/1 Critical reading
Toxic social media/political stagnation/post-truth/voter abandonment/fascism

J. Mayer, Dark Money (2016)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Mon…

N. MacLean, Democracy in Chains (2019)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democrac…

G. Allen, None Dare Call It Conspiracy (1970)
archive.org/details/none-dare-…

Communicating w. Memes: Consequences in Post-truth Civilization (2019)
rowman.com/ISBN/9781498551342/…

J. Cowie, Freedom's Dominion (2023)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom%…

[know your enemy] Project 2025
files.persagen.com/01/heritage…

2022 book by Jefferson Cowie

^{Contributors to Wikimedia projects (Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.)}

Don’t Mourn, Fight
counterpunch.org/2024/11/07/do…

* capitalism prevents genuine democracy due to influence of money in elections & elsewhere in the political system
* no easy way to defeat fascism within context of capitalist economy & a bourgeois electoral system
* that fact means organizing
* Don’t mourn, organize.

#democracy #SocialDemocracy #ecosocialism #sustainability #environmentalism
#SocialJustice #HumanRights #equality
#activism #advocacy
#capitalism #PoliticalEconomy #WealthTax #taxation

Don’t Mourn, Fight - CounterPunch.org

Far be it from me to claim that the US government is a democracy.  In my understanding, capitalism prevents genuine democracy because of the influence

^{Ron Jacobs (CounterPunch.org)}

How to stay politically engaged in between election cycles
texastribune.org/2024/11/07/te…

* 1st: understand the system
* get involved in community organizations or advocacy groups
* engage with elected officials
* attend local government meetings
* consider running for office

#democracy #SocialDemocracy #ecosocialism #sustainability #environmentalism
#SocialJustice #HumanRights #equality
#activism #advocacy
#capitalism #PoliticalEconomy #WealthTax #taxation

How to stay politically engaged in between election cycles

From engaging with representatives to joining advocacy groups, there are numerous ways to continue participating in democracy and shaping policy after the polls close.

^{Isabela Ocampo Restrepo (The Texas Tribune)}

My dear trans community: 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏳️‍🌈

Again we are front & center in times of turmoil.

To those of us who are weary &/or anxious:

* step aside: attend to your mental, emotional health
* disengage f. toxic social media

Frontline activism is not for everyone: others can/will step up.

Write: the pen is mightier than the sword. Share our tribulations, triumphs.

Volunteer: build friendships & allies
* political candidates
* unions; workers rights assemblies; tenants unions

#transgender #SocialJustice

/1 Crisis support

In crisis/thoughts of suicide?
Call or text 9-8-8

If you are
* feeling like you lost hope/struggling to cope
* dealing w. thoughts of suicide
* worried about someone else
9-8-8 is here for you

* trained responders listen w/o judging
* support/understanding
* resources
988.ca/about-us

Trans Lifeline’s Hotline: translifeline.org/hotline

* peer support phone service by trans people for trans/questioning peers
* call even if you’re not in crisis or not sure you’re trans

New wave of movements against Trumpism
wagingnonviolence.org/2024/11/…

* for many of us, immediate aftermath of Donald Trump’s decisive electoral victory a time of deep despair & mourning
* our job: translate outrage over his agenda into action toward truly transformational vision
* there are reasons to believe a new social movement cycle to confront Trumpism can emerge

youtube.com/watch?v=OaTFz_qxWq…

Image: Protect Our Futures march, NYC, 2024-Nov-09

Building a working class movement after Trump’s victory
peoplesdispatch.org/2024/11/10…

* history of working class struggle in U.S. & how it can inform where movements go next

#democracy #SocialDemocracy #ecosocialism #sustainability #environmentalism
#SocialJustice #HumanRights #equality
#activism #advocacy #rebellion #CivilDisobedience #solidarity #unions #WorkersAssemblies
#capitalism #libertarianism #billionaires #PoliticalEconomy #plutocracy #oligarchy #meritocracy #WealthTax #WeathForfiture

Let’s Start a Revolution; Usurping the Titans of Capital
projectcensored.org/start-revo…

* podcast ft. Ralph Nader, Peter Phillips re: latest books
* iconic consumer/civil rights activist/author Ralph Nader
* need to
dismantle corporate state
boost civic engagement f. grassroots up
demand dark money/billionaires be driven of political system

How Concentrated Wealth Threatens Humanity

#MediaWatchdog #ProjectCensored #RalphNader

/1 critical reading

R. Nader 2024
Ralph Nader: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Na…

Let’s Start the Revolution. Tools for Displacing the Corporate State & Building a Country that Works for the People
nader.org/books/lets-start-the…

Out of Darkness
nader.org/books/out-of-darknes…

Peter Phillips 2024
Project Censored >> Media Freedom Foundation >> Peter Phillips: projectcensored.org/who-we-are

Titans of Capital: How Concentrated Wealth Threatens Humanity
project-censored.org/shop/p/ti…

#SocialJustice #RalphNader #PeterPhillips #books

Who We Are -

Who We Are Our Team Media Freedom Foundation Press Team Judges Radio Interns Mickey Huff Project Censored's Director Mickey Huff Project Censored's Director Email:mickey@projectcensored.

^{Justin (Project Censored)}

Judith Deutsch, Science For Peace

Brilliant essay! Bear through opening paragraphs; 5-10' read

Killing Knowledge
mastodon.social/@persagen/1132…

* aggression/wars/nuclear proliferation
* narcissistic leaders
* misogyny; racism
* psychology: motives
* genocides; international justice
* 3rd world debt
* egregious wealth/tax havens
* confiscating assets

#peace #ScienceForPeace #JudithDeutsch #capitalism #corporations #LegalPersonhood #StructuralViolence #HigherEducation #IAEA #NPT #AssetForfeiture

[Nobel Lecture, 2005, Harold Pinter] Art, Truth & Politics
persagen.org/docs/harold_pinte…

COMMENT
* still relevant [replace art w. social media]
* vicious/scathing commentary on search for truth in art, avoidance of truth in politics

* Nobel Prize in Literature 2005 awarded to Harold Pinter
"who in his plays uncovers precipice under everyday prattle & forces entry into oppression's closed rooms"

#HaroldPinter #NobelPrize #literature #SocialCommentary #war #fascism #politics #corruption #posttruthism

We Must Reorient Our Movements Under Trump2 Administration
truthout.org/articles/how-must…

Resisting Trump2 fascism: crucial we rethink direct action in authoritarian context

Concerns:
well-supported/systemic far-right
oligarchy woven into social fabric
far-right judiciaries incl. SCOTUS
mass surveillance/facial recog.

Actions:
direct action: civil disobedience/mass marches
establish/fortify small adaptable groups
defiance, e.g. healthcare wkr refusing to aid in criminalizing patient
symbolic acts

How Must We Reorient Our Movements Under a Second Trump Administration? | Truthout

It is crucial that we rethink our approach to direct action in a potentially authoritarian, dictatorial context.

^{Jared (Truthout)}

If/when needed, civil disobedience/ongoing, large scale mass protests topples governments.

E.g. Arab Spring uprisings

Arab Spring
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Spr…

Social media's role in the Arab Spring
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_m…

Here in Vancouver, counter-protests (e.g. transportation artery blockades) helped limit social media conspiracy driven, far-right organized/led 2022 Freedom Convoy protests.

Likewise, protests against Pacific Northwest old growth forest logging protests / support of Indigenous protesters led to railway blockades/Canada-wide rail service disruption.

2020 Canadian pipeline and railway protests
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Can…

Timeline of the 2020 Canadian pipeline and railway protests
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline…