We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Deep Adaptation Forum and Extinction Rebellion in Britain

I have received posts from a serious climate activist about the activities of what I refer to as upper-middle class activists in Britain who identify as Deep Adaptation Forum and associate themselves with Extinction Rebellion. (I have not re-posted all of them; and those I have posted, I didn't read all of them.) 

It is clear that the British are leading this embryonic movement that is growing worldwide. The posts should be regarded as the very beginning of the acknowledgement and confrontation concerning the climate crisis, and the threat of human species extinction. The posts feature Prof. Jem Bendell (in one post, also Matthew Slater) who has delivered a number of talks to Deep Adaptation groups associated with this movement. However, I think regarding this subject, there are no experts about what we should do or think about human extinction, which is becoming incontrovertible by the week. The Forum's concern is just a reflection of the advantages of membership in the upper-middle class in mainly capitalist Britain that has allowed this highly trained class of people to become informed about this subject.

These "experts" often glibly mention that dealing with this subject should somehow be liberating and even mention the rewards of joy, love, and healing to those willing to confront the subject. Some, like Bendell, even mention in passing that capitalism has some relation to our extinction, but that is as far as they go in exploring the subject. Bendell approves of the age-old religions such as Buddhism and Sufism, and suggests that they might be helpful. 

It is clear to me that many organizers and the leaders of Deep Adaptation groups are recommending only individualist solutions for dealing with the unthinkable and recommending that commiserating with other upper-middle class people will be helpful. And always added to that is the requirement of non-violence. We wouldn't want to upset our capitalist masters who fear violence, but never hesitate to use violence against others if they threaten their system that delivers to them so much wealth and power over the rest of us (sarcasm). But enough of my bias. Read his scripted and/or listen to his talks, which depart occasionally from his script with ad lib remarks, to see what you think.
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