’t be a shock. I’m trying to think about the upcoming release of thousands of Palestinians who have been in detention for years and years, held without charge, as they are starved, beaten, and raped. Their release alone is worth massive celebration.

I’ll stop here.

Rest in power, Refaat Alareer.
Free Palestine!
From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.

Edited to add additional info via an email from US Campaign for Palestinian rights:

Did you see the news? An official ceasefire deal has been reached, and the first of the three-phase plan is due to go into effect on Sunday, Jan. 19. 

We want to be very clear: this is good news. We’ve advocated for a permanent ceasefire as the bare minimum demand from the very beginning. This news is an urgently needed relief for Palestinian people in Gaza fighting to survive each day of this horrific genocide, as we see live scenes of their joyful celebrations. 

At the same time, you may have noticed that midway through last year, we shifted our focus from a permanent ceasefire to our long-held North Star goal to end military funding to Israel from the U.S. war machine. 

This was very intentional. We know the genocide doesn’t end when the bombs stop dropping. The genocide ends when UNRWA can operate freely. When every destroyed hospital is rebuilt. When unfettered aid, food, water, and gasoline can enter Gaza. 

Even then, true Palestinian liberation—essential for the collective liberation of all oppressed peoples globally—only comes when Israel’s apartheid regime, supported by tens of billions in military funding from the U.S., comes to an end. 

I wish those changes were possible in the next few months and that I could share a roadmap with you for it, but that would be a lie.

So today, we keep fighting against another $8 billion in weapons to Israel.

And tomorrow—through power building, organizing, and investing in our infrastructure, we will continue the long-term work to force a U.S. arms embargo on Israel and end U.S. complicity in Israel’s apartheid regime once and for all.

Resources for those affected by Los Angeles wildfires

/ Tracy Abell / 10 Comments

My heart goes out to everyone in the Los Angeles area as they deal with multiple wildfires and horrifyingly high winds and dry conditions. I’m going to share resources below and want to first say: MASKS ARE NECESSARY to protect lungs against wildfire smoke! I’ve been ordering from BonaFide Masks for years. High quality and reasonable prices. 25% off orders through January + free ground shipping.

1.14.24 UPDATE: N95 MASKS ARE AVAILABLE AT ALL LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY LOCATIONS. Go HERE to find a library near you.

PLEASE AMPLIFY & SHARE THE FOLLOWING INFO:

Kelly Hayes shared the following (plus more info at link):

  • Mutual Aid LA Network is maintaining a spreadsheet of resources for people affected by the fires. The list is being updated continuously with new resources and calls for volunteers and donations. Please consider uplifting this resource on social media. (And if your faith in humanity needs a boost, be sure to have a look at the spreadsheet and appreciate all of the ways people in LA are supporting each other right now.) You can donate to MALAN here.

People vs Fossil Fuels shared the following resources:

This is a climate emergency! We must halt the development of fossil fuels and make a just transition to renewable energy. Our very existence is at stake.

Climate Movement Monday: good news

/ Tracy Abell / 6 Comments

Welcome back to another Movement Monday in which we discuss all things climate. I typically offer a quick action you can take on behalf of a frontline community experiencing the worst effects of the climate crisis, but today am content to share two pieces of good news.

On December 26, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the Climate Change Superfund Act. From the press release from Senator Liz Krueger who sponsored the bill in the Senate, this legislation “…will use the polluter-pays model exemplified by existing federal and state superfund laws to collect $75 billion over twenty-five years for climate change adaptation from the parties most responsible for causing the climate crisis – big oil and gas companies.”

This is very good news because, as is stated in the press release, New York is the 10th largest economy in the world. The final paragraph reads:

The Climate Change Superfund Act isn’t just necessary—it’s popular. According to a poll from Data for Progress, a whopping 89% of New Yorkers support fossil fuel companies covering at least some of the cost for climate damages. Another poll found that 70% of New York voters support the Climate Change Superfund Act, including majorities across party lines. Nationally, 89% of Democratic voters support the Climate Superfund approach, and 53% of New York voters are more likely to vote for candidates who support passing a Climate Superfund bill. 

