THE CONSEQUENCES OF CIVILISATION
“The rise of civilization can roughly be described as the shift over the past 10,000 years from an existence within and deeply connected to the web of life, to one separated from and in control of the rest of life. Prior to civilization there generally existed ample leisure time, considerable gender autonomy and equality, a non-destructive approach to the natural world, the absence of organized violence, no mediating or formal institutions, and strong health and robusticity. Civilization inaugurated warfare, the subjugation of women, population growth, drudge work, concepts of property, entrenched hierarchies, and virtually every known disease, to name a few of its devastating derivatives. Civilization begins with and relies on an enforced renunciation of instinctual freedom. It cannot be reformed and is thus our enemy.”
(from the annals of "Green Anarchy")
I think one thing that escapes a lot of people's minds is just how responsible for illness and disease civilisation is. Put people in a concrete and asphalt environment and force them to work at jobs they often hate and watch them get sick, physically and mentally. The history of disease only really began when we started cramming people and their animals behind city walls and don't even get me started on mental health.
#cities #Politics #health #disease #mentalhealth #violence #war #anarchy