The good stuff we came across and wrote about this month.
1. My climate anxiety is white hot these days, and if you’re like me, you might appreciate these two action-oriented pieces that helped me get a handle on it. “Climate Optimism” by German Lopez in the New York Times writes about how the world has made genuine progress in slowing climate change in recent years, and how collective action is working—and we have to keep it up. I’m loving Amy Westervelt’s whip-smart and relentless climate coverage. This week she breaks down the much-anticipated reports from the world’s leading climate authority in “We can tackle climate change if big oil gets out of the way” for the Guardian.
2. The new Angela Garbes book, “Essential Labor: Mothering as Social Change“ is about to drop, and it looks like everything that I’m always thinking about in book form. Her previous book, “Like a Mother,” is the thing that I read in stolen moments when I was post-partum that set my brain on fire.
3. This episode with ALOK on We Can Do Hard Things podcast was especially enlightening for me. “What feminine part of yourself did you have to destroy in order to survive in this world? What sets us free?”
4. I have recently become enchanted by the art of Lubaina Himid and Jennifer Packer. I discovered that I can access exhibits and artist talks more easily virtually now, even if I can’t see them in person, through videos like this conversation with Himid and this one with Packer. (Packer is at the Whitney right now and totally worth the visit if you’re near). I love listening to artists talking about their work right now—it’s such a brave time to be creating and trying to make sense of all that we are living through. Sometimes art seems like the only way to capture it.
5. I’m so looking forward to Carley Moore’s new book Panpocalypse in my mailbox this week.
What are you reading, listening to, watching?
ICYMI: This Month from Matriarchy Report
Are we addicted to stories about struggling mothers? Lane wrote about Tina Turner, Greek Tragedy, and the one weird thing that has been proven to solve suffering for caretakers and young children-- but often goes unused.
This interview between Allison and fearless journalist Roxanna Asgarian uncovers how Child Protective Services which is meant to protect children and families has been weaponized against them, especially for families with transgender children.
Good Stuff Friday
I love this inclusion of positive things that ARE happening regarding the climate. And thanks for all of your other good ideas/inspiration to pursue.
The vortex around transgender issues among young people is a mess, and it's not as simple as most people think, regardless of politics. I suggest keeping an eye, for comparative purposes, on what's happening in the UK, and especially reading the nuanced and compassionate interim report from the Cass committee, which is linked to in this piece: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/mar/10/nhs-gender-identity-service-for-children-cant-cope-with-demand-review-finds