Go here to read the press release in its entirety.

The second piece of good news is that on December 18, the Montana Supreme Court ruled in favor of the 16 young people who in 2020 filed a lawsuit (Held v. Montana), charging the state with violating their constitutional rights by favoring fossil fuel development over the health and well-being of the citizenry. The Supreme Court decision upheld an earlier lower court decision, 6-1. It was the first state supreme court decision of this kind.

Supporters gather to greet plaintiffs as they arrive for the nation’s first youth climate change trial at Montana’s First Judicial District Court on June 12, 2023 in Helena, Montana
(William Campbell / Getty Images)

Per an EcoWatch article, Alaska, Hawaii, and Utah are set to hear similar cases (as are Pakistan, Uganda, Colombia, Australia and New Zealand).

Hatch Magazine also wrote about Montana’s Supreme Court decision, and I want to highlight this paragraph [emphasis mine]:

In its 6-1 majority ruling upholding the plaintiffs’ case, the court used sometimes strikingly affirmative language. Regarding whether Montana’s constitutional responsibility to guarantee its residents a “clean and healthful environment” includes the state including climate-related impacts in its decision making, the court was unequivocal, stating that the “plaintiffs showed at trial—without dispute—that climate change is harming Montana’s environmental life support system now and with increasing severity for the foreseeable future. The State and its agencies have previously acknowledged such current and future impacts to the Montana environment stemming from climate change, many of which can already be increasingly seen today.3 Plaintiffs showed that climate change does impact the clear, unpolluted air of the Bob Marshall wilderness; it does impact the availability of clear water and clear air in the Bull Mountains; and it does exacerbate the wildfire stench in Missoula, along with the rest of the State.”

We’ve seen how difficult it is to force climate action at the federal level**, so these wins on the state level are very encouraging. It’s possible to use our local might to push for meaningful action!

Thank you for reading this far. Solidarity! ✊🏾

**I’ve written before about Juliana v. United States, the constitutional lawsuit brought by young people, here and here. Go here for an updated  timeline from Our Children’s Trust, one of the legal teams representing the 21 young people in that case.

Sunday Confessional: dance drought

/ Tracy Abell / 13 Comments

The past year was incredibly difficult on a personal and global level and, unfortunately, it continues into this new year. I’ve unintentionally dropped many good habits–running, hoop dancing, posting here–as a result of the grief and sheer exhaustion of bearing witness to the suffering of so many. Today, however, I finally summoned the energy to do something I’ve dearly missed: hoop-dancing. For twenty minutes, I danced and spun in my hoop, singing along with the music. Emma was happy to see my dancing again and we howled together for several minutes, me grinning as her tail wagged and wagged.

A dancing Sandhill Crane at Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge. March 12, 2024

Today I reclaimed my joy. My intention is to dance again tomorrow . . . and to continue dancing in the days and months to come.  Dance as a revolutionary act!

UPDATE on Let’s make “If I Must Die” a Bestseller

/ Tracy Abell / 7 Comments

On December 6, I posted Let’s Turn Refaat Alareer’s “If I Must Die” into a Bestseller, amplifying the campaign from Ryan Grim at Drop Site News, and I’m thrilled with the traffic my post received along with many clicks on the Bookshop.org link to purchase the book. That original post also includes the following important info:

UPDATE 12.17.24: DO NOT order from Amazon as scammers took note of the situation and are selling non-authentic books. PLEASE order from bookshop.org at above link.

Tracy here again: I’m editing to add that you can also request your library system purchase the book. In my system, “Suggest a purchase” tab is located under SERVICES. 

Edited to add: all proceeds will go to Refaat’s remaining family.

Today’s update comes again from Ryan Grim at Drop Site News. Here’s what he wrote:

Refaat Alareer’s “If I Must Die” is officially a national bestseller

It didn’t happen the way we expected: The book has not yet made the New York Times bestseller list, but the other list the industry tracks is USA Today’s “Booklist.” And there, it settled in at #20 in its first week out.

The amount of attention a book gets during its launch has much to do with where it lands in our cultural landscape, which is the best part about all the energy around it the past few weeks. My hope is that Refaat’s book will be taught and read for years to come and is treated like the political and literary masterpiece it truly is.

