Non violent revolutions and how to win

 
Today I saw a fascinating mini article which I read quickly - and a longer one that took a while to assimilate. The second a reason for our need to reject the ongoing narrative of Corporatocracy and fear-based politics, the first a pointer to how it's not as difficult as we think / usually assume it is. 

So - let's start with the 'why' 

This seems to becoming clearer by the day. At least to us 'snowflakes' - we bleeding-heart libtards - we leftist losers; being paid* to go on demonstrations 'against' god-fearing 'normal' folks. I had to look up 'snowflake' after seeing it over & over, reviewing posts with aggressive trolling - and was surprised at the urban definition of: "An overly sensitive person that doesn't take criticism well. : Donald J Trump. " Not surprised with the example given - the man does seem to be overly sensitive to his publicly-perceived persona and have a rather prima-donna-esque attitude to the limelight, but all the commentators I'd seen using the word were (apparently) right-wing supporters. Cognitive Dissonance for a moment - but an interesting aside, not something to dwell on - his is a media-created character in great part - so 'it fits'. *Oh, and by the way - I've been marching for various rights and causes, protesting against the various wrong turns (usually vindicated by later admissions) of successive governments for nearly 40 years - and I've never been paid or known any one person (apart from undercover police infiltraitors) to have been. This is a typically lazy, mob-mentality lie that obfuscate real issues with unverifiable falsehoods to ensure, in the light of people around you taking action, your bubble reality can stay comfortably un-pierced - but I'm getting ahead of myself. 

However - the more vitriolic the name calling, the stauncher the overwrought annoyance that emerges from those opposing such 'heinous' calls for; maintaining human rights / scientific-based reviews / fail-safes in legislation / holding business to account / protecting citizens from corporate might; the clearer the underlying reasons appear, especially with the backdrop of massive increases in political unilateralism (and this refers to both side of the pond by the way - meaning US & UK both). The bees nest is buzzing with crazed annoyance - but who is holding the honey-laden stick?  

Basically it's the same boring 'them and us' narrative, the 'divide and conquer' that is first attributed to Philip of Macedonia, used by most (if not all) empires since, expounded and codified by Machiavelli, tweaked and streamlined by Goebbels and remarkably (as we seem to be immune to learning from history) still effective into the present day. Note: For the system to work, it helps to keep people miserable & complaining. Rich enough to eat and think they have a chance of redemption (National Lottery anyone?) but poor enough to want to scapegoat some outsider for their ills and perceived misfortune. 

Of course - the boundaries of what we expect as our rightful 'quality of life' (see my recent post on Work) and definitions of those 'outsiders' that cause our malaise are 'helpfully' indicated by media sources all around. Whether it is the broadsheets - controlled by global moguls with agendas, TV with hand-picked executives/presenters or bubble-reality social media with manipulated information streams. IMO this 'helpful' propaganda is often originated / initiated during back-room cosy chats with Millionaire ministers / autocrats - or brought about through obligations borne of employment expectations or continuance of advertising revenues.  

So the media has much to do with how we are fed our grievances and how we identify those who 'obviously' hold the blame. But as an emerging, connected intelligent species, we are outgrowing this existent paradigm. We understand more & more the internal workings of the marketplace - so those in control are striving to remove democratic accountability (e.g. the recent global trade agreements TTIP, CETA etc) - or find their ways into the top jobs to ensure any laws that might impinge on the god-given right of share-holders to make money at any cost, are adjusted. Of course this is my rather bombastic, inflammatory take on this (though I'm actually most concerned with stepping back and reviewing with calm regard!) .  

The well reasoned and very well referenced article that sparked today's post was a piece by the excellent and informed G.Monbiot. Please read his essay "Dark Arts - How a dark money network is taking power on both sides of the Atlantic.".  

Bringing me to the positive, light at the end of the tunnel, piece. Typical lefty - trying to maintain an air of positivity! lol

So - by informing ourselves, being aware of context and analysing the news feeds with a critical frame of mind, we can easily remove the rusty shackles of tin-hat 'sheeple', the Machiavellian power-grip, the present media hold on our cultural debate. We all sense the problem in various aspects, we understand there are darker shadows moving behind the gaudy simplistic decisions we're fed. We may not want to look, we might not feel that it affects us - but more and more, the scale of the effects brought about by elite greed (and our complicity with this dream) is touching our worlds. More and more we can empathise with others, we see the parallels and can no longer ignore those abroad as having no impact on our lives - or ours on theirs.  

We're ever more aware that our phones cause suicides, our clothes exist via child labour, commodities are denuding the planet of sustainable soil and the basics - water, fuel, air, food are growing more contaminated year on year. Short term political goals don't address these long term problems - we cannot really, fully believe that the process that has brought us here - that is set up for the continuance of the status quo - is suddenly going to have a change of heart and adopt the old wisdom of looking seven generations ahead and planning sustainability into today's decision-making.  

So it's down to us. Maybe it's down to the emerging economies actually - perhaps we are so mired into the system-that-is to effect any meaningful turn. Could be those with an expanding younger population will take the helm and decide to change course before us - Arab Spring et al. Not that I'm urging complacency - but could be that we are too entrenched and too late. If that is not the case - and personally I prefer to think I can be part of the solution by opting out of contributing to the problem, it's time to wake up. To look around with a calm but critical eye. To empathise with those who share our environment - our streets, our countries, our planet. To realise that without action, we might well be ambling into Ecocide and another mass extinction - it won't be the first.. again, learning through history is key. 

And how do we act - well, we have fantastic examples all around. Non-violent civil resistance / disobedience - however you want to call it. You want to fight 'the Man'. Well you do it by not fighting. Non compliance, opting out, raising an awareness of your own power and ability to stand firm, find those who agree and build a movement. To be honest - this is so easy now - that final piece is child's-play - we are all connected in ways that were never possible before - so all we have to battle is mis/dis information and apathy.  

We can move our money. Divest from those who you don't wish to prop up with your sponsorship - the banks that invest in practices you disagree with. Energy suppliers - are they polluting the planet, what are their words on future plans - and more importantly what are their actions. It's getting cheaper each year to opt out or support sustainable providers. What products do you buy? What suppliers do you champion, - are there local suppliers, family based rather than stock-holder based? Is the food you eat grown in the same area, the same country?  

It was great to read a piece the other day from Seattle - whether it will work or not, no-matter but obviously I hope so - the symbolic divestment from Wells Fargo over DAPL. But we can all do this on an individual level - and that will always win. Not without set-backs, not immediately - but non-violent direct action wins. From the other side of the world - another small step where a South Pacific island decides to divest from imported Junk Food - and adopt a long-term strategy. Well done Vanuatu! 

Apparently: It may only take 3.5% of the population to topple a dictator – with civil resistance. Victories have been won with fewer people - but owing to the scale of the vested interests in the present world economy - it indicates that this might be 'the big one' - so we must prepare for a fight - but a rewarding, exhilarating, bonding, inspiring (and non-violent) one.