Punk can’t save the world. Don’t fool yourself for a second. Look around- the world is doomed. There are too many countries to list that are currently in the throes of massive human rights crises. There are punks out there, though, who are trying to make this a better place as we shuffle off toward nuclear war. There are a lot of good people left in this world, anyway. Those people are in bands, they contribute to community projects, make zines, house and feed each other, they survive. They care about things, and they care about things outside of punk. Here are 15 Things Happening Right Now That Are More Important Than Punk. This is by no means an exhaustive list, just the first twenty things that came to mind, along with basic google searches to informative articles. Please take this shit seriously.

1. The aftermath of the uprising in Ukraine:

2. The Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Act

3. And the anti-gay laws in Russia

4. … and the embarrassing fact that many US states have laws that directly oppress queer people, despite our railing against violent anti-gay laws in other countries

5. Not to mention the fact that in 34 states, you can be fired for being trans

6. And in every city, every state, every country, your risk of being murdered is exponentially higher if you are trans, specifically if you are a transwoman, SPECIFICALLY if you are a trans*woman of color (and these are just some of the murders that were  reported or recognized at all).

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7. Florida’s ‘Stand Your Ground’ law effectively allows white men to murder unarmed black teenagers.

8. Fifty US cities from Philadelphia to Denver to Portland to Los Angeles have instated laws criminalizing homelessness and issues related to homelessness, like sleeping on benches, people giving out free food in public spaces, and even using blankets outside in freezing temperatures.

9.  Instead of teaching young men not to rape, we instate programs teaching them to hide the evidence of acts of sexual assault.

10. Imprisoned pregnant people are victimized by a sub-par system of aide (including a lack of access to abortive services), and face serious harm and violation even during childbirth.

11. Our labor system is still based around gendered and racial inequality.  In the United States, a white man makes $1.34 for every dollar that a black man makes. A white man makes $1.52 for every dollar that a latino man makes. A white man makes $1.24 for every dollar that a white woman makes. A white man makes $1.44 for every dollar that a black woman makes. A white man makes $1.67 for every dollar that a latina woman makes.

12. The global gold market has led to an easily traceable increase in the child sex trade, which targets very young women for work servicing the miners.

13. Cece McDonald, who survived two years in a men’s prison for defending herself against a racist, transphobic assault, was recently freed. People are trying to raise money for a documentary about the current state of violence against trans*POC, and they’ve reached less than half of their goal, which is extraordinarily sad.

14. Cocaine is the source of horrific human rights violations, like infants being killed with hammers! I see it being consumed by ‘punks’ and hipster types at music events and parties and I want to hit them upside the head with a brick. Don’t fucking do cocaine, if you do cocaine you are an asshole and an idiot.

15. Same with heroin, which seems to be the new drug of choice among what we call the ‘Nirvana Goth’ set. We’ve heard of so many new bands who have members hooked on heroin. There is nothing acceptable about a drug that causes such monstrous human rights violations in countries like Afghanistan and Burma.

Perfect Pussy’s debut album Say Yes To Love is out now.  You can buy it here