Sword of Orion

[swordoforion]

Thomasian Proposals, by DKTC-FL

Below are three essays I have written as an informal introduction and summary to each of the three structures I intend to introduce and describe in some measure. The Orionist Model you already know; the other two are the Reconstructive Approach and the Codex of Eom.

The Reconstructive Approach is a set of theorems and proposals previously described in issues of the Digest that suggest bringing a chosen model of eco-socialist federation to the world rather than gradually proceeding towards it through the natural process of public opinion, due to the will of the public being compromised by indoctrination of traditional and oppressive values. To steer the world away from crisis, so must our societal structures and cultural values shift to those more adequately suited to deal with problems on a global scale.

Afterward, the Codex of Eom describes the concept of Eo, the enlightened human ideal, and the concepts of good and evil as they relate to human nature. More spiritual and philosophical in nature than its counterparts, it suggests that the attitude of Eos, those who follow Eom, should be that of kind but firm pursuit of justice and stability. That which benefits the most people and does not harm, oppress, invalidate, or exploit the individual is morally right, and should be encouraged and taught across all human society, for the benefit of those within it.

It is this collection of models and theories that I propose to you as a full set, but it is entirely up to you to pick and choose aspects as you see fit, or to come away choosing none at all. I believe that to deal with the end of the world that seems to be rapidly befalling us, it will take a common belief in the potential for good within humanity, and a necessary shift in structure helped along by an organization built for that purpose in order to heal our damaged environment and reach societal enlightenment, so that we may emerge from this chrysalis of history wise and ready to face the future.

- DKTC FL

The Orionist Model

The Model is the basis of Orion, in terms of theory, philosophy, and structure. It is our bread and butter, our core beliefs, our central mission, and the manner in which we organize. It only covers the basics, as to define too specifically would make it less applicable to times and circumstances outside of that of its origin. Don’t worry, we’ll get to the details later on in this document, when we get to the Reconstructive Approach. But for now, let’s see what defines Orion specifically.

First, let’s start with theory. Human society is composed of four central factors – economy, government, sustainability, and socialization. The first, economy, is how resources get turned into goods and services through labor that can be used to fulfill the needs, physical and psychological, of citizens that in turn provide labor. The second, government, defines a set of limitations that prevent behavior that will create conflict between people organized within a culture or economy, for the stability of their organization. The third, sustainability, refers to the balance between human activity and the rest of the natural world – basically, how a society uses their resources, whether responsibly or irresponsibly. Finally, socialization is how someone interacts with society – what they are taught to uphold and believe in, and how they contribute to the three mechanisms listed above.

This being known, we believe that the efficiency of all four factors is what makes an ideal society. Efficiency doesn’t mean how much you can make or how tightly you can control your people; efficiency in Orionist theory is ‘the maximum fulfillment of citizens’ collective needs with minimum input’. The systems that you use for each factor will tend to have either lower or higher efficiency, and so, we propose eco-socialist federalism as the system that will generally tend to have the highest efficiency. Eco-socialist federalism is defined as “a democratic federation of socialist states united with the express purpose of human rights and environmental protections.

Philosophy boils down to five levels of realization, that deal with the human concept of purpose, and the responsibility that comes with empathy and suffering. First, we must realize that despite the many different definitions of the ‘meaning of life’, everyone will observe the world around them and develop conclusions about themselves and their place in the world, coming to find some sense of satisfaction in their actions and goals. That being understood, we realize that if everyone shares fundamental experiences, we can relate and connect to them, seeing ourselves in their own lives, and learning from their example.

Understanding and recognizing oneself in another means that when they suffer, you are faced with a moral responsibility to provide the kind of helping hand that you would want in your own life, for if you foster a world where people look down upon their less fortunate neighbors, who’s to say that the world will not look down upon you in your failings? To turn your back on another in need is to turn your back on yourself. To fully realize one’s ability to make change and help others, they must fully realize themselves through discipline of the body and mind, through which they can hone their passions and thoughts through temperance of negative emotions. Those willing to take on the charge and mission of Orion must accept the final level of realization – the sacrifice one will have to make for the sake of the world and its people, to devote oneself to the undying flame of Orion.

Structure is divided between regions of chapters and higher, organization wide levels of command. Thematic and symbolic structures exist overlayed across the whole of Orion, known as ‘branches’. They are embedded within the usual structure of Orion, but define specialization and intent of different members – the Sword of Orion is the media and communications branch, Liberius is the service and activism branch, and the Museion Institute is the research and development branch. To pledge oneself to a branch means to assign oneself to that specific function, to its cause, and as such, Liberius and Museion require training to apply.

The structure of a chapter reflects the qualities and functions of the branches – in addition to a democratically elected chapter head, there must also be a Service Officer, a Research Officer, and a Communications Officer, in order for a grouping of members to be recognized as a chapter. Chapters are organized by geographic region, and overseeing a region is a regional command chapter, or REGCOM. A REGCOM heads Sword and Liberius activities in the region, and the head of a REGCOM, elected by all members in their region, serves on a council of other ‘Flagbearers’ that dictate the activities of all regions and chapters. Meanwhile, all of Orion votes to elect an Instruist, who appoints another council to oversee the activities of the branches, recordkeeping, and finances. This council, Sword COMMAND, oversees the Museion Institute, a concentrated research institution that collects data from chapters’ research teams.

The overall mission of Orion is, till our last member falls, to uphold the survival and prosperity of humanity and life in general.

The Reconstructive Approach

Moving on, the Reconstructive Approach is a set of proposals and theorems more specific to the times in which Orion finds itself – a world tearing itself apart and yet not sufficiently united to recognize such problems and solve them. Faced with a world that must be taught, we realize that our own citizenship in this world means that our logic may be flawed, and our knowledge limited, but we cannot wait around until we believe we know enough to act. We must decide a direction to aim towards and move rapidly toward it.

There are multiple paths to progress and to eco-socialist federation, but the path that we must take must not be one fraught with compromise and appeasement – the federation must start from a constitution that is strict and uncompromising on the legal requirements of each member nation in order to form a more civil society. Future members will then have to change to fit the model, or be denied entry, and in order to strengthen the federation, we must appeal and rationalize with the people of our neighboring nations to recognize the limits and flaws of their circumstance, and get them to enact the necessary change to join with us in democratic unity.

This necessary structure must possess several necessary attributes. First, the representatives of the people who act as the deciding members of government must not simply be chosen from among the people at random, but at least a portion must be first educated properly in the study of law and ethics at state institutions, so that they are prepared for the enormity of the task placed upon them, and so that through their training and conditioning, they are dissuaded from being swayed by abuses of power, and are instead directed to use their position for the advancement of the mission.

Secondly, the economies of the nations must conform to a hybrid-planned economic structure, in which the resources of production are accountable to the people through management by the state – businesses must be registered and apply for use of land and capital, rather than haphazardly leaving power in the hands of a few profit-oriented elite. Such resources and leverage will do better, used alongside international organization, to deal with humanitarian and environmental crises, rather than relying on debt and goodwill. It will also keep a market active for the sake of innovation and efficiency, while preventing the evolution of corporate power through bureaucratic management.

The final attribute is not structural, but instead a matter of policy – for the sake of environmental recovery, we must de-escalate our industrial and population growth, and decrease our emissions as much as is feasibly possible and necessary. We must first make sure that we stop making the problem worse before we begin to make it better, and make it better we must through research, replanting, cleanup, and no shortage of whatever action is suitable to allow ecosystems to recover and repopulate. Such a colossal effort and shift in human activity will require an equally titanic state to manage it, and it is only with time and healing that such a state can start to decrease in size and reach.

However, before the state becomes less absolute, the people must be taught to abandon their destructive tendencies engrained in them by millennia of flawed societal practices, and instead learn over the course of generations to live and organize efficiently, and to self-govern. They must learn to live in harmony, and so another important aspect of the reconstructive approach is that the people must culturally be reconditioned into more ideal citizens. Once again, we cannot be sure of what this ideal we must strive toward is, but right now, a flawed image of progress is better than a nightmarish image of decline. If we get it wrong, it will be better if we are alive to learn from our mistakes.

Reconditioning as a process requires, to some degree, a level of monoculture. Culture encompassing everything about our learned behavior, there must be a universal sense of morality, justice, and freedom spread across the whole of humanity, and particular to these coming generations, there must be a sense among the survivors of the mission of repair and recovery. However, a full monoculture is harmful, as it hinders development, innovation, and growth of humanity. Our differences are not a thing to scorn, but at the same time, if we wish to work together, as we must in order to deal with the coming crisis, we must not waste our energy against each other. Already, we see a spreading of morals in terms of ‘equality’ and ‘justice’; these are a method of monoculture, and so we must see it completed.

The tremendous task that awaits us is one that relies upon the altruism and selflessness of many people; if it were that easy to make people act in the interest of the collective and not in their own self-interest, then the world would have been saved already. People are not necessarily to blame for being self-interested in a world that so often makes people fight for their lives; but this mindset cannot be allowed to perpetrate oppression, corruption, and inefficiency. Therefore, as part of this reconditioning and reconstruction, there must be the spread of a common set of beliefs and the awareness of the necessary steps of this mission that has been outlined, with the sort of moral and incentive that has spurred so many throughout history to act possessed by a goal that offers no obvious physical benefit, but rather, that of spirituality.

Codex of Eom

Eo; the enlightened ideal. Eom; the pursuit of Eo. Eos; those who participate in Eom. These words are chosen to describe this concept because of their simplicity – so that no matter what nation or language, they could find their place on the tongue of whoever says them.

Human nature, despite what many try to peddle or believe, is neither slanted towards some sense of good or evil. We, like all life, are creatures of complex needs. We seek survival first, and happiness after, though the true peak of our fulfillment is spiritual, some greater sense of purpose or belonging in life. Someone can be turned to evil or good depending on the conditions around them; will a wild dog not bite if it means the guarantee of its dinner? And will that same dog, when well fed, not still bite the innocent if cruelty is all that it knows to be beneficial? In many aspects, we are not above this state, and we can be swayed either in our development or by cruel desperation forced upon us. In this regard, much of our behavior can be attributed to what our circumstances make us into.

This is not to say that we have no input or choice in the matter, and that we should not be held accountable for our actions, but that no one is born predisposed to commit violence or injustice upon another. Whether they are misguided, desperate, or unattended, humans have the potential to become monsters, and it is in this knowledge that even the most detestable among us could have been cherished friends and family that injustice gains a greater tinge of tragedy. But from that we learn that, given the right conditions, anyone can grow to be morally upstanding citizens. Learning how to foster and encourage those conditions can bring greater peace and unity to society as a whole.

For good and evil do exist, and it is through human nature that we can understand them. If our innate, instinctual purpose is to fulfill our needs, then what is good is that which allows people to fulfill those needs with conflict, without danger, and without risk. That which enriches all people by turning their energies not against each other, but by combining those energies for first survival, then comfort, then spiritual attainment. When one is not starving and not fighting for their life, they can glimpse a greater design at work in the universe, a complicated tapestry created by all who have lived, all who live, and all who will live, and it is good that they should be able to comprehend and find their place in that tapestry.

Evil being the opposite of good, a conflictive and oppressive society is one that not only must not stand, but in the end, will not stand. Eventually, the insufferable pains one endures at the hand of oppression will drive them to fight back, to strike against the pillars that uphold the flawed and wicked foundation of the world. For if one’s survival, physical or psychological, is threatened, do not forget that they will fight back, and if not them, then their descendants. Eventually, there will come those that find wickedness intolerable and turn on the notion of peace in hopes of instead accomplishing liberation.

And yet, there might be those that do evil in the dark, that steal and harm their fellow human where no one can see, and go unpunished from birth to death. Where is justice there? Can good be thwarted in the end? And I say not, because even if they die innocent in the eyes of the public, they will fail truly by having their spirit tainted. In bringing oneself to harm and hate unjustly another, they leave themselves forever at a distance from the world, forever knowing that the rest of the world is their enemy, or at best, their plaything, and in that they die having missed a fundamental aspect of their humanity, a life never truly fulfilled. Evil, whether loud or quiet, is intolerable for the victims and perpetuator alike.

