8 Sustainable Hacks That Can Save You Money

Sometimes it can be expensive to try and live an eco-friendly lifestyle. The cost of living crisis is having an effect on us all and its harder to afford sustainable alternatives, organic fruit and veg or shopping at specialist businesses. But there are still ways to be eco-friendly and save money. Years of living as a struggling student has given me some unique insights and I feel like now is the right time to share them…

  1. The Magic Of Coconut Oil

Skin and beauty products are not only expensive but they often contain chemicals that are bad for both you and the environment. Something I have found to work just as well can be bought in pretty much any supermarket: coconut oil. It will usually be marketed as culinary however this fantastic oil has a lot more uses than that. Coconut oil can be used as a hair mask to help damaged hair, it can be used as a natural makeup remover, as a key ingredient in body scrubs, and all kinds of DIYs! Some shops will try and sell it at high prices, but I often find in the “world foods” section there are cheaper jars of coconut oil which work just as well!

Photo by Dana Tentis on Pexels.com

2. Join Your Local Community Fridge

Many areas have food co-operatives or community fridges which offer the food that supermarkets no longer want for discount prices or even for free! These items are all good to use and would be wasted otherwise. You can look up where your closest community fridge is online. Not only are you supporting a community project and saving perfectly good food from landfill, but you can also get a great amount of food for very little cost.

3. Clothes Swaps

Clothing can be expensive and the fast fashion industry is one of the world’s worst polluters. Instead of adding to this cycle why not participate in a clothes swap? These days most towns and cities have them on quite regularly and if you haven’t heard of any you can always start one in your local area or do a more intimate swap with friends or colleagues! This way you can clear out what you don’t wear in your wardrobe and swap it for some new items you’ll love.

Photo by Ron Lach on Pexels.com

4. Charity Shops

I love charity shops. If there is ever a birthday or a big holiday like Christmas coming up, charity shops are where I head. You can often find unique gifts and items that are very affordable, and the money you are spending goes to a good cause! What could be better?

5. DIY

There has recently been a resurgence in the popularity of DIY projects, crafting and repairing items, pushed by trends such as Cottagecore aesthetics or Punk. You can find endless tutorials and ideas for free online on Pinterest, TikTok or YouTube. Or you can even come up with your own ideas using what you have around the house. I recently moved into a new flat and have really enjoyed making home décor out of recycled materials. I also love to make my own jewellery out of air dry clay. Not only is it enjoyable making it but it doesn’t cost much and you get something special to keep or give as a gift.

6. Go Outside

Going out in nature has proven benefits for both the body and the mind. Having a walk in your local green space costs nothing and has endless possibilities. You could go mushroom spotting, identify the local flora and fauna, nature watch, or take a book out and read it under an oak tree, romanticising your life a little. Not only is this free, but a greater connection and appreciation of nature can help us want to protect it, fuelling our climate activism!

7. Resist The Urge To Spend

We live in a capitalist society which is constantly telling us to spend. Every day we are bombarded with advertisements on TV, YouTube, podcasts, social media, billboards — it’s inescapable. As such we often feel the urge to spend money or buy things we don’t really need to fill the void. I struggle with mental health issues and I often find I have the urge to treat myself by buying something new. But recently I’ve realised the best treats can be free, such as playing my favourite video games, catching up with a friend, or reading an old comfort book. It’s also worth looking at your bank history to find out what most your money is going on — those Starbucks coffees or little shopping sprees do add up. Figure out what you can cut down on or if these are things you really need.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

8. Vote Out The Tories

This one doesn’t really need much explaining… I think we all know that the Tories only really care about the rich and that our economy could be handled much better. I’m honestly tired of things getting out of hand under Tory leadership. We need a general election. We need change. If we really want to save money and the environment, we need people in charge who care: we need the Tories out.

I hope those hacks help a bit! If you have any more ideas on ways to save both money and the environment then please comment below.

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Interview: What It’s Like Working In The NHS

I’ve been worried about the NHS for a while. It’s troubling to me that it’s the new normal to be stuck for an hour trying to contact your GP, or to be on hold for a hospital appointment for eight months, or to spend the good part of the day in ER waiting rooms when you are in dire need of help. This is not the fault of doctors or nurses. The NHS has been on its knees for a long time, made worse by Tory leadership. The NHS has been underfunded and understaffed for years, with a lack of hospital beds being an ongoing problem and the threat of privatisation always looming on the horizon. Since the Tory government was elected in 2011 it has been estimated by The Health Foundation and GMB Union that NHS staff have lost thousands of pounds of real pay.

Source: NHS Million https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb9ecTtssqF/

Not only that, but the public view of NHS staff has been incredibly problematic, from the media calling them superheroes (thus expecting them to be more than human) to calling them villains and blaming them for waiting times, Covid restrictions, or illness. This in turn leads to the sort of abuse that NHS staff have to face while people take their frustrations out on them. This is incredibly unjust when the people working for the NHS are just trying their best to help others whilst also suffering under current conditions.

I want to dispel these problematic views by showing what it is really like working in the NHS. Luckily, a friend of mine has agreed to just that. They are a paediatric nurse working in a critical care unit who has taken the time to answer my questions about being an NHS nurse. They have elected to stay anonymous.

Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview when I know you have a very busy schedule. Firstly, I was wondering what its been like working in the NHS in the last few years? 

A rollercoaster. As I started my first job less than a year before the pandemic started I was still getting to grips with becoming a nurse when Covid-19 added another challenge. There have been highs and lows, a mixture of emotions from joy, happiness, fear, frustration, and sadness. My experience has by far been more positive than negative, although I do not really have a comparison of nursing when Covid-19 was not around.

What are the hardest things about being a nurse?

