Indeed. Action (or activism) IS FAITH; IT IS LOVE, at least for me.
Often, my activist colleagues/friends used to express an incredible amount of hate toward the fisherman of Taiji, Japan, for the incredibly barbaric, torturous, and inhumane treatment of hundreds of dolphin pods: highly sentient closely-knit families.
These fishermen go out, about a dozen boats, from Taiji harbor at around 5am. We call them the “bangerboats” because they use a banging sound to disrupt, terrorize and disorient these dolphin pods who rely upon sound to live = echolocation (like bats) and drive them into a small “killing cove”, secluded purposefully. I was there to document this, constantly followed by Taiji police and the Japanese mafia was around as they profit in the ILLEGAL trade of Taiji dolphins.
But we need to look at the larger picture -
After these dolphins witness the psychologically excruciating, PAIN-filled, slow-stabbing of their family members and are forced to swim in their blood, the “pretty” ones are violently captured, and then isolated and starved in order to train / mind control to perform physically painful “tricks” for the aquarium trade. Each trained dolphin is valued at about $350,000 and more.
The bigger picture here? The people who buy the tickets to see these dolphin shows and a “picture-with-a-dolphin" venues. Capitalism, in a bad way.
But friends, our call is TO EDUCATE OTHERS. People are propagandized and that IS the problem!
So I say what I do is from a place of LOVE, NOT HATE, LOVE for these dolphins. I see all Non-human beings as my very own brothers and sisters. This is where my personal FAITH comes in. My Spiritual mentor: Francis of Assisi, Anthony of Padua, currently Franciscan Richard Rohr (www.cac.org). This is just one example of my own personal activism experiences. It’s out of LOVE, NOT HATE, and out of MY FAITH. Do I cry about it? YES, so much. Am I sad? YES, always. But I live through it, understanding my life-purpose is to fight for those human-voiceless, and I only find PEACE in where God resides, in Every-Thing.
Thanks for the comment, Maura. I do think there is an important place for righteous, protective anger. But you're completely right that the power of that emotion can control people. There's a reason that the most effective social movement of the last century in the U.S. was not only (mostly) non-violent, but incredibly disciplined and principled in that strategy. I'm not a pacifist, but that's a topic for another day... I've been slowly working on an essay on that topic for a long time.
The poet in me finds the "doomer" and "consumer" comparison evocative. As such, the title could also be "Are We Consumed?" Are we consumed by doomer negativity? Are we literally being consumed?...something that Trudell mentioned, the systemic feeding off of humans' minds and spirits, converting humans into energy to run their machine.
It's possible to have absolutely no hope that humans will somehow constrain ourselves and stop the insanity before we are forced by so much chaos we have no other choice, AND choose to fight anyway. I fight for every square inch I can. We can do both. I don't use a label for myself, but I know plenty of people who do describe themselves as "doomers," who understand the reality of the predicament we're in and choose to fight anyway. One does not necessarily preclude the other.
I agree. The spectrum between the people you're describing and people who remain, in some sense, optimistic, is those who will take action. I get frustrated at those on both ends, although, of course, I don't control their thinking or behavior.
"The only way to guarantee failure is to never even try." I have used almost these exact words often in trying to rally those whose attitude is, "I can't change anything anyhow." These are profoundly difficult times, and self-extinction is a possibility we can clearly see. I used to feel much more happiness in my life. My happiness may be diminished, but fighting for what's right and sane is meaningful. Maybe living with meaning should be the goal, even it that means absorbing some pain. Meaning can't be taken. It's a choice about who you want to be.
Love your writing, Max. I wish I lived closer to you. I'm utterly isolated in my circle of friends and family when it comes to environmental issues. I have tried so many things including sharing Derrick's books, the taxonomy of action graphic, starting a newsletter, etc. NOBODY is interested in the environment in my area. I feel so alone knowing how desperate things are and how much healing work needs to be done. It's not enough to be online.
Another issue is that many of the people who are doing environmental work have turned their backs on people who chose not to be jabbed or who do not affirm trans ideology. I know that you're in much the same position but at least you have a community who stands with you. I don't. Even the little I've shared has created distance between me and my friends and I am no longer included in many activities of the group. I'm ok being excluded and I'm ok being alone as I'm very happy with my life overall. But I, too, grieve the fact that the MOST important work that I want to do seems impossible to even start if I'm the only one doing it.
