Category Archives: Thirdworld
I’m sorry world – Rupi Kaur
I am sorry this world could not keep you safe.. Continue reading
Remember when they burnt down the buses
Marcus’ photos of destruction wrought by right wing violence in Venezuela 2014, of the rain-soaked and bright-eyed supporters at Chavez’s last election rally in 2013, of the kids of the alternative school, are beautiful because they defy the media stereotypes of what these moments, events, and experiences are like. The kids are empowered, rather than receivers … Continue reading
40 Books by Oppressed People in 40 weeks
I’ve set a goal to read 40 novels or fiction/prose works (eg poetry, memoirs) by oppressed people by the end of this year (1 a week). This includes books by authors in thirdworld countries, women, sexually diverse authors, workers, indigenous peoples, people who face systemic racism, poor people, refugees and more. These people are, in … Continue reading
Littlebits from poems about strongliving
Sometimes minds come together and make new things in a conversation. Sometimes different people’s poems and stories meet, shake hands, and unseen magic lingers among the warmth… Here are some excerpts from the poems of a mate and a luchadora, from her books No God but Ghosts and Monsters and other Silent Creatures … April in … Continue reading
Humanity / Injustice / Poetry / Poverty / Thirdworld / World speaking out
Out of suffering…
Some Palestinians take grenades and use them as flower pots or for seedlings. Sudanese torture survivors have become councilors for other survivors. How do we recover from suffering? We name it and transform it into its opposite: We fill the craters left by the bombs And once again we sing And once again we sow … Continue reading
Christmas was the ‘gift’ brought by the invasion to Latin America
Langston Hughes wrote this poem about Christmas 85 years ago, and it still matters. A U.S. based African-American activist and one of the innovators of Jazz Poetry, he promoted racial awareness, wrote novels, stories, poems and more. Merry Christmas, China From the gun-boats in the river, Ten-inch shells for Christmas gifts, And peace on earth … Continue reading
The poet killed by Shell
Ken Saro-Wiwa was an activist, writer, and member of the Ogoni people, whose homeland in the Niger Delta has been used for crude oil extraction since the 1950s. The land has suffered extreme environmental damagefrom decades of petroleum waste dumping and leaks and spills, and the people have been tortured, abused, and murdered. Saro-Wiwa was … Continue reading
Video: that poem that said what needed to be said in a hard time to say anything
Emmanuel Ortiz – “Moment of Silence” Before I start this poem,I’d like to ask you to join me in a moment of silence in honour of those who died in the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon last September 11th. I would also like to ask you a moment of silence for all of those who have been harassed, imprisoned, … Continue reading
