Lately, two words have been circling in my orbit, surfacing in conversations that on the surface have nothing to do with each other: permaculture and perma-state. They sound similar, but they carry radically different energies. One belongs to the language of ecology, sustainability, and renewal. The other belongs to politics, control, and systems designed…
Category: Blog
Even the Walking Dead Has Lived Experience
At least of two things: being dead, and walking. What about you? When I hear people fret that they “don’t have lived experience,” I sometimes want to laugh. Even the Walking Dead has lived experience, of being dead and of walking. The question isn’t whether you have lived experience. You do. We all do. The…
If You Can’t Honour Us, Stay Home: Tourism Isn’t Neutral
A Birthday, a Journey, a Reckoning My youngest has just turned 18! It’s a huge milestone, not just for him, but for me too. As a single mother, it’s the kind of threshold you imagine when your children are still tiny, when you’re changing nappies, wiping tears, and whispering prayers late into the night. When…
Pathways to Collective Liberation in Syria: Transitional Justice vs. Transformational Intersectional Justice
للقراءة بالعربية هنا Three months after the collapse of the Assad regime, Syria stands at a critical crossroads. Decades of systemic repression, sectarian violence, and transgenerational trauma remain unresolved. Yet, the current government appears unprepared, or unwilling, to engage in meaningful justice processes that fully address the scale of harm. Much of the discourse in…
مسارات نحو التحرر الجمعي في سوريا: العدالة الانتقالية مقابل العدالة التحويلية التقاطعية
English available Here بعد ثلاثة أشهر من انهيار نظام الأسد، تقف سوريا عند مفترق طرق حاسم. لا تزال عقود من القمع الممنهج، والعنف الطائفي، والصدمات (التروما) العابرة للأجيال دون معالجة. ومع ذلك، يبدو أن الحكومة الحالية غير مستعدة، أو غير راغبة، في الانخراط في عمليات عدالة حقيقية تعالج حجم الأضرار بشكل كامل. يتركز جزء كبير…
Understanding Over-Identification in Trauma and Social Justice Work: A Delicate Balance
Trauma and social justice work often require individuals to engage deeply with pain, both personal and communal. For frontline workers and advocates, this engagement can foster a genuine drive to honour the lived realities of marginalised communities. However, navigating this space requires balancing two major traps: spiritual bypassing and self-martyrdom. Over-identification with the trauma of…
أنا و الكون و لعبة الكلمات
فلتقولوا عني مجنونة … لكن قبل ذلك اقرأوا هذه القصة! منذ عشرة أيام حزمت حقائبي وركبت القطار إلى الشمال، إلى مدينة البرد، ملأت حقيبتي بالكثير من التخمينات والتوقعات والتساؤلات والاستشرافات لأسبوع يعد بأن يحمل لي الكثير. لأول مرة منذ ما يزيد عن سبع سنوات سأكون لوحدي طوال ثمانية أيام، دون مسؤوليات، دون ارتباطات، دون أن…
Unpacking the Impact: The Problematic Dynamics of White Tourism in the Global South
As the allure of summer vacation draws many to sunnier, warmer, and more exotic places, we, the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) community, find ourselves grappling with a complex tapestry of emotions. This is especially true when we witness white individuals vacationing in our ancestral lands—lands that bear the deep scars of both historical and ongoing genocide, settler colonialism, and extractive capitalism. In the shadows of these harsh realities, the blissful narratives of travel often overlook or ignore the painful legacy and present-day consequences of white colonialism that still persist in these regions.
Breaking Boxes: Redefining Normal through Representation & Recognition
In today’s interconnected world, the importance of representation and recognition cannot be overstated. From workplaces to media outlets, from public forums to decision-making tables, the need for diverse voices and perspectives is more critical than ever. It’s not just about checking boxes; it’s about creating spaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Join me…
Moving Beyond Silence: From Non-Racism to Anti-Racism
Every now and then, incidents of racism shake our communities, reminding us of the pervasive nature of this issue. From politicians to everyday individuals, racist comments and actions often go unchecked, perpetuating systemic inequalities and undermining the dignity of marginalised communities. Just this week, a Tory donor made a racist comment about Diane Abbott, a…