Ro West (they/them)
@roisinwest.bsky.social
Gender outlaw 🧑🎤
Community researcher and cat cuddler 🐱
Campaign builder with Pith & Pulp 🍊
Disability justice advocate 😷
#DisabilityJustice #COVIDIsNotOver #WeKeepUsSafe
Community researcher and cat cuddler 🐱
Campaign builder with Pith & Pulp 🍊
Disability justice advocate 😷
#DisabilityJustice #COVIDIsNotOver #WeKeepUsSafe
Admittedly, Paddington is the strongest male role model in my life but I still have questions about this list.
November 29, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Admittedly, Paddington is the strongest male role model in my life but I still have questions about this list.
Would love to know what parts of Charlie's work the @liberalca.bsky.social MPs were giving a standing ovation to. You can't march in the Pride parade in June and then salute a man who spread divisive hate and lies in September.
September 17, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Would love to know what parts of Charlie's work the @liberalca.bsky.social MPs were giving a standing ovation to. You can't march in the Pride parade in June and then salute a man who spread divisive hate and lies in September.
Gentrification is wild. I was just thinking about my grandmother's house and the rats that crawled across her feet when she was in the cold cellar. A house that they bought with a single income in the Italian neighborhood where no one wanted to live. A house that is now listed for $815,000.
September 6, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Gentrification is wild. I was just thinking about my grandmother's house and the rats that crawled across her feet when she was in the cold cellar. A house that they bought with a single income in the Italian neighborhood where no one wanted to live. A house that is now listed for $815,000.
I'm not sure I'm equipped to live in a world where keying a Tesla is considered terrorism but murdering an Indigenous gay man while yelling slurs isn't a hate crime.
June 4, 2025 at 1:29 AM
I'm not sure I'm equipped to live in a world where keying a Tesla is considered terrorism but murdering an Indigenous gay man while yelling slurs isn't a hate crime.
Reposted by Ro West (they/them)
Hot tip to the NDP: Shifting right as the left-wing option doesn’t work.
April 29, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Hot tip to the NDP: Shifting right as the left-wing option doesn’t work.
It looks like this will be the lowest number of seats for the NDP in history. How did we get here?
• a party with notoriously toxic inner politics
• a party that has attempted to run on vibes for 10+ years instead of bold progressive policy
• a party that marginalizes most progressive members
• a party with notoriously toxic inner politics
• a party that has attempted to run on vibes for 10+ years instead of bold progressive policy
• a party that marginalizes most progressive members
April 29, 2025 at 5:12 AM
It looks like this will be the lowest number of seats for the NDP in history. How did we get here?
• a party with notoriously toxic inner politics
• a party that has attempted to run on vibes for 10+ years instead of bold progressive policy
• a party that marginalizes most progressive members
• a party with notoriously toxic inner politics
• a party that has attempted to run on vibes for 10+ years instead of bold progressive policy
• a party that marginalizes most progressive members
Please, I need to sleep tonight 😭😭😭
April 29, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Please, I need to sleep tonight 😭😭😭
Live feed from the conservative HQ.
April 29, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Live feed from the conservative HQ.
Folks who are thinking about their options, please keep in mind that Canada limits immigration of disabled folks, which is very in-line with our position of pretending to be progressive while being incredibly backwards on a variety of issues related to justice and equity.
Some people asked for my list of safe countries for trans people's care... there aren't many.
For me, if I had to choose and could magically get through all immigration hoops:
- Australia
- Canada
- Iceland
- Malta
- France
- Spain
These would probably be my tops. All could flip though.
For me, if I had to choose and could magically get through all immigration hoops:
- Australia
- Canada
- Iceland
- Malta
- France
- Spain
These would probably be my tops. All could flip though.
Getting word that New Zealand may implement severe restrictions to an outright ban on puberty blockers in coming months. PATHA has released a statement.
There’s a reason I’ve been leaving NZ off of my list of countries to flee to when people ask.
There’s a reason I’ve been leaving NZ off of my list of countries to flee to when people ask.
April 8, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Folks who are thinking about their options, please keep in mind that Canada limits immigration of disabled folks, which is very in-line with our position of pretending to be progressive while being incredibly backwards on a variety of issues related to justice and equity.
