The possibility of building a better, more just world feels distant. The systems that dominate our lives, hegemonic neo-liberalism, appear immovable, and we have few credible alternatives to offer in response.
Over the past 40 years, we’ve witnessed the decay of leftist thinking and action. The hierarchical, centralised movements of the 20th century, like “Stop the War,” have given way to the fragmented and often ineffectual anarchy of 21st-century efforts such as “Climate Camp.” The once-open internet, which birthed the World Wide Web, has been consumed by the closed silos of the #dotcons. Apple, Failbook, and their locked-in app ecosystems have turned the dream of a decentralised, open web into a corporate-controlled nightmare.
Our political institutions, once intended to serve the public, have been captured by corporations. As George Monbiot has pointed out, they now function primarily to entrench the interests of the powerful. In this context, the left has been reduced to little more than shadow puppets performing on a cardboard stage, even as Climate Change and rampant neo-liberal inequality consume everything we once held dear.
A world to win? There are many overlapping tributaries feeding into the wide river of sustainability and justice. The river exists, visible and real, but fragmented efforts and entrenched power block our paths. The open internet still survives, for now, and we have the tools to use it. But what we lack is the will, the imagination, and the cooperation necessary to move together in any meaningful direction. Our political institutions, though decayed and leaning under the weight of corruption, still exist and offer pathways for resistance and reform, if we can muster the strength to use them.
Climate Change is inevitable, a tidal wave of disruption and devastation that will wash around the globe. In the rich West, we will feel its impact less severely in the early stages. This privilege gives us a unique position to influence the outcome. The question is, will we use it?
Decentralised, renewable power is an inevitability, no matter how much the neo-liberal establishment clings to its failing systems. The transition will happen, and it will mediate the ecological transformation that climate change demands. But how this transition unfolds, who it benefits, and who it leaves behind is still to be determined.
The world is in flux. The river of justice and sustainability is there, waiting for us to wade in. But it will take more than fragmented movements, captured institutions, or passive hope. It will take bold action, creative cooperation, and a willingness to fight for a better world.
The possibility of winning a world worth living in still exists—but only if we have the courage to seize it.
Published Date 7/31/15 2:03 PM
A world to win
The possibility of building a better more just world is far away.
We have no alternatives to offer to the hegemonic neo-liberalisam.
Over the last 20 years we have a decay of left thinking and action.
From the 20th century hierarchical “stop the war”
To the 21st century anarchy of “climate camp”
The open internet which gave birth to the World Wide Web has fallen into the dotcom silos and locked in app echo systems of Apple and Failbook.
Our political institutions have been captured by corporations (Monbiot)
The left is little but shadow puppets playing on a cardboard stage, while Climate Change in hand with rampant neo liberal inequality are burning all that we ones held dear.
A world to win?
The are many of overlapping tributary’s to the wide river of sustainability and justice, the river is there for us to see.
The open internet is still their for a while longer and we have the tools to use it, just not the wile and co-operation to move anywhere.
Our “democraticish” political institutions are still in place (though leaning with decay)
Climate change is going to wash around the world, initially we in the rich west will be less affected than the rest of the world, this gives us a privileged place to affect the outcome of this wave of disruption and devastation. We will have power to challenge the outcome.
Moving to decentralised renewable power is inevitable (no matter what the neo-liberal fools do) this will mediate the eco-transformation climatechange brings.
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