By far the most difficult part of nursing is witnessing children and families suffering deeply both emotionally and/or physically. Sometimes you feel helpless when you are unable to provide the support you feel families deserve due to a lack of time and recourses.

What are the best things about being a nurse? 

Seeing the strength that families and children have. Tragedy can bring families together and the support I have seen people get from their family and friends is admirable. Working within the NHS, we are given access to people’s lives when they may be at their most vulnerable and I see this as an honour, not a burden. Nursing has given me the gift of becoming someone who is less judgmental, more understanding, patient, braver and a better communicator. I have more appreciation for everything I have.

Photo by Cedric Fauntleroy on Pexels.com

Do you think NHS staff, nurses in particular, should get a bigger pay rise?

Of course I feel that nursing staff are underpaid, and if there was an unlimited amount of money being offered to the NHS then that would be lovely. Personally, I feel that there are services and people within the NHS who have a higher, more urgent need for funding e.g. mental health services, social work and family services, work on the surgical waiting list (which has a major backlog due to covid), etc. We also need to employ more nurses. Paying nurses more is not going to lessen how overworked we are. To lessen the chance of nurses becoming burnt out we need more nurses to help share the load.

What do you think about how the NHS is being treated by the Conservative party? (Was the clap enough?)

I definitely do not feel supported by the Conservative party. I would not say I trust them to protect and stand up for our NHS when we most need them, proof being the past few years. The NHS has survived so long because of the dedication of its workers, not because of those who want to underfund and privatise it. I have heard a lot of controversy over the clap for the NHS. Personally it was a boost for me at the beginning of the pandemic. Knowing that my family were out there clapping made me incredibly proud to be apart of the NHS. But it should not be a substitute to funding for vital recourses.

How has the mental health of nurses been effected by Covid-19?

Although I would never speak for my fellow colleges, the pandemic has definitely effected my mental health. Being separated from one of my strongest support networks (my family) who live the other side of the country was extremely difficult. Nursing takes a certain toll on your mental wellbeing, it can be draining, exhausting and at times absolutely devastating. Having your loved ones nearby to support and comfort you and to debrief with was, and still is, highly important to me. It allows me to cope with what I witness. This being taken away from me was hard (I’m sure many people both within and out with the NHS would agree).

Photo by Jonathan Borba on Pexels.com

How many hours do you work and what support do you get?

I work 13 shifts a month all 12-12.30 hours long. I get lots of peer support from colleges during difficult situations and everyday work. Other than this there are support groups also made of our peers. To be completely honest I am not sure of the other support available, as I have never explored it. I think there is a view among a lot of the NHS and nursing that you tough it out. That if you are struggling it means your not capable of being a nurse. This is a complete misconception. This is not how we view our colleges, only how we view ourselves. But this can make it hard to look for help.

What support do you think NHS staff should be getting? 

We need more open discussions about NHS staff’s mental health and easy access to support when staff are struggling.

Do you think the NHS is on its way to being privatised? 

I really hope not. I really hope that the views of the general public are strong enough to prevent this. I would say a large number of families would be unable to afford the lifesaving treatment their children require if the NHS becomes privatised. Privatising the NHS will discriminate against those who are less fortunate. This goes against everything we stand for. I think privatisation would be completely devastating for our country.

If the members of the public could do anything to help the NHS, what would you like them to do? 

Wear your masks! I am aware this law has been lifted but personally I think it is still helpful to do so in public spaces. And please, please, please get your vaccinations!!

Thank you so much to my friend for answering these questions. If you are concerned for our NHS, there are some simple actions you can take. You can email your local MP stating how concerned you are over underfunding, privatisation and staff morale in the NHS, making them aware of public interest. You can follow We Own It and NHS Million on Instagram to keep up with their campaigns and petitions. You can vote out the Tories in the next election. And most importantly, you can keep fighting for the NHS. Keep showing up, keep talking about it, keep educating yourself on what is happening, and remember how important it is to you.

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Books To Get Activists This Christmas

In Iceland there is a Christmas tradition called ‘Jólabókaflóð‘ which is essentially where everyone gives each other a book for Christmas. I may be biased as a Creative Writing graduate but I love finding books under the Christmas tree, and I also think they can be a great resource in inspiring activism. So here is a list of books to suit every kind of activist in your life. A lot of these books are not brand new which means you can find them on second-hand websites like Abe Books or in your local independent bookshop.

Children’s Books

‘Greta and the Giants’ by Zoe Tucker & Zoe Persico Themes: Climate change, activism, sustainability, community

Overview: This is such a beautiful book which handles the issue of the climate crisis in a really good way. It is about a little girl, Greta, living in the forest, who hears from the woodland animals that the giants are destroying their home. Greta decides to do something and holds up a sign to try and get the giants attention. The book ends with a lovely resolution of harmony and sustainability, with an added disclaimer explaining in simple terms the facts of the climate crisis. It is a beautiful narrative with amazing illustrations and a really good way to explain the climate movement to children.

‘Little People, Big Dreams Colouring Book’. Themes: activism, creativity, identity, inspiration

Overview: This interactive book allows children to creatively visualise and learn about inspiring people such as David Bowie, Greta Thunberg, Frida Khalo and Ella Fitzgerald. Beside the colouring page is a simple bio for each person. This is a great gift for any creative child with big hopes and dreams.

Fantasy

The Once and Future Witches’ by Alix E. Harrow Themes: feminism, activism, LGBT+, witchcraft, fairytales, folklore, motherhood, sisterhood, family. Trigger warnings: abuse, violence.

Overview: ‘The Once and Future Witches’ is about three sisters who come together and organise a feminist witchcraft movement in order to fight oppression and overthrow the patriarchy. The book interweaves fairytales and folklore into the fabric of the overall tale. I have written a full article about this book if you would like to find out more. I definitely recommend it for anyone who loves reading about fantasy, badass women, and witchcraft.