To aspire to Eo is no easy task, for there is much in the way of common argument and strife that is not inherently evil. It is better defined as such intentional acts of exploitation, harm, and denial of one’s freedom to express themselves that restrict or endanger one’s fulfillment of their basic needs, rather than spark and move along their mental development. To argue a point may anger someone else, but if done solely for the sake of the point, there is nothing that betrays deeper sentiments against someone for who they are, or any intention of harm. Nor is defense inherently evil either; if one’s safety is threatened, they are right in making an attempt to secure it. Additionally, Eo is an ideal, and one cannot be expected to be always and in every moment perfect; only to pursue the ideal and seek to embody it to the best of one’s ability.

We are a species of great potential, and it is within our ability to create a peaceful and prosperous society. To do so would require a culture of wisdom and kindness, entire generations cultivated to be aware of the harm that past evils have done and could do again, while raised to accept others and be tolerable of their differences, and to be firm in stamping out hatred and oppression wherever it stands. They must know to forgive the heart of the one who sows hatred, but not the actions. They must be those who use every possible path and exhaust every opportunity for peace, but strike fast and merciful when the only option is conflict. To live in ignorance of depravity is to invite it, and so we must be kind without being soft.

So, there must be a culture that spans the globe and every citizen, in some respect, of Eom, the pursuit of Eo, the enlightened human ideal. For a species to embody Eo is to be enlightened; to find a pattern of life and a state of mind that ensures satisfaction, peace, and stability eternal, and so we must ourselves make every effort to encourage enlightenment in others and seek enlightenment for ourselves. To be compassionate and help one’s neighbor, but to be wise to the ways of the world, to the depths people will sink when dragged there by the tides of life. To be ready to defend and end a fight, but never to start one. To teach future generations to be who they are, and to be proud of themselves while still humble and respectful of others. These things are what define Eom to me, and such things I will continue to write in future collections.

[swordoforion]

The Orionist Model; an Essay by DKTC-FL

The Orionist Model is the baseline for Orion. It defines our goal, our ideals, and our composition - how, why, and what we do. This is why, above all else, the Model is so essential, because without a clear reason for what we do, without a unified vision of how we bring about improvement, and without a cohesive system for organizing, Orion would tear itself apart in disagreement and confusion. 

It is composed of three parts - THEORY, PHILOSOPHY, and STRUCTURE. Theory defines the mission to which we are dedicated, philosophy defines the ideals for which we stand, and structure defines the method by which we organize and act. It must stand upon all three legs, as if you are to remove one, the other two are worse off for it. Without theory, the intent of Orion might prove unsuccessful. Without philosophy, change is pursued with no moral center to ground it. Without structure, we are but a loose collection of believers with no path forward. 

But together, we are given a goal, a reason to pursue it, and the means to accomplish it. How we get from this foundation to the end result is up to the ones who make use of this tool; in this way, the Orionist Model is only half the solution. The rest is up to how it is used - the creativity and ingenuity of the members and founders who create their own chapters and teach their own communities, as well as the leaders who they elect to direct the collective. We stand with the Model as the hammer in our hands above the metal to be fashioned, and yet, it is the mind of the smith that determines what shape it will take, and how well it will be crafted. 

There is no one way to follow the Model, as it was designed to be interpretative. What is laid down is basic truths, but the finer details are vague, for while Orion was created amidst chaotic times, it was not created solely for those times. It was created to serve its goal for as long as it is able, no matter what shape the world around it takes. After all, its central concepts are universal and timeless - society is most efficient when it benefits the people, and our shared experiences give us cause to foster kindness. The structure, too, is simple yet effective - while having a centralized focus and command, the chapter system allows for autonomy and specialization according to region. 

We begin with theory, which posits that society is composed of four fundamental factors - economy, government, socialization, and the relationship with the environment. Society, of course, is a construct created by humanity to streamline the process by which our physical and psychological needs are fulfilled. The most efficient model of human society is that which fulfills its objective - achieving maximum fulfillment with minimum input - and so the improvement of society to reach this ideal is our goal. Socialism and world federalism provide the most stable models of economy and government, and a more environmentalist approach to balancing society with the natural world is best for life in general. Because of this, Orionist political theory is called eco-socialist federalism. 

Eco-socialist federalism, or ESF theory, is not merely a collection of theories, but a synthesis. It can be best summarized as “a democratic federation of socialist nation-states formed with the express purpose of standardizing human rights and environmental protections.” In the interests of both the survival and prosperity of all humanity, there are certain qualities that must be made universal across the nations of the world, to ensure that all people, no matter what they look like, who they love, where they come from, or who they are, are given the same opportunities and freedoms. In addition, if we neglect to take a careful approach to our own growth and presence, we will not only endanger other life on Earth, but ourselves as well. Something of this scale touches every part of our lives, and thus, it will require not only a legal shift, but a sociological one, as we train ourselves to be kinder and wiser as a species.

Philosophy dictates five levels of realization about the self and its connection with the wider world, and the responsibility we hold as Orionists to better the world for ourselves and others. We first realize that no matter your conclusion, everyone finds meaning in the world by observing beauty, and determining the self in relation to the rest of the universe. Following from that, if everyone searches for some form of satisfaction and the fulfillment of their needs, we can relate and understand each other as humans. If we can relate, we can understand the apprehension towards suffering, and thus it follows that we should provide the helping hand that we would want in our time of need, for we can see ourselves in the lives of others. To accomplish this, however, requires discipline - as so many people let our differences divide us, it requires a temperance of our more negative emotions to hone our passions and give us strength. Finally, dedication to this mission requires a degree of sacrifice - a kinder world cannot come about spontaneously, and we must be willing to work for it so that our dreams can be fulfilled by those around us, and those that come afterwards. 

Philosophy and theory both tie into the idea of the Mission - the enduring and unending goal of Orion. The mission, simply, is to uphold the survival and prosperity of humanity, from now until our last member falls. Everything we do is about not only ensuring that the human race survives what could be our potential extinction, but that it learns, evolves, and flourishes equally. Survival alone is not the goal - for people could live full lives in bondage and suffering, and that would be a truly terrible existence. People could live forced down and treated as less than human, given a lesser lot in life for factors outside their control. Thus, prosperity is also important - to be given the chance to live a happy and satisfying life, not without struggle, but without unjust struggle.

Structure is divided between the chapters, the most basic element of Orionist organization, and the command structure, which is divided between executive and representative authority. A chapter consists of at least a Service Officer, a Research Officer, a Communications Officer, and a Chapter Head. The three officers and their respective teams represent the three branches of Orion - the Sword of Orion, our media and communications branch, Liberius, our service and activism branch, and the Museion Institute, our research and development branch. Chapters themselves are divided into geographic regions, with a regional command chapter, or REGCOM, at the head of each region. The head of a REGCOM is a Flagbearer, elected by the members of their region, and the various Flagbearers of Orion form the representative house of command, the Council of Flagbearers. 

REGCOMs act as a hub for Sword and Liberius operations in their region, while Museion is centralized into the titular institute, as well as any necessary secondary locations. The branches themselves are overseen by Branch Heads, appointed officials who serve on the council of Sword COMMAND, the executive house of command. While Flagbearers are only elected by a regional vote, Sword COMMAND’s head, the Instruist, is elected by an organization-wide vote, and the rest of the staff is selected for appointment by the Instruist themselves, with the Council of Flagbearers’ vote of approval. These staff members include the individual heads of each branch, a Financier (who handles financial matters) and a Parliamentarian (who handles record-keeping), each with their own offices, as well as the Instruist and a Lieutenant, who acts as an Instruist in training. In the event of the death or resignation of the Instruist, the Lieutenant will hold office until an election can be run, where they will run against a candidate of the people. If the Lieutenant wins, they will become the new Instruist, while if the people’s candidate wins, then the Lieutenant will continue to serve their position, and act as a guide and informant for the new Instruist. 

It is a simple and yet endlessly important idea that people, as complicated as they can be, deserve the opportunity to live their lives and express themselves freely, and if they fall by the wayside, to be given a chance to learn, grow, and recover. No one is perfect, because if we were perfect, we would not truly be alive. Life is that quest, through good times and bad, to understand oneself, and it takes some trial and error. Yet, with all this talk of freedom, we must not allow the mistakes of some to hurt others so seriously as they have in the past. The ability to live life comes hand in hand with the inability to outright deny it to others, and it is that balance we find ourselves charged to protect. 

To protect something so fundamental, and to seek change to monumental, may seem like an impossible task. What we seek is nothing less than a complete revolution in the way we live, the way we think, in the way we conduct ourselves, and in the way we see the world. To achieve peace and to undo our past mistakes will require unlearning what we have learned, understanding those we think far distant from us, and dismantling structures we deem so essential. But there is a strength we hold that surpasses the difficulty of our mission. We are not alone. You are not alone. 

I know as I write this that there are many others out there, who wish for a better world, who dream of a land untainted by bids for power and cycles of revenge, where two people from distant lands can stand hand in hand, united by what they share. Whatever drives them - hope, fear, love, guilt - there are those off on missions of their own, and with this, I take comfort, for as long as there is hope, my fire shall never die. With the Orionist Model in mind, no matter how big of an impact you make, know that you have a place among us, and that there is always room for new friends and faces in our ranks. The more who are willing to work so that others may be given hope, the closer the dream becomes to reality. 

And yet, even when federation is established, the world is reformed and the climate is saved, the mission will not conclude there. It may never end, for the role of an Orionist is twofold. We seek to protect that great journey of life, true, but it is equally as important to partake in it. To appreciate the value of life, one must learn to appreciate their own, and as the world moves towards the future and towards the stars, we will be right there with them, ready to help and guide whenever we are needed, but ready as well to experience the joy of discovery firsthand. That is what the Model means, that is what the Mission means, and that is what Orion means. 

Respice ad futurum, respice ad astra.

- DKTC FL

[swordoforion]

Orion Digest №47 - Chapters and Community Organization

While the scale of eco-socialist federalism is global, there are significant disadvantages to tackling issues primarily on the largest levels. To the average civilian, a global movement in name only is something they may see online or on the news, earning maybe a few minutes of their attention, but disappearing from their attention soon after. It is not something that, for most people, will earn significant support, nor continuous attention, unless you constantly find some way to recapture it. This is not simply apathy; the world today is so full of changing sights and distractions that one cannot expect every person to become stuck on a mere passerby attraction.

A majority of the mission will end up as a bid for attention and awareness, and though it may sound like a popularity contest, it is not out of vanity that we seek this. At the end of the day, politics is about how many people you can convince to do what needs to be done, whether inside or outside the confines of a legal system. Inside is typically easier and more streamlined, but if the system proves insufficient, the difficult task of maneuvering outside the law becomes necessary. Either way, it's an avenue where strategy will only carry you so far without numbers. We seek a combination of inside and outside support, and for both cases, we need to convince people to join or support us, our allies, and our cause.

However, simply inflating one's appearance to appear in mainstream media, while somewhat helpful, is not a sure fire solution, especially for a task set upon us so large and with so little time. The world needs to be aware that our planet is on the brink of collapse, and that the structure of society that we have become so stuck to and dependent on needs a major overhaul if we are to survive. We don't need to just accept a truth; we need to break illusion after illusion and assemble together as a species swiftly. We don't need a passing thought or recognition; we need a collective drive to change, dedication to fixing our mistakes that could consume the lifetimes of a generation, for the sake of our increasingly potential future.

The true answer to grabbing people's attention lies on a much smaller scale. The simulated world through media is a large part of our lives, but it is often still so distant from ourselves, only semi-realistic. On the other hand, the people around us, the neighborhood and locale where we reside - that has a far greater impact on the individual, and if we are to capture the minds and hearts of the world, that is precisely where we need to start. Community involvement may affect only a small area, but it is far more meaningful and impactful to those within the area then any voice on the TV screen.

Massive organizations and movements in the past saw people join not because of sensationalist stories on newspapers or from stories, but from that neighbor down the block who talked you into it. The rally in the park, the meeting at a community center, the posters on the street. The image of the movement is much larger than the community, but your involvement with it will still be contained to the area you live, simply ensuring that the goals are accomplished in your sphere of influence. The simple seed of an idea, planted over and over again in select locales, could result in many small chapters that added up to one large widespread movement, hard to pin down or find the center of. For better or worse, these movements have proved effective in the past.

