The Politics of Love
In the Gandhian tradition, in the tradition of Martin Luther King, and indeed in most religious and spiritual traditions also, we are told that we must maintain our integrity, refusing to attack and insult our opponents and enemies, and instead to extend our love to them.
When we choose fight against their actions, and even condemn those actions, but while extending love and forgiveness to our enemies as people, then we are strong within ourselves.
See this in action during Van Jones' award acceptance speech last night:
Check out the rest of the brief blog at http://thinkprogress.org/2010/02/27/jones-beck-love/
I feel it approprate to reference one of Gandhi's sayings appearring on this site - that 'Justice will come when it is deserved, by us being and feeling strong.'
Framing: We can solve it.
Recently on 'It's getting hot in here', one of my favourite climate-movement blogs, there has been some discussion on language and framing in the climate debate, as well a surprisingly long debate on "whether renewables can solve it" in the comments of my last blog on the site.
In response to both these things, and after a long hiatus from posting on the Climate Justice Fast site, I have been prompted to share this extract from "Beyond Yes We Can" - a piece that I wrote this time last year, in a period of post-Poznan reflection.
Post-Copenhagen, much of what I wrote then still applies.
Before and after
Hi all. I'm just posting this photo to head off any 'CJF denial' (there has been some- misinformation on the net claiming that the long term fasters weren't really fasting, or that we were still taking in nutrition other than water). Such statements are just lies.
Day 44- One Day (fast ends)
*Today, at 10AM, I ended my fast, after 43 days and 11 hours of taking in nothing but water and salt*
One day.
The End of COP15, and the end of the Fast. So how do we all feel?
Distress, confusion, hurt, anger? Hope, passion, energy?
Emotion! Let it all out, people!
Personally, I am feeling a very strange and beautiful feeling today, as we concluded the fast, after 43 days entirely without food, coinciding with the disappointing end of COP15. It is a mix of feelings - disappointment at politics mixed with hope for the future, met expectations (regarding the politicians' lacklustre performances) mixed with passion and love, excitement and inspiration (for the peoples' climate movement), and finally, a very strange sensation of taste in my mouth and nutrition in my belly once more.
For COP15, the tension and the expectations were high. A 'fair, ambitious and binding' deal was called for by 12 million people across the world. We got none of it. Instead we got a huge disappointment. COP15 will not go down in history as the moment when the world, humanity, people of all nations and creeds, came together and united for the common good of all future generations.
What a pity. It is actually pitiful. A complete shame.
So what the hell happened, and what do we do now?
Day 44, Day 1
It is good to eat again. But it is even better to feel the sense of accomplishment that comes with the end of the 2009 Climate Justice Fast.
It is snowing in Copenhagen
It is snowing in Denmark.
In the last two weeks, we've been told in a number of cute climate-speeches by Danish politicians that that it hasn't snowed in Denmark in December for the last 5 or 6 years. It's a story backed up by Danish grandmothers, turkish grocery-store owners and taxi-drivers across the city.
But yesterday, the city was covered in a beautiful dusting of white. The big, fluffy flakes that fell throughout the day appeared just like those in my sub-tropical childhood's imaginations that were so inspired by the Danish fairytales of Hans Christian Andersen.
I, and many others here in Copenhagen, feel that this snow can only be a good sign and a blessing for the movements that are gathering around the COP15. A sign of hope.
Yesterday, Thursday 17 December, there were tens of thousands of people around the world, and especially here in Copenhagen, who choose to go without food alongside us, for 24 hours, as a symbol of their dedication to the climate movement, and in solidarity with all those who are currently suffering the effects of climate change.
Day 42- Message to fasters
This is a special message I wrote last night to the over 3000 people around the world who are fasting today for climate justice. The text is here.
Bringing Moral Force to COP15
Bring Moral Force to COP15 in a Vigil for Survival
THURSDAY DEC 17 - Copenhagen
All events are at the ØKSNEHALLEN, Halmtorvet 11, 1700 København V
(Next to Central Station and Klimaforum)
1000 people will join fasters who have reached the 42nd day of a hunger strike for climate justice, in a Candlelight Vigil for Survival.
WHEN: 17:00 (sharp)
RSVP: http://www.avaaz.org/en/real_deal_rsvp/?id=149592
We will gather in the Øksnehallen space for a solemn and powerful event recognising the urgency and gravity of the moment--and urging leaders to rise to the world's call to action.
