I've been on hols so apologies to anyone whose comments I was a bit slow in publishing.
Thanks go to whoever it was who suggested I read Noam Chomsky's 'Occupy' - what a hopeful, uplifting and inspirational little book. Just what I need in my search for a way forward out of our mad world.
The most exciting gem (among many) was Chomsky's assertion that the Occupy movement has been successful in bringing to public awareness the inequalities and unfairness of the neo-liberal capitalist system and the fact that the system has been successful over the past 150 years in instilling an ideology of 'Just take care of yourself and forget about anyone else.' Once that ideology is challenged by enough people we can move on to developing mutually supportive communities. He says:
'One of the real achievements of the Occupy movement ... has been to develop a real manifestation of rejection of this in a very striking way. The people involved are not in it for themselves. They are in it for one another, for the broader society and for future generations.'
And, yes, I can see those mutually-supportive communities growing up all around me! Community gardens, Transition Towns, StreetLife, Freecycle. It's all happening and it's very, very exciting. Even the UK government is listening to grass-roots groups: they invited the community which is 38Degrees to speak to MP's at a select committee in the very heart of government.
I see a light at the end of the tunnel!
What light do you see at the end of the tunnel?
ReplyDeleteA scientist on a serious television program said that he and his scientist friends no longer even talk about climate change; it's a done deal, humanity's days are probably numbered, and why talk about something so depressing? That said, I agree totally with you that the little ways in which we resist are important and meaningful.
Thanks for that - good to have your views. Not sure quite what the light at the end of the tunnel looks like but it seems to be shining on some more positive stuff now I'm looking for it. I reached a ripe old age before I realised that life can be shit but that the secret is to go out and find the joy which is to be had. The bad stuff seems to come along of its own volition but I work hard to find the joy! Just as I finished reading the Noam Chomsky book about Occupy I came across an article by Lucy Siegle in The Observer where she discussed the very important part which is being played (in helping us to move towards a better world) by local ground-roots movements like the Transition Towns. Then along came my introduction to StreetLife.com through which I've been able to make contact in a few days with more neighbours than was possible over past decades. The joy of the Internet!
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