Such is a similar idea with the idea of Orion's chapters. Barring Museion, a chapter will feature elements of the other two branches - the Sword and Liberius - centered specifically on contributing and aiding to their respective communities and regions. Whereas the online element of branches focuses on ESF theory and progressivism in general, a chapter will focus on how it applies and relates to the people around them. Your town is not a federation, sure, but it could always work on being greener, on providing aid to those in need and beneficial job opportunities. The people of your town could always show support for the cause, and work on self-improvement to be more accepting and respectful of underrepresented groups inside and outside of the community. In some ways, a chapter would be a miniature Orion, contained within its own little sphere.

Just like past movements, it would merely take a 'seed', or in this case, one member in an area willing and able to make their own chapter of Orion. With time, I hope to make more reading material and online resources available to streamline this process, but with the structure, theory, and philosophy laid out, my hope is that future members can apply this model to their surroundings, and build their own chapters for the improvement of their community. In such dark times, it is good to focus on accomplishing a simple task and making at least one pocket of the world a bit more hopeful. However, when done many times, in many chapters, across many parts of the world, it can add up. Democratic structure exists for coordination, so that Orionist communities can come together and work through voting and organization for larger impact.

Community interaction is not merely about asking people for support and membership. It is about giving to and helping the community with no expectation or requirement for reciprocation, merely the intent on bettering the area and all who live within it. Exactly how this will happen will depend on the region and culture itself, but the advantage there is that whoever starts the chapter will know better than I do how to approach their community. The chapter's Sword team can point out and make people aware of issues and how to fix them, while members of Liberius can provide teaching, assistance, and guidance to people on practical methods of improvement (i.e. growing food, medical aid, self defense, mental health practices, et cetera). With time, being a beneficial presence in the community will do more to build a reputation with people than a 30 second ad on television ever will.

The elephant in the room is the fact that we have little time to make change before it is too late in the grand scheme of things. The threat of climate change always hangs upon us, and the combination of government and economy only serve to worsen that threat. It is best not to put all eggs in one basket, and mere community-centric change is only one part of the structure. Orion is designed to cater to a small scale while still organizing online to fight on a large scale, and constant pressure from us and allies must be kept upon national governments to be more firm on environmental regulation, to reform the structure of the United Nations, to revamp economic systems of ownership and standardize stricter definitions of human rights and freedoms. If anything the two scales feed off and benefit one another - the more Orionist communities there are, the larger a base for online support, and the larger an online influence, the more seeds that can be planted for further communities.

A key part of the experience that I intend is for future members and chapters to fill the gaps in the human experience that I am unable to. I do not know the specific struggles of your area, nor how to fully approach them. I do not fully know the depths of the human experience when it comes to people of different identity than myself. I have not been in each house, spoken each language, or walked the same paths you might have walked. However, I believe firmly in the model lain out, that the world should be greener, united, and geared towards the benefit of humanity. I believe in helping other people not for gain but out of solidarity and kindness. I believe that, if we pull together and learn from our past, we can survive and do great things. And I believe certainly that there are people out in the world willing to make change in their city, their neighborhood, or at the very least, in their own home, and because of that belief, I entrust that these ideals can be applied by chapters to help in the way that only they know how.

More over, it cannot be stated enough that the world and its various nations are not composed of their governments and owners; they are composed of its people. The most important voice is not that of a leader, but rather the combined voice of those that follow. It is not some castle or office that holds the most importance in a nation; it is all the land and homes that belong to the people. The world is in a crisis right now, and this is only the beginning. We need to be there for the people around us, and the only way we can pull through this is together.

- DKTC FL

[swordoforion]

Orion Digest №46 - Climate Health and Human Rights: Our Primary Focus

The most pervasive modern problems are consequences of human action; we struggle with the damage we have done to the world around us, as well as how we can survive and get along with each other in this chaotic global environment of our own. The potential of humanity is astounding, and it is with firm belief that I state that, with collaboration and ingenuity, we can overcome even the dire situation we are in today in time. However, in the time that it will take to move towards permanent change, the problems will not simply wait around or go away. The most grave dangers and grievous pains await resolution, and while addressing them will not fix the problem permanently, it can only help to stave off a far worse eventuality, and bring the world partway to peace while working on the rest.

The first matter is bettering the condition of the environment, for our sake and that of all life around us. It cannot be understated how vital to all aspects of life and society the environment is - from the resources upon which our economy depends to the conditions that enable humanity to survive, our greatest mistake as a species has been bringing us so close to the brink through its destruction. Not just humanity, but all of life relies on such delicate conditions, and even if we stand at the top of the natural hierarchy, we have a duty to respect all others below us, and the balance between. The pattern of unsustainable industry means that this is a front on which we are constantly losing ground, especially because the negative effects present today are only the tip of the iceberg - the worst is merely a delayed reaction.

The second matter is standardizing universal human rights and protections that would better the quality of life for all people of Earth. So long as we view other humans as the ultimate enemy, we will be left wasting energy on a useless and costly fight. While economics plays a large part in disparity between different population groups, much of it is caused by difference in social perception, opportunity, and treatment of peoples based upon factors of their identity, from race to gender to sexual orientation. Matters of sociological dispute are difficult to approach anywhere but through teaching and convincing, but in terms of actual concrete policy, a guarantee of protection and assurance under the law can go a long way in giving at least a foundation for equality and equity.

It is important to understand that, without a more permanent solution, the accomplishment of these tasks alone will prove insufficient at assuring peace. For example, if we were to organize a worldwide push for sustainability and ecosystem health, we could make a noticeable change, but without legal protection and a major change in the way we handle industry, the work will be undone, and will simply require constant rectification. On the other hand, even with legal protections for underrepresented populations, social stigmas can still remain or evolve, and with the passage of time, even legal precedent can change with the development of governments and nations. The intent with these priorities is not that they should fix the problem, but rather, that they should prevent the problem from getting worse while the problem is fixed all the while.

Allowing such problems to get worse would mean that, by the time a hypothetical federation had formed, there are lives that could have been enriched or even saved by previous action, and the job of climate control made much less a hassle for our potential future federation, which we expect will already be faced with a tall order. In addition, the idea of "establishing federation" is not some grand building project; it has no exact deadline or necessity for supplies. Rather, federation cannot be established until there is ample enough support and leverage for it, and to do so will require Orion and allied organizations to build enough popularity and credibility with the public to push for proper steps and action. Most of what we can do in the meantime is simply to help in whatever way possible, and if we are to ascertain where we can help until the path becomes apparent to the public, it is with improving the human condition with any and all resources at our disposal.

Other matters, such as those of nationalism and economy, will inevitably be touched by the extended effects of the two primary focuses. To seek a standardized and enforced code of human rights means to seek common ground across all nations, and having such can do well to bring nations closer together, socially and politically. Economy, unbalanced as it is, stands directly in the path of a greener Earth, and thus it will be our primary adversary. To achieve some measure of sustainability means to better our economy, and while the structure itself may still be flawed, measurable improvement is still a lesson learned for the future. The bridge will only be half crossed on long term reform, but being halfway there means it will be easier to go all the way, when the time comes.

Now, while the ideal is laid, how exactly will grassroots organizations such as Orion fight and assure climate health and human rights? Attention and awareness of issues, while only half of the fight, are still the first half of the fight. The small contributions of many people add up to a force to be reckoned with, and making clear the economic side of environmental troubles as well as the full scope of the danger can do well to shift the tides of support for the worst offenders. Organization of clean-up, replanting, and lobbying for preservation and regulation will be more effective with a greater workforce - not simply masses of people organizing in one place, but many groups of people, armed with the knowledge of where they can help the most, all working in their own areas for widespread recovery.

In the case of human rights, it should be acknowledged that among the nations of the world, there is an element of strength and power that weighs on negotiation, for better or worse. Powerful nations that are more open to the idea of cultural change and equality can be the primary battlegrounds for true equality; perception will always be the most pivotal element to treatment, so once again, publicization and awareness of the varying realities for different groups will be the method by which deeply engrained behaviors will be unlearned. From public support comes legal change, and if these nations can be turned and made to embody this sense of unity, they can provide pressure upon more stubborn nations to follow the example. Few nations want actual interference and trouble, and so, simply the idea of force can be enough to get the ball rolling, and the citizens of these nations, if given their own push, can keep the ball rolling all the way.

Every victory won in these causes will provide more momentum for the ultimate goal, and so, the pursuit of climate health and human rights not only lessens the damage for the sake of humanity, but builds ground for the establishment of federation. These ideas in mind, it is the primary focus of Orion that, in addition to the spread of Orionist ideas, we push and fight for climate action and legal standardization of human rights in whatever way we can.

- DKTC FL

[swordoforion]

What is Orionism? | Orion Official

In this short video presentation, we go over the three major concepts within the Orionist Model - theory, philosophy, and structure, and what defines Orion a...

[swordoforion]

Orion Digest №45 - Alternate Models of ESF: What is Essential?

Eco-socialist federalism was founded on, and still relies upon, its central tenets. Regardless of the method by which it is implemented, it is important to understand that the nations of Earth must be united under one federation, that economy cannot serve the people adequately unless the means of production are available to public use, and until the system created is focused upon the preservation of Earth's ecosystem to allow humanity's continued survival. Everything else, much of what has been introduced in past issues, is merely models and suggestions on how this much could realistically be achieved.

I stand firm on the idea that the basic description listed above is true and necessary, but I also understand that the methods previously disclosed could be susceptible to my personal biases or lapses in my knowledge. Many have tried to implement the above concepts and met with some degree of failure, though the ideals are not to blame; simply the way they were handled. Similarly, I intend to keep writing and proposing more details on eco-socialist federalism as I envision it, but at the same time I am entirely welcome to alternate interpretations and approaches to the application of ESF to the world's political systems, as well as suggestions for improvement upon my own models.

It is not that I consider what I have written incorrect, but one person's perspective on such an issue might not compare to the perspectives of many. The two may align, but I find that the insights and experiences of others can make a collaborative piece of theory or art all the greater, and the juxtaposition of two differing perspective on an issue can prove a great testing ground for the merits of an individual theory. I believe that there are multiple ways that eco-socialist federalism can be achieved, and that different models can be more effective at accomplishing the goals of Orion.

While our membership leaves us currently unable for such a democratic assembly, the aim is to spread across the world and accumulate members that can reach a consensus on a strategy forward, and when the time comes, I am prepared to make my case not just through essays, but to members of Orion from every region, in hopes that I will find a majority that is in agreement with my plan. At the same time, to not leave my strategy up to democratic review would be a disservice to the spirit of the mission - we aim to build a world that serves the people, and if it is found that my judgement is lacking, and that current ESF models are inefficient in putting people and progress first, I am welcome to new and fresh ideas.

Similarly, when the time comes where Orion's structure has been filled out and established, I intend not to continue to serve as Instruist (as derived from the Esperanto word 'instruisto', the elected chair of Sword COMMAND, the executive house of Orion's command structure - represented by the office's seal, DKTC) until properly and democratically re-elected by such an assembly. My intent is to lay down the foundations of Orionist theory, philosophy and structure, as well as to propose my own approach to them, and leave it up to future members of this organization as to what path they shall choose to take.

So then, how might other models differ? While a federation must remain democratic, the structure of Parliament, the Judiciary, and the Executive Bureaucracy are not set in stone, let alone are the presence of such houses assured. Models that still allow for citizens to have a say in every level of government still accomplish the basic purpose. An economy can still be socialist while ridding itself of the market, so long as every citizen that falls beneath the livable threshold is provided for, and that the means of production are accountable and available to the public, rather than to private ownership. Finally, while de-escalation is one proposed strategy for environmental revitalization, there could exist both more and less extreme alternatives to save the ecosystem, especially as more and more advanced technology is developed.

It is important to understand that these models may need to change with the passage of time due to the unpredictability of the future. Certain circumstances may arise that require Orion to adapt and change, whether political, social, or environmental. For example, should the federation established one day be distorted into the antithesis of its ideals, it would be foolhardy to simply try once more with the same exact strategy; it is of vital importance that Orion can learn and grow with time. Just as a federation may be fallible, it is important for each member to understand that so too could the organization become doggedly stuck on an incorrect path, and as a member, it is important to stand up and fight even their fellow members on issues of importance to the organization and the world.

Outside of eco-socialist federalism, the other two primary components essential to Orionist thought are those of philosophy and structure, both of which have been laid out. Digest No. 41 detailed the basics of Orionist philosophy - the five levels (beauty, empathy, responsibility, discipline, and sacrifice) that detail the duty to fight so that the people of the world can truly appreciate the world around them and find greater meaning in their lives. Structure is listed already in several places - the two house command structure of Orion (Sword COMMAND, of which the Instruist is elected and the other positions are appointed; and the Council of Flagbearers, of which regions elect their own representatives), as well as the three branches (Sword of Orion, Liberius, Museion Institute) and their respective chapters.

