7 Proven Ways to Improve Bronx Dog Park Safety After Mott Haven Tragedy

Create a safe dog run in Mott Haven! Jonas Silva's mission to provide secure play space for Bronx dogs after tragedy. Support community dog safety initiatives.

#MottHavenDogs #BronxDogPark #DogSafety #CommunityActivism #PetAdvocacy

https://pupquotes.com/blog/bronx-dog-park-safety-mott-haven/

If I had a dollar for every performative, jingoistic, pro-Black race and gender essentialist who, lacking honest self-awareness, has purity tested the authenticity of my Blackness and femininity, exactly like Europeans besotted with the drug of whiteness, I'd be materially wealthy, and as intellectually and ethically bankrupt as my critics.

You do know, former NYC Mayor Eric Adams is, or was, pro-Black, so there obviously are many expressions of what it can mean to be pro-Black, and like the cults of #BlackCapitalism and the #ProsperityGospel, not all of them are demonstrably healthy.

I loved this latest hot take by brother #FDSignifier: “Pro Black” ain't enough no more.
#BlackFedi #BlackMastodon #US #Culture #Politics #DirectAction #CommunityActivism #Socialism #Maoism #MarxismLeninism
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTpvt9UNfvI

The Highway Of Tears: What Happened to Ramona Wilson? (Missing People Documentary) | Real Stories

https://peertube.gravitywell.xyz/w/rrvvbaJxHAQGgcrbw4xBvc

When Liberty Burns: The Tragic Killing of Arthur Lee McDuffie | Real Stories Crime Documentary

https://peertube.gravitywell.xyz/w/oDXCR8mm6agt5NoeFPpwgq

Rebuilding Trust: The City That Sat Down With The Police (Crime Documentary) | Real Stories

https://peertube.gravitywell.xyz/w/ho2vMUDUnJYezbcUFoXLdU

Chicago at the Crossroad (Poverty Documentary) | Real Stories

https://peertube.gravitywell.xyz/w/wTBFgHsipsj94RBAmsBapo

How #Guatemala, #Mexico, and #Belize plan to protect 14 million acres of #Mayan #forest

Mexico, Guatemala and Belize have announced plans to create a huge reserve of tropical forest spanning across the three countries. Pushing out criminal gangs and protecting the land from ranchers, miners and loggers won’t be easy.

Aug. 21, 2025

Excerpt: "One proposal from Mexico is the expansion of its '#PlantingLife' program, which offers landowners money to grow certain kinds of trees either for fruit or timber. The program has a $2 billion budget, Bárcena said.

"But the program, which dates to ex-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has faced criticism. In 2021, the World Resources Institute reported that it had actually incentivized deforestation in Campeche state. Bárcena said the program is being adjusted to better meet environmental objectives.

"Mexican sustainability and climate action expert Juan Carlos Franco, who works in southern Mexico, said security is crucial and requires the government to act as 'guarantor.' But the work has to be carried out with civil society in the local communities, including in places where locals have found ways to coexist with the illegal activity surrounding them, he said.

" 'Communities oriented toward the #biocultural management of the territory can overcome despite the crime, that’s the most revealing message,' he said.

No #megaprojects

"Another challenge will be holding governments over the long term to commitments to forgo big projects that promise economic development but threaten #EnvironmentalDamage, such as Mexico’s tourist rail operation, the Maya Train, which Belize is interested in extending to its territory.

"Orantes, the Guatemala minister, said that Guatemalan President #BernardoArévalo would not allow megaprojects in the reserve because when access is opened in the forest it becomes difficult to control everything that follows.

"Arévalo recently declined to renew the contract of a #petroleum company that had been operating for 40 years in a Guatemalan reserve known as the #MayaBiosphere.

"Guatemala is making the largest land contribution to the reserve, encompassing 27 existing protected areas. Arévalo had already made clear that he would not run an extension of the Maya Train proposed by Mexico’s last president through protected areas.

"In Mexico, Bárcena noted that the 950-mile (1,500-kilometer) train line, which started running in late 2023 and goes in a rough loop around the Yucatan Peninsula, lies outside the new reserve’s territory.
She said her agency was working to alleviate some of the environmental impacts of the train line, in collaboration with companies operated by the Mexican Army, which built a large portion of the rail line and operates the train.

"To avoid destructive projects in the new reserve, the three governments agreed to create a council made up of environmental authorities, as well as an #Indigenous advisory council, Bárcena said. Any proposed projects in the reserve would have to pass through them."