Social Issues

‘The Black Flamingo’ by Dean Atta Themes: coming-of-age, gay, drag, poetry, family, heritage, race

Overview: My mum actually gave me this book for Christmas a few years ago and since then it has been one of my favourite Christmas reads. The book is about Michael and his experiences of growing up as a young gay person with Jamaican and Greek-Cypriot heritage. The narrative explores identity and relationships in an incredible way by looking at single mother families and how you create your own family. The book is written beautifully with a lot of poetry woven into the fiction as well as some illustrations that make it visually immersive.

‘The colour purple’ by Alice Walker. Themes: race, lesbian, polyamory, feminism, spirituality, colonialism, family. Trigger Warnings: rape, abuse, racism

Overview: ‘The Colour Purple’ is a classic novel which is still very relevant today. The book tackles many important social issues, as well as exploring lesbianism and polyamory years before these kinds of relationships were talked about in the mainstream. The novel is formatted in letters mostly between Celie, God and her sister. The narrative follows Celie as she goes through life from a teenager given away to an abusive husband, to a lesbian woman starting a business, as well as her sister’s missionary voyage to Africa and back. The books explores topics such as relationships, race, feminism and spirituality beautifully and my favourite quotes are actually when Celie and her lesbian lover discuss who God is and finding religion in nature and every day life. The book may be upsetting to some readers, it starts on the first page with mentions of rape, however it covers these important issues very well.

Girl, Woman, Other’ by Bernadine Evaristo. Themes: race, lesbian, gay, trans, feminism, immigration, family, relationships, Britain. Trigger Warning: sexual abuse, rape, manipulation.

‘Girl. Woman, Other’ has won numerous awards and made it to many university reading lists, and for good reason. The novel explores the lives of twelve characters, all black British women or non-binary people, whose experiences are often intertwined. I love the way the book is written and how some of the stories are intergenerational — exploring different perceptions of shared experiences from daughter to mother to grandmother. Topics in this book include immigration, race, relationships, feminism and a lot more. I have written more about this book in this article if you would like to know more, but I would recommend it as a good read for anyone interested in social issues and family dynamics.

Non-Fiction Environmental Books

Writing Wild’ by Kathryn AaltoThemes: nature writing, eco fiction, feminism, fiction, essays, poetry, travel writing.

This book is a brilliant anthology of women nature writers from the 1800s to present day. Shout-out to my friend Sienna for recommending this to me. I enjoyed it so much. I loved the examples of nature writing (I have so much to add to my reading list now) as well as learning about these incredible women’s lives. Something else I enjoyed about the book was how intersectional it is. Quite a few of the women were LGBT+ which really interests me as those of us in the LGBT+ community rarely hear of people like us in history. The nature writing in this book covers poetry, memoir, non-fiction, travel writing, fiction and more. I can’t recommend it enough.

Vegan Life’ by Jo Peters. Themes: veganism, sustainability, eco-friendly living, lifestyle

This book is a wonderful guide on how to go vegan. It has many handy tips from how to look at diet, how to live more sustainably, and also considering veganism in non food-related ways such as makeup and clothing. This is the perfect book to get anyone who has becoming plant-based on their 2022 resolution list.

Earth Heroes’ by Lily Dyu. Themes: climate heroes, sustainability, hope, activism.

This book turns the doom and gloom climate narrative on its head. One of my favourite sayings on the climate crisis is this quote by Mary Annaïse Heglar: “Climate change defeatism is just as dangerous as denialism”. If we feel hopeless and defeated by the climate crisis then we have no hope of changing things or creating a more sustainable future. This novel is an incredibly inspiring and uplifiting anthology of climate activist heroes who have used their creativity and innovation to make sustainable change on a local and global level. I really enjoyed this and I think this would be a joyous book to give anyone this Christmas.

I hope you have found something you like here. This list is comprised purely of books that I have read and can wholly recommend, however there are many other great activist books out there (which are on my TBR list). If you have any recommendations please do comment down below. And I hope you have a merry Christmas, happy holidays, and a fabulous 2022 full of hope and activism.

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Where Did I Go?

In this article I’m going to share some more personal things than I usually do, to talk a bit about my absence and what to do when activism just feels hopeless.

I haven’t been great at writing my blog recently. I have published one post since April, and that’s it. And that was back in August.

Why have I been so quiet? Where did I go?

The answer is complicated and to do with multiple circumstances. My mental health has been pretty rocky the last year, and then this summer it got worse. This summer had multiple family health scares, bad news, personal life changes, and a big move from Scotland to England. So amid all that I just didn’t have a lot of energy to be working on my blog. But that isn’t all. I have started about five blog posts since April and not posted any of them. Why? Because I feel like a fraud.

I’ve been struggling with imposter syndrome. I don’t feel like I’m a good activist. This is partly because I find it hard to engage with climate activism these days. I’ve experienced a lot of burnout since Covid-19 began, and I’m not able to be as active as I used to be. Pre-Covid I went to protests, I started a society, I engaged with the activist community and educated myself on the climate crisis. But then Covid-19 happened and a lot of personal difficulties that has made me struggle to care anymore.

I think I may be in some kind of climate-crisis-denial. It’s hard to focus on something as huge as the climate crisis when I am struggling just to get through everyday life and work through things on a more personal level. So I think, to protect itself, my brain just isn’t really able to comprehend the big picture issues anymore. This week is COP26 and I haven’t been able to engage with anything around it. Whenever something comes up on my social media about it, nine times out of ten I keep scrolling past. Because I just can’t face it right now.