Beyond this, I anticipate that over the course of Orion's existence, the words and theories written down in the Digest may be subject to change and evolution, and while I may find myself in disagreement, I am open to the idea of being proved wrong. However, it is vital that the theory, philosophy, and structure remain essential. We cannot forget that people deserve to enjoy the world, and that we owe it to each other to be kind and work together. We cannot neglect the precious balance between us and our natural habitat. We must make sure that our society is one that is united and puts accountability in the hands of both the individual and the community. Finally, as long as there are those who are willing to strive for these ideals, Orion must fight for the survival and prosperity of humanity, and for that unending pursuit of beauty and knowledge.

- DKTC FL

[swordoforion]

Orion Digest №44 - Ignorance and Oppression

The present is a strange and chaotic time. For a child to be born into the fiery swathe of politics and crisis, it must be confusing, no matter where you end up, to try and understand oneself and their relation to the rest of the world. Depending on what kind of family you are into as well as what you look like, you may be hated for any one of a number of aspects, and the friends you make will steer you into one faction or another in the game of fear and strife that is deciding how to handle the future of this world. Context aside, it must be a mentally draining ordeal to place on the shoulders of new generations, and yet, this Gordian knot has no clear way out.

It is understandable, given the knowledge of history and the ravages of the world today, why many people would be so dug in deep into their individual factions. Those who have historically been disadvantaged live in fear, hesitant to trust because the assumption of danger is safer than the assumption of safety. On the other hand, those blind to the problems and fears of others are so often misguided and twisted into the monsters that prey on the fearful, welded into shapes by the great and terrible machine that makes up our social consciousness. At birth, no one is set to become this way, but the self-perpetuating cycle has kept up the production of an oppressor class that lays waste to the oppressed.

Out of the two, the oppressed is to be more deserving of sympathy. To be robbed of the opportunity to fully live life is a horrific fate on many levels - once said life is over, what has been taken can never truly be given back or repaid, merely avenged. Illogically, and entirely out of deep-seated discrimination within the minds and conditioning of the oppressors, the oppressed are barred from entry to many avenues of work, recognition, and respect, and worse yet, are made to live in fear by physical and social violence. From childhood, they have to learn a different and more difficult path in life, by no fault of their own, and live in a world made and catered to people other than themselves.

For the youth of the traditional oppressor class, this concept may seem confusing, for it is a worldview entirely outside of their own. Growing up, the world seems fine to them, and the grievances for which they are blamed seem to have little grounds - after all, they specifically did nothing to intentionally breed discrimination. So many things that are, in their own ways, harmful are simply sewn into the fabric of our social consciousness, and with such a wool pulled over the eyes, it is easy to see how the two groups would struggle to see eye to eye. It is understandable that, for someone who doesn't understand, it must seem confusing to be hated and feared. However, with a mere shift in perspective, how could one not fear the engines by which oppression are propagated? By not being cognizant of one's complacency in a oppressive system, they help to create said system by playing their trained part within society.

Worse is that there have arisen, in the past few years, many of the latter class that, in response to the hatred and grievance of the oppressed, become themselves angry and vengeful towards those that hate them, creating the start of a cycle of violence. The actions of the oppressors in years past left the oppressed resentful, and in their anger and fear, they show hatred towards the descendants and symbols of the oppressors, and in response, those descendants strike back, using the retribution as an excuse to fuel antiquated habits of discrimination. The treatment of the oppressor by the oppressed is in no way equal to that which had been done to them, especially because there is not the wide-scale threat of force behind it, and yet, once again, the ignorance of the fact that this anger is caused by grief and fear rather than unfounded malice causes even more harm.

Let it be known that humanity has no true enemy other than ignorance and fear. Our ignorance of how to conduct ourselves respectfully lead to a domino chain throughout history that created numerous atrocities and mistakes; all of which have helped us learn and improve after the fact. Nevertheless, we are still trapped within the cage of our own design, lead forth by nationalist and capitalist ideals that many still believe in. Fear, too, is our enemy, because it causes us to act irrationally and hurt others, in an attempt to gain our own security. Even if one can recognize the system around themself as corrupt, not playing the game of labor and business means to risk one's survival, and breaking the rules paints a target upon one's back.

Just the same, it is ignorance on the part of the oppressor class that breeds fear in the oppressed, and it must be understood by all that neither side themselves is "the enemy" - it is ignorance we should combat, and fear we should assuage. The latter cannot be so easily dissuaded without proof of safety; it is the responsibility of the oppressor to combat ignorance, not simply by not contributing to the overall problem, but by actively listening and seeking the education of their peers. It must be understood that the plight of the oppressed is to endure the grief of generations past while also struggling to break through the ceiling that has been placed upon them, and even it requires effort and discomfort on the part of the oppressor, it is worthwhile for the future prosperity of all humanity.

To all those that hold privilege by virtue of their place in the system, while having responsibility on your shoulders may seem confusing, the weight is far too common for others, and the task at hand is one far too long owed to them. If you have valued happiness, or shunned pain, then you know that others would want to reach for happiness and get away from pain, just the same as you. It is not simply a matter of money or resources; they are oft denied the inherent opportunity, no matter how hard they work, that you have been given. It is not bad for you to have the chance to be happy and to enjoy your life, but until everyone has that same chance, those that succeed will do so on the backs of others.

The privileged are not evil, but they hold in their hands a responsibility. One may complain that they have to go out of their way for others, but that argument lies only upon their perspective; if they were to see the vast ocean their fellow humans have to cross, the pond would not seem so deep. The ignorant are not irredeemable, but they must understand that everyone deserves respect. Those who breed hatred and discrimination are human too, as uncomfortable as the truth may seem, and their lives and surroundings have twisted them into the shape they take on today. That being said, they must take responsibility for their actions and serve penance as best as they can, in hopes of undoing the damage they have brought to people's lives.

While some of these matters are legal in nature, discrimination and oppression are often societal things, and therefore there is not always a clear, unified structure to be implemented in order to address this issue. Nevertheless, it is vital that, for the survival and prosperity of humanity, we ensure that when we march, we march together. The greatest weapon against ignorance and knowledge, and therefore there are multiple ways to combat the ignorance that has overtaken oppressors. Societal conditioning starts from a young age, so for developing minds, understanding in better detail how to act respectfully towards others, as well as coming into contact with stories and people from outside their own experience can both shape future generations into more integrated members of society. This greater knowledge and sharing can also give underrepresented children a chance to feel belonging, to live within a society that is built for more than just a select few groups.

It is important to understand the role of listening in terms of mending the gap and reducing the effects of hate. Every conflict is a result of misunderstanding and miscommunication, so the best thing that can be done is to listen and let those who have been oppressed speak on their experiences, and to support them in their drive for greater recognition and respect. If there are aspects of society that disadvantage them, it is important to let them speak their mind on such matters, and to work to fix and tweak to build a better foundation for future generations to interact with. Those that harbor unwarranted hatred towards others for a factor of their identity have little to no idea of the lives and perspectives of those they target, insistent on remaining in their own little world. Theirs is a curse of stubbornness, but no matter the difficulty, they cannot be excused or forgiven.

The world is a terrifying place, especially for those just now emerging into it, and the mess of politics can be confusing. However, confusion and ignorance are no excuse to allow, let alone continue, the suffering of entire swathes of the population. We, as humans, have a responsibility to help each other, for in the lives of others can we see ourselves. There may be differences between us, but far too long have we focused upon what divides us rather than the shared truths and desires that unite us. Now is the time to listen and understand the anger of those who live in different worlds, so that we may better our world for all the people within it.

- DKTC FL

[swordoforion]

Orion Digest №43 - The Danger of Appeasement

It is important to understand the strategy by which the elites within a democracy operate. They do not simply oppose the will of progressives outright - to do so would garner them less support. Rather, they want to reach as much of a voting crowd as possible, and so they respond not with indifference but in small nods - enough to lower the standards of the masses to where they will accept ultimately meaningless victories. We are taught to believe that meaningful change is "too hopeful" or "too much, too fast," and that we risk angering those in power by ever asking for more. It is a strategy employed to breed weakness in a progressive audience, and must not be taken too seriously.

Our situation could be likened to a leaky hose. Every time a hole bursts on some part of the hose, we rush to fix it, and expend effort trying to patch up the hose, and feel contented once the hole is gone, no matter how much water we lost and what damage has been done. The hose is fixed now, and even if we'd like the hose not to break, it's too much to ask for the hose to be completely hole-proof, right? At the very least, we can be gentler, and hopefully, that will be the last time, we say before the hose breaks again. We expend so much effort and in the end, lose so much water when the simplest solution is simply to replace the hose. We fear what will happen if we do, because to fail will mean a large loss in water, and we might not know how to even use the new hose. But failing to rip off the band-aid will only result in more pains over time.

Just like with the hose analogy, injustice will spread and people will expend all their time and resources just trying to convince the indifferent elites to fix one problem at a time. It will be dangled over the heads of the crowds, and when they finally receive it, the damage will be done and the masses will simply be told to be thankful for what they got. Soon enough, the time will come again when the cycle repeats, and though people will still be angry, it's the best they can do, right? Their new leader may be unhelpful, but at least they were the lesser of two evils. It could always be worse. These are the kinds of thoughts that keep a people in submission, and they must not be fooled.

Think back to the violent deaths of the past year in the United States, where a man was choked to death with a knee on his neck for the world to watch. All the outrage, and yet the true problem - lack of accountability and thorough vetting within law enforcement - is hardly touched, with only a few memorials and arrests made to make the public feel that some semblance of justice has been served. People hope so fervently for gradual change, that if they go through the democratic process, a better world will come about eventually, but in this war, for every move that progressives make, the opposition makes a hundred, and gave the progressives allowance of that one move so that they would not get too wise.

This does not change the fact that in many situations, the 'holes' cannot be abided by while large scale reform is sought. To fight and fix problems one at a time is not exactly something we can avoid, because to do so would be to abandon those in need, to go against our express purpose. If there is a city in the summer experiencing electrical outages, the true cause may be a faulty power system, but the immediate concern is still preventing citizens from suffering heat stroke. People come first - that is the primary concern of change, and if at all possible, it is our responsibility to assist those in need. We are torn between two responsibilities - the endless fight for small victories is a distraction, but we cannot stop fighting, for if we do, it will spell opportunity for those that would take advantage as soon as we lay down our weapon.

There are two paths that we must take if we are to overcome this dilemma. The first lies in grassroots organization. Not simply the creation of grassroots movements and political funds, but the unity and coordination of different movements for achieving shared goals. There are a thousand different causes in the world, all aiming towards some kind of problem that must be fixed. Anti-war movements, anti-child trafficking movements, pro-choice, anti-gun, environmentalism, socialist, federalist, human rights activists, etc. Many are small and have limited reach, but they still have some reach. With common ground, activists could have more of a front to dig in their heels and push for greater recognition, and if they succeed, we are one step closer to our goal, and if they fail, then the appeasers have shown their hands for the world to see, as sympathetic only to money and power.

The second is an emphasis on community aid and benefit. Civilization is organized on various levels, and while we have become more connected to the rest of the world than ever, we must not forget that the people around us - on our street, in our town, at our school - are some of the people we interact closely, and we must remember to care for them. A community can be a family, and when people are in need, it should be the responsibility of all within it to solve problems when systems of government and economy cannot. If large chains and businesses prove unwilling to offer suitable wages, support local businesses and offer a helping hand to those struggling. Get to know people, and if you want to see a problem fixed, talk to them, convince them. If there are those in your neighborhood who feel unsafe, take action and put in the work to understand why and make your community more welcoming. A community pulling together is no easy task, but it is a small change that is worthwhile, for if the practice becomes widespread, it will garner a large impact.

People fear asking authority for anything more than they have been given, and even the worst of desperation only leads to a dangling prize on a string, an appeasement to keep the anger of the public at bay. As always, ignorance and fear are our true enemies, and we must do well to combat them by relying on and trusting each other. A united front will keep pressure on the political side, earning gradual change wherever they can, while people work to fight and help on a local level, within their own homes and neighborhoods, providing what security and aid they can where larger institutions prove incapable. The more we are able to help those in need get by, the more credence our argument for foundational reform will have with them. Likewise, the more we learn to lean on each other, whether between organizations or between neighbors, the better we can come to an understanding in the future. At every level, we must be willing to recognize the problems of others, and extend a hand to help them, or else when we fall, there will be no one to catch us.

