This afternoon, with 2300 other punters, I watched a Get Up (1) webinar/discussion between Tim "The Weathermakers" Flannery and Malcolm "I will not lead a party that is not as committed to climate change as I am" Turnbull. Below are some random thoughts/not rising to the level of theses (though I will say that these... Continue Reading →
The Age of Consequences – of lies, comforting myths and what is (still) to be done
"We" are in the early years of the age of consequences now. Other species have been living with the consequences of our depravity for hella long time. Our own species has been pretty grotesque to its own members for millennia, with that getting dialled up to eleven after European "explorers" and adventurers took their guns,... Continue Reading →
Eight top tips for how to destroy your group’s morale
State budgets are going to take a massive hit thanks to Covid. Education? Kids can watch youtube, that'll do! Health budgets? It starts with one nurse between two, it ends up suicide pills a la On The Beach. With regards to what used to be called, unironically “Public Safety” well, while there’ll always be money... Continue Reading →
Guest post: In (partial) defence of Extinction Rebellion
A few days ago I published something under the title "XR- useful, useless or worse than useless?" Given that I wrote it, there were of course no tpyos, no sweeping generalisations and no inflammatory denunciations whatsoever.Someone I know slightly kindly wrote an email, and I encouraged them to turn it into a longer comment. Originally... Continue Reading →
XR- useful, useless, worse than useless?
So there is a debate coming up - "this house believes that XR has done more harm than good for the movement towards climate action." An organisation I am part of has been invited to participate, and I may or may not be speaking on its behalf. That's the impetus for putting fingers to keyboard... Continue Reading →
Any other kicks to the nuts, 2020? In the next 8 weeks? Asking for a friend…
3 billion animals killed in the Australian fires. Economic and psychological devastation from Covid lockdowns Trump-ism stronger (whether he wins or loses this election - the closeness of it means whatever happens, more bad shit happens.) Climate "action" (always a feeble joke) even more stalled. The ex-participants in so-called "social movements" having learnt that "activism"... Continue Reading →
Scottie is not Johnnie: Australia, #climate policy and the “English” slur
The rules of Australian climate policy are pretty straightforward The Australian government will always choose the stupidest, crudest position, at the behest of its fossil-fuel mates (this is largely bi-partisan, btw).The new low is never the new low for long: new lows will be drilled for, and found.Climate policy is green, insofar as old stupidities... Continue Reading →
Losing friends and failing to influence people #392: “Activism as a Ponzi scheme”
Here’s another post destined to lose me friends/supporters/followers/ears. Perhaps. (IDGAF) It came to me recently, at a [description removed on advice of career coach]. Most of the “activism” I see is a Ponzi Scheme. In case you don’t know it, a Ponzi scheme is named after an Italian conman, Ponzi. He advertised a glorious future... Continue Reading →
The evergreen “JOBS!!!” tactic versus anything… green
Incumbent tactics in the nominal democracies (i.e., where the ones were fatal violence is rarely dished out to citizens who are 'in the way') are fascinating. (The shifts and continuities of tactics were the subject of my PhD). Anyone paying any attention for more than five minutes will know that one favoured tactic - deployed... Continue Reading →
Worse-than-useless documentaries about “activism” – the why, the how, the what instead
We are allowing ourselves to brightside ourselves. FFS This is no better than the fucking gaslighting by those who would have us sleep through the apocalpyse. [Sweariness warning. I am trying to be more Omar - not the killing people bit, but the not cussing. Today, I'm failing. If that means you can't fucking share... Continue Reading →