Of course, these may be excuses because heaven knows history is filled with individuals who've created massive change by themselves. I think I need to try harder. In any case, I'm always inspired by reading your posts. Thank you. ❤️
I hear you, and I've been in similar situations. I don't think it's enough anymore to just share ideas, because we live in an age of such information overload. People are inspired by action, and are desperate for people who can lead by showing the way. I hope this helps.
Thank you for this great piece, which resonates so much. I know I'll be returning to it to help guide my own writing and actions. Very grateful to have found this little corner of the Substack universe.
Happy to see you linked your conversation with Michael Dowd, founder of the postdoom.com website, now cared for by a small team of Doomers, who accept the reality of our predicament. We feel Doomers are not quitters, in fact Doomers Do-More by first accepting what we must, then seeing what is still possible in order to do a better job for ALL (human and non) on the way down. Personally I do not see Revolution as a viable means, and agree with John Trudell who said that "Revolution is just going around the same wheel, Evolution is what we need to get off." Civilization is the wheel, continuing to fight to just keep going round and round is at the core of why we're in this predicament.
I completely agree that we're in a predicament, but I'm not at all convinced of what is perhaps the logical end-point of much modern doomer conversation, NTHE. It's certainly possible and I don't dismiss that outcome, but from my understanding of climate science, it seems unlikely. I think the evidence shows we're heading for a nearly-certain civilizational collapse over the next century or so, possibly far less, but within that there is such a wide range of possible outcomes — some absolutely horrific, some far less so — that there's much good work to be done there. I know we agree on the righteousness of that work, regardless of our perspectives on NTHE and specific pathways that may play out, and I'm very glad to share that with you.
Excellent piece, I thank you deeply from my heart, your thoughts and your connections can help us expand our actions. I liked "We live in a culture ruled by patho-adolescents ruled by sociopaths," and "the true objective in a war is to destroy the opponents will to continue fighting," all so true. Reminds me of working with Joanna Macy years ago when we had 'The Nuclear Guardian Project" and the fire group, she lead us with "Despair and Personal Power in the Nuclear Age." As did Fran Peavey who wrote HEART POLITICS when with her despair she set up a card table in a train station in India with a sign "American wants to talk" sign. People lined up and mostly talked about their despair and fear of nuclear power and contamination. These issues will not resolve in my life time but I will plug away one step at a time, one meadow at a time, one tree. The divisiveness we feel today is horrible, may we overcome that pain and keep our faith in the innate beauty of our world. Thank you.
Hi Caroline, thanks for the comment. I had the chance to have a long phone call with Joanna a couple years ago to talk about Thacker Pass. She was wonderful. I'm somewhat familiar with the nuclear guardianship project. I actually have a longer-term writing project about nuclear power, and want to include that topic in it. Have you been personally involved in that?
Yes Joanna is wonderful, a true heart gem. And yes I am somewhat familiar with nuclear power as we met at Joanna's house regularly as we studied fission and fusion and what to do with the waste, Joanna being a spiritual warrior lead. I also made and still have a map on canvas 20 x25' of the U.S. with all the commercial reactors and DOE sites and more. Message or call me anytime, I am in Grass Valley. And thank you for Thacker Pass and beyond.
Over the years I've seen a certain collapseophilia, or love of collapse, occupy so much thinking, as if collapse is going to come and somehow save us. All along, we've seen the opposite, consolidation. What we are seeing now is yet more consolidation. It's terrible to watch, but waiting for it's collapse is not an option.
Hope and hopelessness seem like two sides of a coin that has no currency in nature. Nature strives no matter what. And we just have to do the same without thinking too much about it. This is life now. Not that it's easy. It's hard. Mutual support is therefor necessary and words like your help.
For me, the only way I can cope with the cruelty and loss is to fight against it.
Rob, thank you for the comment. I love the way you put that. You're such a brilliant writer. Sending all my best from afar. Hopefully we have a chance to connect in more depth at some point. As I may have told you before, I grew up in Seattle and still have a lot of connections to Washington State.
Really encouraging Max. I think that we are not asked to be responsible for the outcome of the situation. We are asked to do what is right no matter the outcome.
I’ve memorized Wendell Berrys poem “A Vision” and I often call upon its wisdom and recite it to myself in moments of despair. It has helped greatly. May we have the wisdom to survive.