Read more:
https://www.thestar.com/news/world/americas/how-guatemala-mexico-and-belize-plan-to-protect-14-million-acres-of-mayan-forest/article_20e22c99-d965-528f-90b6-20e93296c85f.html

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/GyXR8

#SolarPunkSunday #ProtectTheForest #IndigenousPeople #CommunityActivism

DFW Independent Coalition of Kitty-Loving Satanists

Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project

Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/06/13

The DFW Independent Coalition of Kitty-loving Satanists formed after a schism in The Satanic Temple (TST) in May 2024, when its founder fired a respected minister over a meme. Many congregations, including DFW, chose independence due to perceived authoritarianism. The group embraces non-theistic Satanism, emphasizing science, reason, and rebellion against tyranny. Nightingale is the current leader. They maintain a welcoming community, particularly for marginalized groups, and uphold modified TST tenets. Their activism focuses on community service rather than stunts. Media portrayals of Satanists remain biased. The Coalition is restructuring and expanding, with engagement through Facebook and Discord. A related podcast, Satanists Are People Too, provides insights.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What inspired the formation of the DFW Independent Coalition of Kitty-loving Satanists, and how has the group developed since its creation?

Nightingale: The formation of the DFW Independent Coalition of Kitty-loving Satanists was a FAFO situation that, honestly, if answered in full, could fill an entire book.  We were previously a local congregation of TST (The Satanic Temple) in Dallas, Fort Worth.  Back in May of 2024, a great schism was initiated by the founder of TST in which he fired a very respected minister from another congregation because of a meme he posted and didn’t approve of.  He pitched a hissy fit in a very childish and authoritarian way, and anyone who stood up for the minister was also fired.  Within a month or two, over half of the congregation heads were fired, and more chose to leave alone.  This not only included U.S. congregations but overseas congregations too.  Many of those who stayed and defended the founder’s actions became very hostile, and their true colours emerged.  TST was no longer a safe space nor a community-driven religion, and it lost sight of the tenets it claimed to be founded upon.  Several leaders within the organization also quit due to the founder’s actions, including the director of the ministry. This major schism caused much unease and painted a clear picture of the path in which TST was headed.  Because of this, our local congregation members voted and decided to leave TST and become independent, as did multiple other congregations.  Since becoming independent, we have maintained the local community has grown in numbers and continues to thrive.  

Jacobsen: How does the group define its non-theistic approach to Satanism?

Nightingale: Non-theistic is a nonsupernaturalist view of the world, turning to science as an arbiter of truth claims.  Satan is a literary metaphor for rebellion against tyranny, and the symbols and rituals of Satanism sanctify personal sovereignty, reason, and compassion and give context and meaning to our community.  

Jacobsen: How does the Coalition incorporate empathy and reason into its discussions and activities? 

Nightingale: Part of what led most people to TST was their 7 Tenets.  The first tenant states, “One should strive to act with compassion and empathy toward all creatures in accordance with reason.”  The tenants are still well-respected within independent congregations, although they have now been slightly modified to avoid lawsuits.  Empathy and reason are part of the core of our congregation.  A lot of individuals who are drawn to Satanism find their way here because they were outcasted from elsewhere, mostly in part of their non-conforming, “non-Christian” values.  Many are part of the LBGQT+ community and other marginalized groups.  We embrace these individuals with open arms, accept everyone for who they are, and encourage individuality.  We listen, provide resources for those needing help, and stand up to arbitrary authority.  

Jacobsen: How are the Coalition’s rules and guidelines enforced?

Nightingale: Satanism is very individualistic, and there is no one way to practice it.  Though we are very accepting of many forms, we do not tolerate bigotry or racism.  One could have many red flags, and if you display one, you are banned.  Part of our job as leaders is to protect our members; as you can imagine, there are many infiltrators.  We attempt to screen individuals initially, but some do slip by.  It usually doesn’t take long to find those who don’t belong and remove them from our community.  

Jacobsen: What were the circumstances for the departure from TST as an independent coalition? 

Nightingale: I answered most of that in question 1, but to reiterate, it was a unanimously voted-on decision by vetted congregation members to leave and go independent based on the actions of the founder of TST and their direction moving forward.   

Jacobsen: How does the “kitty-loving” aspect contribute to the group’s identity and community culture? I endorse this very much as a fellow non-theist Satanist. 

