“Tiger got to hunt, bird got to fly; Man got to sit and wonder ‘why, why, why?’ Tiger got to sleep, bird got to land; Man got to tell himself he understand.” – Kurt Vonnegut, Cat’s Cradle
America Deserves Better than these vandals that carefully spray painted messages on signs and posters that they left outside of our campaign offices instead of actually doing any property damage. you know what vandals usually do to buildings they don’t like.
On this day, 24 February 1912, during the Bread and Roses strike of around 20,000 mostly female textile workers in the Industrial Workers of the World union, police clubbed children of strikers being transported to stay with other families, and their mothers. One pregnant mother miscarried after the beating.
Many children were looked after by strike supporters in New York City to help parents bear the hardship of being on strike. The tactic was very successful so on this day city authorities tried to prevent 100 children going to Philadelphia.
However when the women and children were arrested they refused to pay fines and instead chose jail. And the police violence backfired and galvanised support around the US.
This is our podcast episode about women in the early IWW: https://workingclasshistory.com/2018/12/02/e16-women-in-the-early-iww/https://www.facebook.com/workingclasshistory/photos/a.296224173896073/1358522460999567/?type=3
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Eyes on Africa - Lagos, Nigeria - Makoko Floating Schools
Makoko is a fishing village located in the Lagos Lagoon. Due to the weakness of the nearby soil and its proximity to water, much of Makoko rests on structures constructed on stilts above Lagos Lagoon. Traditionally this area has been self governing so schools are funded and provided by the village.
The ingenious adaptation of building a structure that floats came from growing concerns with climate change and rising water levels. This adds to its versatility not just from an environmental standpoint but from a political and practical standpoint as well. The area of Makoko is consider a poor area and one of the slums of the city. The necessity to create a school that is not only low cost and sustainable but that also mobilizes as needed to serve the children of the village is significant. Additionally recent land reclamation efforts and commercial developments in the area have reclaimed much of the lagoon from the residents of Makoko. Their homes on stilts must be deconstructed and reassembled elsewhere, while the school’s maneuverability eliminates this process.
Built in 2013 with locally sourced wood and electrically powered with solar panels, the floating construct is designed to house about 100 students and even has a playground and green space. It is entirely sustainable due to the application of solar cells to the roof and incorporating a rainwater catchment system. The structure is also naturally ventilated and aerated. The barrels used to help the structure float are also used as water reservoirs from the catchment system. The floating schools are an ingenious design that serves the needs of the community in a cost effective and eco-friendly way.
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