themadpoker

I've found these two articles useful primers for beginning to understand what's happening in Libya and Bahrain right now.

What's Happening in Libya: Explained

What's Happening in Bahrain: Explained

I also found this news round-up on tumblr. It's current as of yesterday.

If you're looking for ways to help, Avaaz.org is currently working to black out proof the protests. They're a really good social justice organization in general, so you may want to sign up for their newsletter to stay updated on their work.

Both Al Jazeera and Jadaliyya are offering coverage of the protests. This article on Libya is being continuously updated, it's current as of two hours ago.

If you know of other organizations offering coverage or aid please feel free to contribute links in the comments. I'll edit this post to add anything else in.

EDIT: Online petition to the UN to send help to Libya.

I meant to signal boost this earlier but I forgot. Got reminded through a conversation about the racefail of the Avatar movie with thatdayismine. Thanks Nav!

These Are My Colours

If you think that stories are not important, if you think a movie that just removed real world people from the landscape of a source material that respected and loved their 5000 years of culture and history is no big deal, if you've never known what it means to be erased from your own world and told to be thankful for it, I want you to do something for me.

Stop thinking. Stop feeling. Put down your books, put down your pens, forget your stories. Close your eyes and plug your ears. Forget what your story sounds like. You have no myths. You have no history. Stop breathing with your heart and living in your head. Your dreams are worthless, because they are not real. They are not tangible. You can't sell them. They are worthless. Go outside and consume, consume, consume. But never question. Never speak. Never dare to feel that you've been malnourished or mistreated. Never, ever admit that you have been poisoned. Be satisfied; you are well fed.

Remember: It's no big deal. It doesn't matter. And neither do you.

Please don't watch the Avatar movie guys.