Hi oh my goodness I'm sorry I didn't notice this at all, I've never gotten an ask before haha 😅
But regardless, hello!!! I'll admit that I have more thorough recommendations for video essayists than books. I've been living in an impoverished state for the past 6 years or so, so books have had to be a lower priority and youtube is free* 🥲That being said, you caught me at a good time cus a month ago I finally got some of the books I've been meaning to buy! So below I'll share some videos and creators I'd recommend, the books I put a priority on buying, why they were a priority, and my thoughts so far!
My values & ethics in the Solar Punk community
For me, being a part of the solar punk community means being very dedicated to mutual aid, the right to the city, and environmental justice. I can talk more about those concepts in future posts if you're interested in learning more about them!
But one of the risks of identifying with the solar punk movement is the trap falls of aesthetics like cottage core- As an individual, it's possible to get sucked into the aesthetic of things, and to focus on easier concepts like valuing environmentalism and still not address systemic racism, or your own internalized biases. One line that I read from a blog on The Years Project had a line that did a nice job of discussing this as a concept.
"[It's not] news that [environmental] movements have intentionally marginalized Black, Indigenous and Latinx communities in particular—though white environmentalists often deny this truth. After all, it took two months of national protests after George Floyd’s murder for the Sierra Club to finally even acknowledge the anti-Black and Indigenous racism engraved into the Club’s history and its founders."
So in finding resources likes books or videos to learn from, the biggest importance for me is dedicatedly learning about as many facets as I can, and not just focusing on the environment. The planet is important, but humans are complicated and I place a lot of importance on finding out about different cultures, their relationship to the planet, and how colonization and capitalism impacts that.
1. Books I Recommend
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
This has been the biggest book for me this year- It perfectly matches my philosophies on human relationships to the planet, focusing on the dichotomy of the author's experiences as an indigenous woman learning from her people, and the experiences around colonizers learning about scientific approaches to nature. This matches some of my experiences in different ways, and getting to learn more about the world, and be inspired to connect with my ancestral heritage. I can't recommend enough. I'll make sure to update more about reading this book later too!
Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (and the Next) by Dean Spade [FREE PDF]
This is a book I've just started, but already has given good vibes. I prefer books that speak as plainly as possible, and this one fits the bill for giving information and practical advice for mutual aid work. I'm only in the first third of the book, but so far I've been really appreciating learning about the history of mutual aid movements, and how the government the ballooning of the non-profit sector has impacted those movements, especially those led by minority groups trying to rise against our government. It has been really awesome so far!
Books I Haven't Read But Are On My List:
Racism without Racists by Eduardo Bonilla-Silva [FREE PDF]
Social Justice For the Sensitive Soul: How To Change the World In Quiet Ways by Dorcas Cheng-Tozun
Resistencia: Poems of Protest and Revolution by Red Poppy
The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water by Charles Fishmen
Build It And They Will Come: A Guide To Architecting Intentional Community by Cat Lantigua
2. Video Essayists I Recommend
Andrewism
I think the most influential person to me in my journey is Andrewism. He does a lot of videos on socialist/anarchist concepts, including mutual aid, third places, and direct action. While I have some differences in viewpoint than him, his videos have primarily served as a way for me to learn new concepts and challenge my existing thought structures, with a number of them giving good starter guides to direct action. If you decide to check him out, I'd recommend these videos!
How To Build a Solarpunk City
Solarpunk is Not Enough
How We Can Make Solarpunk A Reality
How We Can Spread Our Ideas
Not Just Bikes
Why City Design Is Important (and why I hate Houston)
Not Just Bikes is a channel that talks about Urban Development and examples of amazing urban design compared to the United States and Canada. For Solarpunk topics, this is a fabulous one since many of the dreams of Solarpunk ideology comes from the idea of connection with people, the planet, and technology in ways that are productive and kind rather than at odds with each other. Good urban design lends itself to that connection: Of people being able to walk and gather, of not needing to rely on cars, and being able to help one another because we are in common spaces rather than isolated through single family housing and a car-driven society that has to deal with inefficient sprawl. I'd highly recommend these vides for learning more about what cities and suburbs can look like!
One note and critique is that Not Just Bikes does have a series on Strong Towns, which as an organization has some compelling points and arguments, but does have a background in right leaning conservative thought processes. You can read one of the critiques I found here. For me, even the Strong Towns series still a good exercise in getting started learning about urban design, and getting used to direct action, and they also have plenty of other videos outside of Strong Towns!
Car-Free Streets Are Amazing and We Need More of Them
Traffic Calming is everywhere in the Netherlands
Shelbizleee
I'm usually very hesitant to recommend "eco friendly" youtubers since it often falls into greenwashing, which is a tactic to make things sound like they're environmentally sustainable. But I've followed Shelbizleee for many years and they've consistently done a good job with educating about doing research into what companies you "vote" for, and tips for reducing hyper-consumption and waste. She does tend to focus on social media trends and some amount of click-baity titles as a framing device to educate, which is no longer my cup of tea, but it's a great starting place for things you can do in your life to decrease your personal impact to the environment and living things!
How To Tell If A Brand Is ACTUALLY Sustainable
How Our Recycling System Went From Broken To Shattered
How You're Funding Climate Change Without Knowing
F.D. Signifier
F.D Signifier is absolutely incredible. His channel focuses on black experiences and black masculinity, and he does a fantastic job with exploring different aspects of U.S. cultural issues. Listening to the thoughts of different BIPOC folks is a great exercise in exploring how every cultural group is impacted by capitalism and colonization. Some starter videos I'd recommend by F.D. is his videos
Bo Burnham's Inside and 'White Liberal Performative Art'
Micro-Aggressions of the Online Left
The Problem with Black Cops
Black Boys Aren't Safe
Khadija Mbowe
Khadija's focus is on pop culture landscapes and how that intertwines with how people act and view themselves and the world around them. I have a special interest in emotional wellbeing and introspection, and they do a great job delving into interpersonal and emotional wellbeing while challenging the patriarchy and capitalism. If you decide to check them out I'd recommend their videos
Critical Race Theory (a beginner's beginner guide)
Are "black girls less innocent" Adultification explained
The Media and 'Missing White Woman Syndrome'
Jessie Gender
Jessie Gender is someone I appreciate for the mix of nerdy and social issues in her channel, but may not be everyone's cup of tea! She does a lot of longer format videos on Star Trek, Transgender, Autistic, and anti-fascist topics. It has been helpful for me to choose when I'm encountering transphobic news topics, and gain information that has helped me with reducing my own internal transphobic biases towards myself, which was a huge win for my self esteem~ If you're into those things, here are some starter videos I'd recommend!
Earthsea & The Magical Power of True Names
Trans Protests Show How to Fight Fascists
How Transphobes Weaponize Burnout Against Neurodivergent Trans People
3. Other Video Recs
The Tragic Optimist's Guide To Surviving Capitalistic Nihilism by Dasia Sade
Third Place vs. Right to the City by Radical Planning
Why don't companies want you to repair your stuff? by TedEd
Pay-what-you can tool library saves residents millions in rentals and purchases in first 4 years by Localish
Fixing what's broken: How Repair Cafés can help reduce waste by Maine Public
