activist misappropriation of blame

musings on 3 August 2010

Today, I came across a blog for the first time, and wanted to share the first post I read from it. There is an effective use of analogy to comment on some key issues for activists and society to reflect on. [I have not included embedded video, links or footnotes]

when we fight we let them win
http://vegina.wordpress.com/2010/08/02/when-we-fight-we-let-them-win/

Liminality, happiness and the importance of relationships

musings on 7 July 2010

Yesterday was an interesting day for me. I spent most of it outside in the heat of a very hot day, which took a toll. This compounded a far from as fruitful search as wanted that I had embarked on. Repeated misrepresentations, seemingly deliberate purveyance of misinformation, and the frustration that ensued made for a challenging day. I returned to St Kitts that evening—a place I had only known for the last couple weeks—and experienced what I can only describe as a somewhat surprising sense of relief. The moment, in itself, picked up my spirits, though it was what came to follow soon after that I found worth reflecting on.

Misplaced reactions to the Toronto G20 protests...

musings on 2 July 2010

There is so much to write about, that I have not managed to put something together... I have decided to include someone else's reflections on the last weeks G20 protests in Toronto, as a prelude:

Cop Car Burned! All Criticisms of Global Capitalism Rendered Moot!
http://propagandhi.com/2010/06/959/

i don’t endorse violence. i don’t think it’s the ideal way forward to a better society. i think all sane people would agree. heck, i don’t even endorse vandalism in the “service” of social change. i’m conservative that way. but the disproportionate reaction (to the disproportionate mainstream media coverage) to the image of a burning car and some broken windows at the G20 summit in toronto needs to be put into perspective.

The excitement and dauntingness of change

musings on 21 June 2010

Having relocated to a new place, leaving my established networks and circles behind, has fostered some reflection — amongst the personal challenges that arise from uncertainties. I am noting two very distinct and contrasting emotions: being very excited about what may come — which dominated prior to the move, and feeling quite daunted by it all. The latter currently overshadows the former, though the former does shine through at times. I have experienced similar circumstances in the past, though seemingly find myself struggling/unprepared this time (again?).

The politics of tree hugging

musings on 29 May 2010

I am once again in a position where I will be moving away from friends to start largely a-fresh. In these weeks leading up to my departure, I have found myself appreciating the little things: many specific trees and plants, rock formations and other features of local landscape that I see everyday. I may have seen them everyday, yet I never really noticed them. Wheres sense of place such as these are often dismissed as being the realm of hippies, they ground much deeper in the politics of space, capitalism and the disassociation it both relies on and attempts to create.

the shallowness of the shallow

musings on 6 May 2010

One thing that disappoints me very much is when those who consider themselves progressive do not live their politics. They act explicitly counter to their expressed ideals, often directly harming those around them. On the weekend, I stopped by an anarchist book store to pick up some books for my upcoming travels. The volunteers staffing the store had trouble providing the correct change as one of the volunteers had absconded with the takings. Analogous to this, a friend has been subjected to, and disrespected by, the actions of self-identified progressive male. Unfortunately, it continues (and is getting worse). Why does it seem that men are still perpetuating such self-absorbed bullshit?

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