Punching down on doomers isn't helpful, either, Max. There are good people working very diligently in this space to aid & assist human and non human creatures cope. Sure, some are nihilists, but that's OK, too. One of the worst parts of the experience for these people (real people, BTW) is the feeling of being beat on by the hopists. Saying we're quitters and apathetic is dead wrong. You know I love & support you & have for years, but you can do way, way better here allowing us to have space and still make your points.
Hi Jordan. Thanks for the comment. It certainly wasn't my intent to "punch down" on doomers, but rather to thread the needle between doomerism and hopeium. Perhaps I failed; that's for each reader to judge.
I just re-read this piece carefully to see if there were things I wrote that gave that impression, and decided to make a few small edits in response to your and Karen's comments to clarify even further that I have a problem with doomers (and non-doomers) who do nothing to make the world a better place, mitigate harms, fight for justice, protect land, etc. — not with wonderful folks like you who may identify with that term to a greater or lesser extent and yet take action regardless.
I would humbly offer a slight amendment. Rather than rely on a moral imperative, why not our ancient survival instincts? Just imagining getting enough of us to agree on any moral position is one of the ways people despair and give up, but who doesn't want to survive? That's a 'lofty' enough goal for me.
Indeed. Action (or activism) IS FAITH; IT IS LOVE, at least for me.
Often, my activist colleagues/friends used to express an incredible amount of hate toward the fisherman of Taiji, Japan, for the incredibly barbaric, torturous, and inhumane treatment of hundreds of dolphin pods: highly sentient closely-knit families.
These fishermen go out, about a dozen boats, from Taiji harbor at around 5am. We call them the “bangerboats” because they use a banging sound to disrupt, terrorize and disorient these dolphin pods who rely upon sound to live = echolocation (like bats) and drive them into a small “killing cove”, secluded purposefully. I was there to document this, constantly followed by Taiji police and the Japanese mafia was around as they profit in the ILLEGAL trade of Taiji dolphins.
But we need to look at the larger picture -
After these dolphins witness the psychologically excruciating, PAIN-filled, slow-stabbing of their family members and are forced to swim in their blood, the “pretty” ones are violently captured, and then isolated and starved in order to train / mind control to perform physically painful “tricks” for the aquarium trade. Each trained dolphin is valued at about $350,000 and more.
The bigger picture here? The people who buy the tickets to see these dolphin shows and a “picture-with-a-dolphin" venues. Capitalism, in a bad way.
But friends, our call is TO EDUCATE OTHERS. People are propagandized and that IS the problem!
So I say what I do is from a place of LOVE, NOT HATE, LOVE for these dolphins. I see all Non-human beings as my very own brothers and sisters. This is where my personal FAITH comes in. My Spiritual mentor: Francis of Assisi, Anthony of Padua, currently Franciscan Richard Rohr (www.cac.org). This is just one example of my own personal activism experiences. It’s out of LOVE, NOT HATE, and out of MY FAITH. Do I cry about it? YES, so much. Am I sad? YES, always. But I live through it, understanding my life-purpose is to fight for those human-voiceless, and I only find PEACE in where God resides, in Every-Thing.
Thanks for the comment, Maura. I do think there is an important place for righteous, protective anger. But you're completely right that the power of that emotion can control people. There's a reason that the most effective social movement of the last century in the U.S. was not only (mostly) non-violent, but incredibly disciplined and principled in that strategy. I'm not a pacifist, but that's a topic for another day... I've been slowly working on an essay on that topic for a long time.
Superbly put Maura. Capitalism - Headstrong but so not wise.
The poet in me finds the "doomer" and "consumer" comparison evocative. As such, the title could also be "Are We Consumed?" Are we consumed by doomer negativity? Are we literally being consumed?...something that Trudell mentioned, the systemic feeding off of humans' minds and spirits, converting humans into energy to run their machine.
Wetiko energy.
I liked the symmetry of that line too, Mankh.
Wow. Powerful insight.
hi Rob, some of Trudell's talks and spoken word performances online, including album "DNA".
It's possible to have absolutely no hope that humans will somehow constrain ourselves and stop the insanity before we are forced by so much chaos we have no other choice, AND choose to fight anyway. I fight for every square inch I can. We can do both. I don't use a label for myself, but I know plenty of people who do describe themselves as "doomers," who understand the reality of the predicament we're in and choose to fight anyway. One does not necessarily preclude the other.
