All good and well however for non violence to work and be effective your opponents must have a conscience, I'm suggesting they don't have one.
As for the BDS campaign, did you have a look at Chris Hedges recent article which reveals a astonishing number of corporations that have been profiting from the sadistic genocide being waged by Netanyahu and his gang of child killers, who've been luring starving Palestinians to their death by pretending to offer food only to murder them in cold blood.
Such people and their supporters have no conscience that was lost when they sold their soul and lost their humanity.
- Profiting From Genocide
''The latest United Nations report names hundreds of corporations, banks, technology firms, universities, pension funds and charities that profit from the Israeli occupation and genocide.''
It makes good strategy all the more important, imo. And, yes, I agree that the people who support this have no conscience. I've seen the reports by both Chris Hedges and Francesca Albanese.
In purely pragmatic terms, when the people we're up against are so well armed, it's important to raise awareness of what's going on, get people onside, build community and strengthen our movements and find some effective actions.
Iran and most other countries that have been attacked by the west have tried to keep the military operations minimal. I think it's because they know that the west is itching to resort to violence, and they don't want things to escalate. They also want to reveal the west for the barbarians they are. This approach makes sense to me.
I wish I was a strategist, but I'm not. Saying that, I appreciate strategic thinking and good strategy.
What we have now around the western world is the result of having no control over government - we never did - they're only accountable to their creditors, treaties and other sovereignty shredding ''agreements'' - elections are meaningless to me and only serve to maintain a certain illusion that when a different puppet appears on the stage everything will be ok again while history proves otherwise.
Anyway...
Lets focus on Strategic thinking - Linked below is a very interesting conversation [even though it's based on the UK constitution] it details that we used to have a lot more decisive influence about certain matters and then we're arrived at the topic of common law which appears to provide the solutions that many are yearning for
Ben Rubin and Will Keyte discuss the importance of natural law and the Magna Carta in protecting our fundamental rights.
On the issue of violence, I've noticed personally and BRICS leaders have warned about this, that people who advocate violence are often provocateurs. At rallies, they'll throw a stone and yell at the police, which then is justification for the police to be violent towards the protesters. In war, when there's a trigger happy west, many countries avoid violence unless it becomes absolutely necessary. Iran comes to mind.
Good one - like the positive approach and accentuation of action that gives us collective strength to use if and when and where we can identify strategic advantage.
I don't have any answers or even suggestions right now but it is reassuring to realise that, yes, we can do something and perhaps, instead of what I have mostly done, i.e. write about the wrongs being committed, share ideas that will bring us together in more of a global community that can generate the ideas and strategy we need to end this genocide and make progress on all the other aims you have outlined.
A strategy would be to wake humanity up to its next level of consciousness, where It knows itself not as sinners supplicating to a god, but appreicating its divine nature in a sacred universe. Change how humanity thinks about itself and it will do the best things for the most good.
Yes, it's getting humanity to adopt a new creation story where we see the privilege of being human, where, as one humanity, we'd want to take care of Earth. Brian Swimme is the charismatic storyteller I'm working with to create a packet for those who know to use to teach those who don't.
A new creation story sounds great, but what steps do each of us have to take to experience that transformation of consciousness? Also, how do we address the more mundane but very pressing problems of today?
You have to understand the new story. If everyone got it, we would want to do what's best for Earth -- handling the mundane problems and the massive ones. Listen to Brian Swimme -- he is inspirational about it.
There are many people already tuned into this, which is in a lineage from Teilhard de Chardin to Thomas Berry to others now, where I like Brian best. It's science that supports the idea of the universe being one interrelated thing, alive, expanding, and evolving. That's a 100-year-old understanding people still are unaware of. Then, there is the implication of that, which is our oneness, and physicist Brian inspires you with it. I am putting materials together for me and others in this camp to share. The fish animation is part of that.
Great post dear Diana, I hope people around the world read and follow your insightful action plan, the world can change if they do. Stay strong dear Diana.
You are amazing Diana, in your courage and consistency. So good to offer an example of triumph and some ideas on how that was achieved. I will look out for this film and lessons learnt.
Also good to list what has been achieved, to remind us we have agency and power. However our “enemies” are formidable, organised and have no hesitation in using brutality. We must be creative and strategic in our resistance and our building of alternatives.
I heard today Jeremy Corbyn is starting a new political party in the UK, that is such good news ✨
I guess I'm just not much of an organizer at heart. I find the "analysis" stuff just too much to take in. I tend to work from my heart and not my head. I'd rather show up at protests, continue to spread the anti-genocide message online, and occasionally send emails to my elected officials to stop the genocide than analyze my "power." I know I'm powerless by myself, but with many others, we together can be quite powerful. Power to the PEOPLE!
I hear you and, to be honest, I'm more like you than a strategist. But I think there's still a lot to be said about having good strategy for the strategists among us.
