Activist Malpractice
polemics and polarized identity politics
Michael Colby coined term
Food and Water one of three main groups that stopped food irradiation
(National Coalition to Stop Food Irradiation, Health and Energy Institute)
Michael Donnelly
accountabilty is elusive
rhetoric - vs. reality
always market things as wins
we lose, but won
cases when true - Trojan shutdown vote
but more commonly, not
Brower's advice in 2000
Losing Ground - Mark Dowie
unchecked corporate and military power
limits to growth trajectory, as predicted
pollution regulation
corporate buy out of big environmental groups
polarization
pc
some of it is needed, some is overkill
distraction from who owns means of production
Obama and Hillary - good examples
their anti-"progressive" policies ignored due to skin color and sex
cancel culture - deplatforming - versus dialogue - redemption, bridge building, synthesis
those content in their views, understandings don't fear different opinions (applies across the board)
symbols and rituals are important
but practicalities matter, too
pick one from a, one from b, etc.
liberals - social justice - equality - anti discrimination
left - sometimes galvanize the rest of society to move toward these goals
conservatives better at running business, infrastructure
libertarians - debt based fiat currency, not understanding of energy or limits to growth
greens - ecological wisdom, sometimes, but not interconnections (ban fracking but no recognition this would burst the economic bubble - may be happening now anyway)
Rabbi Lerner comments - religious conservative groups who are nice to members but he strongly disagrees with, and groups whose politics he likes more are often not focused on elementary needs of their congregation, on an emotional level