Orionist structure is built on this strategy. Both through the model of a Civilian World Parliament and through communications, the Sword of Orion is intended to communicate and coordinate with relevant organizations to push for certain agendas - livable wages, healthcare, welfare, climate action, international peace and unity, etc. Meanwhile, Liberius is intended to interact, organize, and bring aid to individual communities - wherever there is a chapter, its members will seek to offer guidance and assistance wherever it is needed. However, both of these functions are not operating on the assumption that doing so will bring about the change we seek. Rather, they are to supplement absent and necessary functions as best as we can, while working towards our true goal of federation.

Only when democracy exists from top to bottom, only when the market is balanced, only when we put long term investment in our climate at the highest priority, and only when we live and work together as a united world will the tide be turned. While we must remain on guard and expend effort to ensure the safety of others, we cannot settle at baby steps. The ultimate plan must be to permanently change the structure of the system, not to rely on it. Until then, it is a matter of spreading knowledge and tiding the world by with the help of each other.

- DKTC FL

[swordoforion]

Orion Digest №42 - The Crossroads of Human History: Why We Should Persist

The events of the past few centuries have brought the threat of extinction closer than it has arguably ever been. War, pollution, disease - as much as the human race has come together with modern innovations, we have also opened the door to the end of human history, and our choices now will determine the future of billions, if not potential trillions. Will we die in a hate-fueled inferno, or stride atop the surfaces of distant planets? Will we drag all of life on Earth down with us, or will we learn to find harmony with it? While there have been many tumultuous times in the history of our species, the idea of it coming to an end makes this time especially vital.

And yet, there are many who argue that perhaps humanity does not deserve to live on, or that it simply cannot. There are some who object to our past and current actions, and believe that human nature prevents us from living peacefully and logically. They think that even if we did survive, we'd be at each other's throats, and it would only spell suffering for many at the hands of few. Others raise the moral flag in regards to our effects upon other species and nature, citing our haphazard destruction as grounds for us to die so that other species may live. Some believe that existence itself simply isn't worth the costs it requires upon the individual.

It is hard to deny that human history has been filled with suffering, and what is worse, unequal and unjust suffering. There have been many souls who, by their mere appearance, have been condemned to live life treated differently than others, spending their days in fear, and working their whole lives just to find some semblance of comfort. Progress has been made on some social fronts, but that fight is far from over, and with a great many problems of our own design on the rise, it is safe to say that the toughest times of humanity may not yet be behind us. The world is getting hotter, the disasters are becoming rougher, the class divide and associated required labor from the working class is increasing, and we still haven't yet cracked the goal of equality.

The situation, admittedly, can seem rather hopeless. And, with the storm on the horizon, we might have the first opportunity in history to stop the race entirely - before things get worse, we have the option to end the human race through whatever means are available, and be done with all of it. We, as the human race, stand at the crossroads of human history, and are granted two choices - accept our destruction, guaranteeing an end to suffering, or persist on, going into the unknown and chancing that our circumstances will worsen. It is a question that has been asked many, many times.

So, what reason do we have to persist, in the face of all that is horrid and terrifying in the world?

As painful as life can be, most people choose to keep living it. Buried beneath the poignant pains and toils, there are brighter things in the world. Large joys that give us purpose, small joys that brighten our day. There is even meaning in pain - by knowing what it feels like to lose or hurt, we appreciate much more how it feels to win or remain safe. The grand knowledge of all that there is and could be in the world - the sights around us, the stories we tell, the friends we love, the memories we cherish - when simply put to the background of our perception, they may not seem worth as much, but to weigh those below the void of non-existence, they are rather valuable.

What is more, we assume that we must go on without improvement, that this crisis we face is all that humans can be or amount to. What is past cannot be changed, but the knowledge of our past gives us the ability to learn from it, and we have proven time and time again that the human mind can conquer anything in its path given time and reason. If we have the ability to subjugate ourselves, to put ourselves in so grave of danger that it could spell not only the end of Earth's dominant species, but potentially most of life on Earth, surely we also have the ability to undo what we have wrought. It is merely a matter of how we order ourselves and where we shift our weight. Given the knowledge and push, the suffering we believe is inevitable could be lifted, Earth made a utopia.

It is a risk to rely on the hope that humanity will settle its issues, but the chance becomes more assured the more we believe in it, the more we support it. If we assume it to be impossible, something unachievable, then it will become so. All those who argue that human nature is to be violent, angry, and spiteful see only a sample of humans forced to resort to their animalistic natures for survival. When one is forced to fight tooth and nail for food and shelter - as one must do in the job market so they may earn money for necessities - they will of course put their survival as a priority. Raised in a world where the value of wealth and luxury is placed on so high a pedestal, it makes sense that people would rush to assure their security, even at the cost of others, for how many would risk their own downfall for a stranger when raised to do the opposite?

However, the unique quality of humans is that with our intelligence and empathy, we can overcome these instincts and fears, rising higher into levels of psychological need and actualization, where we see the strings that hold the puppets. We can come to understand that the system of economy, if managed adequately, could easily be made to support all who live under it, and that with understanding, we could prosper together. We may have within us animal instincts, but if we can understand them, we can control them. Human society already does, in its own way, harness the power of human behavior, manipulating each and every citizen to act in a way that perpetuates its qualities, positive and negative.

The toils and struggles of human existence, that drive many to wish that they had never been born, are human in origin. We are aware of this fact, and while a difficult task, we could one day hope to create a future in which new generations are born, still laboring and having their own individual struggles, but never unjustly, and never without the accompanying joy and hope. It is one thing to push a stone up a hill, and another entirely to do it in chains. It is hard to envision a better world when you have spent your entire life in one; for all you know, it is entirely imaginary, and impossible to achieve. You have spent all your time meeting maybe a handful of people (if any who don't ultimately buy into the flaws of the system in some way; how could there conceivably exist an entire society who behaves as such? From an insider's point of view, flawed is all humanity might ever be.

But that is just it - humanity is both gifted with the ability to see past our mundane perceptions and illusions, as well as to allow our minds to settle into them. It lets us have the foresight to know that the illusion can be shattered, and that we can overcome what we believe to be absolute, while also not being so overcome by such presence of mind that we view life in terms of numbers and psychology, savoring the joy and feeling true the fear. Our emotions and logic affect one another, with the realization of change accompanied by hope, and the frustrating monotony of the world bringing about hopelessness and fear. The same world can cause one mind to imagine life as a purposeless bout of pain, while bringing another to see the beauty and majesty that does exist, and can exist in even greater measure.

The difference in the two is circumstance - what side of the world are you raised in, and what do you see? We know, through logic, that our problems are based on economics, government, and the socialization bred via layered ignorance. A child can be raised in a healthy manner, given the chance to learn about the world around them and respectfully form their own identity, and have the belief that life is indeed worth living, with happiness worth the pursuit of it. However, that same child could have instead been thrown through different traumatic events, and trapped by the demands and expectations of the world around them while they still struggle to process it all. The second child will know the world as cruel, and may lack trust - for what would trust bring them but possibly greater pain? Pain they could not hope to bear?

Which side is right about the world, and not merely the constructed world of humans, but the metaphysical world that is existence itself, in all its infinite potential? If we made such relatively small adjustments as changing how we view mental health and allowing for more personalized models of labor, the entire universe for one person could change, the grand picture of existence reshaped by something as small as policy and structure. While able to understand the concept of things beyond our own point of view, the truth is that these bleak ideas of nihilism come from a perspective that only views the world through a small lens, that sees the horrors and mistakes we have made, but not the capacity to change, if we knew we were able. It is a self-perpetuating cycle - we created a hopeless world which convinces us it is hopeless, and so we continue to create a hopeless world which convinces future generations, and so on, but if we were to break the cycle and take advantage of our ability to change the world, no longer would people be convinced and raised to act so terribly.

At this crossroads of human history, the question is asked - if we brought ourselves to the brink, should we just fall in, rather than potentially making it worse? This question is asked by those who have only ever known the cruel world, watching others taught that it is acceptable to treat others with such disgusting indifference. However, to broaden the lens and see that it was ignorance that caused the first misstep, bringing us through a domino chain to where we are today, tells us that if we are capable of destroying the world, we are certainly capable of changing it. Which option we take is ultimately a matter of which we believe in. If we believe that humans can be good and overcome our animal natures, I have full faith that it will happen. If we believe that humans are incapable of doing so, then we may very well perish.

Between the two options, I have given much thought. For the sake of those that might come into this world just to suffer, I hesitate to say it is worth it for those who might come afterwards in an improved world - sacrificing lives not just to death but torture, all for the happiness of those who have not yet been born. However, this assumes suffering will become an eventuality, and if we were to actively seek humanity's demise, so would suffering result in the inter-rim. To give up hope entirely ensures things will not get better; to persist means that very well could. Instead of wasting time arguing about how bad things could get if we fail, it would do much better to get up and fight to ensure that we don't. Even if we are unsuccessful, is it not better to die in hope than in misery?

And so, I believe that when faced with the choice of dying here at the crossroads or continuing onward into the unknown depths of the future, the latter choice is entirely worthwhile, despite the sentiments of others. We cannot wipe off the stains of our history and ignorance, but we can ensure that the deaths of all those who perished under the sword of injustice do not go unavenged. New children could be born one day, the groundwork for a better and more informed start beneath their feet, and live the lives their ancestors dreamed of, carrying on that hope. And those that march on in the future will appreciate our decision to fight on another day more than we can ever know.

- DKTC FL

[swordoforion]

Orion Digest №41 - A Short Treatise on Orionist Philosophy

While not a topic broached yet, I am of the personal conviction that the methods and structure laid out for eco-socialist federation are of little use without the motive for implementing them. There are those, belonging to the movements from which ESF theory is inspired, who already have their own individual motivations and desires associated with world federalism, socialism, or environmentalism. However, if the point of these ideas is to spread and attract attention so that one day, the ideals of a united and just world may be realized, so too must there be a reason why people should concern themselves with the struggles of others.

A more philosophical piece than others, below is what I consider to be a combination of previously introduced theories as well as an observation on human existence itself, and what I have come to consider the essential theory of Orion - the responsibility we have, as humans, to help others, and the resultant fight for eco-socialist federation that Orion is pledged to take on. I had written this separately from the Digest as a personal essay for purposes of elaboration and cohesiveness between the content of the Eco-Socialist Federalist Handbook and the Orionist's Creed, but I believe it fitting and necessary to publish publicly.

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The purpose of Orion is to protect the survival and prosperity of the human race, and should our world expand, all sentient life. We were founded upon the desire to alleviate the suffering of the world, and what followed naturally from that desire were both the means of doing so and the reasoning behind the goal – the ‘how’ and the ‘why.’ The former is our founding political theory – eco-socialist federalism, and the latter our essential moral philosophy – Orionist thought. Both are essential to each other – federation cannot be established unless people believe in the cause, and mere intentions are hardly useful without the necessary action.

Eco-socialist federalism is a synthesis of previous theories of environmental policy, economy, and government, designed to both tackle the problems of our current age and remain as a stable structure long after they are solved. The developments of the Industrial Revolution resulted into an economic structure that has a) grown at an exponential rate at the cost of damage to our ecosystem, and b) shifts power over time to a small population of elites and owners without political confines to implement moral restrictions. Incapable of dealing with the consequences are the various governments of the world, that fight for power through force or policy, and usually side with the wealthy that grant them advantage in the game of nations. The constant threat of war and the economic divide that thrusts many into unlivable conditions feeds into the social divisions that pain humanity, and all the while, the damage we’ve done to the natural resources upon which we depend threatens to wipe us out while we fight amongst ourselves.

Thus, the theory poses political and economic reform on a global scale, in order to strike back at abuses against human rights (prosperity) and to stave off our extinction due to the climate crisis (survival). A democratic government between nations would be formed, with members required to conform to the constitutional standards of rights and freedoms, as well as standardized economic structure. This structure would involve the public ownership of means of production via the democratic state, which would lease resources for use to registered businesses, following a worker cooperative model and required to meet labor and wage standards. The chief policy of this new government would be to aid impoverished areas of the planet while de-escalating the production rates of the most industrialized nations in waves, until the course of every nation’s production was kept low enough to cut back on emissions, until public research and revitalization programs yielded positive results.

