You're on the right track but focused on the wrong brain. The brain power we need is in the heart and we need to switch from "I think" to "I feel" as the quickest way to engage this other brainpower in order to define the path back to reconnecting with all life on Earth. We can't try to "think" our way out of this and use the same processes that created the problem to solve this one. Only by having a change of heart can we get realigned to see the solutions.
But both don't play a role in the current Corporate Context that we are living in. By injecting the heart, a new, more familiar context is created with which to view our calamity.
A very good initiative indeed : to assemble all the creative , intellectual and spiritual energy from people who are not actually being much listened to , whose ideas and actions can actually provoke the synergies for the systemic change if applied on a global scale .
This is the problem, and they keep going back even when they know it's not working and the status quo denigrates and discounts all but their own and anyone who sees things differently. It's a vision thing, or a lack of the same. And Brad Jantunen, I was driven to write 4 manuscripts. I actually now view them as visions more so than literary works as I am now living the last book and the other 3 have already happened. All the stuff going on in the 4th story is going on, wildfires, human relocation and forced migration due to climate change, oceanic dead zones the rediscovery of the human spirit and the connection with everything as a holistic system we are part of not in control over.
one practical solution would be that outliers start by joining and organising themselves on a local and national level and get involved in climate and other societal projects with activists from NGO's who are themselves actors in joint decision-making with local and national govertmental committees .
For that, there need to be a system of getting identified as a political group , be properly structured etc. and grow strong enough to be considered as an alternative choice (with the appropriate credentials ) to go to the polls with the aim of wrestling power away from the traditional parties .
In the first place, there should be an initial founding group to think about how to create such a movement . Brad, you could be one of the the founder members who can attract the correct people around such a movement , no?
First we decide what course of action to take and then the all important HOW do we get it done. Those with the wealth and power will fight with everything they have - they will fight dirty - and they will never give up.
Humans have demonstrated that they cannot organise into "movements" without recreating all the problems they were working against in the first place (I shouldn't need to cite here, right?). Such would be a recipe for failure or at best a repeat of the same general history. Groups and hierarchies (because these always come about) should be minimal, with the only goal of guiding people into a self-sustaining lifestyle. The many various communities would concern and govern themselves independently, so there's no need for an overseeing body.
I couldn't agree with you more. I myself have written seven novels over the past decade in which the coalescing climate, housing, homelessness, mental health, and opioid overdose crises take center stage and because I make a clear connection between them and our greed, and because I write from the POV of some of Canada's most marginalized Peoples, I've been made into a pariah within Canadian literary culture. To combat our increasing alienation, and to give voice to those who have no voice in the mainstream media, my partner Tanja and I also created Cannery Row Press. We've just published our fourth issue and you can read it here: www.canneryrowpress.com
John, thanks for sharing. I'm excited to take a closer look at CRPress. The riddle that we quickly need to solve is how can we wrestle power away from the ruling elite in a timeline that's consistent with the scientific urgency??
Yes, it's a riddle all right and it just so happens to be the exact conundrum I've been grappling with throughout the six books in my Tildon Chronicles.* The conclusion I've reached thus far is that wrestling power away from the ruling elite simply isn't going to work (without some kind of violent revolution which would, of course, only beget more violence) and it's become my belief that instead of trying to do that what we really need is some sort of an "end run" which sidesteps them completely (or rather sidesteps those who'll never likely change while enlisting sympathizers, and funds, from among sympathetic parties). Creating a new narrative for ourselves is key and it seems to me that a logical place to start this process would be by building 100% sustainable communities wherever possible. In Canada, at least, it's been Indigenous Peoples who seem the most willing to even entertain such an idea and I'd suggest that those of us who are really serious about confronting the climate emergency need to start throwing 100% of our support behind Indigenous communities who are striving to do just that. Ideally, one of the value-added outcomes (aside from helping undo the most conspicuous damage wrought by our colonial mindset) is that by taking real collective action together the requisite narrative will take on a life of its own (as narrative so often do). Families, of course, must be central if this is going to a have a hope in hell of progressing beyond mere wishful thinking. I know our family is aching for a change. How about yours?
*A Desolate Splendor, No Quarter, Savage Gerry, In For A Dime, Mason's Jar & Nickel Down (the first three of which have been published by ECW Press, with books 5 & 6 written and forthcoming from the same in 2022 & 2023).
Agree that a forceful wresting away of power means violence, possibly civil war, and further fuels unrest. Along the lines of what you've suggested about sustainable communities is this: What happens when a critical mass of people stop participating in this system by striving to live self-sufficiently and sustainability? The system would be forced to start catering to the needs of those that have abandoned BAU, or face collapse. If nobody were to show up for capitalism, then capitalism would need to show up for the people. Similar trends have been achieved with the rise of vegetarianism/veganism, organic food production, and other areas, with similar trends arising in the homesteading movement - marked by corporations' shift into these areas when it became "profitable". Capitalism would be brought to its knees by the lack of participation. The other problem is that as a race we haven't conquered our innate biases, dark emotions, and drive for one-upmanship (in the form of selfishness, racism, sexism, and war), so living together cooperatively requires generations of training and practice, or education in opening up empathy, respect, and understanding in order not to fall back into infighting and other polarizing behaviours. This could have been achieved over the last few decades if it had been started in earnest.
The fact that this would now be near impossible to achieve in the small window we have underscores the magnitude of the problem, and the salt rubbed into the gashing wound of lost time and resources. Another important question is: we want to save life on Earth, but really what would we be saving? More greed, war, pollution etc? Humanity needs to undergo a huge shift. The reality is that Homo Sapiens is a failed species, like the Neanderthals. Only those that have achieved the emotional/psychological state that I alluded to above have any chance of continuing on afterward. And whether any of those very few survive the collapse is also questionable.
There simply is absolutely no way current humanity with its mindset can continue. The events and predicament surrounding us only underscore this fact.
I don't know if we can wrestle power away from the incumbents in a way that will bring more order to the system. I would explore a way of show-and-tell, for example bring stories and visuals of people and areas who have been severely affected by climate change, from a location that's familiar to them, and hopefully plant a seed of 'optimistic anxiety' in them to drive action. Most efforts don't add up on a larger scale because there is no enforcement of behaviors or penalties levied. Rather than have climate crisis conferences in cosy boardrooms, I would take them to the field where they can witness what a show we've put up so far.
People don't care about floods until the water collects in their basement. People don't care about fires until it's their house that's on fire. People aren't programed to care about what's happening thousands of miles away...most people that is.
Yes, I do agree that we mustn’t hope on “neo-liberal capitalists”, who, due to their psychopathy, just can’t replace the system of their affluence to save the planet.
I disagree that we must look for ideas from “outliers”. We have enough ideas from Jacque Fresco (RBE), TZM (technology ripeness for RBE), math-savvy economists (math model of RBE is digestible by modern computers), etc.
We must start gradually phasing out of the GDP economy and consumerism with the RBE. That is to be done by implementing resource-effective and human-capital developing projects offered by scientists and engineers after scrupulous and public peers’ reviews and contests.
I’ve developed such a project laid out on the bit.ly/apvFELA website.
Thanks Brad for the invitation to contribute to your work.
I would rather put my energy into developing positive alternatives to the current mainstream rather than spend my energies trying to wrest power from the ruling political and corporate elite. In my view this is almost certainly an impossible task and those in power never willingly give it up.
Fighting is not what we need now, it is wholly negative energy and could be even more destructive than their current exploitation of everything alive. If this is their ‘business as usual’ approach imagine what they would be like in fighting mode.Unfortunately we don’t need to imagine anything. The evidence of recent and current wars is too plentiful.
When an incumbent system is suddenly overtaken there is usually a power vacuum that is often filled by an opportunistic ego-driven ‘leader’ who imposes some kind of ‘expedient’ autocratic system. In stressful times many people think an autocratic system or dictator is necessary to avoid anarchy and chaos. I am surprised by people I know who have voiced this view . . . but then I was surprised when the previous US president was elected. I think we need to avoid creating an opportunity for a dictator to fill a void we unintentionally create.
I support the Stop Ecocide Foundation for their amazing work and success in drafting a new ‘ecocide’ law being proposed as an amendment to the Rome Statute. If adopted this would put ecocide on the same level of crime against humanity as genocide or war crimes. Support for this law would give campaigners or any movement the opportunity to take a corporation or government to court in The Hague for endangering life on earth.
I support Avaaz.org for its effective lobbying strategies and its success over a long period in attracting 65 million members with actions on specific campaigns.
I support Extinction Rebellion for their intelligent pacifist activism which is local, strategic and based on research on the kind of activism which has been successful in the past.
