Author: Betsy

e-zines are good for you…

| Betsy

Am happy to report that I shall have a computer of my own soon, and thus will no longer be writing tiny little entries from internet cafes around London. That also means more links soon, as I need to organize them into different categories. Thankfully, I know too many badass people who are doing too many badass things.

Keep checking here as I have some longer pieces ready for your perusal, including bits on how to make Manly Crafts, Environmental Crafting and Disabled Crafting. But first things first, I need my computer!

For now, please check out this article from the excellent e-zine knitty, which was brought to my attention by the zine mistress herself, Kelly.

Also worth reading is my friend Niku’s article about crafting in another e-zine, indiciti, which can be found by going to the site and clicking the link titled Craftastic! It features my very first photography credit as well!

If you’re done with reading and just want to act, check out the Resources for Organizing from the good folks at United for Peace & Justice.

free vegetables, expensive recycling…

| Betsy

For some reason, every time I move to a big city I’m especially reminded by all the extra waste around me. It’s crazy, really.

Last weekend while at Spitalfields Market, getting veg they were throwing away, I met the man behind Scavenge UK.

We got loads and loads of bananas, onions, beets, mushrooms, flowers, bread, etc etc. The majority of which we used to feed five people a huge roasted vegetarian meal last night.

I moved to London from a relatively small liberal southern American town which was very pro-recycling and very waste-conscious. So, it doesn’t surprise that I have trouble throwing away my plastic water bottles, instead of looking for a recycling bin.

I mentioned this to a friend of mine, wondering aloud why this country doesn’t recycle more about how America is farther ahead with their recycling programmes and they just said, “Two words. Kyoto agreement.” Which reminded me, sometimes you can’t cover all the bases, can you?

new neighbors, saying no to arms!

| Betsy

Am using incredibly dodgy internet cafe where the people behind me are watching videos of people farting. All this new classy euro-ness aside, please check out the Space Hijackers and Dorkbot websites, as they inhabit a building just up the road from me.

Next week, the Space Hijackers are holding a public demonstration against the arms trading that is going on in the Docklands next week. It’s a brilliant idea and for more information, please see dsei.org.

Also up some new links courtesy of the badass Lex, and a little belated love sent to Ruth for the wicked knitted earth symbol and for helping me better understand computers.

Hoping to get new computer soon as the current internet cafe stylings suck.

indymedia, uk style

| Betsy

Am trying to find my way around London.

Supposedly there is quite a network of activists and crafters here that I am trying to find. Luckily, I have found a place to live.

Am very happy to have found this calendar from the London chapter of Indymedia.

Am hoping to be able to pseudo-organize some sort of Knit-In at an upcoming demonstration. Although by organizing, I may very well mean, me with the knitting needles clicking and clacking my way for peace.

a geeky little p.s a. on volunteering

| Betsy

Today I move to London.

Due to that, here’s a link to National Centre for Volunteering.

I’ll admit, I love volunteering. As a kid, my parents drug me to all sorts of fundraisers, building sites, meetings, etc. I hated it. Then when I found causes that I found worth supporting, like the ASPCA and various crafty organizations (many of which are linked to this page!), I fell in love with it.

Some basic issues regarding volunteering are discussed here, from Canada’s Source for Information on Volunteering.

Do good things.