While spring is definitely in the air, sadly so is violence. This week, eight people were murdered in Georgia after a targeted attack by a white supremacist against Asian American women. Yet another violent, senseless tragedy plagues our country. We are in a constant state of crisis, a reality that women and BIPOC communities have endured since the first European arrived on this soil.
And yet, the work to create a more just, equitable society continues. The outpouring of love and support for our Asian American and Pacific Islander communities is encouraging. However, the fact that we have become so adept at responding to tragedy is its own form of tragedy. As a nation, we must turn the corner and begin preventing these issues before they happen. While this is not the job of one person, one company, or one community, we all have a role to play in making this world a better and safer place for people of all backgrounds.
This week's links will be a little different. To begin with, we are sharing resources to support Asian Americans before we get to the usual stories about growing food and environmental sustainability.
In solidarity,
Jamie and the Roots Down team.
Here are this week's links:
Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta Protecting the civil and human rights of Asian Americans in Georgia and the Southeast.
Stop AAPI Hate - Our communities stand united against racism. Hate against Asian American Pacific Islander communities has risen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, we can stop it.
Center for Pan Asian Community Services - Center for Pan Asian Community Services (CPACS) is a private nonprofit located in Atlanta, Georgia. Our mission is to promote self-sufficiency and equity for immigrants, refugees, and the underprivileged through comprehensive health and social services, capacity building, and advocacy.
Asian American Resource Center - At Asian American Resource Center, we believe that our efforts can make a huge difference. We work on many exciting initiatives to improve the lives of local residents in Metro-Atlanta in helping homeless families find a home. We have been providing services to the community for over 20 years thanks to all the support from volunteers, donors, and community partners. A small act of kindness can change the course of a person's life: volunteer or donate today to help those who truly need it.
Homesteading Takes Root in Atlanta - The heart of homesteading is permaculture, defined as “a way to map energy flows of a system and look for ways to increase efficiency and increase yields.” From this perspective, lawns aren’t flat green sheets of grass; they offer potential space to cultivate crops, house livestock or erect solar panels.
Trawling for Fish May Unleash as Much Carbon as Air Travel, Study Says - For the first time, scientists have calculated how much planet-warming carbon dioxide is released into the ocean by bottom trawling, the practice of dragging enormous nets along the ocean floor to catch shrimp, whiting, cod and other fish. The answer: As much as global aviation releases into the air.
Financial world greenwashing the public with deadly distraction in sustainable investing practices - Wall Street is greenwashing the financial world, making sustainable investing merely PR, which is a distraction from the problem of climate change.
Shut off the leaf blowers and restore peace to suburbia - Leaves are not trash, and the leaf blowers create noise and air pollution.
Texas Freeze Triggers Global Plastics Shortage - Numerous chemical plants were shut down as state lost power last month, disrupting a global supply chain for consumer goods.
Why Starting a Restaurant During the Pandemic Was a Smart Move - Those that did may be better off, their owners say, because they could meet the moment’s restrictions and cravings from the very start.