The combination of the three approaches would be necessary – economic reform would put some nations at risk of conflict with other nations were it not for federation, ecological action would be ineffective without a long-term change in industrial practices, and a federation alone would still be at the will of those with large pockets without removal of private ownership. While it borrows from environmentalist concerns, socialist theory, and the cause of world federalism, it recognizes that each must rely and feed off of the other if effective change is to be established.

However, while the implementation of such would be beneficial for the whole of humanity, it would still require great effort and cost to do so, and the question arises of why we should bother with taking a fresh start, rather than just letting the snake eat its own tail and to have the species die off. More specifically, some wonder why they should bother themselves with helping others at all. In comes the second theory of Orion, which is properly known as Orionist thought, or Orionism for short.

From the second we are born, we are observing and discovering the world around us, and to know joy is to see the beauty in the world around you. Different people see and appreciate the world differently, but we all have things we hang onto, things we value, and we all try to find some meaning or answer about ourselves from the universe around us, as well as the people we meet. Every person will experience some combination of pleasure and pain in their unique journey that leads them in pursuit of some sort of satisfaction, whether it be to write a book, to see sights, or simply to find peace and understanding. It varies for everyone, but all find whatever they believe to be their meaning and purpose, and learn about themselves in the process. As we possess the ability of empathy, we are able to understand and relate to others, and in them, we can see elements of ourselves – their hopes and fears, their habits and desires.

Since we can understand others, we can understand also why they might shrink from pain, and why they might experience elation at comfort. As we all seek to fulfill our various needs, from physical to psychological, we may sometimes be blinded to the fact that others are like us as we struggle against each other to assure our survival, but if we look past that, we can see others, like ourselves, trying to survive and figure out the puzzle of existence. Realizing that we’re both just trying to make it, we can find some joy in helping others with their own experience, as it is a helping hand that we would want in our own lives. If we would want the pains and burdens to be a little lighter, and for the highs of life to be a little sweeter, we can understand why they would want it as well.

By showing kindness and improving the lot in life of others, we demonstrate the basic concept that we are not alone in this journey, and that kindness does exist. People can work together to fulfill their needs, to understand themselves and each other, and to find that personal happiness. It is not simply about personal benefit – helping others does not necessitate that they help you back. Rather, making the world better is something we must do because we see ourselves in those that suffer, whether we suffer ourselves or fear the possibility of suffering, and we act in solidarity as the change we want to see, as the voice we would want to hear, the hand we would want to lift us up. As we would want our burdens lessened, we work to lessen the burdens of others like us.

It is our responsibility, if we be able, to save the world from destruction and division, for the sake of our fellow citizens today, and for the future generations to come. To do this, we must strive for the establishment and protection of eco-socialist federation, as well as assistance and security to those in need of it. To serve others who, used to the constant fight for survival and the age-old bid for power, might never show us the same courtesy, and to push down our own desires for comfort, we must possess discipline to tame and hone our passions. Anger must become drive, greed must become temperance, restlessness must become patience, and so on. We must be willing to stand kind and firm in the face of the misguided and the grieving.

The final level of Orionist philosophy follows necessarily from the others – if we hold a responsibility to help others, it will require sacrifice to fight and change the world. It is not an easy task to convince others so set in their ways, to take on titans that burn the world and chain the people, to approach age-old empires and get them to side with ancient enemies in one fight, as one people. We cannot wait for gradual improvement, for our devastation of the environment has ensured that we are facing a ticking clock. Thus, it will take dedication beyond a simple afternoon of effort, and very likely, sacrifice of those willing to give their happiness so that many others can appreciate the beauty that they dream of seeing. Our dreams of a united and peaceful world will be lived out by those that succeed us.

The envisioned Orion is an organization that stands from now until its last member, dedicated to upholding and, whenever necessary, fighting for the survival and prosperity of humanity. Its charge is the world; not one specific people, not a select few, but all the world. Its members see the beauty in the universe around them, use empathy to understand the thoughts and dreams of others, take on the responsibility of bettering the world, temper their passions through discipline to better help the people, and are willing to sacrifice so that others may be free to explore themselves and the unending cosmos.

- DKTC FL

[swordoforion]

Orion Digest №40 - The Dual Machines

Between government, economy, and culture, humans have formed an international society that turns what would be a simple population of humans and the planet's resources into a complex machine of moving parts. Every person within the system does their part and has their effect on the world around them, and when compounded together, it creates an sizable and tangible effect on the individual, taking on a life of its own. Even if it is made of words and beliefs rather than gears and screws, the moving parts still come together to take in fuel and output a desired result.

In this case, the desired result with civilization is to input available resources and labor to provide citizens with goods and services to fulfill their needs, from nutrition to safety, rather than have all the tasks of survival placed on each person alone. After all, it would provide much for benefit when making a shirt for one person to shear the sheep, another to collect the wool, another to spin the yarn, and so on, rather than have each person take on every step. In an ideal version of this machine, everyone is able to put in a small amount of effort and have their needs met, and those who are physically or mentally unable to work are provided for.

Unfortunately, when civilization first formed, we had not yet learned how to best organize ourselves, nor had we faced the atrocities that would teach us morality. Wanting not to labor but to still live in luxury, people sought power over others, and bent political systems, economies, and cultures to their will. Certain peoples had to succeed above all, certain nations had to be the strongest, certain elites had to possess wealth and nobility, even if it meant the rest had to work harder and eat less. Back then, we hadn't learned to care about the pain of others, and so we took what made us feel good. After that, once the first stone was cast, and power was seized, others seeking their own interest followed suit, in a back-and-forth that has lasted millennia.

With time, those that have fought for the greater good have brought a greater sense of morality into the public eye, but even as people recognize the need for equality and sense of community, the systems that make up modern society are not conducive to greater and swifter change. Like a broken car with bad mileage, we are using more resources than necessary while hardly improving quality of life for much of the world, and barriers to public input in government are sprouting up everywhere. The consequences of our past actions haunt us and have placed upon our shoulders a great burden - people are at each other's throats, the world is burning, and those in power have little interest in disadvantaging themselves to provide for the greater good.

If the 'machine' is broken, it is our moral obligation, both for our own sake's and for the sake of others, to fix or replace it. Now that we stand on firmer ground, having seen what elements worked and which ones failed, we can work on a better machine. This is the purpose of eco-socialist federalism - a grand design supported by the belief and contribution of its population to fix the problems we have created in our ignorance, and to lay a stronger foundation for future generations to prosper. This is not an attempt to place a select few in power, to create a population of slaves that support the lavish livelihoods of the insatiable - this is an attempt to bend culture, politics, and economy down to a level that benefits all who participate in it. Everyone does their part, and everyone shares in the spoils.

Unfortunately, there is always the chance that whether by design or by human error, this grand new attempt at catering to the common good will be flawed, or will fail. We seek to design a more efficient machine, but when transitioning from paper to practice, there may be faults and errors that escaped our notice. This does not mean we shouldn't try - even if there are still problems to solve, having less of them will still be a net positive result. However, it means we should be prepared to continue pushing for change and redesign, not stopping until we get it right, and even then, questioning on ways we can improve.

It is for these reasons that we propose to create two 'machines' - a federation that efficiently manages resources and serves the people, and an organization - Orion - that will stand from now until its last member to serve the ideals for which the federation stands. The establishment of a federation is a necessity - only united do we stand a chance of fixing our damages and alleviating our pains. However, Orion should not only serve to establish the federation - if we truly believe in the Tenets we have set forth, we must be prepared to see it through, to watch over the new world and, should a time come when the federation has fallen from its purpose, fight to fix the machine once more.

If society is to be a clock, gears turning and moving forward with the passage of time, then Orion is to be a clock keeper - watching and making adjustments as needed. This is not to say that Orion should serve as an official position within the federation - to do so would be to tie down the actions of our organization and make our authority seem undemocratic. Rather, Orion simply will, if necessary, speak the truth and aid communities on the grounds of moral authority above legal authority. If that falls in line with the federation, all the better, but if it does not, and the federation shows itself as no longer focused upon the greater good, Orion will be present to correct it.

In an ideal future, all that this second machine would have to do is stand still, keeping watch, and keeping firm the values of equality, community, and justice it has been founded upon. If all goes well, and we are able to properly fix the machine with what we know this time, it will never need to be repaired again. But so many times in the past have we thought ourselves right and correct about the state of the world, and so many times have we been wrong. The best thing we can do is guess the best course of action, take it, and be prepared to question ourselves and improve in the aftermath. We must first build federation, but if it proves flawed, Orion will be ready to act once more, and again as many times as necessary.

We are not the only organization out there seeking change, and one of our greatest strengths will be helping others with similar missions achieve their goals. However, even if we're not the only one out there fighting for a better world, our mission is to always be out there, either fighting or defending a better world.

- DKTC FL

[swordoforion]

Orion Digest №39 - The Paragon Society

The state and its functions are ultimately just a tool - eco-socialist federalism is simply a mechanism to keep peace until we can get back on track. This is not to say that we were ever truly 'on track', but given that we have witnessed the general direction of social progress, we can guess as to where that progress is heading. Many have coveted after the idea of utopia, and such an ideal is perhaps truly unachievable. Nonetheless, aspects of it could be within reach.

What constitutes the utopian idea? The name has become synonymous with perfection, and so within a utopian society, the government must be perfect, people's lives must be without hardship, and the world must have guaranteed peace and safety. The vague promise of utopia is often what constitutes it's downfall - to be perfect means there is no room for improvement, nor discovery or change. Human life is about change, and so our culture and society changes with time, to meet the problems of the times. A perfect society is one that, in a way, simply stops moving, and would likely be unable to adjust to reality.

It is also folly to assume that our lives will be without hardship. For those that are able, labor will always be a necessity for society to function. Even if we automate processes, there will be those that need to tend to the machines. So too will there be struggles beyond just labor and economy - simply living requires one to come to terms with who they are and their place in life, and finding one's place is not without struggle. It is simply part of life, though the barriers through which some are forced to endure more than is necessary can be removed with time.

And so we are brought to the final common utopia, which is that the world is at peace. It is hard to deny that within a world federation, so long as the world is moving according to design, we will have more peace. The world will be one nation, and so the prosperity of the federation is prosperity all can share in. More economic assurance and social welfare means there is less reason for conflict and crime. If change is necessary, it can be brought about democratically through the people. But this is considering that the whole world plays along. Even if the system is designed to succeed, it relies on the willingness of all to coexist and cooperate.

Take, for instance, the crime of robbery. People do it now because it promises an easy and quick shot at a better life through wealth. Given that the economy is disadvantageous to the people already, why not simply take it for yourself instead of playing along? Even if it is usually harmful to others, it still helps you in the end, and ensures that you can live the kind of life you want without sacrificing much of your time to labor. This root cause is what we seek to eliminate with economic reform, but by the time we have developed an economy that requires less labor and offers more favorable opportunity, will the mindset have changed? Even if it's less of a load, there might still be those that want to take the easy way out, and rob from others to skip the toil.

Where there are robbers, there is fear and mistrust among a community, and so people will lock their doors, arm themselves, be afraid to walk at night. People see that robbers can still get away with the crime, and they decide that if others are going to get out of working, so will they, and join in. Even if now, the system has been evened out to make things easier, the people might still be the same, used to these ideas and conditions carried over from the old world, and so things might not change as much as we expect, even if the opportunity is available.

Preventing the rise of monopolies and political corruption is a much easier task than eliminating greed and malice in general. The sociological elements of society are much harder to understand and tackle, and while they are affected by the structure of the system around them, they will also have effects on that structure. A crooked government will breed crooked politicians, which will keep the system in a state of moral disarray. Even if we work to build a better system, we must keep in mind that any system still relies on people, and if those people continue forward, laboring under the ideas that have driven us for millennia, they can take advantage and abuse the power it provides.

It's not to say that human nature is bad, nor that we can never find a sense of peace. It's that we've spent so long fighting each other over the course of generations that we don't know what peace looks like. Just as with nations, so it is the same with individual people - it's hard to be convinced the world isn't about the survival of the fittest, when you, too, would take advantage of opportunities for advancement. Injuries of the past are hard to forget, and most wouldn't offer their hand to strangers a second time if it was shunned the first. This forms perhaps the toughest puzzle of our cause, one that goes beyond eco-socialist federalism - how do we convince the world to unite?

