A radical view of the Palestine

The conflict between Israel and Palestine is complex, emotionally charged, and historically layered. From a radical perspective, however, it’s best understood as a struggle shaped by settler colonialism, displacement, and ongoing structural injustice. This framing shifts the focus away from narratives of equal symmetry and toward power dynamics, history, and lived realities on the ground.

A radical view of the Palestine story needs historical context

Colonial legacy
Radicals see the establishment of Israel in 1948 as a settler-colonial project, comparable in to European colonial expansions in Africa and the Americas, where incoming settler populations established political dominance over indigenous communities. Within this view, Zionism is analysed not only as a national movement but also through the lens of colonial history.

The Nakba and displacement
The Nakba (“catastrophe”) is the mass displacement of Palestinians during the creation of Israel. Over 700,000 Palestinians were expelled, forming a central historical trauma that to shapes Palestinian identity, political demands, and regional dynamics. For many radicals, this moment is ethnic cleansing that remains unresolved.

Military occupation
Following the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel occupied the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. The UN says this occupation violates international law and has produced a system of military governance that deeply affects Palestinian daily life through checkpoints, surveillance, and restrictions on movement.

Settlement expansion
Israeli settlements in the West Bank are a continuation of the colonial process, involving land appropriation and demographic restructuring. International legal bodies and many governments say these settlements are illegal, though Israel ignores this.

Apartheid framing
Activists and human rights organisations describe the system as apartheid, pointing to separate legal regimes, unequal rights, and differential access to resources between Jewish Israelis and Palestinians. This is a direct comparison with South African apartheid in how it highlights structural inequality.

Human rights concerns
Reports from international organisations frequently document home demolitions, administrative detention, restrictions on movement, and other practices that are evidence of systemic oppression.

Education and awareness

Understanding historical context and present realities is essential. This includes challenging dominant narratives and questioning assumptions shaped by mainstream media framing.

Active participation

Demonstrations and protests: Public visibility can build solidarity and maintain political pressure. Direct action pushes economic pressure by campaigns targeting institutions supporting occupation policies. There is a need for organising and participation in advocacy networks – including campaigns like Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) – as a nonviolent strategy for change.

Support and solidarity

Grassroots aid can be help with supporting organisations providing humanitarian assistance to Palestinians and refugees. Political advocacy can pressure governments and institutions to uphold international law, human rights standards, and Palestinian self-determination.

In conclusion. The radical interpretation of the Palestine story emphasises colonial history, power imbalance, and structural injustice as central to understanding the conflict. From this perspective, meaningful engagement needs education, solidarity, and sustained political action to end occupation and supporting Palestinian self-determination.

The current mess making, media coverage, of tribal struggles in the Middle East

What Should New Leftists Do?

This is a guide for more vertically inclined activists to work with more horizontal activism, for an active fluffy/spiky debate to become a part of communities of action.

1. Pursue an Education

Technical Focus: Aim for education with a technical edge. History shows that post-revolutionary societies often face a “brain drain” where technical specialists are in short supply. Your expertise in fields like engineering, data management, or medical professions can significantly contribute to building and sustaining socialist structures.

2. Read Theory

Start with the Classics: Familiarize yourself with foundational texts. This provides a grounding in revolutionary theory, essential for understanding and contributing to socialist movements.
Expand Your Scope: Include the wider ideological views and analyses to understand broader socio-political contexts and avoid the pitfalls of blinded dogmatic thinking.
Keep Updated: Marxism is a good place to start, as this should evolve with material conditions. Engage with contemporary economic analyses and critiques to stay informed and engaged.

3. Join an Organization

Collective Action: Alone, your impact is limited. Joining an affective organized affinity group and more formalised structures allows for effective mass work, community organizing, and political activism.
Emulate Successful Models: Look to historical “spiky” examples like the #BlackPanthers, #climatecamp, #indymedia for strategies in organization and community support. Build from this working past rather than what is transitory #fahernista agenda of the moment.
Be Theoretically Grounded: Having a solid theoretical understanding ensures you maintain a coherent line to avoid the sway of #fahernista and less radical, “fluffy” groups.