A social and economic system which baked into its core a set of ethics, values and principles which are focused on the environment, equality and sustainability will receive all my energy and support. If this system develops as a successful alternative to the mainstream, and its benefits made more widely known, then it will attract people who want change. By engaging and working with a better system which is local, sustainable and clearly benefits the 99% then it could supplant the incumbent system. The incumbent system would slowly wither and be replaced by a regenerative system that is based on respect for our Earth and all life forms.
There is a lot of excellent work already done which does not need repeating. This good work just needs to be revealed and expanded. We have little time to develop anything from first principles now.
Co-operatives employ 10% of the global workforce and over 1 billion people are members of the at least one of the 3 million co-operatives that exist today. We don’t hear a lot about co-ops for a variety of reasons but they provide essential services, infrastructure and products, and some are large manufacturing and agricultural enterprises.
The legal and financial structure of a co-op is designed so that added value created is re-invested to achieve the stated objectives of the co-op for its members. Members participate in a working democracy and added value is not “profit” which can be controlled by an individual or management. Co-ops are usually started to satisfy local needs and they typically more successful than companies and last 3 times longer than private companies.
The ICA (International Co-operative Alliance) https://www.ica.coop/en/about-us/international-cooperative-alliance has over 150 years of experience in supporting co-ops and has a large resource base of templates, articles of association, and research papers and exists to support all co-operative ventures. I only want to work in a co-operative and if I start another enterprise it will be a co-operative. I have been involved in starting several companies and have experienced many of their shortcomings.
The P2P models are closely aligned with the principles of co-operatives and open source circular economic systems. Together this new work builds on the successful history of co-operatives and I think together these two bodies of work and experience could be the starting point for this endeavour.
I would like to suggest and propose that this endeavour is formed, or functions, as a co-op and collaborates or engages with the above active campaigns. I think your invitation implies this type of collaboration. The value we create is not about money, it is about life.
Jay - I finally had time to re-read your post. You packed a lot into it :-) I agree that we don't have time to "develop anything from first principles now." You talked about co-ops and I agree that they make a lot of sense. Are you familiar with the Mondragon Corporation?
And just to be clear, when I say wrestle power away from the ruling elite - I mean a wide variety of initiatives...many of which you suggested in your comments above.
Pirates created a new system because the one they were faced with was flawed, rigged and broken. Where anything less than a radical alternative was suicidal. We have reached that same point.
We need to make trouble at the edges, where the useless mainstream can see & feel the waves created. In practical terms supporting and/or joining groups like XR & POW everywhere.
We need to create massive pressure from the public. In practical terms, supporting groups suggested in earlier comments like "Stop ecocide" and join & support groups like Avaaz.org
We need to rewrite the rules of business with people like Dan Price (founder of gravity payments), Yvon Chouinard and others, why not us, to be the leaders we need. So that nobody would ever think of selling out the Biosphere to improve a budget line.
We need to educate & inform the "useless mainstream" that nowhere and no one is safe. In practical terms use every possible social media platform to inundate them with the harsh reality of the current climate emergency. And, we need to provide them with a community to go to, that's the hardest part.
Work with oppressed, the MAPA (Most Affected Peoples & Areas), in short (and a bit of a generalization too), work with indigenous people.
And yes, Lobbying. If we're not lobbying anything we do at our level is irrelevant. We need to become as good as the oil industry at lobbying.
Thank you for asking those questions that nobody else seems to want to hear.
Stewart - thanks so much for sharing your ideas. You nailed it.
We need to make XR and Stop Ecocide global movements but consider this:
Imagine if the Proto-Fascist Republican party gets into power in the US and XR gets big enough to call a country wide strike...Could you see the government writing legislation that would require every employee to present a doctor's note for missing work or risk being fired and losing any severance or pension. Those with the power will stop at nothing to keep it!
Dan Price is amazing! Have you read Yvon Chouinard's book. "Let My People Go Surfing"? It's a good read.
In terms of education. they teach recycling to kids because they say it's good for the environment but that's nonsense - it's good for the economy.
Consider this:
Why hasn't our school system (almost any country) responded to the environmental crisis by teaching kids how to really protect the environment. Teach kids between 10 and 20 how to grab the levers of power and force meaningful disruptive regulatory change? I plan to explore this in a future article.
By the way - looks what's happening in Florida. Corporations will stop at nothing to further concentrate their power.
