Dabbler in many things, nabbing bits of information like a magpie. Trying to constantly grow.
Probably writing, reading, fixing something, or playing outside.
Work in progress: Minus Four, a dystopian futurism that we're creeping closer to every day. It's a tale of a London run by a corporate oligarchy desperate to do anything to grow a dwindling economy.
#WritingCommunity #Writing #ClimateChange #Environment #AntiConsumption #DeGrowth
| pronouns | they / she / he |
| where to find my writing | www.sunnyshans.wordpress.com (new site coming soon!) |
| place | Calgary, Canada |
| where I get (more) political (AB/Canadian politics) | @ShanonRose |
Every day I am looking to do something, anything, that brings down my carbon footprint. And then I try to double it to make up for someone who can’t/won’t.
Any time I am in the ballot box, it’s my number 1 issue. Unfortunately not doubling my votes at this time. But raising two climate conscious children that can help me out in a few years. Not trying to groom them but make them understand the science and importance.
Looking for ways to get the word out, though.
I immediately get a little exasperated whenever I see someone post about how much we could reduce greenhouse gas emissions if we did this thing or implemented this technology or invest in this research.
I'm going to keep saying this over and over again until people listen: the problem is not, and never has been, a lack of ideas about how to tackle the climate crisis.
The problem is that the people in power DON'T CARE. They don't want to make our lives better. They don't want to solve problems.
@[email protected] @cian @jackofalltrades
I have thought about random MP selection (kinda like how people are called for jury duty). But that would not eliminate bribery. It might exacerbate it (depending on who is randomly selected). Problem with short terms is that it takes some time to get familiarised with expectations and procedures and whatnot. Longer terms would enable more things to be done but open the door to more corruption.
It would shake up the party system, though.
Worth a try, IMO.
@jackofalltrades Valid points.
Although I think the use of war rhetoric could galvanize increasing amounts of support as more people are personally impacted by climate change (e.g., smoky air, floods, fires, etc.). By then it may be too late. 🤷
Will it be a profitable "war"? Not for the capital owners if our method of attack includes economic degrowth. And now we've gone a full circle. 😬
@[email protected] @cian @jackofalltrades yes, all of that is true.
Part of me is inclined to wonder if longer terms could be advantageous but then I think about what that would be like if, say, Trump was in office. Then I really, really like short terms. So. I dunno what the political solution is.
People, by and large, aren't aware enough of the big issues to trust the populace to make good political decisions. How to solve that?
@jackofalltrades @cian @[email protected]
From reading Seth Klein's book (A Good War), I'm inclined to believe that people are willing to follow gov. mandates that can be quite austere *if* there's sufficient reason to *and* if it's fair (i.e., everyone's held to the same standard). It was done during the war and could be done again.
If politicians are willing to be brave and risk political suicide to do what is needed.
@MattMastodon @breadandcircuses @cian @MarkBrigham @mick @vmatinnia @YaRo @jackofalltrades
I have similar concerns about the clarity - or perhaps more the detail - of degrowth thinking.
Take for example the last point in the Degrowth 101 article:
"Changing corporate governance so that the “fiduciary duty” of a company’s leaders shifts from maximizing short term shareholder profits to considering social and ecological impacts."
This is my area - I used to design organisational structures for social enterprise, so really know the detail of building social and environmental responsibility into company structures - and it's not that simple. Sharehilders own most companies and appoint directors - and they have enforceable legal rights, including against having their financial returns compromised, quite apart from directors' fiduciary duties.
In reality, to incentivise social and environmental responsibility over growth and profit, a fundamental revision of company law and related commercial law, not to mention accounting standards and the whole auditing profession would be required. Then there's the 'ecology' of such changes - how they would ripple out to investors' and others' behaviours - which would include, incidentally, the collapse of the banking system (interest is paid out of growth).
What sounds technical and innocuous - changing company directors' fiduciary duties - in fact implies (in my view) either little change, or, if it is to achieve the desired end, massive complementary changes that (in effect) end capitalism.
I know that we can't expect introductory articles to get into all this detail - but to be honest I'm looking in vain to find sufficient detail anywhere in the degrowth literature at present.
Just to be clear - I'm a great believer in degrowth, which is why I want us to get real about it.
Hey, gardeners. YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO GROW STUFF!
Here in #Zone6A we are 86 days past our average last frost. And 107 days to our average first frost. So we quite literally have more 2023 growing time ahead of us than behind. Go plant stuff this weekend! Today we’re doing bush ‘n pole beans, marigolds (to help the tomatoes) and so many sunflowers.
ALSO: It’s easier to grow stuff into fall than into summer.
@impooortant That could certainly be the case for some.
Here in Canada, when people have kids, there's the conversation of 'mini van' or 'SUV'. Car isn't an option. Mini van often comes with negative stereotypes.
Chris_MS
Mallory's Musings & Mischief
GeofCox
Joseph Wain
JL Johnson 