Even though we all know librarians rule, check out this interview with activist librarian Jessamyn West from Friction magazine.
Author: Betsy
inspiration from protestation
I’m not much for banner waving, poster carrying, chanting type acts of protest. But I am for protest, and went to the Anti-War Rally in DC. Even though it’s August, I thought I post some pictures here, because I was really inspired by people’s creations that day.
More pictures here.
If you have any photos (or links to photos!) I’d love to see them!
photos! yay!
Still working out the kinks and trying to figure this all out, but….
But there are some photos of stuff we sent to Afghans for Afghans here.
it does make a difference!
In case anyone has any doubts about whether or not you can make a difference just by crafting, check out this site for the Penguin Jumper Project in Australia. So many people knitted jumpers for these little buggers that the number received far exceeded the number of penguins that needed some extra clothing!
I go back and forth between making things for people and things for animals. And lately I’ve been thinking that my yarn stash (that has been growing exponentially) needs some depleting, so whipping out some blankets for the Snuggles Project, because even though those penguins are well-stocked, there are some domestic puppies and kittens that need a bit of love, too.
Or maybe I’ll make some furry little bears to send to the Mother Bear Project, which collects fuzzy companions for young victims of rape in South Africa.
Either way, I’ll be making stuff that will be given and received with a little bit of TLC. Bitchin’.
a little bit more about why…
Why craftivism?
Because we create to connect beyond ourselves. Whether it’s next door or across the globe. Craft and activism both take and inspire passion. When used as a joint force, they can quite possibly begin to slowly challenge and change things.
Why now?
Because as many of us are trying to figure out ‘What next?’ We are moving from our teens, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond and we are realizing that the act (and art) of crafting is more than a passing fad or childs’ play or a backlash to early-90s Riot Grrrl politics. Craft is a way of rejoicing, passing time, meditating, harnessing power, sharing and keeping creative forces in motion.
Because it is possible to go beyond banners, email petitions and chants as ways of fighting for a cause you believe in. You could have a knit-in, papier-mache puppets, teach a crafty class for kids- all ways of turning that energy into a more positive, more useful, force. Atrocities are happening in our front yards and on our televisions and we need to find ways to react against what is happening without either giving up or exploding.
This is less about mass action or more about realizing what you can do to makes things around you better.
Rock.