4. keep fit

Practical Skill: Learn affective on the ground direct action skills. This isn’t about lifestyle aggressive posturing but understanding the practicalities and being able to act affectively when the need arises.
Productive Hobby: Engaging in activities like climbing and outdoor skills can be both fun and provide a basic understanding of tactics and having the ability to actually fallow through.

5. Tone Down the Zeal

Stay Calm and Reasoned: Activism’s power lies in its reasonable analysis of capitalism. Be a good representative by engaging calmly and constructively.
Avoid Overzealousness: Focus on productive activities, grassroots alternatives, focus on reading and community work rather than getting into the “deaf” heated debates that will alienate potential allies.

6. Left Unity

Critical Approach: Unity isn’t always feasible or desirable. Avoid “blindly” uniting with groups like social democrats who aim to reform rather than dismantle capitalism.
Strategic Alliances: Work with groups sharing fundamental goals (e.g., Marxist, anarchists) on common issues, but recognize and respect theoretical differences.
Class Unity: Emphasize class consciousness and solidarity over broad political unity. Focus on practical collaboration on issues like green alternatives, aiding the homeless, fighting fascism, and exposing corruption ect.

Conclusion

The journey of a new leftist involves continuous education, practical engagement, and strategic organization. Balancing zeal with reasonableness and focusing on class unity help effective contributing to the activist and socialist movement. Always be prepared to adapt and learn, as the struggle for a fairer world is complex and ever-evolving. A good thing to remember is “don’t be a prat” and you should be able to hold to an affective path.

Activist History: A Balanced Approach

Activist history is often marred by sectarianism. This fragmentation means that often the most contentious and least effective voices dominate the narrative, overshadowing the efforts of those who were diligently work on the ground to grow change and challenge.

To tell the story of activist history accurately and fairly, we need to work to overcome the following challenges:

Sectarianism and Ideological Divisions: Recognize and address the ideological differences that have historically divided movements. While acknowledging these differences, it is important to focus on the common goals and achievements of all the activists.
Visibility of Voices: Ensure that the voices of those who are/were actively engaged in the work are heard. Often, these individuals are too busy with their activism to document their contributions, resulting in a skewed historical record contributed by the academics and #fahernistas who do have the time.
Comprehensive Documentation: Create a balanced and inclusive archive that captures the diversity of experiences and contributions within the movement. This includes documenting the perspectives of those who were on the frontline, as well as those who played supporting roles.

Strategies for a Balanced Historical Record

Inclusive Archiving: Encourage all activists, regardless of their role or prominence, to contribute to the archive. This can be facilitated through workshops and training sessions on how to document and share their experiences.
Oral Histories and Podcasts: Record oral histories and podcasts with activists who may not have had the time or resources to document their contributions. These recordings can provide valuable first-hand accounts and insights into the movement.
Decentralized Storytelling: Allow multiple narratives to coexist within the archive. By decentralizing the storytelling process, we can ensure that no single faction or ideology dominates the historical record.
Focus on Issues: Highlight the issues and achievements rather than the personalities within the movement. This helps to shift the focus from individual egos to the collective goals and successes of the movement.
Community Involvement: Involve the community in the archiving process. By engaging a diverse group of people in the documentation effort, we can capture a more representative history.

Addressing the challenges of sectarianism and ensuring the inclusion of diverse voices is how activism needs to grow. This is what #MakingHistory project is for, to create a rich and balanced archive that accurately reflects the efforts and achievements of past and present activists. We have a #OMN tech project https://opencollective.com/open-media-network/projects/makinghistory

A Positive View Of Current Trends

The challenges of today: #climatechaos, inequality, and the social impacts of #dotcons technology are a creating a very nasty social mess. However, there is a some potential for a positive transformation if we push the power of #openweb and #4opens technology and align it with progressive and radical “native” grassroots politics.

Addressing Climate Change with Technology and Revolutionary change

Renewable Energy: Solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources are becoming more than cost-effective and widespread. With strong political will, we can transition to a carbon-neutral economy. By reducing consumption and shifting this energy balance, we take a step to mitigating some of the effects of climate change.
Climate Resilience: Investment in both physical and social climate resilience infrastructure, flood defences and mediation, sustainable agriculture. This will shape and can protect vulnerable communities and ecosystems as we weather this transition. On the digital side, federation is a big step towards more #p2p native infrastructure, which will help to mediate the failing of our overly centralise #dotcons world.