I help coordinate a service project (a not-for-profit project in Baha'i parlance) xalled "Elevate" which generates and collates questions to help advance meaningful conversation on topics of social concern including the environment.
We have found that questions can be a direct way to express ideas (most people have some opinion about the topic), can help awaken deeper considerations and capture ideas often from those whose voice is rarely heard, while gathering an ever-widening range of concerns, experience and suggestions, and providing the opportunity for meaningful conversation by way of personal reflection, small group discussion, workshops, ice breaking and across the dining room table.
We would be happy to make the materials for the environmental theme, plus some complementary resources available if you are interested along with the open invitation to suggest questions which in turn you think would enrich and be significant in the conversations you would wish.
I loved the article, and think part of the solution is empowering indigenous land defenders, and adopting those core values. I read a book called "The Web of Meaning" by Jeremy Lent that had a lot of good ideas.
I'm absolutely desperate for solutions too, have been an activist for decades and have written letters, attended demonstrations, made giant puppets, signed petitions...it's so disheartening.
Thanks Diana, I tend to agree that the indigenous have been least infected with our toxic economic system and they deserve a major voice at the decision making table. The mainstream decision makers - those who control policy decisions around the world - are causing irreversible harm. We need to gain control of the levers of regulatory power.
My next article will explore education...hang in there! There is a pathway but it's not going to be without sacrifice and struggle. And that's the best case scenario.
Yes, it is tragic. Especially considering how much we all have to gain by addressing climate change. Maybe less stuff, travel and meat, but better health and more connection with community.
I've been reading the Red Deal, an indigenous take on climate change. It's very good, and I think adequately radical
https://www.commonnotions.org/the-red-deal
I'll take a look. Thanks for sharing!
You're on the right track but focused on the wrong brain. The brain power we need is in the heart and we need to switch from "I think" to "I feel" as the quickest way to engage this other brainpower in order to define the path back to reconnecting with all life on Earth. We can't try to "think" our way out of this and use the same processes that created the problem to solve this one. Only by having a change of heart can we get realigned to see the solutions.
John, I see what you're saying but I don't know that you can separate the two...both will need to play a role
But both don't play a role in the current Corporate Context that we are living in. By injecting the heart, a new, more familiar context is created with which to view our calamity.
A very good initiative indeed : to assemble all the creative , intellectual and spiritual energy from people who are not actually being much listened to , whose ideas and actions can actually provoke the synergies for the systemic change if applied on a global scale .
But the riddle remains...how can we wrestle power away from the ruling elite in a timeline that's consistent with the scientific urgency??
This is the problem, and they keep going back even when they know it's not working and the status quo denigrates and discounts all but their own and anyone who sees things differently. It's a vision thing, or a lack of the same. And Brad Jantunen, I was driven to write 4 manuscripts. I actually now view them as visions more so than literary works as I am now living the last book and the other 3 have already happened. All the stuff going on in the 4th story is going on, wildfires, human relocation and forced migration due to climate change, oceanic dead zones the rediscovery of the human spirit and the connection with everything as a holistic system we are part of not in control over.
one practical solution would be that outliers start by joining and organising themselves on a local and national level and get involved in climate and other societal projects with activists from NGO's who are themselves actors in joint decision-making with local and national govertmental committees .
For that, there need to be a system of getting identified as a political group , be properly structured etc. and grow strong enough to be considered as an alternative choice (with the appropriate credentials ) to go to the polls with the aim of wrestling power away from the traditional parties .
In the first place, there should be an initial founding group to think about how to create such a movement . Brad, you could be one of the the founder members who can attract the correct people around such a movement , no?
First we decide what course of action to take and then the all important HOW do we get it done. Those with the wealth and power will fight with everything they have - they will fight dirty - and they will never give up.
Humans have demonstrated that they cannot organise into "movements" without recreating all the problems they were working against in the first place (I shouldn't need to cite here, right?). Such would be a recipe for failure or at best a repeat of the same general history. Groups and hierarchies (because these always come about) should be minimal, with the only goal of guiding people into a self-sustaining lifestyle. The many various communities would concern and govern themselves independently, so there's no need for an overseeing body.