Reposted by Ro West (they/them)
“It is painful to say this, given my time in government service, but the United States urgently needs a strong alternative to the government public health guidance it has relied on in the past.” 🎁 wapo.st/4225Rdk
Opinion | When the government becomes a health misinformation superspreader
Until I left last week, I led the CDC’s public health messaging. Now we need something to replace it.
wapo.st
March 25, 2025 at 7:36 PM
“It is painful to say this, given my time in government service, but the United States urgently needs a strong alternative to the government public health guidance it has relied on in the past.” 🎁 wapo.st/4225Rdk
Reposted by Ro West (they/them)
Me: I wish Liberals didn't sound like Conservatives.
Liberals: You obviously want the Conservatives to win.
Liberals: You obviously want the Conservatives to win.
March 23, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Me: I wish Liberals didn't sound like Conservatives.
Liberals: You obviously want the Conservatives to win.
Liberals: You obviously want the Conservatives to win.
Reposted by Ro West (they/them)
The AP Stylebook says to avoid using the term "special needs" (and "special education" out of titles/quotes), and yet, I keep seeing such language when talking about Department of Education.
March 21, 2025 at 7:33 PM
The AP Stylebook says to avoid using the term "special needs" (and "special education" out of titles/quotes), and yet, I keep seeing such language when talking about Department of Education.
Let's talk about people who've received longer sentences than Pat King.
I'll start: Mandy Hiscocks. 16 months for organizing G20 protests.
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...
#cdnpoli #ottawa
I'll start: Mandy Hiscocks. 16 months for organizing G20 protests.
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...
#cdnpoli #ottawa
‘Freedom Convoy’ organizer Pat King given 3-month conditional sentence
King was found not guilty on three counts of intimidation and one count of obstructing police.
www.thestar.com
February 19, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Let's talk about people who've received longer sentences than Pat King.
I'll start: Mandy Hiscocks. 16 months for organizing G20 protests.
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...
#cdnpoli #ottawa
I'll start: Mandy Hiscocks. 16 months for organizing G20 protests.
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...
#cdnpoli #ottawa
My bellwether for the sentiment in rural Ontario is that my neighbour who has been flying a "Thank You Trump" flag since before I moved here has finally taken it down.
I sure wish the reason was based in human rights and not fired up nationalism, but here we are.
I sure wish the reason was based in human rights and not fired up nationalism, but here we are.
February 6, 2025 at 7:47 PM
My bellwether for the sentiment in rural Ontario is that my neighbour who has been flying a "Thank You Trump" flag since before I moved here has finally taken it down.
I sure wish the reason was based in human rights and not fired up nationalism, but here we are.
I sure wish the reason was based in human rights and not fired up nationalism, but here we are.
Reposted by Ro West (they/them)
Breaking from me and @mjsdc.bsky.social : Newly installed AG Pam Bondi sent out more than a dozen memos in a 15 minute period on Wednesday. One of them told staffers to come up with "proposals for criminal investigations" of large companies that have DEIA initiatives. slate.com/news-and-pol...
Pam Bondi Instructs Trump DOJ to Criminally Investigate Companies That Do DEI
Civil rights advocates may well file suit immediately against the Justice Department to secure an injunction.
slate.com
February 6, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Breaking from me and @mjsdc.bsky.social : Newly installed AG Pam Bondi sent out more than a dozen memos in a 15 minute period on Wednesday. One of them told staffers to come up with "proposals for criminal investigations" of large companies that have DEIA initiatives. slate.com/news-and-pol...
Reposted by Ro West (they/them)
I am wary to turn to nationalism as an answer to our growing concerns because it tends to make us forgive a lot of ongoing subjugation in the name of “standing strong.” My personal preference is to focus on solidarity with others who find oppression and state violence unjust
February 1, 2025 at 9:28 PM
I am wary to turn to nationalism as an answer to our growing concerns because it tends to make us forgive a lot of ongoing subjugation in the name of “standing strong.” My personal preference is to focus on solidarity with others who find oppression and state violence unjust
Reposted by Ro West (they/them)
Worried about our nation’s descent into fascism? This one pot cacio e pepe will make you feel like you’re in 1920s Italy.
