Inspiration

The Judgement

Humanity, on the brink of extinction, is on trial for the consequences of its actions, represented by one man, David Carniste, the defendant facing a jury of non-human animals. Charges also include racism, sexism, homophobia, and the speciesism propelling humanity’s decline. Consumerism is also on trial, and the arms trade. This must watch short film, written and directed by Maxime Ginolin, […]

An Interview with Media Lens

We live in disconcerting times. Here at home, a Tory government with the weakest of mandates is waging, on behalf of corporate-financial elites, class war against the poor and vulnerable. Across the world, and particularly in the Middle East, the engines of western imperialism continue to chug remorselessly along, their slaughter and immiseration of millions an irrelevance to western war […]

Re-imagining our collective powers against austerity

The “public” interest has been made synonymous with economic growth and international competitiveness. Police, surveillance and military budgets are, as Nina Power notes, being increased in order to defend the “public” from vague racist threats like ISIS and “terrorism,” but in fact these weapons will be wielded against those of us committed to causing “economic disruptions” to challenge the order of extractive austerity.

US Court Hears Arguments for Chimpanzee Personhood

It is the very essence of the common law, the judge said, that it “evolves according to new discoveries and social mores.” They are enough like humans that they should have a right to “bodily liberty,” even if other rights, like voting or freedom of religion, are beyond them.

Kindness, Activism, Ego, and Social Skills

If you also need a reminder of how all this dysfunction kills any chance of social change, take a good, honest look around. While we bask in the glow of our “fans” regularly tuning in to our livestreams or sharing our photos or quoting our statuses, every form of life on earth is under assault with no hint of imminent reversal.

Noam Chomsky on Institutional Stupidity

Individual stupidity can be remedied, but institutional stupidity is much more resistant to change. At this stage of human society, it truly endangers our survival. That’s why I think institutional stupidity should be a prime concern.

UK Community Farmers Resist Land Grab

ON one side is a millionaire land-grabber propped up by fellow rich landowners, councilors, a judge, planning officers, Freemasons and a recently retired police inspector… and on the other a group of gardeners of Yorkley Court Community Farm backed by much of the wider community. The siege is on now, which side will prevail?