From the Australia Institute report earlier this year (https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/gun-control-in-australia/):

“Despite Australia’s significant gun reforms following the 1996 Port Arthur Massacre, there are now over four million guns owned by civilians nationwide — 25% higher than in 1996. This equates to one firearm for every seven Australians.”

Fuck guns. There’s no reason to have anything like this number of them accessible.

Today, 15 March, 2025, is #LongCOVIDAwarenessDay. We stand with those affected, advocate for research, and raise awareness for better care and recovery. 💙

#LongCOVID #COVIDisNotOVER

I believe #COVID19 reinfections are harming immune systems. But, I think some COVID influencers over-promote every celebrity or athlete who gets ill as if COVID's the cause.

Just like vax deniers who claim every premature death is vaccine injury, it is equally disingenuous to imply COVID is the cause of every illness. People got colds and flu before COVID, just like they do today.

We encourage people to distrust us when we speculate. The facts are bad enough and speak for themselves, IMO.

deeply concerning to propose banning face masks at protests.

with the accessibility of facial recognition technology, not to mention other surveillance technologies and methods, masks are crucial to the right to protest peacefully without facing recriminations or harassment.

Welp…

Right now the despair is prevailing. Not quite sure how to move past these feelings, but I need to find a way. Tonight I guess I’ll lean into the sorrow.

And then: we all need to support trans folks, people of colour, women, migrants and those seeking asylum. Everywhere. Because when a fascist is in power in the US, it’s going to embolden fascists everywhere else too.

PLEASE RT THIS SO AMERICANS RESIDENT OVERSEAS LEARN OF A LITTLE-KNOWN WAY TO VOTE ABSENTEE AS LATE AS ELECTION DAY!!

I’ve mentioned here before how my Texas absentee ballot was, erm, never received by the Tarrant County Clerk. I gave a call to the always helpful AARO - Association of Americans Resident Overseas - and the always helpful staff there told me of something that, in 17 total years of living abroad, I never knew:

The US Federal Government provides what AARO refers to as an “emergency absentee ballot”. It is available online at https://www.fvap.gov/.

It is good for Service members, their families and overseas American citizens. You download the ballot, enter your personal information and your state, then the candidates for federal elections like President/Vice President, Senator, Representative; and even state offices you wish to vote for.

Print it out, follow the instructions. Go to your local post office and depending on your state, when you have it postmarked by Election Day it will (purportedly) be counted. Spell everything correctly. Be clear. Type if possible (the ballot may be filled in on your computer. Sign with a wet signature. Use the page provided to construct a security envelope. Put that in an envelope addressed to your district clerk (find it online).

Vote.

Outreachy is getting squeezed financially from reduced funding related to diversity programs and reduced funding for open source orgs. Can you help us spread the word about how important the program is and help us connect to folks who might contribute funding?

https://www.outreachy.org/blog/2024-08-14/outreachy-needs-your-help/

@outreachy
#outreachy

“It’s a direct attack on democracy.”

The attacks on the election have already begun. Incendiary devices set fires to ballot drop boxes in Oregon and Washington state.

If you use a ballot box or mail, be sure to track your ballots to ensure they're received before election day. #VoteBlue

https://apnews.com/article/vote-ballot-drop-box-democracy-fire-f66c52f774955106fb9e7c8172825cff