I couldn't agree with you more. I myself have written seven novels over the past decade in which the coalescing climate, housing, homelessness, mental health, and opioid overdose crises take center stage and because I make a clear connection between them and our greed, and because I write from the POV of some of Canada's most marginalized Peoples, I've been made into a pariah within Canadian literary culture. To combat our increasing alienation, and to give voice to those who have no voice in the mainstream media, my partner Tanja and I also created Cannery Row Press. We've just published our fourth issue and you can read it here: www.canneryrowpress.com
John, thanks for sharing. I'm excited to take a closer look at CRPress. The riddle that we quickly need to solve is how can we wrestle power away from the ruling elite in a timeline that's consistent with the scientific urgency??
Yes, it's a riddle all right and it just so happens to be the exact conundrum I've been grappling with throughout the six books in my Tildon Chronicles.* The conclusion I've reached thus far is that wrestling power away from the ruling elite simply isn't going to work (without some kind of violent revolution which would, of course, only beget more violence) and it's become my belief that instead of trying to do that what we really need is some sort of an "end run" which sidesteps them completely (or rather sidesteps those who'll never likely change while enlisting sympathizers, and funds, from among sympathetic parties). Creating a new narrative for ourselves is key and it seems to me that a logical place to start this process would be by building 100% sustainable communities wherever possible. In Canada, at least, it's been Indigenous Peoples who seem the most willing to even entertain such an idea and I'd suggest that those of us who are really serious about confronting the climate emergency need to start throwing 100% of our support behind Indigenous communities who are striving to do just that. Ideally, one of the value-added outcomes (aside from helping undo the most conspicuous damage wrought by our colonial mindset) is that by taking real collective action together the requisite narrative will take on a life of its own (as narrative so often do). Families, of course, must be central if this is going to a have a hope in hell of progressing beyond mere wishful thinking. I know our family is aching for a change. How about yours?
*A Desolate Splendor, No Quarter, Savage Gerry, In For A Dime, Mason's Jar & Nickel Down (the first three of which have been published by ECW Press, with books 5 & 6 written and forthcoming from the same in 2022 & 2023).
Agree that a forceful wresting away of power means violence, possibly civil war, and further fuels unrest. Along the lines of what you've suggested about sustainable communities is this: What happens when a critical mass of people stop participating in this system by striving to live self-sufficiently and sustainability? The system would be forced to start catering to the needs of those that have abandoned BAU, or face collapse. If nobody were to show up for capitalism, then capitalism would need to show up for the people. Similar trends have been achieved with the rise of vegetarianism/veganism, organic food production, and other areas, with similar trends arising in the homesteading movement - marked by corporations' shift into these areas when it became "profitable". Capitalism would be brought to its knees by the lack of participation. The other problem is that as a race we haven't conquered our innate biases, dark emotions, and drive for one-upmanship (in the form of selfishness, racism, sexism, and war), so living together cooperatively requires generations of training and practice, or education in opening up empathy, respect, and understanding in order not to fall back into infighting and other polarizing behaviours. This could have been achieved over the last few decades if it had been started in earnest.
The fact that this would now be near impossible to achieve in the small window we have underscores the magnitude of the problem, and the salt rubbed into the gashing wound of lost time and resources. Another important question is: we want to save life on Earth, but really what would we be saving? More greed, war, pollution etc? Humanity needs to undergo a huge shift. The reality is that Homo Sapiens is a failed species, like the Neanderthals. Only those that have achieved the emotional/psychological state that I alluded to above have any chance of continuing on afterward. And whether any of those very few survive the collapse is also questionable.
There simply is absolutely no way current humanity with its mindset can continue. The events and predicament surrounding us only underscore this fact.
I don't know if we can wrestle power away from the incumbents in a way that will bring more order to the system. I would explore a way of show-and-tell, for example bring stories and visuals of people and areas who have been severely affected by climate change, from a location that's familiar to them, and hopefully plant a seed of 'optimistic anxiety' in them to drive action. Most efforts don't add up on a larger scale because there is no enforcement of behaviors or penalties levied. Rather than have climate crisis conferences in cosy boardrooms, I would take them to the field where they can witness what a show we've put up so far.
People don't care about floods until the water collects in their basement. People don't care about fires until it's their house that's on fire. People aren't programed to care about what's happening thousands of miles away...most people that is.
Yes, I do agree that we mustn’t hope on “neo-liberal capitalists”, who, due to their psychopathy, just can’t replace the system of their affluence to save the planet.
I disagree that we must look for ideas from “outliers”. We have enough ideas from Jacque Fresco (RBE), TZM (technology ripeness for RBE), math-savvy economists (math model of RBE is digestible by modern computers), etc.