Leveraging Automation for Social Good

Reducing Work Hours: Automation reduces the need for human labour, allowing for shorter work weeks and more leisure time without reducing productivity. This leads to improved quality of life and wider social and mental health benefits.
Universal Basic Income: #UBI provides a financial base for building sustainable alternatives, ensuring that wider groups benefits from increased productivity and technological advancements, rather than the normal #nastyfew.

Ensuring Equitable Access to Resources and Services

Universal Basic Services: By providing free and universal access to essential services such as healthcare, education, housing, and public transport, we create a more equitable society where people has the opportunity to thrive and build social good.
Socialized Finance: Redirecting financial resources from speculative markets to socially beneficial projects ensures that investments are made in areas that improve public well-being and infrastructure.

Fostering a Culture of Innovation and Inclusion

Inclusive Policy Making: Ensuring that marginalized communities have a voice in policymaking leads to more equitable and just outcomes. Participatory democracy and community-led tech initiatives like the #OGB drive inclusive development and the needed social challenge to become the change we need.
Education and Retraining: As the job paths shift, providing education and retraining opportunities helps people transition to new roles, ensuring that fewer people are left behind.

Utilizing Technology for Global Collaboration and Problem-Solving

Global Cooperation: Harnessing #4opens technology for international collaboration can address global challenges more effectively. Federated platforms for knowledge sharing and linking joint initiatives leads to real solutions for climate change, health, and economic development.
Data for Good: Using #openweb and #4opens data, metadata analytics to address social issues leads to more effective public planing, policies and resource allocation.

Conclusion: A vision of hope, in tech

There is a potential for a positive future when we combine technological innovation with radical progressive politics and a commitment to social equity. By addressing #climatechange, leveraging automation, ensuring food security, and providing universal access to essential services, we build a wider world of opportunity and basic justice.

This vision needs us to reimagine our current paths to prioritize humanistic well-being over profit. With the right policies and collective action, we can turn today’s challenges into opportunities for basic survival and a better global society.

You can support a technological project https://opencollective.com/open-media-network it’s a small step.

Why We Need the Open Media Network (#OMN)

The Challenge of Mainstream Media

#Mainstreaming media is dominated by establishment interests that have perfected the art of propaganda. This media landscape is highly effective at brainwashing the public, making it difficult to foster a social and political change and challenge. Without altering this media ecology, progressive movements stand little chance against the overwhelming influence of #traditionalmedia.

#openweb “native” progressive media plays a crucial role in countering this propaganda. It empowers people by amplifying their voices and holding those in power accountable.

The Necessity of Alternative Media

Independent Reporting: Progressive media platforms operate without the influence of corporate forces, advertisements, or outside money. This independence allows them to challenge the prevailing narratives and offer alternative perspectives and paths.
Amplifying Voices: These #openweb platforms provide a space for voices that are ignored or suppressed by mainstream media. This inclusivity is vital for any healthy democratic discourse, liberalism needs this too.
Fighting Misinformation: By breaking the media narrative that fosters fear and conflict, progressive media helps to create a more informed, active and engaged public.
Empowering Movements: For progressive movements to succeed, they need a media infrastructure that supports their goals. Progressive media acts as a crucial pillar in this infrastructure, offering the tools, networking and platforms necessary for advocacy and change.

The Role of the Open Media Network (OMN)

The Open Media Network (#OMN) is essential for building a new media ecosystem that supports progressive change. Here’s why:

Decentralized Control: OMN aims to create a decentralized media network, reducing the control of media oligopolies and increasing the diversity of voices and perspectives.
Community-Driven: OMN empowers communities to produce and share their content, fostering a democratic and participatory media landscape.
Transparency and Accountability: By adhering to #4opens principles like open data, open source, and open processes, OMN ensures transparency and accountability in media production and distribution.
Sustainability: OMN can provide a sustainable model for progressive media by leveraging community support and funding mechanisms. This financial independence is crucial for maintaining editorial integrity.

