Activists and Hipsters Without Territory or a Plan

[chlamor]

Activists and hipsters without territory or a plan

by Jan Lundberg


Part 1: the problem
Part 2: the solution

Summary:

There exists today almost no social movement of a kind that leads human industrial society into a new, safe direction. This may be because (1) the anti-war movement, for example, offers little to the public in terms of a vision of sustainable living, and (2) the likely participants and leaders of a vanguard have no territory. The missing ingredient for the nascent movement, or diffuse base of activists and culture changers, is cohesion. Enough cohesion can create Virtual Territory as a physical network for the cultural revolution. Such a movement could make headway in replacing the systematic destruction of our biosphere by the mushrooming population of people, cars, etc. Just waiting for the effects of peak oil is counter-indicated.


Part 1: the movement and the individual come up short

Do you wonder about the efficacy of all those educated (or self-educated) hipsters out there who ache for a more sensible and just world? Is their mental state and general health conducive to succeeding at their well-intended activism and utilizing their relevant art? How can a disturbed urban denizen -- up against the brutal economy, surrounded by machines and people who are not living as if they are in a community -- maintain a productive life with a high level of awareness?

These questions would not be so crucial if the movement to create a new culture of sustainability were making clear headway already. This is not the case, but help may be on the way. Social movements may not have appreciable impact prior to the likely crash in petroleum consumption. As mentioned in many a Culture Change column, a market-aggravated, historic crisis of supply will probably help bring about and hasten the crash. However, this essay -- with an ear to the ground -- sketches out a strategy that visualizes a regrouping of what is today a diffuse movement (or partially linked movements). Perhaps a more cohesive movement could start now to do such things as use energy sensibly and restructure social relations toward rediscovered mutual aid and cooperation. This column speculates on the additional glue needed for the aforementioned cohesion.

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The anti-war movement today
As to specific positions, it may be all well and good for the anti-war movement to always hammer on the Israeli oppression against Palestinians, and to connect the needs of working people to the need to stop the waste of war. However, what's implied with this particular limited program is the notion of continuing the system of working for bosses and corporations. Meanwhile, the anti-war movement is not making it possible to stop paying one's taxes for the Pentagon and all the road building (=war on nature). Protesting an aspect of the status quo (war) does little in itself to eliminate war now or in the long run.

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Part II, The solution: creating territory together

There is almost no social movement of a kind that leads human industrial society into a new direction. This may be because the likely participants and leaders of a vanguard have no territory. In all past conflicts and disputes between peoples prior to western civilization's conquest, opponents had their own land or territory in which they lived and operated. From their territory they could offer an alternative to their opposition or wage war.

In today's modern world, all fenced or paved, the acquisition or taking of territory is vital for the success of a real opposition if it is to have a chance at survival and victory. This presupposes, perhaps, that a peaceful revolution or mass awakening into ecological consciousness is impossible under current ruling conditions. Indeed, "the market" only continues to expand its hegemony and empire. The global market economy appears about to flatten out or shrink, perhaps due to inflation caused by energy costs, but we don't know at this time.

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