There are two key words in this piece, and they are both short, simple words. I have gotten fed up with articles talking about various crises that end with declarations about all kinds of sensible policy change that "must" happen. This one ends with a lot of sentences with "must" in them, too--but always preceded by the other key word--"we". It's a whole different thing to say "we must"--because then the agency is with us--we actually can do at least most of the things the Raven calls for. Whereas governments will never do the things essayists say they "must" do to rescue biodiversity or avert calamitous climate change or prevent the march to fascism, no matter how many times anyone says they must.
Yes. About the we. And where do we have most agency? In our communities. The further we get from them, the more that interest group politics holds sway. A network of empowered communities can build to change broader realities.
"The crises we face are systemic. We need deep transformation of our economies, societies and political systems," Starting at the edges is too slow, though. Global warming isn't waiting.
It's the urgency of NOW. Let's get a committee. I'm peppering this idea around. Be sure I'm invited. I have ideas. Work on people, not problems. Get them fired up. People are ripe now. Create a massive coalition to make it a fair world. I love Kate Raworth -- and her husband, Roman Krznaric. Get them. Who else? Get serious about movement now.
Look at this I just got. You should be included if you are not:
Hey Suzanne. Daniel from the Crisis and Transition Substack here. We had a brief correspondence over email with the cancellation thing but I wanted to follow up on a more personal level. I keep finding myself in the same comment threads looking at your posts, restacks, and comments and have been thinking over the past week that it's high time we hopped on a call or something. Others within the Substack that I'm working on would love to talk with you as well. We want to make a space where we can…
I'm going to be out for the weekend but if you'd like putting aside time for a call next week feels like it's in order. I think it's especially important to start organizing and building stronger change modalities in this moment where so many people are in shock from the Election. We need to empathize and work on collective empowerment instead of just sitting there reeling.
Getting together with my group in Seattle tomorrow. See earlier on string. Looks like you’re from West Hollywood, CA? Good to find folks near you. It’s local now.
Yes, it has to be local. But shocking the lack of interest here. My house was a new age hotspot but can’t find local allies now. I just put an inquiry on Next Door, for interest in coming here again, and not one reply.
Beautifully written, as always Patrick. And for readers in the Seattle area, shameless plug for Troublemakers - a social club that also does badass direct actions together. It's a community and we're meeting on Sunday 11/17 to do some post-election processing - https://actionnetwork.org/events/gathering-for-spirit-and-resistance
A group of which I’m a part and which staged the forest action I have linked in the section on preparing for disruption. I’ll be at that event this weekend with some of my favorite people.
Then there is no reason to do anything but eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die, meanwhile trying to avoid the latter as long as we can. No reason to read the scrivenings of someone who is trying to grope his way through some pretty dark circumstances.
There are two key words in this piece, and they are both short, simple words. I have gotten fed up with articles talking about various crises that end with declarations about all kinds of sensible policy change that "must" happen. This one ends with a lot of sentences with "must" in them, too--but always preceded by the other key word--"we". It's a whole different thing to say "we must"--because then the agency is with us--we actually can do at least most of the things the Raven calls for. Whereas governments will never do the things essayists say they "must" do to rescue biodiversity or avert calamitous climate change or prevent the march to fascism, no matter how many times anyone says they must.
Yes. About the we. And where do we have most agency? In our communities. The further we get from them, the more that interest group politics holds sway. A network of empowered communities can build to change broader realities.
"The crises we face are systemic. We need deep transformation of our economies, societies and political systems," Starting at the edges is too slow, though. Global warming isn't waiting.
It's the urgency of NOW. Let's get a committee. I'm peppering this idea around. Be sure I'm invited. I have ideas. Work on people, not problems. Get them fired up. People are ripe now. Create a massive coalition to make it a fair world. I love Kate Raworth -- and her husband, Roman Krznaric. Get them. Who else? Get serious about movement now.
Patrick — Will look him up.
Look at this I just got. You should be included if you are not:
Hey Suzanne. Daniel from the Crisis and Transition Substack here. We had a brief correspondence over email with the cancellation thing but I wanted to follow up on a more personal level. I keep finding myself in the same comment threads looking at your posts, restacks, and comments and have been thinking over the past week that it's high time we hopped on a call or something. Others within the Substack that I'm working on would love to talk with you as well. We want to make a space where we can…
I'm going to be out for the weekend but if you'd like putting aside time for a call next week feels like it's in order. I think it's especially important to start organizing and building stronger change modalities in this moment where so many people are in shock from the Election. We need to empathize and work on collective empowerment instead of just sitting there reeling.
Big zoom call? Count me in.
If you aren’t subscribed to me do so for staying up on what gives, which fingers crossed will give a lot.
Getting together with my group in Seattle tomorrow. See earlier on string. Looks like you’re from West Hollywood, CA? Good to find folks near you. It’s local now.
Yes, it has to be local. But shocking the lack of interest here. My house was a new age hotspot but can’t find local allies now. I just put an inquiry on Next Door, for interest in coming here again, and not one reply.
Jason Hickel is another great alternative economist writing about degrowth.
Beautifully written, as always Patrick. And for readers in the Seattle area, shameless plug for Troublemakers - a social club that also does badass direct actions together. It's a community and we're meeting on Sunday 11/17 to do some post-election processing - https://actionnetwork.org/events/gathering-for-spirit-and-resistance
A group of which I’m a part and which staged the forest action I have linked in the section on preparing for disruption. I’ll be at that event this weekend with some of my favorite people.
Nice words, but they ain't gonna happen. Human nature isn't going to change fast enough. We will fight each other until everyone is gone.
Thanks for the like.
Then there is no reason to do anything but eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die, meanwhile trying to avoid the latter as long as we can. No reason to read the scrivenings of someone who is trying to grope his way through some pretty dark circumstances.