I have also been feeling… hopeless. Like I can’t really make a difference. There are a lot of things in this world that make me sad. Capitalism, colonialism, structural racism. The meat industry. The corrupt government of Brazil burning down the Amazon Rainforest and killing indigenous people. The UK’s Tory government privatising the NHS, opening up a new oil field, greenwashing, and how people still vote for them. I’ve tried to start articles on these topics but every time it feels too big and overwhelming and I don’t know quite how to express my fear so I just shut down. They stay untouched in my drafts as my fears linger on.

Why am I sharing all these deeply personal feelings with you? I guess there’s a few reasons. For one thing, I want to come back. I want to write on the blog again. But I’m maybe also asking you to be patient with me if I don’t write pieces that tackle the big picture. I want to be able to write those things one day, but at the moment I think I am going to ease myself into it with some lighter articles, maybe even some more joyous or festive things. I’m also going to try to stop feeling like I have to be perfect. Some of my blog posts may be a little messy, like this one, but I’m learning that that’s okay. I believe in imperfect activism. All we can do is our best.

I also wanted to share this so that if you also feel this way then you know you are not alone. It can be really hard to care about something so intangible, that feels so out of your control, when you have so much going on in your personal life. Sometimes the only thing you can do is survive. And that’s okay. I guess my advice to you though if you want to keep being an activist is to do what I’m trying to do… reflect on your feelings, continue your activism in little ways that aren’t overwhelming, and maybe follow people on social media, or listen to podcast, that inspire you and give you hope instead of making you feel hopeless. For example, I’ve been listening to The Bad Activist Podcast lately and their episodes on love and activism, or artists being radical, make me feel inspired. It gets the cogs working in my head again, and even if it’s only for the duration of the episode, I’m hoping these little bursts will build up and that one day I can really care again. For now, I’ll keep trying. Because that’s all that we can do.

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Inspiring Activists: Chrissy Holmes

This week I am excited to be interviewing Chrissy Holmes, who is an environmental activist and artist from my hometown of Bristol. As well as setting up her own small business on Etsy, she is also raising activists of her own, and working at Bristol’s first ever zero waste store, Zero Green. I’ve admired Chrissy’s nature themed art on Instagram for ages as well as her passion for the environment, so I am thrilled that she has agreed to do an interview with me today.

What made you want to start up your eco-friendly art business?

I love painting and drawing. It helps me focus, direct my attention on something and I can mentally shut everything else out. I suppose it is almost a meditative process for me and I don’t feel quite right when if I haven’t done anything creative for some time. Being able to make a living from my passion has always been a dream for me. I am a long way off art being my sole income but maybe one day!

What inspires you?

Nature has always been my source of inspiration. The beauty of our natural world, its vitality and fragility. My intention is to celebrate nature, and in that celebration I hope to inspire in people who see my work to love and protect our planet.

I noticed that nature features a lot in your art, is nature also a big part of your activism? 

I started working on my Natures Alphabet after the birth of my second child. That was when I began to fully understand the severity of the climate crisis and it terrified me to think of the future and what kind of world my children would be growing up in. I was feeling deep despair and one way out of it was to direct my fear and love into painting. Painting and focusing on nature. Kind of like trying to make it permanent in paint, like self care. Can self care be activism? Preservation – self preservation and planetary preservation. Perhaps.

As a mother, how do you feel about the climate crisis, and how do you try and raise your children sustainably?

My children both love the outdoors and all the creatures they encounter! They probably know way more about animals than I do as they love watching nature documentaries. My daughter, who is nearly 9, is beginning to understand about climate change and it makes her sad that animals are being driven into extinction because of it. This is challenging for me as a parent as I want to tell her there’s nothing to worry about, and make it all better, yet I can’t. What I do instead is tell her some of the exciting success stories in re-wilding/ protecting endangered species and carbon sequestering initiatives that are taking place. I want to give her hope that human ingenuity can get us out of this mess.

We try to live as sustainably as possible – avoiding too much plastic packaging, shopping locally, second hand clothes, green energy etc. I don’t stress too much about these things though as we need system change more than individual change.

You also work at Zero Green Bristol, can you tell us more about them? 

Zero Green is Bristol’s first zero waste shop. They opened 3 years ago and have expanded in that time with more staff and to a larger premises. It is not just about ditching the plastic in Zero Green, as they are also hugely ethical – selling organic and fair trade vegan products and also paying their staff the living wage.

What do you love most about working with Zero Green?

It is so wonderful to work somewhere that is in line with my ethics. Everyone I work with is interesting and we are all planet loving people involved in environmental projects outside of work. I also really enjoy of my chats with our customers. So many interesting people shop at Zero Green and it makes me feel good to witness many people trying to do their bit for the environment.

What is your favourite thing about Bristol?

I love how green it is! How it’s brimming with allotments, community gardens, farms and there’s so many initiatives that are environmentally focused in the city.

What is something you would change about Bristol?

The raising homelessness saddens me and also the air pollution needs to be tackled as its is dangerously high.

Why did you choose to give some of your art profits to Avon Needs Trees? 

I have chosen two tree charities to donate to. I donate all the profits from my Natures Alphabet cards to Tree Aid. They are regenerating drylands across Africa and helping local communities thrive by planting trees. They are also one of the main charities involved in The Great Green Wall – a monumental scaled project to plant a wall of trees across the breadth of Africa. I have raised over £200 for this charity so far!

I donate money from my Make Mankind Earthkind prints and postcards to Avon Needs Trees. This is another land regeneration charity but more local. Avon Needs Trees has bought two areas of land and are reforesting them to help tackle climate change, boost local biodiversity and also work to prevent flooding.

Giving money to charity made from my art helps complete its intention – to raise awareness and as a by-produt – funds to protecting and supporting our environment.

Any advice for other people who want to have an eco friendly job like you or make activist art? 