We must start gradually phasing out of the GDP economy and consumerism with the RBE. That is to be done by implementing resource-effective and human-capital developing projects offered by scientists and engineers after scrupulous and public peers’ reviews and contests.
I’ve developed such a project laid out on the bit.ly/apvFELA website.
I need a team to start it.
Thanks Brad for the invitation to contribute to your work.
I would rather put my energy into developing positive alternatives to the current mainstream rather than spend my energies trying to wrest power from the ruling political and corporate elite. In my view this is almost certainly an impossible task and those in power never willingly give it up.
Fighting is not what we need now, it is wholly negative energy and could be even more destructive than their current exploitation of everything alive. If this is their ‘business as usual’ approach imagine what they would be like in fighting mode.Unfortunately we don’t need to imagine anything. The evidence of recent and current wars is too plentiful.
When an incumbent system is suddenly overtaken there is usually a power vacuum that is often filled by an opportunistic ego-driven ‘leader’ who imposes some kind of ‘expedient’ autocratic system. In stressful times many people think an autocratic system or dictator is necessary to avoid anarchy and chaos. I am surprised by people I know who have voiced this view . . . but then I was surprised when the previous US president was elected. I think we need to avoid creating an opportunity for a dictator to fill a void we unintentionally create.
I support the Stop Ecocide Foundation for their amazing work and success in drafting a new ‘ecocide’ law being proposed as an amendment to the Rome Statute. If adopted this would put ecocide on the same level of crime against humanity as genocide or war crimes. Support for this law would give campaigners or any movement the opportunity to take a corporation or government to court in The Hague for endangering life on earth.
https://www.stopecocide.earth/
https://ecocidelaw.com/
I support Avaaz.org for its effective lobbying strategies and its success over a long period in attracting 65 million members with actions on specific campaigns.
I support Extinction Rebellion for their intelligent pacifist activism which is local, strategic and based on research on the kind of activism which has been successful in the past.
A social and economic system which baked into its core a set of ethics, values and principles which are focused on the environment, equality and sustainability will receive all my energy and support. If this system develops as a successful alternative to the mainstream, and its benefits made more widely known, then it will attract people who want change. By engaging and working with a better system which is local, sustainable and clearly benefits the 99% then it could supplant the incumbent system. The incumbent system would slowly wither and be replaced by a regenerative system that is based on respect for our Earth and all life forms.
There is a lot of excellent work already done which does not need repeating. This good work just needs to be revealed and expanded. We have little time to develop anything from first principles now.
Co-operatives employ 10% of the global workforce and over 1 billion people are members of the at least one of the 3 million co-operatives that exist today. We don’t hear a lot about co-ops for a variety of reasons but they provide essential services, infrastructure and products, and some are large manufacturing and agricultural enterprises.
The legal and financial structure of a co-op is designed so that added value created is re-invested to achieve the stated objectives of the co-op for its members. Members participate in a working democracy and added value is not “profit” which can be controlled by an individual or management. Co-ops are usually started to satisfy local needs and they typically more successful than companies and last 3 times longer than private companies.
The ICA (International Co-operative Alliance) https://www.ica.coop/en/about-us/international-cooperative-alliance has over 150 years of experience in supporting co-ops and has a large resource base of templates, articles of association, and research papers and exists to support all co-operative ventures. I only want to work in a co-operative and if I start another enterprise it will be a co-operative. I have been involved in starting several companies and have experienced many of their shortcomings.
The P2P Foundation has since 2005 developed a large resource base of concepts and systems which support a “commons oriented peer to peer” community-based shared systems of production. https://p2pfoundation.net/the-p2p-foundation/about-the-p2p-foundation
The P2P models are closely aligned with the principles of co-operatives and open source circular economic systems. Together this new work builds on the successful history of co-operatives and I think together these two bodies of work and experience could be the starting point for this endeavour.
I would like to suggest and propose that this endeavour is formed, or functions, as a co-op and collaborates or engages with the above active campaigns. I think your invitation implies this type of collaboration. The value we create is not about money, it is about life.
Jay, thanks for sharing your thoughts. We have to take on this challenge from all different directions. Thanks for being part of the solution!
Jay - I finally had time to re-read your post. You packed a lot into it :-) I agree that we don't have time to "develop anything from first principles now." You talked about co-ops and I agree that they make a lot of sense. Are you familiar with the Mondragon Corporation?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondragon_Corporation
I too share your concern about a power vacuum!
