Moving to a new country is hard. I knew that going in, intellectually, and I find that experientially it's still true. I've been so focused on getting initial stability here in #Halifax that I haven't had the capacity to start connecting with community here. Now that it's warming up and people have outdoor opportunities to connect ( #CovidIsntOver ), and since class it out for the summer, I'm trying to focus on community. As a #SolarPunk, I think that community is how we avoid the cyberpunk future that fascism/capitalism have set course for.
To that end, I'm working on three areas of community this summer. The first is participation in the university's #UrbanGarden project, a small plot of land on campus with a small team of volunteers who explore urban food production, with the harvest mostly going to community fridges and pantries. Urban food production and food security for all are core parts of solarpunk.
Second, I'm getting involved with the local ham radio group. Whether it's helping out with public events (and thus reducing the need to rely on police services) or practicing for disaster communication (storms are common here), #HamRadio is a good community service to have. Plus it's so cool to talk to people on other continents using only what fits in my small backpack.
Third is the local bicycle groups. Sunday I participated in the queer bike co-op's start-of-season sale as a volunteer, and going forward I hope to learn how to repair bicycles and apply those skills locally, getting people on bikes and helping them stay there. #BikeRepair and #BikeInfrastructure are crucial for mobility, for health and environmental reasons and so many more. I'm also hoping to get involved with food rescue efforts on my bike.
I want to be visible in my community, imagining a brighter future but also demonstrating that it's possible to get there. I'm going to try to bring some of that visibility to my participation here on the fediverse as well. My efforts alone won't save the world, but with my efforts (and those of many others, individually and collectively), I can make a difference.
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