Witnessing genocide on our social media feeds takes a huge emotional toll on all of us, especially those of us who have relatives and friends in the areas that are being decimated.
My heartfelt sympathy to all affected this way. It’s unfathomable that the powers that be here in the west support this.
But it’s a reflection on them, and we need to consider what that means for the rest of us.
I hope you’ll take some deep breaths, eat some nourishing food, talk with a friend and care for yourself during this traumatizing time. As caring human beings, we’re in it for the long haul, so we can’t afford to let ourselves spiral into burnout. We have to stay strong.
Youth, seniors, struggling, not struggling — all of us have a role to play, and doing what we can will improve our mental and emotional health.
If we’re young, this is our future on the line. I can’t think of anything more motivating than that. We have the energy, passion and courage to stand up for what’s right. And we deserve a liveable future where we can all flourish.
In my last post, I mentioned that NATO is bandying around the idea of conscription, and that the USA and some European countries are implementing this. When so many are hungry and homeless, with home ownership out of the question for most youth, why would we be willing to go to war? What values would we be defending? Those we’d be fighting would be struggling against the same forces that are making life difficult for us.
If we’re seniors, we may be lucky enough to have a steady income and time on our hands. If we get arrested for taking action, no one will be able to fire us. Maybe it’s time to ratchet up the activism, eh?
If we’re struggling, we can find and share resources with others who are also having a hard time. We can get involved with a community garden, volunteer at a food bank, reach out and build community. It’s tough when we’re struggling to stay afloat — believe me, I know. But it helps to get involved with others who are in the same boat. And we still have the power to show up at demonstrations and vote. We need to make our voices heard so we have representation that will make life liveable for us again.
If we’re not struggling, we can order bulk foods together, grow gardens, and keep each other informed. We can speak out.
Some things apply to all of us. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
We have to get our facts straight. We are being bombarded by propaganda, so we need to find trustworthy sources. If our news sources are telling us lies, they’re not worth of our time and attention. A few sources I trust are Consortium News, and Breach Media for those in Canada. These are both great places to start.
Money and privilege are tools, and we need to use them. Forget the guilt. If you’ve got it, use it.
Support co-ops and credit unions. They’re institutions that empower communities and not large corporations and the military industrial complex.
Blaming immigrants or identifiable minorities is a distraction. The system that is causing all of us grief encourages us to look away from it and blame others who are often worse off than we are.
Objecting to genocide does not make us anti-semitic. We can’t be taken in by this false narrative.
We need to use our personal power to the best of our ability. Boycott. It’s working! Corporations that support Israel, like McDonald’s and Starbucks, are losing money because of our actions. Here’s a list of companies to boycott. And show up at the demonstrations.
And let’s vote for people who do not support genocide and endless war. And when we vote them into office, let’s hold their feet to the fire.
If we’re going to get through this, we need to stand together for a just and peaceful world. In supporting each other, we’re also supporting ourselves and our common future.
Geopolitically, we’re not alone in our struggles. The more I learn about BRICS, the more I realize that geopolitically, we have a lot of allies. So many nations are tired of the coups, wars, lies and dirty tricks directed at them by western nations.
It’s time we made lots of space for the feminine. This will offer more solutions than the patriarchy that has dominated our cultures for the last few thousand years. Owning our feelings, celebrating life’s beauty, and being in touch with our bodies are values I associate with a feminine sensibility. Wanting peace, harmonious communities and respectful relationships open up very different ways of being in the world.
As Arundhati Roy once said, “Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.”
Times are bleak. And it’s going to take all of us to turn things around. We’re needed, no matter our age, ability or status, right now.
So please, take good care, reach out, and together let’s bring in the kind of world we all want.
It's good that you're thinking so much about being pro-active. That's a very healthy impulse.
Beautiful words echoed from a beautiful heart ♥️ Shukran for all that you do Diana 🙏