I don’t feel qualified to give advice as I don’t really think of myself as a success!! But I am just a person who is passionate about art and the environment and this directs my decision making.

Thank you so much Chrissy for answering these questions and for all of the amazing and inspiring work that you do. Make sure to follow Chrissy’s activism on her Instagram and please do support her art by taking a look at her Etsy.

Do you know of any inspiring activists you’d like to see interviewed? I’d love to see your suggestions, please comment down below.

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4 Activists On How To Handle Burnout

In this article, four activists (including myself) look at the topic of burnout — what causes it, how to avoid it and how to handle it in day to day life.

A lot of us experience burnout, but what actually is it? According to Psychology Today, “Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and often physical exhaustion brought on by prolonged or repeated stress.” Burnout can leave you feeling exhausted, lethargic, and sometimes physically ill. It is your body’s way of telling you that’s you’re doing too much and you need to slow down. Anyone can experience burnout, but it might be more common for those who are students or those with a stressful job or living environment — and it is quite common with activists.

Activists often take the weight of the world on their shoulders as they realise that things need to change, and they are a key part of making that change. This responsibility is exhausting, and can lead them to believing that they have to work constantly. Plus, activists often aren’t paid for the work they do, which means a lot of them have to hold a job alongside their hours of activism. This can be pretty exhausting to say the least. So I have talked to three activists — who I have previously interviewed if you want to learn more about them — Shona Louise, Tori Tsui, and Grace Kress, on their take on burnout.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Shona Louise:

For me handling burnout begins with being able to recognise it in the first place, and trying to avoid it happening rather than letting it get to the point where it’s overwhelming me. Like many people, my activism is mostly online right now and occasionally I’ll have a tweet take-off. In these instances I find it really important to remember that I cannot reply to everyone, and it’s okay to mute the thread if I need to. I used to get stuck in the trap of replying to every single tweet and it would just exhaust me, so these days handling burnout for me is more about taking steps to avoid it.

Having boundaries is really important, especially online, so don’t feel bad for needing to take a step back. Let someone else take the wheel every now and then.

Photo by Ivan Samkov on Pexels.com

Tori Tsui:

Burnout has been normalised as the blue print of activism and the capitalistic system. It is precisely why we have to actively resist and dismantle these expectations in order to transform our societies radically. Rest is an active form of resistance in a world which treats people as disposable.

Photo by Sasha Prasastika on Pexels.com

Grace Kress

In a society that is profoundly sick, it is ever more important that we focus on healing ourselves, caring for those around us and working towards futures of freedom and joy. In a Capitalist society there needs to be a working class in order for wealth to be generated. Capitalism is founded on exploitation. In order to generate wealth there has to be poverty and that’s why low paid jobs exist and why they are typically the most essential roles within society; care work, cleaning, the production and sale of food etc. We are taught societal myths from an early age, such as, ‘work hard and you will go far’. But our reality is very much a different picture.

The culture of over-working and basing our value on our productivity comes directly from the economic system of Capitalism. It is all too easy to base our self-worth within the confines of the social framework, forgetting that this framework exists in order to sell us stuff and perpetuate the status quo. Liking yourself is revolutionary.

Even deeper than this, to really explore burn-out we have to address our history. Slavery is very obvious and direct example which illustrated how labour has been exploited in order for wealth to be generated. Working conditions were poor and people were worked non-stop in order to make white wealthy people even richer. Similarly, the system of Imperialism continues to exploit international labour and plunders resources of the global south through domination and war.

So when so much of our lives are consumed by work – day jobs, night jobs, raising children, house work, campaigning etc… how do we ensure we don’t burn out?

I really believe that creative expression is the foundation of our freedom. It helps us reflect, rest and rejuvenate. It helps us connect, develop community and explore collaborative processes. It helps us to understand our place in the world, imagine the futures we want to create and even dive deep into the unknown with a sense of exploration and joy rather than fear. Creativity can give us more life. This is a part of why I created Shelby x Studios. I wanted to create a space to connect with other people who also want to create a world with community care at its core.

I also think that to avoid burn out we need to acknowledge that it exists. Here are some of my regular thoughts on how to avoid it:

  • Join a revolutionary movement and participate in collective action
  • Set boundaries on how much energy you can afford to give
  • Remember that you can’t offer anything if you are not in a place to
  • Remind yourself that whatever you can offer is enough
  • Sometimes just surviving another day is enough
  • Practice affirmations to remind you of the positive things and ground yourself
  • Rest, sleep, stretch, meditate, eat, drink plenty of water
  • Disconnect from technology and get in nature as regularly as you can
  • If your body, mind or spirit is telling you something, listen
  • Check in with yourself regularly and build collective care practices
Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com

Me (Kaja Brown):

I actually emailed these brilliant activists months ago asking if they’d be happy to contribute to an article on burnout. And then I got burnt-out myself and didn’t getting around to writing up the post. I’ve been a university student for the last four years, and alongside that I’ve also had jobs, worked for magazines, been involved with activism, and of course started this blog. Although all these opportunities have been amazing, it has also meant I experience a lot of burnout. And for me this is very physical. When I get burnt-out I am tired all the time, I get ill with colds/ earache/ or headaches, and it is hard for me to go on with what I feel like I need to do.

I think something that has helped me is in realising that rest and doing things you enjoy are just as important as doing the things you feel you *have* to do. If you don’t take the time out for yourself, then you won’t be able to sustain the work you want to do. I love taking baths with herbs and salts, reading, napping, going on walks, or baking, as all of this gives my brain a break and rejuvenates me before I start my next project. I get frustrated at myself sometimes, especially as I don’t seem to be able to do as much as I did before the pandemic, but I think that’s natural and you just need to keep reminding yourself that you are enough, and that relaxation is essential.