February 1, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Worried about our nation’s descent into fascism? This one pot cacio e pepe will make you feel like you’re in 1920s Italy.
I have never been invited to interview for any job I've applied for where I disclosed that I was a disabled candidate. It is bleak out here.
Being open about disability at work (for those with invisible disabilities) can be very stigmatized. I'm afraid the snitch line for federal workers on "DEI hires" will set any progress on this so much.
January 26, 2025 at 11:57 PM
I have never been invited to interview for any job I've applied for where I disclosed that I was a disabled candidate. It is bleak out here.
My unhinged 2025 prediction is that PP becomes the next PM and, during his reign, renames the Trans Canada Highway either the All Canadian Highway or the True Canadian Highway. Because this is the world we live in.
January 2, 2025 at 12:12 AM
My unhinged 2025 prediction is that PP becomes the next PM and, during his reign, renames the Trans Canada Highway either the All Canadian Highway or the True Canadian Highway. Because this is the world we live in.
Reposted by Ro West (they/them)
i'm also very proud of this essay for @thenation.com on Panera's heart-attack lemonades and the neoliberal aesthetics of Global Village Coffeehouse
www.thenation.com/article/econ...
www.thenation.com/article/econ...
The Story of Late Capitalism as Told Through Panera Bread
It used to make on-site sourdough. Now, the private-equity-owned chain is better known for its (allegedly) killer lemonade.
www.thenation.com
December 18, 2024 at 2:04 PM
i'm also very proud of this essay for @thenation.com on Panera's heart-attack lemonades and the neoliberal aesthetics of Global Village Coffeehouse
www.thenation.com/article/econ...
www.thenation.com/article/econ...
There's an 80% chance temps will exceed the +1.5 degree threshold in the next 5 years but sure, kids being soft is the real problem.
Not sure I care about the opinions of a generation that threatened to give us something to cry about while actually giving us something to cry about (climate crisis).
Not sure I care about the opinions of a generation that threatened to give us something to cry about while actually giving us something to cry about (climate crisis).
December 15, 2024 at 8:26 PM
There's an 80% chance temps will exceed the +1.5 degree threshold in the next 5 years but sure, kids being soft is the real problem.
Not sure I care about the opinions of a generation that threatened to give us something to cry about while actually giving us something to cry about (climate crisis).
Not sure I care about the opinions of a generation that threatened to give us something to cry about while actually giving us something to cry about (climate crisis).
When people talk about the historical turn towards fascism after a pandemic, it's important to remember that Canada isn't immune to such swings. The Stats Can dashboard on hate crimes shows a truly chilling upswing in violence since the start of the pandemic.
www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-60...
www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-60...
December 11, 2024 at 3:16 PM
When people talk about the historical turn towards fascism after a pandemic, it's important to remember that Canada isn't immune to such swings. The Stats Can dashboard on hate crimes shows a truly chilling upswing in violence since the start of the pandemic.
www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-60...
www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-60...
Reposted by Ro West (they/them)
Canada is investigating Chinese tech companies, but it should be much more concerned with how dependent we’ve become on US tech monopolies that run roughshod over our rules and laws.
In @thestar.com, I argue it’s time for Canada to reclaim its digital sovereignty.
In @thestar.com, I argue it’s time for Canada to reclaim its digital sovereignty.
With Trump threat looming, it’s time for Canada to take control of its digital future
With the threat of Trump looming, perhaps it's time for Canada to take back its digital infrastructure.
www.thestar.com
December 11, 2024 at 3:06 PM
Canada is investigating Chinese tech companies, but it should be much more concerned with how dependent we’ve become on US tech monopolies that run roughshod over our rules and laws.
In @thestar.com, I argue it’s time for Canada to reclaim its digital sovereignty.
In @thestar.com, I argue it’s time for Canada to reclaim its digital sovereignty.
Reposted by Ro West (they/them)
Court on another break but: Freedom Convoy figure Pat King has been found guilty on five of nine charges, including mischief and disobeying a court order.
November 22, 2024 at 4:47 PM
Court on another break but: Freedom Convoy figure Pat King has been found guilty on five of nine charges, including mischief and disobeying a court order.