The genocide in Gaza and war in general will stop only when they are no longer profitable, and that will not happen any time soon. As Francesca Albanese's new report shows, there is hardly a well-known or lesser-known corporation in a broad range of industries that has not done, is not doing or has not expanded business with Israel, including companies from those countries such as Ireland, South Africa, Norway and Colombia, for example, who've come out against the genocide. A critical excerpt from the conclusion: "By shedding light on the political economy of an occupation turned genocidal, the report reveals how the forever-occupation has become
the ideal testing ground for arms manufacturers and big tech--providing boundless
supply and demand, little oversight and zero accountability--while investors and
private and public institutions profit freely. Too many influential corporate entities
remain inextricably financially bound to Israeli apartheid and militarism." War is indeed a racket, as General Smedley Butler wrote. And the interests of these powerful corporations are so entrenched in our political systems, and so pervasive in our daily lives that showing any kind of resistance and defiance feels like banging your head up against a brick wall. In the end, I guess what taking any kind of action comes down to is doing what individuals can or cannot live with because first and foremost we all have to live with ourselves and who we see in the mirror.
I'm well aware of the financial interests in war, Diane, just as they were supporting Nazi Germany when it committed its genocide.
And I agree: we need to do what we can so we can face ourselves in the mirror, not to mention our children and grandchildren.
But history rhymes, and things are the same but different in some ways. This is the first time a genocide has been conducted for all to see on our screens. And then there's BRICS that is challenging the west's century's long hegemony. And we're not as easily fooled, at least many of us aren't, as we were in earlier times. The west is a dying empire, and we need to prepare for the crash, and organize together on the ground. And Trump says the quiet things out loud, so we know about western complicity in the bombing of Iran, for example.
These things bring me hope. And even if we're just hanging from a thread, we can't give up. I can't give up.
All good and well however for non violence to work and be effective your opponents must have a conscience, I'm suggesting they don't have one.
As for the BDS campaign, did you have a look at Chris Hedges recent article which reveals a astonishing number of corporations that have been profiting from the sadistic genocide being waged by Netanyahu and his gang of child killers, who've been luring starving Palestinians to their death by pretending to offer food only to murder them in cold blood.
Such people and their supporters have no conscience that was lost when they sold their soul and lost their humanity.
- Profiting From Genocide
''The latest United Nations report names hundreds of corporations, banks, technology firms, universities, pension funds and charities that profit from the Israeli occupation and genocide.''
https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/profiting-from-genocide?publication_id=778851&post_id=167313571&isFreemail=true&r=1h688z&triedRedirect=true
Francesca Albanese report on corporations profiting from the genocide in Gaza.
https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/sessions-regular/session59/advance-version/a-hrc-59-23-aev.pdf
It makes good strategy all the more important, imo. And, yes, I agree that the people who support this have no conscience. I've seen the reports by both Chris Hedges and Francesca Albanese.
In purely pragmatic terms, when the people we're up against are so well armed, it's important to raise awareness of what's going on, get people onside, build community and strengthen our movements and find some effective actions.
Iran and most other countries that have been attacked by the west have tried to keep the military operations minimal. I think it's because they know that the west is itching to resort to violence, and they don't want things to escalate. They also want to reveal the west for the barbarians they are. This approach makes sense to me.
I wish I was a strategist, but I'm not. Saying that, I appreciate strategic thinking and good strategy.
What we have now around the western world is the result of having no control over government - we never did - they're only accountable to their creditors, treaties and other sovereignty shredding ''agreements'' - elections are meaningless to me and only serve to maintain a certain illusion that when a different puppet appears on the stage everything will be ok again while history proves otherwise.
Anyway...
Lets focus on Strategic thinking - Linked below is a very interesting conversation [even though it's based on the UK constitution] it details that we used to have a lot more decisive influence about certain matters and then we're arrived at the topic of common law which appears to provide the solutions that many are yearning for
Ben Rubin and Will Keyte discuss the importance of natural law and the Magna Carta in protecting our fundamental rights.
The Natural Order https://www.ukcolumn.org/video/the-natural-order
I'll read it when I get a chance.
On the issue of violence, I've noticed personally and BRICS leaders have warned about this, that people who advocate violence are often provocateurs. At rallies, they'll throw a stone and yell at the police, which then is justification for the police to be violent towards the protesters. In war, when there's a trigger happy west, many countries avoid violence unless it becomes absolutely necessary. Iran comes to mind.
It's a video -I think you'll appreciate it.
100% on the agent provocateurs, how to turn peaceful demonstrations into something that they can demonize.
It's what comes after with the so called legal system - once you've watched the video I think you'll understand.
However here's another angle....everything that's happening is because of the system which isn't allowed to change.
Good one - like the positive approach and accentuation of action that gives us collective strength to use if and when and where we can identify strategic advantage.
I don't have any answers or even suggestions right now but it is reassuring to realise that, yes, we can do something and perhaps, instead of what I have mostly done, i.e. write about the wrongs being committed, share ideas that will bring us together in more of a global community that can generate the ideas and strategy we need to end this genocide and make progress on all the other aims you have outlined.