The current media environment is heavily skewed towards establishment interests, making it difficult for progressive movements to gain any traction. Progressive #openweb media outlets are crucial in challenging this status quo by offering independent, accountable, and inclusive reporting. The Open Media Network (OMN) is pushes to building a decentralized media ecosystem that empowers communities and fosters genuine democratic discourse. Supporting these initiatives is vital for the success of any progressive movements worldwide.

https://opencollective.com/open-media-network

Why Mainstreaming Politics is Crap

Common sense “fake” news and #mainstreaming propaganda fuel division, confusion, and empower reactionary forces, this rise of fascism isn’t a random phenomenon, it’s a direct result of the failures of our crap #mainstreaming politics. Corrupt elitists, indifferent politicians, and sell-out parties abandoned people, creating a vacuum that far-right forces are all too eager to fill.

Yet, most people still cling to the idea that these broken institutions will somehow save us. That’s the oxymoron. The path that created the problem won’t be the one to fix it. We need to step outside this collapsing framework, build grassroots alternatives, and reclaim power through more collective action.

Today’s left-wing politics, represented by figures like Biden, Stammer and Macron, has long ago devolved into centrism that tries to balance market interests with bureaucratic oversight. This blend of mess results in policies that are neither here nor there, failing to inspire or facilitate any genuine change and challenge. The only real appeal of this kind of politics is that it’s “better than the alternative,” often perceived as extreme right-wing or fascist ideologies.

This centrist approach, can now be seen as the “extreme centre” which is fundamentally immoderate. That moderates, and centrist politicians, lack positive arguments and real vision. They focus on pragmatism and compromise, reducing politics to a series of performative acts rather than any democratic outcomes. This lack of compelling vision makes centrism unappealing and devoid of substantive change.

Figures like Obama and Tony Blear were “successful” because they projected an image of visionary leadership, though, in reality, their vision was about maintaining the status quo through right wing pragmatism and compromise. This kind of leadership is a performance of having a vision rather than the actual implementation of transformative ideas we need.

There is a symbiotic relationship between centrist politicians and right-wing populists. Right-wing leaders like Trump, Farage and Johnson adopt a persona of being a “yokel” or an “idiot,” which elicits scorn from the educated classes. This dynamic appeals to those who resent the cultural #mainstreaming, creating an “us vs. them” mentality. Voters feeling marginalized by the #mainstreaming mess and disdain to find solace in supporting these populist figures as a #blinded form of “rebellion”.

Right-wing populists perform a caricature of fascism or idiocy to appeal to their base, while centrist politicians push a veneer of moral superiority. This dynamic creates a dichotomy, where voters feel compelled to choose between two unappealing options. Both sides thrive on this manufactured conflict, ensuring their ongoing mutual dominance in the political paths.

The media plays a significant role in this broken system. The upcoming UK election demonstrates that this mainstream media is not a reliable ally for the public. There is a pressing need for alternative media that amplifies real diverse voices to present genuine political options outside the false dichotomy of centrism and right-wing populism.

Mainstream politics today, dominated by a centrist approach, lacking vision and substance, is inherently flawed. The symbiotic relationship between centrist politicians and right-wing populists creates a political landscape that stifles any progress and any needed change and challenge. To compost this mess, it is crucial to grow alternative media like the #OMN alongside social and political movements that offer real, transformative paths and solutions.

https://opencollective.com/open-media-network

The Urgent Need for Climate Action

The mess we build when public’s attention is being deliberately diverted by those in power. They want us to focus on national borders and other divisive issues, preventing us from addressing the real crisis #climatechange. This distraction tactic is designed to benefit the #nastyfew who continue to profit from the destruction of our planet.

As we approach, another election, the insidious #deathcult ideologies offered by the main political parties have gutted life for the majority, while vile conmen exploit our ignorance and anger, distracting us with racism and hate. To hide the underlying economic warfare waged against us by predatory capitalism.

We are at the most perilous point in human history. Future generations, if they survive the coming decades, will look back and think us insane for not having climate scientists and progressive agenda leading our countries. Instead, we allow fossil fuel agendas to dictate our policies.

Figures like Farage are human smoke bombs, generating clouds of xenophobia and culture wars to hide the economic exploitation pushed by the capital that funds their campaigns. Farage’s vision of a future is filled with labour shortages, crumbling public services, and deepened social divisions.