The state we will build is but a tool. While we're starting to get an idea of how to treat other people and what is morally good, the environment we have built around ourselves is a cage that is not conducive to true sociological development. Lifting these restrictions upon us and making a system that allows the chance for equality is the first part, but we will still need to undo the conditioning we have developed. We still have to develop as a society and learn to trust and respect one another, or else we will keep fighting others out of misunderstanding. All sides in a conflict are either in pain or misguided, ultimately victims of ignorance. Should they be brought up to learn, we could begin to solve problems with a handshake and not a knife in the back.

In more concrete terms, we live in what could be called a 'survival society.' On the hierarchy of needs, physical needs such as shelter, food, and water are the absolute minimum, while psychological needs leading up to self-actualization are higher on the list, only accomplished after the survival needs are met. A survival society is one in which the organized structures are insufficient to provide citizens with a means of having their survival needs met, with time and energy to spend on fulfilling secondary needs. Instead, the focus of many citizens, whether due to absence of necessary resources or insecurity due to conflict with others, is primarily on survival, and thus they often have little time to focus on their higher needs.

Even if they can survive without them, this does not mean that higher-level needs are any less of needs. Mental health being overlooked often has dangerous consequences for people's interaction with the rest of society, and results in harm done to many, even if unintentionally so. Societal structures of economy and government not being adequate to universally provide for physical needs, as well as sociological threats to oneself (physical needs becoming even harder to come by due to economic and cultural discrimination) contribute to the flawed idea of a 'survival society', and our goal must be to move beyond this.

The opposite of a survival society is thus a paragon society - a society in which the structures in place, as well as sociological and cultural factors, allow for all members of a civilization to have their physical needs consistently met, so they can expend their energy on higher level needs. If people are not always fighting just to put food on the table and a roof over their heads, perhaps it wouldn't be so hard to slow down and understand each other. If it's not all a race against each other, we can pull our head out of the heat of battle and see our neighbors for who they are, rather than what threat they pose to us.

Over time, this could naturally occur within a federation. After all, if the structural problems are solved, people will become acclimated to it over the course of generations. But the individualist survival mentality could still pose a threat to even the most full-proof system, and would only continue to make it hard on other people. It's not an unfounded habit, but it is one that, to truly improve the world, we need to let go of. There will always be new problems to solve and work to do, but if we could pull off the impossible task of peace, new generations can be born into a brighter world, free to be themselves and to know others without fear.

- DKTC FL

[swordoforion]

Orion Digest №38 - ESF Structure: Executive Bureaucracy and National Governments

With the Judiciary and Parliament established, the functions of lawmaking and a justice system are established within a federation. Parliament can make large scale decisions, and the Judiciary can approve them. However, the majority of the day-to-day functions of the federal government will require more centralized decisions and operations - thus arises the technical third branch of the federal government, the executive and associated bureaucracy.

Another concept inspired by the Earth Constitution Institute's models, the executive of the federal government is not a main branch like the previous two, but rather an institution serving under the Parliament. Necessary functions of the bureaucracy will be divided into departments, under which are agencies that can be created as needed to fulfill the functions of the department. Departments will thus be only changeable by direct and approved acts of Parliament; the establishment will be otherwise static and unchanging, while the order of agencies will be modified at the discretion of the relevant departments.

To oversee these departments, Parliament will elect select members to office, dissimilar to the council that reviews and revises legislation in that it does not operate solely on a case-by-case basis. These members would rotate from their positions on a limited term of 2 years, but together with a hired staff, they would form the Office of Executive Oversight, which would serve as the tool by which Parliament oversaw and regulated the bureaucracy. The formation of this office's members would be done entirely by Parliament, but many of their operations would be subject to Judiciary approval.

For example, in order to appoint Department heads, OEO chosen candidates would have to be first approved by the Judiciary's own Parliamentary Review Board, the council that reviews and approves Parliamentary legislation. The rest of Parliament could not exercise input over the choice of candidates except in the case of a majority vote against it, but even with a majority, they cannot sway the result of the Judiciary, only the OEO's choices. The Director of the Executive Bureaucracy, a special office created by the OEO, would also require Judiciary approval along the same process, though while Department heads serve until retirement, the Director would also serve limited terms of four years.

The Director would serve, essentially, as a manager of the heads of Departments, and furthermore, of the bureaucracy, as well as a representative of the OEO. OEO staff would work under the Director, and would assist with the task of communicating with departments and agencies, and decisions made by the Director as meetings with either all or select heads would be binding. However, the Director would still be commanded by the Parliament members who formed the OEO, and would largely serve as a executor of their will while they were occupied with matters in the rest of their job. Just the same, Department and agency heads could not be removed by the Director; only the OEO's members of Parliament could do that.

The exact number and function of the Departments and their resultant agencies is a matter for another time; while there are likely contenders, such as departments of conservation and economy, the specifics will depend on circumstances at the time of the federation's conception, and the needs of the world at that point. Future essays might deal with suggestions for these future departments, but as for now, this is merely a explanation for the system of governance and appointment within the Executive Bureaucracy.

Before these trio of essays concludes, the structure of the federation's state governments is also of note, considering that while they might share some similarities, the details will vary. The goal of building a federation is not to simply collapse the pre-existing governments of nations and regions, but to simply mold them and change them to fit certain parameters, so that citizens' freedom and federal coordination can be assured. Thus, one of the provisions provided in the founding document of our world federation will be a set of requirements for member nations to become incorporated into states.

Standardized currency and adherence to federal law will be one of them, as well as an HPE economic system. This includes public ownership of production resources, workplace protections, and welfare to allow for ensured survival (shelter, food, healthcare). Minimizing economic disparity is a key part of improving the average quality of life and maintaining peace - if people are not desperate to survive and have healthcare enough for proper mental and physical treatment, cause for crime will decrease. Government must be democratic, and have a judicial system to enforce laws and ensure that the operations of the rest of the government are legal. The state governments, while autonomous, must also answer to the federal government, so that international action can be taken without tedious negotiation.

Other than that, the structure of a nation state can be variable. The enforcement of certain ways of management should only be done as much as necessary, as different regions and cultures have different ways of self-governing. What works for one may not work for another, and so for the good of the people within these states, the freedom to determine structure beyond federal requirements is vital, both politically and culturally.

- DKTC FL

[swordoforion]

Orion Digest №37 - ESF Structure: Federal Judiciary

Within the structure that we have laid out, the two primary branches of international federal government are the Parliament and the Judiciary, with the former handling lawmaking, and the latter handling the justice system and interpretation of the Constitution. In an eco-socialist federation, the functions of the judicial branch of government, as well as the size, are expanded to cover more thorough application of constitutional authority, as a means of safeguarding against potential government corruption within elected representatives of Parliament and the departments of the lower executive bureaucracy.

When a federation is created, the territory it encompasses it is to be officially divided into regions, for purposes of voting, taxes, and representation. For each region in the federation, there is to be elected an arbiter - elected officials who act as heads of the Judiciary in their respective regions. Like those of the institutional house of the Parliament, arbiters are to attend a separate institution publicly funded to educate students on legal matters for purposes of interpretation and judgement. Graduates of this judicial institution are capable of running for elected office by vote of the citizens of their region, and are to serve eight year terms.

At the federal level, there are two primary functions for an arbiter. There shall be an international criminal court for cases either appealed or starting out on a global scale, and in this case, a council of arbiters from the respective regions of the case and others available to total no more than 12 (unless the case affects more than 12 regions), shall convene to hear the case and pass judgement. The second function will be a permanent standing council of no more than 60 arbiters, sitting for four month terms, that review legislation passed by Parliament to ensure it is constitutional before it goes into effect. If the council comes to a majority agreement that a certain policy violates the constitution, it will be sent back for appeal.

The next duty of the arbiter is to appoint their staff and regional judges. An arbiter's staff functions much like an agency in the bureaucracy - hired employees that manage the affairs of an arbiter and fulfill the functions in both higher councils that an arbiter is not individually able to, like deciding case schedules and handling more detailed review of Parliamentary policy. Arbiter staff can be appointed and fired at their discretion, and will continue to be employed when an arbiter's term ends, carrying over to the next. On the other hand, regional judge appointments must be confirmed by Parliament, and serve longer terms; they have their own staff they can appoint for regional affairs, separate from the concerns of the arbiters.

While the federal Parliament is altogether separate from state legislation, the Judiciary differs in that it connects to the smallest levels of jurisdiction in the federation - extending from the global government to regional governance. Regional judges are appointed by and answer to the arbiters, who make up the global Judiciary. There is one section of the Judiciary not directly tied to the federal Judiciary - nation states have their own governments, and with those, their own judicial systems, which primarily consist of municipal courts, appellate courts, and national courts.

Regional judges would be both a servant to their nation state and to the federal Judiciary - answering to their arbiter, but also to the justice system of the nation their region is located in. This is why an appointed staff similar to that of the arbiter is necessary - to handle paperwork of cases appealing to the regional level, set between local level courts and national courts, and to review potential discrepancies in decisions made by local courts with federal law. Thus, the decisions made by regional judges would be engines of change for regional law, but not national law (though such change could influence national courts to similarly adopt changes).

Regional courts, while appointed by federal arbiters, would answer to national courts on matters of national law, and so the issue arises if a federal court issues a mandate that conflicts with a regional judge's decisions based on federal law. In that case, it is at the discretion of the judge to pursue the case further; it could be appealed to the international court; though due to the size of the federation, such an appeal could take a while to be heard. Alternatively, a regional judge could submit the request to their arbiter, and the arbiter could bring up the case; though the effect would be the same. Ultimately, in regional courts, the interpretation of federal law is the precedent, unless it violates national law, or is overruled by a national court, in which case the matter would require further appeal.

Outside of criminal justice, the primary function of the Judiciary is the aforementioned council to review Parliamentary legislation. In some ways, it acts as an extension of Parliament itself - a final review of law, to act as another barrier against corruption and ensure that legislation stays true to the Constitution. If a constitution of a nation is truly effective at capturing and protecting the ideals it stands for, it should be the foundation for the government it empowers. Of course, how much that this structure can provide for the needs of the people and the environment will be entirely dependent on the quality of the constitution we create, which is why we must consider it very carefully.

- DKTC FL

[swordoforion]

Orion Digest №36 - ESF Structure: Division of Parliament

Central to the idea of an eco-socialist federation is how power can be chiefly balanced between the people's interests and long term interests of survival and development. It must be efficient in pursuing progress according to its set goals, but must also be capable of catering to short-term needs and desires. It must be capable of changing to fit the times, but not so easily corruptible to allow the rise of a tyrannical minority of elites, or a tyrannical majority of crowds swayed by demagogues. It must be a government as far from human error and greed as we can get, yet still possessing a human element to allow for change and empathy.

Over the next three issues of the Digest, we shall go over a more detailed model for eco-socialist federal government, which shall encompass the nation states of the world. This structure has two primary branches - the Parliament, and the Judiciary, and below their combined authority is a bureaucratic structure of executive departments and agencies to be used and directed as needed. The design of the two primary branches and the bureaucracy below is done so in mind with the qualifications presented above.

Let us first imagine our hypothetical world government, the United World Federation. Power is derived from the people, so the obvious beginning of the federal process is the Parliament, which is to be composed of three houses. Previously, we had spoken on the necessity for both national representation and population-based representation, similar to the modern ideas for a UN Parliamentary Assembly (population) and the current UN General Assembly (with national representatives). This would continue to be the case - the interests of both the majority of the population would be represented, as well as the interests of regions that may have a population minority.

However, as we have stated, nations can be prone to elitism within government, and people can be swayed by elites to form factions contradictory to their interests, or at the very least, harmful to the security of minority groups. So, as a counterbalance, there exists a third house within this structure - that of elected scholars and professionals who have devoted their career to the study of both the written law of the federation and the social and environmental circumstances of the time. (This idea borrows largely from a much older and researched form of federal constitution, and it would be disrespectful not to mention such - the Earth Constitution Institute's own Constitution for the Federation of Earth. It was this organization that, after decades of study and design, put forth the idea of a structure including three houses of Parliament, one with people, one with nations, and one with educated counsellors, and much of the structure laid out here is inspired, if not directly borrowed, from their design. The Earth Constitution Institute deserves credit and attention for the idea, and to date, their structure is one of the foremost and most developed iterations of a world federal constitution.)

