Insight and inspiration in turbulent times.
Instead of seeing everything through the lens of the political economy and civilization, as if they were somehow divorced from earthly systems, bioregionalism proposes that ecological systems be treated as the foundational substrate for everything.
The Spinsters hope to both beautify the downtown core and bring wool manufacturing back to Bellingham. They’re not the only ones looking forward to the transformation. Downtown Bellingham Partnership’s Jenny Hagemann says Spincycle’s move is “an exciting chapter” in the neighbourhood’s “continued revitalization.”
I want to convince you that a commons system is a better system, and it’s achievable – a combination of new commons economy and commons governance ideas. I think a commons system will produce much better leaders in terms of integrity, compassion and intelligence than capitalism and liberal democracy.
What takes place in the 1980s and 1990s is a concerted class offensive that attempts to execute a controlled demolition of civil society.
Looking back can teach us how to move forward. That’s why, to close with Krenak’s words, our future is ancestral.
Degrowth is about building societies in which everyone is rich – without much material. It is a desirable project to strive for.
The Housing Commons is like Aikido; it uses the force of the attack – the insane and dangerous cruelty of ever-increasing house prices – to provide the force whereby we preserve ourselves
The fight against the far right is not just a political struggle—it’s a battle for the soul of society. By understanding the roots of this movement and organising effectively against it, we can create a world where justice, equality, and true democracy are more than just ideals, but realities for all.
Most big-think essays like this end on a note of inspiration and hope. For once, I’ll resist the temptation to go that route. Can we humans make ourselves useful to the rest of life? It’s an open question.
The whole tapestry of Black Wall Street, with all its complexities, deserves the spotlight, even as the fight for concrete compensation in the form of reparations continues.
Will we stay under the sway of the illusion of limitless growth, till no body of water or plot of land or lungful of air is left untouched by our profligate economic system? Or will we choose the steady-state path, gently tapering off our steroid supply through intentional government policies and adjustments to our way of life? Only our actions will tell.
Processing these simultaneous truths — inspiration on the one hand, and systemic injustice on the other — feels like a microcosm for our wider dilemma. As we co-create a new/old system, a pluriverse of alternatives, what do we want to keep — and what will we leave behind? What might a post-growth Olympic Games look like?