I look forward to hearing/reading more.
Take care. Stay safe.
Thanks, roger. Thinking strategically is probably a good first step, and that seemed like a very sound strategy.
You stay safe too, roger. These are scary times.
A strategy would be to wake humanity up to its next level of consciousness, where It knows itself not as sinners supplicating to a god, but appreicating its divine nature in a sacred universe. Change how humanity thinks about itself and it will do the best things for the most good.
Do you have a strategy to help that to happen, Sue?
Yes, it's getting humanity to adopt a new creation story where we see the privilege of being human, where, as one humanity, we'd want to take care of Earth. Brian Swimme is the charismatic storyteller I'm working with to create a packet for those who know to use to teach those who don't.
Here's a 3-minute animation that would be part of that: https://vimeo.com/1036807279. And here's my wonderful Swimme Substack playlist: https://suzannetaylor.substack.com/s/brian-thomas-swimme
Thanks, Sue. I enjoyed the animation.
A new creation story sounds great, but what steps do each of us have to take to experience that transformation of consciousness? Also, how do we address the more mundane but very pressing problems of today?
You have to understand the new story. If everyone got it, we would want to do what's best for Earth -- handling the mundane problems and the massive ones. Listen to Brian Swimme -- he is inspirational about it.
But how does everyone get it, Sue? That's the strategy piece.
There are many people already tuned into this, which is in a lineage from Teilhard de Chardin to Thomas Berry to others now, where I like Brian best. It's science that supports the idea of the universe being one interrelated thing, alive, expanding, and evolving. That's a 100-year-old understanding people still are unaware of. Then, there is the implication of that, which is our oneness, and physicist Brian inspires you with it. I am putting materials together for me and others in this camp to share. The fish animation is part of that.
Great post dear Diana, I hope people around the world read and follow your insightful action plan, the world can change if they do. Stay strong dear Diana.
You stay strong too, Capt. Eissa. I hope people make use of what seems like a very useful strategy. Thanks for commenting.
You are amazing Diana, in your courage and consistency. So good to offer an example of triumph and some ideas on how that was achieved. I will look out for this film and lessons learnt.
Also good to list what has been achieved, to remind us we have agency and power. However our “enemies” are formidable, organised and have no hesitation in using brutality. We must be creative and strategic in our resistance and our building of alternatives.
I heard today Jeremy Corbyn is starting a new political party in the UK, that is such good news ✨
Thanks so much, Susan.
And, yes, that's such exciting news about Jeremy Corbyn starting a new party. I hope others in the west of his calibre do the same.
I'll definitely find 'Walkout'. Reminds me of this year's 'Encampments'.
I guess I'm just not much of an organizer at heart. I find the "analysis" stuff just too much to take in. I tend to work from my heart and not my head. I'd rather show up at protests, continue to spread the anti-genocide message online, and occasionally send emails to my elected officials to stop the genocide than analyze my "power." I know I'm powerless by myself, but with many others, we together can be quite powerful. Power to the PEOPLE!
I hear you and, to be honest, I'm more like you than a strategist. But I think there's still a lot to be said about having good strategy for the strategists among us.
The genocide in Gaza and war in general will stop only when they are no longer profitable, and that will not happen any time soon. As Francesca Albanese's new report shows, there is hardly a well-known or lesser-known corporation in a broad range of industries that has not done, is not doing or has not expanded business with Israel, including companies from those countries such as Ireland, South Africa, Norway and Colombia, for example, who've come out against the genocide. A critical excerpt from the conclusion: "By shedding light on the political economy of an occupation turned genocidal, the report reveals how the forever-occupation has become
the ideal testing ground for arms manufacturers and big tech--providing boundless
supply and demand, little oversight and zero accountability--while investors and
private and public institutions profit freely. Too many influential corporate entities
remain inextricably financially bound to Israeli apartheid and militarism." War is indeed a racket, as General Smedley Butler wrote. And the interests of these powerful corporations are so entrenched in our political systems, and so pervasive in our daily lives that showing any kind of resistance and defiance feels like banging your head up against a brick wall. In the end, I guess what taking any kind of action comes down to is doing what individuals can or cannot live with because first and foremost we all have to live with ourselves and who we see in the mirror.
I'm well aware of the financial interests in war, Diane, just as they were supporting Nazi Germany when it committed its genocide.
And I agree: we need to do what we can so we can face ourselves in the mirror, not to mention our children and grandchildren.
But history rhymes, and things are the same but different in some ways. This is the first time a genocide has been conducted for all to see on our screens. And then there's BRICS that is challenging the west's century's long hegemony. And we're not as easily fooled, at least many of us aren't, as we were in earlier times. The west is a dying empire, and we need to prepare for the crash, and organize together on the ground. And Trump says the quiet things out loud, so we know about western complicity in the bombing of Iran, for example.
These things bring me hope. And even if we're just hanging from a thread, we can't give up. I can't give up.
Giving up is not an option. It's not easy when you know just what we are up against!