Natalie Vineberg | The Walrus

COVID-19

Why We’re So Bad at Disaster Planning

September 29, 2020September 29, 2020 - by Natalie Vineberg

Just because we see something coming, that doesn’t mean we can stop it

Black and white illustration of a hand holding a pen, drawing a golden squiggly line through a maze of grey dots. The background is black.

Books

How Do You Write about Joy in a State of Emergency?

August 27, 2020August 27, 2020 - by Natalie Vineberg

Over an eight-month period, more than 100 people at Attawapiskat tried to end their lives. This is the legacy of colonial violence

Illustration of small cartoon people moving freely atop small green platforms––cartwheeling, dancing, and holding hands.

Health

Fat Shaming Shouldn’t Be Part of Our “New Normal”

August 25, 2020August 25, 2020 - by Natalie Vineberg

Even in a pandemic, our culture is obsessed with controlling our bodies

Media / Society

Objectivity Is a Privilege Afforded to White Journalists

August 21, 2020September 14, 2020 - by Natalie Vineberg

Under the banner of diversity, racialized people are told to bring ourselves and our perspectives. But, if we bring too much of them, we get held back

In Other Worlds: A Space Exploration

Space Is Not a Frontier

August 14, 2020September 10, 2020 - by Natalie Vineberg

We’ve barely addressed the legacies of colonialism and racism on Earth. Must we now export these things to the stars?

Illustration of a man in a suit, cowboy hat, and cowboy boots standing at a gold-plated counter and pulling a suitcase. The background is celestial purple. In the distance, a large moon hangs in the sky.

In Other Worlds: A Space Exploration

The Wild, Wild West of Space Law

August 13, 2020September 10, 2020 - by Natalie Vineberg

The world’s richest men are fielding their own cosmic missions. Who will make sure they behave?

Illustration of a doctor watching a house with a parent and child playing in the yard. A blank space separates the doctor from the house. The background is bright orange.

COVID-19

Health Care Workers Still Fear Bringing the Pandemic Home

August 6, 2020August 7, 2020 - by Natalie Vineberg

We may have flattened the curve, but nurses, doctors, and staff can’t relax—the worst may be yet to come

Illustration of a public transit bus on a pedestal. The color scheme is blue, yellow, and orange.

Cities

The Fight to Save Public Transit

August 4, 2020August 18, 2020 - by Natalie Vineberg

COVID-19 has accelerated an already dire transit crisis. Why can’t we make ridership free?

Illustration of a woman walking across a tightrope against a royal blue background. Swirling in the air around her are various objects showing the collision of work and parenting life––paperwork, children's alphabetical building blocks, a cup of coffee, a bottle, and envelopes.

COVID-19 / Society

My Son Peed Onscreen in a Zoom Call, and Other Tales of a Working Parent

July 7, 2020July 16, 2020 - by Natalie Vineberg

In a pandemic, our economy is sending a clear message: you can either work or parent

An animated illustration of a stick figure sitting at a table on a laptop. As the person types frantically, the laptop moves across the table. To continue working, the person's arms extend, and they eventually flip over the table––kicking the light fixture on the way over––in order to continue working.

Society

Are We Ever Offline Anymore?

June 15, 2020June 15, 2020 - by Natalie Vineberg

Thanks to the convenience of technology, work is taking over our lives—yet we keep logging on