Nightingale: So that’s actually a funny story.  For some reason, Satanists love acronyms; I mean, who doesn’t?  Once we decided to go independent, we knew we had to act fast, rebrand ourselves and create new online spaces.  Once, one of our leaders came up with the name DFW Independent Coalition of Kitty-loving Satanists, or D.I.C.K.S.  Yes, we do love cats, but that’s just what was chosen to complete the acronym.  We absolutely knew it would be temporary, and we are close to finalizing a new permanent name and logo for ourselves.  

Jacobsen: How can folks engage with left-hand path communities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area?

Nightingale: The first step would be to join our Facebook.  It’s currently called DFW Independent Coalition of Kitty-loving Satanists.  You can request to join and answer a few simple screening questions.  Once approved, you will be part of the community.  We have once-a-month and sometimes twice-month in-person socials in the area and monthly online socials.  Currently, almost every activity we do is posted on Facebook.   After attending three of those and getting to know more about you other than what’s on your Facebook, you can be extended a Discord invite and join the daily discussions on multiple topics with us.  That is the current process.  

Jacobsen: How is the media portraying Satanists in the States now?

Nightingale: As you can imagine, the Trump administration acted very poorly.  As mentioned earlier, most of our members are of marginalized groups, and every day, their rights are being threatened if not taken away completely.  We take measures to protect ourselves and loved ones, and no one is forced to be public about it.  The vast majority of us use Satanisms (names we have created to protect our actual identity), and if anyone tries to or does dox someone, you are banned immediately.  You control who knows any information or your association with us.  Media has always been and will always be what it is: a way to push a specific narrative.  Every media is different and biased; Fox News hates anything not far right-wing Christian extremists, while MSNBC will report on the positive aspects of TST.  AP is as neutral as it gets with the media; they seem to report facts with the least bias.  As far as entertainment media goes, Satanists are nothing like those portrayed in the movies. There are always those outliers that might come close, but they are not associated with us.    We do not perform sacrifices, pray to Satan, sell our souls, or drink blood.  We don’t even believe in a literal Satan (or God, for that matter) or souls.  We are everyday people who work regular jobs, and most of us are private with our Satanism, and you wouldn’t ever know it unless we told you.  

Jacobsen: What are the group’s plans or goals?

Nightingale: Since the schism, we have been in the restructuring phase and are building the framework to become more involved with the community. There is a discussion about joining a larger coalition of congregations and joining more causes. Right now, we continue to be a resource for those in need and help each other just as any church should. We will continue to grow and build a stronger foundation so that others can find a safe place within our community.  

Jacobsen: Satanists have consistently done some of the most creative and fun activism. What would be an ideal activist stunt or presentation to you?

Nightingale: So we’re not interested in doing stunts; the current political climate is far too dangerous for that nonsense.  Activism is a strong aspect of Satanism in the form of standing up to arbitrary authority and defending those who can’t defend themselves.  The Trump administration has made it mainstream and “acceptable” to be a public bigot and has given the green light for closeted nazis to come out.  My take on that is Fuck Nazis, but I don’t expect any member of our congregation to go head-to-head with one.  Instead, we like to practice activism by helping out with food pantries, un-housed initiatives, picking up trash on the freeway, and, in my case, providing healthcare in lower-income areas.  There are many ways to give back to the community, and providing resources to those in need does the most good within the community. Anyone interested in learning more about everyday Satanists, there’s an amazing podcast that our congregation head hosts called “Satanists are People too.”  It can be found on Substack and Spotify.

Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Nightingale.

Last updated May 3, 2025. These terms govern all In Sight Publishing content—past, present, and future—and supersede any prior notices. In Sight Publishing by Scott Douglas Jacobsen is licensed under a Creative Commons BY‑NC‑ND 4.0; © In Sight Publishing by Scott Douglas Jacobsen 2012–Present. All trademarks, performances, databases & branding are owned by their rights holders; no use without permission. Unauthorized copying, modification, framing or public communication is prohibited. External links are not endorsed. Cookies & tracking require consent, and data processing complies with PIPEDA & GDPR; no data from children < 13 (COPPA). Content meets WCAG 2.1 AA under the Accessible Canada Act & is preserved in open archival formats with backups. Excerpts & links require full credit & hyperlink; limited quoting under fair-dealing & fair-use. All content is informational; no liability for errors or omissions: Feedback welcome, and verified errors corrected promptly. For permissions or DMCA notices, email: [email protected]. Site use is governed by BC laws; content is “as‑is,” liability limited, users indemnify us; moral, performers’ & database sui generis rights reserved.

#communityActivism #independentSatanists #marginalizedGroups #mediaBias #nonTheisticSatanism