I agree. The spectrum between the people you're describing and people who remain, in some sense, optimistic, is those who will take action. I get frustrated at those on both ends, although, of course, I don't control their thinking or behavior.
"The only way to guarantee failure is to never even try." I have used almost these exact words often in trying to rally those whose attitude is, "I can't change anything anyhow." These are profoundly difficult times, and self-extinction is a possibility we can clearly see. I used to feel much more happiness in my life. My happiness may be diminished, but fighting for what's right and sane is meaningful. Maybe living with meaning should be the goal, even it that means absorbing some pain. Meaning can't be taken. It's a choice about who you want to be.
It's true, and so often overlooked.
Well put. PS I recently “enjoyed” your book and added it to my recommended reading list for my readers.
Hey, thanks Jan, I really appreciate that! I'll check out your writing.
Love your writing, Max. I wish I lived closer to you. I'm utterly isolated in my circle of friends and family when it comes to environmental issues. I have tried so many things including sharing Derrick's books, the taxonomy of action graphic, starting a newsletter, etc. NOBODY is interested in the environment in my area. I feel so alone knowing how desperate things are and how much healing work needs to be done. It's not enough to be online.
Another issue is that many of the people who are doing environmental work have turned their backs on people who chose not to be jabbed or who do not affirm trans ideology. I know that you're in much the same position but at least you have a community who stands with you. I don't. Even the little I've shared has created distance between me and my friends and I am no longer included in many activities of the group. I'm ok being excluded and I'm ok being alone as I'm very happy with my life overall. But I, too, grieve the fact that the MOST important work that I want to do seems impossible to even start if I'm the only one doing it.
Of course, these may be excuses because heaven knows history is filled with individuals who've created massive change by themselves. I think I need to try harder. In any case, I'm always inspired by reading your posts. Thank you. ❤️
I hear you, and I've been in similar situations. I don't think it's enough anymore to just share ideas, because we live in an age of such information overload. People are inspired by action, and are desperate for people who can lead by showing the way. I hope this helps.
Thank you for this great piece, which resonates so much. I know I'll be returning to it to help guide my own writing and actions. Very grateful to have found this little corner of the Substack universe.
Thank you Kira, I'm glad this can be helpful.
An excellent read and rallying call for those walking alongside, acting to create a future worth living.
Some great quotes & references , thank you 🙏
Thank you so much, Susan!
Happy to see you linked your conversation with Michael Dowd, founder of the postdoom.com website, now cared for by a small team of Doomers, who accept the reality of our predicament. We feel Doomers are not quitters, in fact Doomers Do-More by first accepting what we must, then seeing what is still possible in order to do a better job for ALL (human and non) on the way down. Personally I do not see Revolution as a viable means, and agree with John Trudell who said that "Revolution is just going around the same wheel, Evolution is what we need to get off." Civilization is the wheel, continuing to fight to just keep going round and round is at the core of why we're in this predicament.
Hi Karen, thanks for the comment.
I completely agree that we're in a predicament, but I'm not at all convinced of what is perhaps the logical end-point of much modern doomer conversation, NTHE. It's certainly possible and I don't dismiss that outcome, but from my understanding of climate science, it seems unlikely. I think the evidence shows we're heading for a nearly-certain civilizational collapse over the next century or so, possibly far less, but within that there is such a wide range of possible outcomes — some absolutely horrific, some far less so — that there's much good work to be done there. I know we agree on the righteousness of that work, regardless of our perspectives on NTHE and specific pathways that may play out, and I'm very glad to share that with you.
Please see my response to Jordan as well.
Thank you very much for reading and commenting.
All I can say as a 77yr old woman ,urban farmer who is doing what i can.
"Well said".🌻🙏🏽I keep learning and listening.
Thank you, Brenda!
Excellent piece, I thank you deeply from my heart, your thoughts and your connections can help us expand our actions. I liked "We live in a culture ruled by patho-adolescents ruled by sociopaths," and "the true objective in a war is to destroy the opponents will to continue fighting," all so true. Reminds me of working with Joanna Macy years ago when we had 'The Nuclear Guardian Project" and the fire group, she lead us with "Despair and Personal Power in the Nuclear Age." As did Fran Peavey who wrote HEART POLITICS when with her despair she set up a card table in a train station in India with a sign "American wants to talk" sign. People lined up and mostly talked about their despair and fear of nuclear power and contamination. These issues will not resolve in my life time but I will plug away one step at a time, one meadow at a time, one tree. The divisiveness we feel today is horrible, may we overcome that pain and keep our faith in the innate beauty of our world. Thank you.