Members of this third house of government, however, wouldn't simply be subject to nomination from national and arbitrary institutions, given the purpose is to create a third opinion unaffected by national nor party interest. As part of the federal government's structure, two international institutions would be created for legal and scientific study, funded and available for public study by application, and graduates of each university would be put up for direct election by vote of citizens, administered through national state governments. The first institution would be for election into the third house of Parliament; the second for the Judiciary, which we shall cover in the next issue. All graduates of the respective institution, having studied and become qualified to speak on behalf of current issues and interpret how the situation at hand is best covered by the UWF Constitution. The first institution would have more of a focus on current affairs (social, economic, and environmental) more so than legal procedure, but there would exist some overlap.

Election to Parliament would thus be two thirds according to international direct election by the people, and one third appointment by the national state governments, once more putting the power of the UWF in the hands of its citizens, while providing two houses that have educated and vested interests at heart, that can balance out the short-term concerns of certain groups within the population. Election to the population-based house of Parliament would have candidacy open to anyone who met certain minimal constitutional requirements (legal age, residence within region they represent), while election to the institutional house of Parliament would have stricter requirements based on study and academics.

With the three houses of the UWF's Parliament established, the question would be how laws and decisions get made. In Digest No.11, a two house system of Parliament where the UNGA and UNPA brought forth proposals for laws and policies, but the UNPA was the house that voted to approve or veto them. To revise that system for a three-house structure, each house would continue to be able to design laws and policies for proposal, but the approval and denial system would necessarily become more complex.

There would be three stages to a proposition's approval process. Firstly, it would need to be passed by the house it was introduced in - a simple majority would suffice to see if it was fit for full Parliamentary review. A committee would exist between the houses, consisting of a rotating staff of elected members from each of the parties, in equal number - the second round of approval would involve them reviewing and modifying details for submission to all three houses. This committee, despite being composed of members of all three houses, would not have a say in whether to reject or approve the proposition - they would simply modify and review to a point of majority consensus, and pass it along to each of the houses. The final round, then, would be another majority vote, this time tested in each house, and if there was a majority in two houses and at least 40% approval in a third, it would be passed along to the Judiciary and bureaucracy.

If the proposition was unable to acquire enough votes for approval, the house that introduced it could vote once again to appeal for further review by the committee - this would involve a more thorough process and likely editing to allow for concessions to the houses that voted primarily against. If it failed a second round of voting, however, the proposition would be discarded. This form of voting balances out power between the three houses, but also allows for the interests of two houses to get through even if one house is in dissent, which would prevent a single house from blocking legislation and putting Parliament into gridlock. For example, if national state governments were acting against the interest of their people, both the people themselves and studied advocates for social justice could pass policy even without their majority approval.

Parliament would be the engine of policy and legislation within an eco-socialist federation, and arguably, every other branch of the federal government would simply extend from or be accountable to the functions of the world's houses. It is important to our future that we build a structure that allows all people to have a say in their government, and one that also acts in their best interest.

- DKTC FL

[swordoforion]

Orion Digest №35 - The Purpose of Museion

As we discussed last issue, the Orion Manifest only briefly touched on the other two branches of Orion, and it is appropriate that in lieu of a full and official guide, we should touch on the purpose and aims of the sister branches to the Sword of Orion. We have covered Liberius, and now we move onto the Museion Institute, or Museion.

As stated in the Manifest, Museion is the research branch of Orion, but just because it does not interact directly with the public as Liberius and the Sword do, it is no less important to the cause, and fulfills a vital need in our goals - information and strategy. We have the ideas, but how we communicate them to the public, what facts we use to back them up, how we formulate plans for recovery and reform after we establish federation - these will all require effort that will make Museion invaluable.

As a think tank, the structure of Museion will be looser, largely based on the discretion of whoever is assigned to head the branch, but it will similarly be split into divisions for specific areas of research. However, to adapt for new needs and concerns, these divisions can be collapsed and created, instead of static categories like in Liberius. Within divisions, individual researchers can either propose projects, or have the heads of divisions create projects that they sign on to, with assistant staff able to choose projects to sign up for.

There would be three tiers of Museion membership - division heads, researchers, and assistant staff (not counting the branch head). New members would serve as assistants to current researchers to gain experience before they graduate to a research position. To do so, they would need at least two years of experience serving as assistant staff as well as a thesis project submitted to a board of researchers, excluding those they had previously worked with. Their thesis project would be judged based on quality of presentation and evidence, and then their hypothesis and results discussed with the board as a whole, before a vote on whether they are ready to graduate to the rank of researcher.

After some time as a researcher, members of Museion would get a chance to be appointed by the branch head to serve as heads of divisions, whether to replace a pre-existing division head or to head a new division. Division heads would serve tenures for either four years, until they decided to resign from their position, or until removed by a branch head for special circumstances. After their tenure ended, they would return to being a researcher as before. Of note is that to head a division, a researcher does not need to be a part of it prior to appointment - it is the branch head's discretion on who to place where.

Research projects would aim for low cost inquiry's into how other branches could better strategize and what we could do to accomplish our goals once federation is established, but higher level projects could be taken on with funding, including the actual development and creation of technology and equipment for Orion and public use. The matter of funding for Orion is an optional point in the grand scheme of things - while there are various expenses that will require paying in the course of our plans, writing, volunteering, and research do not inherently incur costs, save for the cost in time to members. Our goal is not to make money nor become an establishment that employs - to reflect the spirit of service, Orion is something one must enter without promise of material gain, but with the interest of benefitting humankind.

However, in addition to donations, profits from paper copies of books and technologies created by Museion through grants could be used for funding as needed for Orion, most specifically for further research by the Institute. With greater resources, we could learn more about our environmental situation and how best to combat climate change; we could work to advance technology in sustainable ways, and get us closer to interstellar space travel. We wouldn't have to simply do this all on our own - we could work with other institutions, pool our resources and knowledge, and in the spirit of unity, work together on our technological goals.

Environmental sustainability and interstellar travel are perhaps the most important tasks that the Museion Institute will take on. To survive the extinction we have created for ourselves, we must learn how to live more in harmony with nature, and to do that now will take more than just stopping the source of the damage - we must use our resources to help fix it as well. However, if we are to expand and learn more about the vast cosmos surrounding us, we must also crack the secret on how to travel past the boundaries of our solar system, and to new habitable worlds, where pioneers can start anew with knowledge on how to do it right.

If the Sword is the means by which we become politically able to accomplish our mission, then Museion is the means by which we become physically able to accomplish our mission, though its use is not just relegated to the steps we take after we establish federation. Knowing more about the communities we are trying to convince, and having credible evidence to back up our claims about the world will strengthen our stances, and allow us to take a more secure step forward. The Museion Institute's greater purpose is to support its sister branches, and in its own way, represents a greater calling than the simple protection of humanity - the partaking in that great quest for discovery and knowledge, that timeless journey into the unknown.

- DKTC FL

[swordoforion]

Orion Digest №34 - The Purpose of Liberius

While the general purpose and structure of Liberius, the sister branch of the Sword of Orion within Orion, has been discussed within the Orion Manifest, and will be covered in further detail in the second official book publication which is in production, more of its purpose within the overall goal of our organization has not been properly expounded on, and I will take this issue to discuss such, with the next issue dedicated to the Museion Institute, the third and final branch.

Each branch of Orion is designed to fight in some way for the preservation of humanity and the security of human rights; the Sword of Orion fights through writing, communication, and media. We make connections and communicate ideas to the world, interacting with politics and trying to use diplomacy to move policy forward. However, simply speaking and writing can only accomplish so much, and when it comes to action, Liberius is a branch that provides more devoted volunteers to help communities and causes on a more hands-on level.

Liberius itself is composed of three divisions - the Service Corps, the Medical Corps, and the Defense Corps, each with different levels of training and preparedness. As the names suggest, the different Corps are to be provided training and adequate testing to make sure they are ready for tasks of increasing physical and mental difficulty, from simple community service, to medical aid, to self-defense and defense of civilians. The order in which the names of the divisions are listed is the order one must progress through, rather than choosing - an initiate would start in the Service Corps, and train up to a Corps of their choosing, or remain within Service.

Let us start with the Service Corps. This will likely be the largest and busiest division, which would be concerned with training of other divisions, volunteering at rallies and public events, distributing resources to the homeless or impoverished, going on aid missions, etc. While long term goals of international political and economic reorganization are our top priority, we can help where possible through community service via our local chapters, to help the needy with what resources we have to spare, and for those dedicated to Orion and looking to help out, the Service Corps would be an easy choice.

The Medical and Defense Corps would, for the most part, be relegated to the same kinds of events, and would serve more for seniority purposes for simple service events, but would be trained in expectation of more violent altercation. Civilian protests in numerous nations have become violent whether due to the actions of the crowd or of law enforcement, and if members of Liberius are to attend protests for worthwhile causes, it is beneficial to have them prepared to administer medical assistance to the injured, and to be able to defend themselves and others to prevent further injury.

This expectation could also be extended, depending on specific chapters and the future of political development, to service in the midst of combat or in opposition to violent crime, though the latter would be at the discretion of specific communities. Liberius is not intended to be a program for conflict and soldiers - it is intended to protect and assist those in need and in danger. However, it is important to prepare activists for violence in a world increasingly filled with it, especially if they are to protect others from becoming victims to it.

Those who wish to enter the Medical Corps would be trained, as per the name, in medical aid, such as proper first-aid, CPR, life-saving procedures, etc. They would be prepared to use equipment to help those injured wherever they may find them, until they can get them to more proper and experienced care - a first responder to any medical emergency. While only the middle in the divisions, using first-aid to help the injured is perhaps the purest expression of the goal of Liberius - helping and saving others at any given opportunity.

The Defense Corps would be trained in the art of self-defense, via the way of both martial arts and practical hand-to-hand combat. A distinction between the arts of self-defense and regular combat training is that self-defense is not intended to attack an opponent - it is intended to fend off and, if necessary, force an attacker into submission. It is a useful skill applicable to any violent situation, and in reality, would be a beneficial service available to teach members of communities outside of Liberius proper, once members of the Defense Corps had mastered it.

While not named as such, one could call Liberius the 'shield of Orion' - we fight for people with our words, and defend them with as much action is as necessary. Whether this defense be literal - trained self defense against harmful adversaries - or metaphorical - aid rallies to provide food and shelter to the impoverished and homeless, or assistance at protests for beneficial causes - Liberius is there to protect. It is for this reason that out of the three branches, Liberius is given the most attention and rigorous requirements when it comes to membership, as it is important to be prepared for the sake of those we wish to protect and those who volunteer and serve.

The training that members of the Liberius divisions are provided serves a dual purpose - in addition to being useful to the students who learn it, it can also turn them into teachers for communities - self defense and first-aid are invaluable resources to anyone, as even if you never use them, it is good to be prepared. If there exists a Sword chapter in a community, members of Liberius there can provide classes to residents based on concerns, and it is our hope that perhaps that training could do well to save a life one day - if at least one person is protected because of that training, it will have been worth it.

What communities learn from Liberius could serve in peace or in times of conflict - if indeed the push for eco-socialist federation turns to revolution, the skills taught to members of Liberius could help citizens to resist and withstand. We are not an army, but if revolution is beneficial to our mission, we could provide guidance and assistance, or at the very least protection for civilians otherwise caught in the crossfire.

In the spirit of the purpose of Liberius - defense and service of the community - those that graduate from Defense Corps training are to be supplied with a shield, as available. This is both a symbolic and practical gesture - in the case of self defense, there are few greater pieces of equipment than an effective shield. Paired with martial arts, it can absorb common attacks and minimize damage to the wielder, without causing direct harm to the attacker. When used properly, it can also be an effective non-lethal weapon. Before this, those who graduate the Medical Corps training will be provided with first-aid kits and medical supplies that can be carried around and used when necessary. Finally, Service Corps graduates will be provided with ceremonial patches to commemorate their induction into Liberius.

Out of the three branches, Liberius will be the most difficult to create and enter into, but arguable the most worthwhile. Words, while helpful, are no substitute for action, and all the essays in the world cannot hold a candle to the value of potentially saving a human life. The purpose of Liberius is to be ready to help our communities, and the world as a whole in the real world, and to be prepared to serve in defense of its people.

- DKTC FL