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So there we are, I hope those tips help you guys with your own burnout. Thank you so much Shona Louise, Tori Tsui, and Grace Kress for your help! Don’t forget to check out their work for more of their brilliant ideas and activism.

What do you guys deal with burnout? Leave a comment below!

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Why You Should Read This Book!

Book Review of Alix E. Harrow’s The Once and Future Witches by Kaja Brown.

The will, the words, and the ways – these are the only things you need for witchcraft according to The Once and Future Witches, and it’s no mistake that this is all you need to be an activist too. The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow is a fictional grimoire filled with tantalising tales that would make even the shyest witch don her suffragette sash and take to the streets in protest.

And this book has worked its magic on me. It includes everything I love; strong female protagonists; lesbian main characters; folklore, magic and activism — all woven into one fantastic novel. Top this with Harrow’s beautiful and compelling writing style and this makes for a spell book that is nearly impossible to step away from.

The story is set in an alternative 19th century New Salem and follows three sisters, James Juniper, Agnes Amaranth, and Beatrice Belladonna – who are respectively a mother, maiden and a crone – that set out to find the lost ways of witchcraft to give women the power in an oppressive, misogynistic society. This book tips out the contents of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible and uses the history of the Salem Witch Trials to create something new and profound. 

These themes are incredibly important at a time when 97% of women in the UK have reported being harassed on the streets, and we are still reeling after the brutal murder of Sarah Everard. We need books like this which explore the importance of feminism and the resilience and power of women. The protagonists of the novel seek out to smash the oppressive nature of the white patriarchy and do so by forming an activist group of people from all backgrounds (women of colour, working class, trans, lesbian, mothers, sex workers, etc.) to pool their resources and use the forgotten ways of witchcraft to bring about social change. The book tackles many issues and looks at how although things are horrible for women, they are even worse for women of colour, and the character Miss Cleopatra Quinn, (who may also be an exciting love interest for one of the sisters) helps educate the sisters and the reader on matters of equality and institutional racism.

This book is clearly thoroughly researched and weaves history, folklore, fairytales and spells into the fabric of the story. Something I particularly enjoyed within this novel is the use of folk tales and nursery rhymes. It is discovered that although women are not allowed to practise witchcraft, the witchy ways have been passed down in ‘women’s things’ such as fairy tales for children, poetry books, stitching and recipes. Some chapters are separated with full fairy tales with Harrow’s own take on them, which readers will enjoy if they are a fan of Jeanette Winterson’s Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit or Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber. The tales serve a purpose of grounding or foreshadowing events in the book as well as drawing out the misconceptions of evil witches and what these characters truly represent. The world building is incredible and it is all these tales and details which makes it an incredibly immersive read.

I can’t recommend it enough. The Once and Future Witches left me contemplating philosophy, society, feminism and my own views on witchcraft and left me with a political itch that’s hard to scratch. If you want a read that will put a fire in your belly, to help you through this tumultuous time when we feel the most powerless, then this is it. Learn to reclaim your power, just as the three sisters do in this book.

And please let me know what you think once you have read it. 

Did you enjoy this book review? Please let me know down below! Also please recommend other books you love that have themes of activism and powerful women in them.

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Martyn Brown: Poet, Anarchist, Collector

Martyn Henry Brown was a man of many talents and passions, a lot of which he passed down and shared with his family. Today, April 6th 2021, would have been his 82nd birthday. I was so lucky to have Martyn Brown as my Grandad and I’d like to share with you some of the great things I learned from him.

Love and respect nature

I remember once I was in the back garden picking mulberries from Grandad’s precious mulberry tree, when I hoisted myself up onto the brick wall and Grandad told me to be careful. I’d just kicked some moss to the ground without thinking of it. He pointed to the rest of the moss on the wall and said to me: “You know, the moss feels things, just like me and you.” I didn’t quite understand how moss could feel things and I was confused about this statement for many years. But it instantly made me respect nature and consider my relationship with it.

Grandad loved nature, he was a bird watcher and knew the names of plants and animals which he passed down to his daughters. I remember one time when I was ten I was walking with him behind a hotel in Italy and he would get all excited as he pointed out lizards and dragon flies to me. I knew in that moment that he felt the same bliss at seeing them that I did.

One of Grandad’s poems about Swifts learning to fly

Express Yourself

Grandad expressed himself in many many ways — his fashion, music, poetry, and his giant museum-like collection of antiques. He was always wearing his jewellery and had a closet that could house Narnia. He encouraged his New Romantic daughters when they combed their hair big, shaved it short, and posed in gothic clothes in graveyards. He similarly encouraged me and my cousin’s fashion sense and even gave me some of my skull rings, waistcoats, and loud jewellery. He didn’t care about gender norms or what other people thought, he just thought people should express themselves however they wanted. I’m so grateful to have had a grandad who felt like this.

The written word is emotional

I remember in year seven I wrote an emotional poem about being bullied and standing up for yourself. I was studying Shakespeare at the time and my poetry had some wild language and imagery interlaced in it. I proudly read it out to my family at a dinner out somewhere, and my Grandad was so impressed with me he took me aside after and said with an emotion-filled voice that he loved it.

Fast forward eight years, after he had had his diagnosis, when we were sitting in my nan and grandad’s living room and I asked him to read out some of his poetry. He read a poem about meeting my nan and marrying her. He started crying halfway through the poem and read the rest all chocked up. It was because of grandad I realised how much weight and emotion is carried in the written word.

The first time I saw you, you were dancing with a girlfriend

In a dancehall, around two handbags.

I too was with my friends from my unit in the Army.

I claimed a dance, but you refused me oh so politely,

So I persisted and you resisted until eventually you gave in.