Hi Caroline, thanks for the comment. I had the chance to have a long phone call with Joanna a couple years ago to talk about Thacker Pass. She was wonderful. I'm somewhat familiar with the nuclear guardianship project. I actually have a longer-term writing project about nuclear power, and want to include that topic in it. Have you been personally involved in that?
Yes Joanna is wonderful, a true heart gem. And yes I am somewhat familiar with nuclear power as we met at Joanna's house regularly as we studied fission and fusion and what to do with the waste, Joanna being a spiritual warrior lead. I also made and still have a map on canvas 20 x25' of the U.S. with all the commercial reactors and DOE sites and more. Message or call me anytime, I am in Grass Valley. And thank you for Thacker Pass and beyond.
Thank you Caroline! Will do. Maybe send me a quick message via this link so we can connect directly? https://www.maxwilbert.org/contact/
Those feelings are important, Max.
Something that brings me comfort is my commitment to do what I can to heal this world and the beautiful life it supports for as long as I'm breathing.
Me too, Diana! Thank you.
Thank you for this, Max. Timely and needed.
Over the years I've seen a certain collapseophilia, or love of collapse, occupy so much thinking, as if collapse is going to come and somehow save us. All along, we've seen the opposite, consolidation. What we are seeing now is yet more consolidation. It's terrible to watch, but waiting for it's collapse is not an option.
Hope and hopelessness seem like two sides of a coin that has no currency in nature. Nature strives no matter what. And we just have to do the same without thinking too much about it. This is life now. Not that it's easy. It's hard. Mutual support is therefor necessary and words like your help.
For me, the only way I can cope with the cruelty and loss is to fight against it.
Rob, thank you for the comment. I love the way you put that. You're such a brilliant writer. Sending all my best from afar. Hopefully we have a chance to connect in more depth at some point. As I may have told you before, I grew up in Seattle and still have a lot of connections to Washington State.
Sounds good, Max. I may take a trip south this spring as well. All best.
Yeah, let me know if you're in the Eugene area, I'd love to get together!
Positive writing
Coming from a place of love & light
Thanks, Jason! Not entirely positive, but real, I would say.
Really encouraging Max. I think that we are not asked to be responsible for the outcome of the situation. We are asked to do what is right no matter the outcome.
I’ve memorized Wendell Berrys poem “A Vision” and I often call upon its wisdom and recite it to myself in moments of despair. It has helped greatly. May we have the wisdom to survive.
I’ll look up that poem, Alissa. Thanks for sharing that! Wisdom to survive, indeed.
Punching down on doomers isn't helpful, either, Max. There are good people working very diligently in this space to aid & assist human and non human creatures cope. Sure, some are nihilists, but that's OK, too. One of the worst parts of the experience for these people (real people, BTW) is the feeling of being beat on by the hopists. Saying we're quitters and apathetic is dead wrong. You know I love & support you & have for years, but you can do way, way better here allowing us to have space and still make your points.
Hi Jordan. Thanks for the comment. It certainly wasn't my intent to "punch down" on doomers, but rather to thread the needle between doomerism and hopeium. Perhaps I failed; that's for each reader to judge.
I just re-read this piece carefully to see if there were things I wrote that gave that impression, and decided to make a few small edits in response to your and Karen's comments to clarify even further that I have a problem with doomers (and non-doomers) who do nothing to make the world a better place, mitigate harms, fight for justice, protect land, etc. — not with wonderful folks like you who may identify with that term to a greater or lesser extent and yet take action regardless.
I would humbly offer a slight amendment. Rather than rely on a moral imperative, why not our ancient survival instincts? Just imagining getting enough of us to agree on any moral position is one of the ways people despair and give up, but who doesn't want to survive? That's a 'lofty' enough goal for me.
I hear you, John, and I think that sort of hardheaded approach is probably quite politically useful in the era we're entering.
Well, Mother Earth is calling the shots. Hopefully, after the collapses to come, a few of us will 'choose' wisely.