The goal of hitting the Times list is still achievable, meanwhile, for two reasons. The Times list is opaque, but a publishing industry source told me that my initial understanding – that the paper counts orders as sales even if the book is out of stock – is probably not correct, and it’s more likely they count orders when they ship.

The book sold more than 20,000 copies but only 7,500 had been printed. That means that when the new printing arrives in January, at least 12,500 will be shipped, and in a typical January week, that number of sales is more than enough to make the bestseller list. So if you haven’t ordered one yet but still want to, your order will still count toward that effort.

I’ve heard from some people who’ve gotten notes from Amazon or other booksellers saying that the estimated ship date for the book is as late as March. That’s not true. The publisher has a very big print run going in January, so you’ll get your copy much sooner. If all of those books ship the same week, it should still make the NYT bestseller list. A huge thank you to everyone who bought a book, and I hope you’re glad that you did.

If you ordered a copy of Refaat Alareer’s beautiful book, thank you thank you thank you for putting it on the USA Today’s Booklist!!! And if you haven’t yet ordered a book for yourself, a friend, or requested your library system purchase copies, please do so (if you can) as it will still affect the New York Times bestseller ranking! PLEASE ORDER FROM BOOKSHOP.ORG TO AVOID BEING SCAMMED

It’s incredibly significant that a Palestinian who was targeted and murdered for using his voice on behalf of his people is still reaching the world with his voice that will never be silenced. This is what is meant by “don’t stop talking about Palestine.” Those in power are doing all they can to erase Palestinians from this world, but the people are standing with the oppressed and uplifting Refaat Alareer’s voice.

FREE PALESTINE!

Climate Movement Monday: in support of Native Village of Hooper Bay

/ Tracy Abell / 10 Comments

Welcome back to Movement Mondays in which we discuss all things climate and then typically take action on behalf of a frontline community facing immediate effects of the climate crisis. Today’s information and TAKE ACTION come from Earthjustice, the nonprofit environmental law organization representing Native Village of Hooper Bay in southwest Alaska.

The federal government is proposing a land swap and road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge despite the fact that, as the name says, it’s supposed to be a refuge. Per the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service website, this refuge located between the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska,  is [emphasis mine] “home to one of the world’s largest eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds. Hundreds of thousands of waterfowl, including virtually the entire population of Pacific black brant, visit the lagoon to feed on eelgrass and rest during migration. From brown bears to Pacific salmon, more than 200 species call this refuge home.” Call me alarmist, but it seems really stupid to negatively interfere with the feeding ground and resting place for an entire species.

Aerial view of black brant in flight over Izembek National Wildlife Refuge.  Photo by Kristine Sowl/USFWS

What does all this have to do with Native Village of Hooper Bay?  The proposed road would cut through the refuge which provides, you know, refuge for migratory bird species that Native Village of Hooper Bay tribal members rely on for food and cultural practices.

“Any loss of these species in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta could have devastating impacts on communities already stressed by climate change, the salmon crisis, and by significant socio-economic and health challenges, including high rates of poverty and the highest suicide rates in the nation. Western science and Indigenous knowledge agree that preserving subsistence and traditional practices is key to combating these impacts in Alaska Native communities.”

A 45-day comment period is now open that allows the public to weigh in on the draft supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS). The federal government needs your input. PLEASE request the federal government withdraw the project OR at least choose the “no action alternative” which is the compromise proposed by Native Village of Hooper Bay and other tribes.

As always, a personalized message carries more weight. However, I realize this issue can seem complicated as you read about it (due, in part, to the use of “alternative” in its many permutations), so it’s completely fine to briefly express your support for the tribal people and the migratory birds, and then request that the federal government withdraw the project entirely OR choose the “no action alternative.” Your message doesn’t need to be long.  All the background information is included here where you also take action via your brief personalized message.

Thank you for reading this far. Thank you for speaking up on behalf of Native Village of Hooper Bay and other tribes in that frontline community, along with the 200 species that call the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge home. Solidarity! ✊🏾