When we married you wore a Chanel suit,

Not quite lilac but pink, with a hat.

And oh, did we speak.

Poem by Martyn Brown

Acceptance

My grandad was the joint-head of a family filled with pagans, queers, non-conforming political women and Rockstar men, and he accepted us all. He wasn’t phased by me being gay, or writing an essay in a book about my (strong) feelings on the absurdity of gender roles. In fact, I dedicated this essay to him because it was grandad’s belief in self expression and his acceptance and support which led me to where I am today. He loved me so much for being just who I am. I wish I had more time to tell him how much that meant to me.

My grandad was a poet, a musician, an anarchist, a wine taster, an antique collector, and so much more. He travelled the world, made many friends in many places, and started a family with my nan. He had an amazing life; being a rascal at school who climbed trees when he wasn’t meant to, working in the first coffee house of Newcastle, playing guitar and and even meeting The Beatles. He was an amazing and complex husband, dad and grandfather. We shared a lot of loves; nature, poetry, Chaucer, and a sense of creativity, wonderment and humour. I miss him so much. He passed in 2020, at the end of his birth month. But he will always live on in our memories. And I hope that from this you take a piece of him with you and believe in yourself. Write that poem, wear that statement piece, go out in nature and lose yourself in the poetry of the world. Do it with a glass of wine if you want to (he would.)

Happy birthday Grandad. I love you.

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Why am I a vegetarian & trying to go vegan?

Even though Veganuary is up, for a lot of people being plant-based is a long term investment. In this article I wanted to talk a bit about my own journey to vegetarianism and the current changes I’m making towards veganism. I’ll be answering a few common questions about the subject, so if you’re interested in either vegetarianism/ veganism then I hope this helps!

Why did I become vegetarian in the first place?

I’ve always loved animals, and I’ve always been strongly against animal cruelty and exploitation. It wasn’t until I was seventeen, sitting in Philosophy class where the majority of girls were vegetarian/ vegan, that I really made the connection between the animals I loved and the meat on my plate. I think that’s how a lot of people eat meat — they see it as a food and not something that was alive. For me that moment where it just clicked was the start of a really important journey.

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Was it hard to become vegetarian?

I didn’t find it hard to give up meat at all. The only mistake I made was having a very plain diet – eating just pasta with tomato sauce, or chips and toasties for a while. (I guess that is the student experience). Because of this I got extremely low Iron and B12 levels which made me tired and dizzy all the time. But this was a wake up call and I looked up which foods I could find had the most iron and B12 and started incorporating them into my diet. I cooked with quinoa, kale, tofu and Quorn pieces for the first time. I started looking up recipes and experimenting and had more fun with cooking than I ever had before.

The only other thing I found hard was giving up fish. I’m half-Icelandic, my girlfriend is Norwegian, and fish is a staple in Nordic diets. I did really like fish, so for a while I was pescatarian – thinking in my mind well at least fish get to live in the sea instead of horrible factory farms. But after a while I educated myself on how bad fishing is for the sea and how cruel super trawlers really are and I went fully vegetarian.

Photo by Bedis ElAcheche on Pexels.com

Do I ever get meat cravings?

In my first year of being a vegetarian I sometimes gave into my cravings and had say a bacon sandwich, and I always found I was disappointed afterwards, and that the meat never tasted as good as I remembered. I then realised that if my body is craving meat then what is there in meat that I really want? Maybe I needed more protein or iron? Then I would incorporate that into my diet and the craving would go away.

Have people called me preachy?

When I started out as a vegetarian I was so scared of becoming one of those preachy types that the media stigmatised. But strangely enough I found a lot more meat-eaters preaching their lifestyle to me. All I would say is that I’m a vegetarian (usually because I had to in a dining situation) and people would suddenly get defensive about why they eat meat and how they could never give it up. Someone even asked me if I had always been a vegetarian and when I said I hadn’t they said, ‘Well at least you haven’t wasted your whole life’. This made me so angry and upset.

So now, I am a bit preachy. I will share posts about how pigs are smarter than dogs and cows have feelings, or how being plant-based is better for the environment. Because I care so much about animals and I just want to help people understand why they should too. But I also won’t shame anyone who is trying to be more plant-based but haven’t completely given up meat. It’s a process and every little helps.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Why are am I trying to be a vegan?

Over the last few years I’ve made changes in my diet to go more vegan because the egg and dairy industries are just as cruel as meat. Cows have to be pregnant to produce milk, and often their babies are ripped from them just after birth and soon they will be inseminated again. Cows have emotional attachments and can cry for their babies for days. And if the baby was a male, it is often slaughtered, and if it is female it is subjected to the same life it’s mother has had. Hens are often brought up in horrible conditions in order to lay their eggs. Even if the carton says the hens are free range, this is a very loose term, and often the chickens are still suffering.

That sounds horrible, so why aren’t you fully vegan yet?

I find that a change in diet takes time, experimentation, and also some education. For example, I was vegetarian for three years before I realised that marshmallows had pig gelatine in and had to start looking for specifically vegetarian marshmallows (M&S do some great ones). Although cutting out all animal products straight away is great, that isn’t for everyone, and if you are really attached to a product, say cheese, and you eat that but still stop drinking cows milk or eating eggs then you will still be making a great difference over time.

Photo by Fuzzy Rescue on Pexels.com

What vegan changes have you made and how easy was it?

Three years ago I transitioned from dairy milk to vegan milk with my morning cereal. This took a few tries of finding the right one. Neither me or my partner liked oat or almond milk. Eventually we agreed that we liked rice milk best and we’ve been using it ever since. Around the same time I started using non dairy butter which was also a pretty easy transition.

