What's the point of Solarpunk/Soilpunk?
History teaches us that when human beings thought differently, they acted differently; when they believed utopia was achievable, they made it possible. The great point Rousseau teaches us is also echoed by the Chinese philosopher Mozi and the African philosophy of Ubuntu. It's understanding that we must put our own personal selfishness below the common good; public affairs are common space, because true happiness lies in ourselves. I exist thanks to others, and no personal happiness can be complete if the world is literally burning.
When do you feel at peace, when everything seems right? I feel this in the midst of community and nature. The individualism fostered by the hegemonic neoliberal system is destroying communities. But we are social animals, yet we are locked in our homes, so depressed. Let's take back and build communities, social spaces, community centers, municipal and community libraries, public gardens, parks, let's plant wild and native seeds, practice guerrilla gardening, and practice permeculture public gardens. And let's destroy the source. The same source, the 1% of ultra-billionaires who own 99% of the wealth, is destroying the earth and meanwhile building luxury bunkers in New Zealand, aware of the possible eco-climate collapse. Let's not give in to resignation and cynicism because every hundredth of a degree counts. 1°C of global average temperatures is infinitely better than 4-5°C and their consequences. Organize, fight. There are many ways I could write and be banned, haha, but books like How to Bl0w Up a Pip3line might give you some ideas. Another type of nonviolence is certainly effective, too, like that of movements like Fridays for Future, Extinction Rebellion, and A24. They can move many consciences. Minneapolis's practices and struggles certainly inspire and guide us. Who knows what other ways we'll find. Let's save the earth and all its inhabitants, both human and non-human, to create a full future of dignified and happy life for all. Let's achieve the impossible. This is what solarpunk and every other utopia we decide on together in assemblies (sociocratic or whatever) are for, to give us a vision of the possible future to set us on our way.
Freedom isn't about being up a tree, it's about participation.