The fight against climate change is fraught with challenges, from powerful economic interests to political distractions. However, the voices of activists, scientists, and concerned people highlight the urgent need for action.

By pushing #KISS core issues and building grassroots #DIY alternatives as seeds to prioritize the planet, we can try to mitigate/weather the worst impacts of this growing global crisis.

https://opencollective.com/open-media-network

Strengthen grassroots alternatives to resist the spread of fascism

The entanglement of hard-right politics and #climatechaos is a catastrophe that presents a dire scenario, where each exacerbates the other in a vicious cycle of destruction. As billions of people are displaced by climate disasters, the extreme right will capitalize on their suffering to expand influence. Conversely, as the extreme right gains power, climate policies are weakened, intensifying environmental degradation and further displacing populations.

The “human climate niche,” the range of conditions within which societies thrive, is shrinking due to global heating. Hundreds of millions are already stranded in inhospitable conditions, with billions more projected to face extreme heat and environmental stress by 2030. The impacts include heat-related deaths, water scarcity, crop failures, and the spread of diseases. As the climate crisis worsens, weather events like floods and hurricanes will devastate vulnerable regions, forcing people to flee or perish.

In the rich world, despite having the means to limit environmental damage, for the last 40 years choices to address climate breakdown have been systematically undermined. Culture war narratives, fuelled by billionaires and commercial interests, distort discussions on environmental policies, portraying even minor changes as threats to freedom. Climate science denial has resurfaced, and scientists and activists face relentless attacks and misinformation campaigns.

As climate impacts intensify globally, displaced people seek refuge in wealthier nations, to be met with growing hostility and xenophobia. Right-wing politicians exploit these crises to further their agendas, shutting down climate policies to protect the interests of oligarchs and fossil fuel industries. The cycle repeats: as governments turn rightward, climate policies are weakened, exacerbating environmental crises and fuelling anti-immigrant sentiment. The consequences are evident in Europe, where refugees are demonized and subjected to violence, while far-right parties gain power by scapegoating them. This manufactured hatred fuels fascism.

Preventing Earth’s systems collapse and combating the rise of the far right are inseparable tasks. To address these intertwined challenges, concerted action is needed to strengthen grassroots alternatives to promote active social justice, and resist the spread of fascism. Without such action, the consequences for humanity and the planet will be simply catastrophic.

By embracing projects like the #OGB people have a chance to shape decisions

The current state of our political systems, particularly the electoral process, raises fundamental questions about the nature of democracy and representation. The problem is the system is designed to maintain the supremacy of the powerful, perpetuating conflicts and minimizing real democratic engagement.

Elections, rather than fostering democracy, exacerbate divisions and repeatedly fail to address critical issues. Parties capitalize on trivial matters, manipulate voters, and converge on worshipping of the #deathcult with policies that benefit commercial interests.

Historically, elections have been chosen as a means to exclude the majority from meaningful involvement in power, reflecting a distrust of democracy by the powerful. The UK’s political model, shaped in the 18th century, survived the introduction of universal suffrage largely intact, maintaining a system where elected representatives are disconnected from the interests and needs of the real people.

Despite alternatives such as participatory democracy, popular assemblies, and sortition (random selection like the #OGB), powerful, and everyday interests stifle their implementation. These alternative social technology models prioritize #4opens community involvement, deliberation, and consensus-building over the spectacle of elections.

Participatory democracy, when well-designed, has proven effective in addressing complex and divisive issues. Citizens’ assemblies and constitutional conventions have successfully tackled issues such as equal marriage, abortion, and climate policy, where elected representatives have struggled. This in a native, messy form is how all activism is organised.

The next step needs to build up grassroots democracy with a project like the #OGB to supplement, push aside and then replace traditional parliamentary chambers. Such a system would ensure that decisions are made by a representative sample of society, rather than by career politicians shaped by money and lobbying.

In conclusion, by embracing participatory democracy, we can create a system where everyone has a chance to shape the decisions that affect their lives. You can find more information on the #OGB project https://opencollective.com/open-media-network/projects/openwebgovernancebody and support this on the link.

