Vulnerability Vigil: The Trees are Our Elders Aug 18, 4-5pm, Duncan, BC

Date is now Sunday, August 18.

The old trees are our elders. The forest is our family.

Vulnerability Vigil
Trans-Canada Highway in Duncan, BC
Right by the Cowichan Region Visitor Centre
Also right by the "BC Forest Discovery Centre"
Saturday, August 17
Sunday, August 18
4-5 pm
All welcome.

I do what I can.

In this case, I will stand for an hour to hold a Vulnerability Vigil on behalf of our forests. I use my bare or nearly bare body in these vigils as a way of sharing vulnerability literally and figuratively and as a way of showing some solidarity with those who are most vulnerable. The vigils are art, expression, and a way of shifting energy or disrupting status quo.

I will wear a "cover-the-bits costume" of Extinction Symbol tree-rings (pictured). Please consider joining me. People who join can hold a sign; wear the signs (I'll bring some); or dress as they wish.

Our majestic old growth rainforest is on the verge of extinction, only 4% remains. People from all around the world come here to see those trees. Not clearcuts.

Forestry practices make fires more likely. All of this while global temperatures are at the highest in the history of the planet. Standing forests are recognized as one of our best defences in the climate crisis.

Yet what we have remaining is "harvested" daily, for pulp, chips, or to ship raw logs offshore. Lumber workers are striking. There is no more lumber industry in BC. Only lumber barons and their profiteer shareholders.

I've been doing (mostly) monthly public Vulnerability Vigils using my naked or nearly naked body since January of 2012.

Link to Facebook event

Naked Ugly Dancing @fringeMtl + Handcuffed video

Upcoming Fringe Show! 
Tell your friends in Montreal!
#NUD
#fringefemmes

Naked Ugly Dancing
At the Montreal Fringe
June 7-17, 2018

Jun 07 Thu 7:45 pm
Jun 09 Sat 6:15 pm
Jun 12 Tue 11:00pm
Jun 13 Wed 6:00 pm
Jun 15 Fri 7:45 pm
Jun 17 Sun 2:30 pm

Montreal Fringe online program+tickets
Facebook event

Performance art
And ritual+improvisation+storytelling+dance

Venue 7
Montreal Improv Theatre A
3697 Blvd St-Laurent 
$10
nudity +16
en Anglais 75 minutes

Healer, feeler, revealer. Paradigm shifter. Heavy lifter of paradox+pain. Ageing, overweight, cancer schmancerous. Recovering academic. Suburban mommy lady. Powerful+vulnerable. Privilege-user+vagina-haver. PTSD+lover of trees. Tasha Diamant ugly dances naked+improvises conversations+connections. Because: business-as-usual brutality. On behalf of the collective. Participation optional.

Also, I made a mini-documentary after being handcuffed on the lawn of the BC Legislature during last week's Monthly Act of Disruption and Resistance

Government vs. Kids

"Children are human beings to whom respect is due, superior to us by reason of their innocence and of the greater possibilities of their future."   Maria Montessori

I still have tears in my eyes brought on by the 8:45 am assembly today where a whole bunch of elementary school kids received recognition awards.

Their teachers spoke so lovingly and knowledgeably about what each kid brings as gifts for herself and his classmates. The kids were so proud to be acknowledged.

It was both a very special and fairly normal slice of life at my kid's school.

I am disgusted by the ongoing non-negotiations between the BC government and the teachers. Yes, there are two sides. But one side is on the front lines, caring for our kids. And, in the case of my own children's schools, doing so with a lot of grace and professionalism during a very tough time.

The other side has let communication break down. This should not be an adversarial situation. It's the government's job to facilitate the conversation. 

Instead, their ongoing approach is cynical and calculated. They use pretty much the only tool the teachers have (labour action) against them by making the teachers look greedy and/or disruptive. 

It's a classic case of cynical political machinations at the expense of kids. 

I want my children's teachers to be paid well. I want class sizes to be manageable. I want kids with disabilities looked after compassionately. I want public education to be a priority of my democratic nation.

I am sickened by the actions of the BC government. The BC government, run by a woman who sends her only child to private school, should actually care what happens to the children of BC.