I would really like to see people from the various social and environmental justice movements working along more of a unified front.

The root causes of environmental degradation and ecological unsustainability; imperialism and wars of aggression; exploitative labor practices; societal oppression; and poverty and any other social injustice are the same.

I would like to see a broad based, inclusive and supportive movement - a movement that is accessible to everyone regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, ability, creed, and/or any other distinguishing feature - in order to effectively and successfully challenge the status quo: a status quo which is currently doing so much harm to all people.

Please imagine a movement to challenge the current establishment's enablement of a degrading and dehumanizing status quo of economic instability, ecological unsustainability, and social injustice...

Further thoughts and avenues for consideration on this topic include, but are not limited to, potential solutions and responses such as 1) permaculture: a resilient, sustainable and independent local/regional economic infrastructure, 2) socio-economic egalitarianism, 3) making health care a central and foundational economic feature ...and etc....

[larger image: first they ignore you, then then laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win]

I think that people and society need a strong (and loving) dose of truth in order to do away with the lies that the structure of this society is built on. So I say: Down with the myth of meritocracy. Tear it down. Until we confront, and demand an end to, the abusive and unscrupulous behaviors - the downright harmful and violent behaviors - that many, if not all, of those with the most wealth have participated in, our society will not change.

People complain about entitlement for the poor. Well - how about entitlement for the rich considering privileged access to, and preferential treatment by, the government, and by financial and other institutions of power (church etc.).

I think the myth of meritocracy ought to be taken up by its roots and given a strong dose of air and sunlight. I think what makes sense is to work for and to demand the transition to a society that serves life - a society that serves the common interests of all people - rather than the interests of profit and accumulating wealth, the interests of which favor the unscrupulous, whom are sick in their depravity and willingness to oppress, and to abuse others, and to violate the sanctity of life.

Until we stop acting as if it is somehow acceptable to "reward" people for the most unscrupulous behavior, then society will continue its degradation.

However, I think that it will be possible to change, to stop the empire, and to someday see a society that works for everyone.

In Peace, and with Love and Hope,
Berd

Vandana Shiva visited Olympia last week. Her visit was hosted by the SPSCC group BRICK (Building Revolution by Increasing Community Knowledge). Dr. Shiva presented a wonderful speech, that was informative and educational, and moving and inspirational.

I am hoping that video will become available to post on the Internet, because there is no way a description can do justice to her speech. Getting a transcript would also be good, because there was so much information. The SPSCC Performing Arts Center was full -- people who showed up hoping to attend the speech were denied entry into the auditorium.

Janine Gates has an article about Dr. Shiva's visit at Little Hollywood: Shiva Speaks to South Sound Community about Food Politics. Some of this article will cover the same topics covered there, but I will add a couple other details from the speech. Check out Janine's blog for more information about the Shiva speech.

An early topic of the speech was the structural nature of hunger. Over one billion people on earth are without adequate food and nourishment. And it's not because there isn't enough food, or enough ability to produce food for all the people. Instead it is because of a lack of distributive justice, and because of appropriations of seed, water, and land. One billion people hungry. That's a lot of people. (And in my opinion it is a huge strike against our system of capitalism. One billion hungry people is indefensible. Really, should any human being live in hunger?)