Taking nonviolent direct action to slow the global climate crisis and
preparing to provide relief after the next disaster.
By Food Not Bombs co-founder Keith McHenry
This January 2013 I joined other anarchists in New Orleans at the
Fourth Annual North American Anarchist Studies Network gathering where we held
a discussion about some possible strategies that could be used both in building
a global campaign to stop the policies of that are contributing to the climate
crisis while improving our ability to organize disaster relief in the future.
Many of us had participated in the relief effort after Katrina. I has also
participated as a "first responder" after the 1989 San Francisco
Earthquake and Hurricane Sandy. The authorities failed to respond after the
earthquake and Katrina but did have some disorganized response after Sandy. In
each instance the people that provided the most assistance were volunteers from
the anarchist community. Many of those effected by the disasters expressed
anger at the state for failing to respond. On the other hand they had great
respect for the people who for no money or fame did respond.
North American Anarchist Studies Network closed with the agreement
that we would write a manual on decentralized community organized disaster
relief and call a meeting to discuss it's publication. It was also proposed
that we form a network of affinity groups that would prepare for future relief
efforts. As an example each Food Not Bombs group would organize the supplies
required to provide food, organize events to raise money to buy bulk dry goods
and formulate a rough plan on how the chapter would respond while continuing
their regular work. Affinity groups could be formed to provide first aid, water
and sanitation, residential clean-up and temporary shelter or the freeing of
people from roof tops or rubble. Occupy Sandy, Food Not Bombs and Common
Grounds all had direct experience with beige the first and sometime only people
providing relief so there is much that can be learned in preparation for future
climate change crisis.
At the same time people both at the conference and beyond are
concerned about the future and knowing that providing relief is not enough.
While some in the scientific community are reporting alarm about the
possibility of slowing or stoping the climate crisis many still support efforts
to build a movement to seek a reduction in carbon. Environmental groups have
organized protest at international "COP" summits, called for
international protests and provide information to counter climate change
deniers. Until now most are seeking
reforms within the capitalist system. Reform is not enough so many grassroots
groups are taking direct action to blunt the impact of capitalism.
Often these efforts focus around taking action to stop damaging
projects such a mining operations, franking, electric generating stations and
coal and oil transportation systems. Only now are groups like the Sierra Club
and other mainstream groups are joining in taking extra legal efforts to
address the crisis. The first such action happened on February 17th in
Washington DC motivated in part by Obama's mention of climate change during his
inauguration speech and a belief by pro-capitalist environmental groups that
public pressure will cause Obama to make change in policies. These groups are
also taking companies and governments to court seeking orders to stop one
project or another.
But this crisis does not respect political borders. The struggle to
stop the transportation of the Alberta tar sands is one example. First the
methane and other gases released into the Canadian air have a global impact on
the climate. The poisoning of the fresh water to process the tar sands is
destroying water all across North America.
Finally efforts to transport the tar sands by pipeline has mobilized
opposition in the United States and Canada as officials proposed one route
after another seeking to pit one community against another.
Transportation of their massive extraction can only be profitable if
the carbon is shipped by pipeline from Alberta, Canada south to the refineries
along the Gulf of Mexico. When the
resistance to this "Keystone XL pipeline" interfered with their plans
to take the least expensive route south officials proposed a route west to the
Pacific. They met opposition there as well with indigenous Canadians and their
allies blocking roads and rail. A proposed path east to the Atlantic is also
being blocked by activist in Vermont and Quebec. While the oil companies are
busy seeking a cheap way to transport the tar sands Canadian and American
officials are trying to change laws giving them increased power to disregard
environmental and indigenous concerns. Native Canadians are pushing back with
an "Idle No More Campaign" coordinating blockades and occupations all
across North America.
The wilderness can teach us much about survival. It can provide information on how to best
respond to the floods, droughts and extremes of the cleat crisis. Nature can
also provide direction in the struggle to create a post capitalist way of life
that respects the environment. The indigenous people know this and can teach us
much about living with the Earth. Anarchism also uses the principles found in
nature. Diversity and harmony while imposing no hierarchy. Careful observation
of the cooperation found in nature can help guide us in our quest to stop the
destruction of capitalism. The patterns of the eco system can teach us much
about forming a society based on anarchist principles. The air, water, fire and
soil know no political boundaries. Solutions to the climate crisis can succeed
by sharing in the lessons offered by the environment we seek to defend.
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