The 15-Year-Old Climate Activist Demanding a New Kind of Politics
Plus, anyone who hates Jenna Woginrich's truck can fuck right off
Hi! I know a lot of you are new readers, so welcome. My friend Rachel Walker recently described Sticks and Stones as a weekly newsletter of “feminist writings and critical analysis of the state of the world,” which honestly is way better than any tagline I’ve come up with. Thanks for signing up.
Excuse me for being mushy for one sec: I also want to thank all of the subscribers who’ve been with me for the past couple years. THANK YOU for recommending my newsletter, sending me engaging links and notes to comb through, and being an awesome, supportive crew of readers. I’ve connected with so many smart folks through Sticks and Stones, and I want you to know that means a lot to me. So thanks for subscribing, thanks for reading, and thanks for sharing. My Mondays are always a little better because you’re a part of them. 😘😘😘
GIF
What I’m reading
An Open Letter to the Asshole Who Called Her Truck a Piece of Junk: “I sought out that truck. It wasn't something I settled for. It was an intentional purchase. As intentional as choosing homesteading over corporate design. Yeah, she's a little rough but so am I.” [Jenna Woginrich on Cold Antler Farm]
The 15-Year-Old Climate Activist Demanding a New Kind of Politics: Since the election, Greta Thunberg has returned to school for four days a week; she now spends her Fridays on the steps of parliament. She is demanding that the government undertake a radical response to climate change. She told me that a number of members of parliament have come out to the steps to express support for her position, although every one of them has said that she should really be at school. Her parents think so, too, she said—that she should really go to school, though she is right to protest. [Masha Gessen for The New Yorker]
How a New Beer Is Helping California’s Fire Victims: More than 1,100 breweries nationwide have signed on to brew Resilience Butte County Proud IPA. All profits from the beer will go toward a fund to help victims of California’s recent Camp Fire. [AC Shilton for Outside]
Rwandan Women Paddle into the Male World of Fishing: “Now a woman can say: ‘I can build a house by myself. I can look after my family properly. And even if my husband dies, we can live a better life.’” [Shannon Sims, Holly Pickett, and Clàudia Prat for The New York Times]
Finally: Women’s Swimsuits That Won’t Fall Down: Bikinis that stand up to every wave for women who rip [Kelly Bastone for Outside]
Camping Out With Long-Distance Firefighters: The Mendocino Complex Fire was the largest fire ever to strike California, consuming more than 400,000 acres and killing one firefighter. The fire crew worked shifts as long as 30 hours and slept in portable bunks, on the ground, wherever they could. [Justin Maxon, Elise Craig, Antonia Cereijido, and Jonaki Mehta for Cal Sunday]
Let’s talk about our mistakes
I’m just here to fangirl all over Caroline Gleich for talking about hers.
Other reads
This is the section where I pop in a good story I’m reading that has nothing to do with the outdoors. This week: “Ghosts of Highway 20” in The Oregonian by Noelle Crombie:
Kaye Turner vanished 40 years ago while running along an empty road in a rustic central Oregon retreat. She was kidnapped and killed, her remains dumped in the deep woods.
Then Rachanda Pickle went missing from the desolate highway compound where she lived, never to be seen again. She was 13.
It wasn’t long before teenagers Melissa Sanders and Sheila Swanson disappeared from a camping trip to the coast. Their bodies were found off a logging spur.
It now appears their killer was the same man. The breadth of his crimes has never been revealed until now.
Last but not least
Here’s to a productive Monday.
