#93: The Very Inhabitable Earth

On resisting through imagining

Mōrena, and happy Tuesday!

Recently I've been reading more sci-fi (speculative fiction), almost as a direct response to the events of the world around us. It's a glimpse into the minds of people who take their curiosity, fury at injustice, and love for the world, and use it to build up a new world for us. 

That ability to say "what if?" is key in all of our activism – understanding that things haven't always been this way, and don't always have to be. Recognizing that we are not ok with the current state of things is the first step; the next is being able to imagine the world otherwise.

Excerpt from speculative/science fiction author Ursula K. Le Guin’s acceptance speech for The National Book Foundation Medal in 2014

We live in capitalism, its power seems inescapable — but then, so did the divine right of kings. Any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings. Resistance and change often begin in art.

So much of what seems unchangeable now has only existed for a short time. This weekend, climate activists blocked the entrances to major dairy, fertiliser, and fossil fuel gas companies on November 5th - the 142nd anniversary of te Rā o te Pāhua, the day Parihaka was invaded. The Pacific Islands Forum Leader's Meeting is also starting this week in the Cook Islands, where Pacific leaders will work towards the goal of a resilient, peaceful, and climate-safe Pacific. All of the activism we see around us comes from the ability to imagine and advocate for a better world. Let’s get creative, let’s keep imagining.

What can we do today?

The most-clicked link from last week’s issue was the call to ban bottom trawling from the Hauraki Gulf. 

🐝 If you have 5 minutes: The Ones Who Walk Away From Fossil Fuels

This week, we’re trying something different. We’ve just got three 5 minute actions this week, so your bonus challenge is to do all three AND come up with one of your own. Think of an action you want to take this week and share in the comments below (or reply to us with it!)

• We’ve shared this 350 petition before, but they’re now just about to take the petition to parliament. Community energy projects allow us to shift away from our reliance on the fossil fuel industry, creating a more resilient Aotearoa with more affordable power.
  Action: Sign on to show the new government your support for community energy

• Cutting off funding for fossil fuels is one of the biggest steps we can take to fight climate change. Finance and support provided by governments through little-known institutions called Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) are one of the largest sources of fossil fuel funding in the world. They play a crucial role in financing energy and other infrastructure projects. Without their support, many fossil fuel projects would be unlikely to go ahead.
  Action: Sign on to call for OECD countries to stop their fossil fuel financing

• The Make it 16 Bill has passed its first reading in Parliament. Now it’s coming against its second reading, and it has some stiff opponents in the new National government. Making the voting age 16 helps us represent young people who are most affected by fossil-fuelled climate change. We need to call on the incoming National government to vote for this Bill in the second reading, by showing them there is strong public support for this kaupapa.
  Action: Call on the incoming government to vote for the Make it 16 bill in its second reading

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That’s all for today, folks 👋🏽 Thanks for taking action. Enjoy this playful AI that will reimagine your street for you into a more joyful, people-friendly, less-polluted space 🚲☕️

Queen Street, Auckland, reimagined by Dutch Cycling Lifestyle AI

See you next week, 

Dhanya & the Climate Club team

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