And just to be clear, when I say wrestle power away from the ruling elite - I mean a wide variety of initiatives...many of which you suggested in your comments above.
Thanks for sharing!
Piracy!
Pirates created a new system because the one they were faced with was flawed, rigged and broken. Where anything less than a radical alternative was suicidal. We have reached that same point.
We need to make trouble at the edges, where the useless mainstream can see & feel the waves created. In practical terms supporting and/or joining groups like XR & POW everywhere.
We need to create massive pressure from the public. In practical terms, supporting groups suggested in earlier comments like "Stop ecocide" and join & support groups like Avaaz.org
We need to rewrite the rules of business with people like Dan Price (founder of gravity payments), Yvon Chouinard and others, why not us, to be the leaders we need. So that nobody would ever think of selling out the Biosphere to improve a budget line.
We need to educate & inform the "useless mainstream" that nowhere and no one is safe. In practical terms use every possible social media platform to inundate them with the harsh reality of the current climate emergency. And, we need to provide them with a community to go to, that's the hardest part.
Work with oppressed, the MAPA (Most Affected Peoples & Areas), in short (and a bit of a generalization too), work with indigenous people.
And yes, Lobbying. If we're not lobbying anything we do at our level is irrelevant. We need to become as good as the oil industry at lobbying.
Thank you for asking those questions that nobody else seems to want to hear.
Stewart - thanks so much for sharing your ideas. You nailed it.
We need to make XR and Stop Ecocide global movements but consider this:
Imagine if the Proto-Fascist Republican party gets into power in the US and XR gets big enough to call a country wide strike...Could you see the government writing legislation that would require every employee to present a doctor's note for missing work or risk being fired and losing any severance or pension. Those with the power will stop at nothing to keep it!
Dan Price is amazing! Have you read Yvon Chouinard's book. "Let My People Go Surfing"? It's a good read.
In terms of education. they teach recycling to kids because they say it's good for the environment but that's nonsense - it's good for the economy.
Consider this:
Why hasn't our school system (almost any country) responded to the environmental crisis by teaching kids how to really protect the environment. Teach kids between 10 and 20 how to grab the levers of power and force meaningful disruptive regulatory change? I plan to explore this in a future article.
By the way - looks what's happening in Florida. Corporations will stop at nothing to further concentrate their power.
https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/education/florida-civics-education/67-3fe62740-2011-4e22-b70c-ad83f436df0e
Stewart, if you haven't already please sign up to my email list! Your ideas are exactly what I'm looking for!
I help coordinate a service project (a not-for-profit project in Baha'i parlance) xalled "Elevate" which generates and collates questions to help advance meaningful conversation on topics of social concern including the environment.
We have found that questions can be a direct way to express ideas (most people have some opinion about the topic), can help awaken deeper considerations and capture ideas often from those whose voice is rarely heard, while gathering an ever-widening range of concerns, experience and suggestions, and providing the opportunity for meaningful conversation by way of personal reflection, small group discussion, workshops, ice breaking and across the dining room table.
We would be happy to make the materials for the environmental theme, plus some complementary resources available if you are interested along with the open invitation to suggest questions which in turn you think would enrich and be significant in the conversations you would wish.
If interested, please send an email request via:
elevatedconversation@gmail.com
I loved the article, and think part of the solution is empowering indigenous land defenders, and adopting those core values. I read a book called "The Web of Meaning" by Jeremy Lent that had a lot of good ideas.
I'm absolutely desperate for solutions too, have been an activist for decades and have written letters, attended demonstrations, made giant puppets, signed petitions...it's so disheartening.
Thanks Diana, I tend to agree that the indigenous have been least infected with our toxic economic system and they deserve a major voice at the decision making table. The mainstream decision makers - those who control policy decisions around the world - are causing irreversible harm. We need to gain control of the levers of regulatory power.
The million dollar question is how do we regain that control? I keep trying to figure out what we can do that would be effective. So much is at stake.
My next article will explore education...hang in there! There is a pathway but it's not going to be without sacrifice and struggle. And that's the best case scenario.
I look forward to reading it. What isn't worth sacrificing for the sake of the future? Not much.
Tragically - not everyone feels that way.
Yes, it is tragic. Especially considering how much we all have to gain by addressing climate change. Maybe less stuff, travel and meat, but better health and more connection with community.