REAL TALK ♲ Massive cruise ship emissions, REI layoffs, and offline exploits in January
Country music, methane and hard pills to swallow.
If my paid subscriber follow-ups to the weekly Sustainability Crush Sunday series are “the compost pile,” this monthly link and photo dump is like, the worms. Those beautiful, slimy little helpers burrowing through the dirt and nutrients and sludge to make something beautiful.
These are all the things that I have been reading, pondering and experiencing, that make me a better human in relationship to you, dear reader, and the earth.
5 things I did offline in January 2024
In the spirit of Lee Tilghman’s “10 Offline Things I Did This Week” here are 5 things that I did not post about on Instagram offline in the month of January.
1. Returned to ballet. I am pleased to announce I’m back on my B.S. (going to ballet at the same time, every single weekend, without fail). If nothing else, I need the exercise and the accountability to work out consistently throughout the week.
Beyond movement, it holds me accountable to mobility. Beyond agility, it holds me accountable to building my discipline practice. (Discipline was my word for 2023 and, although I hate to speak in such negative or extreme terms, I failed miserably.)
BTW, the pep talk I needed care of dear mutual Stephanie V. Murray.
A quick 15-minute walk outdoors or a weekend hike with a group can drastically improve your overall health and it stops you from grinding your teeth and bunching up your shoulders. You’re a fleshy house plant who needs sun, water, wind, and movement. Get out there and get moving.
Please go check out this post on her Substack, The Doll Digest.
2. Journaled about my feelings in the park. I spent a lot of time walking around and listening to Zach Bryan, whose gritty and tender music is perfectly evocative of the frosty, darkly romantic era (and the seasonal depression) I’m in.
I’m really happy the park I frequent is close to lots of my favorite coffeeshops, restaurants, and other haunts (read: my favorite bookstore where I’m convinced I’m gonna meet the love of my life).
3. Had a really difficult conversation. I always talk about how I’m a “straight shooter” and that I don’t beat around the bush. And that’s true for the most part. But when the stakes are high — namely, friendship and platonic love — I have childhood wounds that make me not want to live up to my values.
I’m proud of myself for speaking the truth stuck in my throat for the past few weeks and processing the less-than-ideal response. I’m also proud of myself for recognizing that any negative emotion I felt was the result of my own triggers flaring up. Proud of myself for moving through those triggers in a non-toxic way..
4. Bought Zach Bryan tickets. What can I say? I’m firmly in my “yeehaw era” and reconnecting with my Southern roots. And because I’m Black and trans, I’m seeing homeboy at his Brooklyn date.
5. Had our now-annual sleepover with the homies. I can’t even begin to tell you how special these nights — spent at my dear friend’s home — are to me. I’ve long said that I love going non-verbal at the function (homie hang) and listening to my friends converse like my favorite, unpublished podcast.
I also shed plenty of tears because no one truly sees me like this group of women does. I will cherish how kind and funny and smart and passionate these women are, forever. I’m so happy that we have this touchpoint every January now, to help us stay the course for a successful (read: holistically wholesome) year.
I pray every good soul has a group of friends as lovely as these.
Climate and collective liberation news you may have missed in January 2024
꩜ How the world’s biggest cruise may lead to massive greenhouse gas emissions
The Icon of the Seas is five times bigger than the Titanic. While a crash doesn’t seem to be of massive concern, for environmentalists, the predicted greenhouse gas emissions are troublesome.
The vessel, bound for the U.S. Virgin Islands from Miami, is a seven-day cruise running on liquefied natural gas. LNG, as climate-heads often call it, are said to be cleaner energy sources than oil or coal.
But LNG can also release methane, a literal greenhouse gas, and the second biggest air polluter after carbon.
Royal Caribbean told BBC News that the Icon of the Seas is “24% more energy efficient” than the International Maritime Organization’s standards.
In turn, a director for the International Council on Clean Transportation told BBC News that, estimatedly, LNG on the seas “emits over 120% more life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions than marine gas oil.”
꩜ TurboTax will have to stop lying!
As you get your W-2’s back, one less headache will be surprise fees from TurboTax. The Federal Trade Commission ruled that the tax filing company has engaged in “deceptive advertising” and shouldn’t keep talking about free services if… wait for it… the company’s services aren’t… free.
꩜ The U.S.’s biggest co-op lays off 300 more people
In late January 2024, CEO Eric Artz announced a layoff of 357 people, all at REI HQ. Interestingly enough, as REI reduces headcount, Artz announced that no workers at corporate — bosses included — will be getting raises in 2024.
This seems in keeping (I guess!!!) with the co-operative spirit of “the nation’s largest consumer co-op.”
Although, the part seems a little manipulative, a little greenwash-y:
As a cooperative, we have both the privilege and the deep responsibility to think longer term, about generations, not just quarters. We can — and must —get through this moment because the world needs a healthy REI.
We understand time outside is fundamental to a better life, a life well lived. Our mission is to help more people get outside and to create equitable access for everyone to spend more time outside.
We also know there is no mission without margin. Running a healthy, profitable business fuels our mission and the collective positive impact we aspire to create in the world.
More to come, per the CEO.
Couldn’t resist the shade, but this kind of poking and nitpicking and prodding comes with the territory. I had this conversation with a leftist business-owner recently, drawing parallels between criticisms they faced and local shit-talking of another business1.
I have yet to hear about businesses that are seen as neutral or even friendlier to right-wingers facing poking and prodding and nitpicking around abolitionist values, such as sustainability and workers’ rights and racial justice.
Anyway, something that lives rent-free in my mind is REI did not voluntarily recognize the workers’ union that formed at its Soho store. One worker told NPR:
Despite being a large corporation, we had hopes that REI would be a different type of company, like they say they are.. So we were hopeful that they would voluntarily recognize the union and, you know, meet us at the table and negotiate in good faith.
Since then, at least seven more REI stores have unionized.
Also worth noting: REI laid off more than 150 people in February 2023 and more than 270 people in October.
And now, for a “timeline cleanse”
꩜ Must-reads: “On Digital Gardens: Tending to Our Collective Multiplicity” by Annika Hansteen-Izora
Collective liberation visionary Annika Hansteen-Izora2 wrote about digital gardens for Deem Journal — I loved this because “digital gardens” often lead me to the quirky non-linear websites of esoteric graphic designers. And while my autistic ass loves those, I really enjoyed Hansteen-Izora talking about virtual worlds such as Tumblr and Neopets being their own types of “digital gardens.”
A striking passage:
the imagination behind the internet is dominantly shaped by militarization, consumerism, and surveillance. Given the options, I understand the desire to log off and dream in greener places.
But perhaps the separatism between technology and the principles of nature is part of what led us towards this techno-doom reality. I’d offer that the space between digital worlds and nature is one we should linger in.
To be honest, at this point, you might as well follow my 𓆟 swimming home channel on are.na, chile — it’s the Tumblr ethos, Pinterest interface and deprivation-tank-like, astral projection meditation vibes that are so up my alley.
And if you don’t know what Are.na is, the social media site’s team made the silliest and most poignant, collaborative Are.na channel called “How do you describe Are.na at a party?”
Re: “in the same lane”: What makes a business “liberal”? Is it the mission statement of the business? Is it the ownership? Is it its situation in a liberal neighborhood? Is it the patronage, as in: frequented by vocal, prickly leftists?
Beyond this month’s must-read — Deem Journal as well as Substack! — Annika Hansteen-Izora is also a must-follow on Instagram!