For eggs, I’ve started using eggs substitutes. For breakfast I make scrambled tofu which is so so good, I honestly prefer it to normal scrambled eggs. (Check out my Instagram for the recipe). In baking I use chia seeds or a substitute I bought and honestly I haven’t been able to tell a difference.

Cheese is the hardest thing. I do love cheese, but I have been trying out vegan cheeses and I really like ‘Violife’ so far. I’m excited to keep on trying new things.

I’m also trying to be more conscious with non-foody things like make-up products. I’ve found Superdrug really helpful as their own line are all vegan and cruelty free and if you ask workers there which makeup is vegan/cruelty free they’ll be able to point them out for you.

Nachos made with Quorn pieces and vegan cheese

Is it expensive being plant-based?

I’m not going to lie, a lot of ‘alternative’ foods can be expensive, and that goes for anything. I’m gluten intolerant, and things like alternative gluten-free pastas are way more expensive than normal wheat pasta. So I guess because I had already had to buy more expensive gluten-free things, it didn’t come as a shock to me that rice milk is more expensive than dairy milk.

Saying that though, the more people buy these things, the more demand there is for it, and the cheaper it becomes. A lot more people are buying vegetarian and vegan products than ever before, and as a result some supermarkets are cashing in and making affordable own-brand vegan products (Morrisons have some yummy vegan ice cream for just 80p!) There’s also things you can do to save money, like bulk buying, making your own vegan milk from oats, and utilising your city’s community fridge if you have one. Also, things like steak or fish can be really expensive, so by going plant-based you save money there.

Is there one right way to become a vegetarian/ vegan?

I would say absolutely not. For some people veganuary really works for them, for me it really doesn’t as I need to take my time with things. Some people will need to transition slowly with having less meat based meals, for me I gave it up after a quick decision. You just have to listen to your body, educate yourself, and take it one step at a time. Obviously I would love it if everyone was plant-based and no animals had to suffer, but until that day, we just have to keep trying to make the world a better place for everyone.

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch on Pexels.com

So that’s my experiences with being plant-based, I know there are so many other aspects to it, so if you have any more questions feel free to ask them below and maybe I’ll make a second post on this topic.

Let me know if you found this useful and would like more posts like this!

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Inspiring Activists: Judith Brown

This post is a special one as it’s about someone who has inspired me for my entire life. She’s one of the strongest women I know, and where I get a big part of my activist spirit. This inspiring activist is Judith Brown — my Nan.

Judith Brown is the Ambassador for Bristol’s Older People’s Forum, which she was also the Chair of for over ten years, and she helps run BAB (Bristol Ageing better) as a Trustee. Both of these groups are there to make older people’s lives better and to advocate for them in a society that often overlooks and undervalues the older generations. Bristol’s Older People’s Forum promotes the rights of older people in the city of Bristol by informing, campaigning, and working with key local, regional and national partners, and Bristol Ageing Better works as a partnership of individuals and organisations working together to reduce isolation and loneliness among older people in Bristol. Judith has worked hard within these organisations to create awareness of older people’s rights and has been directly involved in the BAB Aadmin animation short about loneliness as well as the Babbers broadcast with Ujima Radio which was run by and for Bristolian older people who wanted to make their voices heard. The show presented a positive depiction of ageing and challenged stereotypes for five years.

As well as being apart of this collective action, Judith has also campaigned for older people on an individual level by starting petitions, talking to politicians, and even uploading a song on YouTube about how important older people’s bus passes are. Judith doesn’t just campaign for the rights of older people though, she has been working all her life to fight for equality. In an interview on Babbers, Judith talked about how she was influenced by the strong women in her life to help other people. When she was a child she saw her grandmother standing up to defend a neighbour and her family from an abusive partner. This made quite an impact on her, and inspired her to stand up for others. Judith did this in part by working with the NHS and being a Nurse Welfare Worker and Social Services Trainer before she retired. She has also been on Pride Marches, protests against the Tampon Tax, protests against the Tories’ public sector cuts (Nan took me to this when I was about twelve, it was the first protest I had been too and had a real impact on me). Judith was even present at the famous Greenham Common protest back in the 1980s, which was an incredibly important part of Feminist & Green activist history.

Judith has done a lot for society and particularly Bristol’s communities. Her work has been recognised with several awards and she has deserves all the recognition. But… I’m going to stop being so formal now. I wanted to talk to you about her like this so you can see all the amazing work she has done. But to call her Judith Brown is weird to me, because she is my Nan. And it would be amiss to talk about all Nan’s achievements without mentioning how she did all this whilst also raising two strong women and helping raise her grandchildren too. My Nan has been there for me all my life. My dad left me as a baby and until my step-dad came into the picture, my Nan stepped into that dad role to help my mum raise me.

Nan has greatly influenced who I am, and she has always supported me in following my dreams and working as an activist to help society be better. In fact, her example has inspired everyone in my family to hold these values. My mum works to help young people in a college, my aunty works in a nursing home, my cousin works at a care home…. I feel like my nan has influenced all of us to have the same drive that she has in wanting to help people and change the world. I love her and appreciate her so much for this, I can’t even begin to describe it.

I wanted to share a bit about my Nan with you because I think with all the jokes about older people being stuck in the past, we forget how the older generations blazed the trail for current activism. My Nan has been an activist all her life, and today she is 82 years old. She is a strong woman, a mother, grandmother, activist, ambassador and more. When I asked Nan what her advice would be for the younger generations in this interview series for Rife, she said it would be to always stay true to yourself. This is the lesson she has lived by. And I am so proud of her.

Thank you Nan for all the work you have done and for being such an inspiration. I love you so much. Happy birthday.

If you want to wish my Nan a happy birthday, feel free to comment down below. I’ll make sure to tell her about all the birthday wishes. Thank you for reading this article and sharing in the love of my nan with me.

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