General elections are a travesty of democracy

The need for the #OGB (Open Governance Body) stems from a growing recognition of the limitations of traditional democratic systems, as highlighted in a recent article by The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/jun/06/general-elections-democracy-lottery-representation Progressive movements are increasingly advocating for alternatives, and the OGB represents such an initiative within the #openweb community.

The guardian article argues that general elections result in a form of representation that is skewed, and the voices of many are left unheard. In response, progressive voices within the #mainstreaming community are calling for the implementation of projects like the OGB as a native governance model.

The OGB provides a more inclusive and representative form of governance, where decisions are made collectively and transparently. This addresses the shortcomings of existing democratic systems by leveraging digital technologies and community participation. However, the success of the OGB depends on the support of coders and community members who are willing to contribute their skills and efforts to development. This initiative requires both technical expertise and a commitment to the #4opens path.

In summary, the #OGB represents a promising approach to governance within the #openweb paths, offering an alternative to traditional democratic structures and emphasizing transparency, inclusivity, and community-driven decision-making.

We can’t keep making the same mess, please.

Looking at the Izmir ship scrapyard

We visited the ship scrapyard, to see what they had in terms of lifeboats and boat parts. The problem was that the boats were old, worn and damaged from being removed without any care from the scraped ships. As Northam Europeans, the 3ed party sellers were asking for unrealistic prices at the same level as the better/newer boats in the UK, just converting the UK web prices to euros. This makes it unrealistic to buy a boat here.

#boatingeurope #lifeboat

A European Future

Changing the European Union (#EU) to be more competent and progressive on social and tech issues requires concerted effort and engagement from all the stakeholders, including activists, citizens, civil society organizations (#NGO), policymakers, and Eurocrats. I outline some #fluffy strategies for driving change within the EU:

Engagement and Advocacy: Citizens and civil society organizations can engage with EU institutions through advocacy efforts, lobbying, and participation in public consultations. By pushing concerns, proposing solutions, and advocating for progressive policies, grassroots movements can exert pressure on policymakers to prioritize social and tech issues.
Policy Innovation: Grassroots and “organic” experts in the fields of social and technology policy can develop and promote “innovative “native” policy proposals that address emerging challenges and needed change. This includes regulations that protect the #4opens paths, promote community, and foster #KISS technological innovation reasonably.
Transparency and Accountability: Promoting transparency and accountability within EU institutions to ensuring that decision-making processes are open, inclusive, and accountable to the people. This involves pushing for #4opens in policymaking, access to information, and mechanisms for holding people and policymakers accountable for their actions.
Capacity Building: Investing in capacity building initiatives enhances the knowledge and expertise of policymakers, civil servants, and “grassroots” stakeholders involved in shaping EU policies. This includes shifting funding, training, resources, and support to enable all stakeholders, focusing on the grassroots, to effectively engage with complex social and tech issues and develop evidence-based policy solutions.
Coalition Building: Building coalitions and alliances among diverse spiky and fluffy stakeholders amplify voices and increase collective influence on EU. By forging partnerships across wide sectors, groups and organizations leverage their collective strengths and resources to drive the needed systemic change.
Public Awareness and Education: Raising people’s awareness and educating citizens about social and #FOSS and #dotcons tech issues is essential for building progressive policies and initiatives. This includes conducting #DIY public campaigns, organizing #4opens educational events, and leveraging grassroots media and networks to inform and mobilize the people around key issues.
Participatory Governance: Promoting participatory governance within the EU enhances peoples engagement and democratic decision-making. This includes establishing networks like the #OGB for public participation, citizen assemblies, and deliberative processes for people to contribute to policy development and decision-making.
International Collaboration: Collaborating with international partners, organizations, and networks to amplify efforts to drive change within the EU. By sharing “native” practices, knowledge, and coordinating advocacy efforts at the international level, stakeholders strengthen their collective impact and influence the needed global policy agendas.

Overall, changing the EU to be more competent and progressive on social and tech issues requires a grassroots approach that involves activism, engagement, advocacy, policy innovation, transparency, capacity building, coalition building, public awareness, participatory governance, and international collaboration. By working together in active fluffy/spiky debate across sectors and borders, stakeholders can contribute to shaping the change and challenge needed to build an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future within the EU and wider world in the era of #climatechaos

The European Union: A “spiky” view

#NGI #NLNET