I really appreciated reading this conversation, especially the fact that Matt pushed back on some of the questions. It's good for us to question our dogma and force us to re-defend it, given new information. Do are beliefs/arguments still hold up? Sometimes they don't and we should re-evaluate our standpoints. Worthy discussions among like-minded individuals as it only makes the arguments stronger and more well thought out.
Now the real trick is to get all our arrows aligned at the same target.
Just to challenge the statement: "With sewage, there might have been a short term impact but if you ask any professional in that industry, they’d probably say it’s worse than ever."
If you go back to 1990 when SAS was formed there were no sewage treatment works in coastal, towns, cities and villages. Part of the successful campaigning of the 90s was to ensure that sewage treatment works were built and to a minimum standard of at least secondary treatment with the majority getting tertiary treatment. So it was 400 millions gallons a day completely crude sewage to everything getting treated.
Today, sadly many sewage treatment works are by-passed, intentionally or due to overload and under-investment, but the majority is still treated. It is not worse than it ever was. That is simply not true. Campaigning does achieve wins and Intelligent Activism has an important role to play.
Hi Chris. Now you point it out, of course you’re right that my point about the effectiveness of activism was crudely made, and this was a poor example to use. It’s important to be clear about language, so many thanks for setting the record straight there.
Thanks Matt! Though also agree - it's gone backwards... A LOT! I read something on "performance environmentalism" recently and there is a real danger of not doing the hard work behind the photo ops. Such challenging times!
(Love the "crudely made" link to the crude sewage).
Ha, I’d love to say that was intentional lol. But yes that was the point I was (very poorly) attempting to make. Sounds like one to continue on that long- awaited follow up podcast chat 🙏
Now, this is a conversation that I find very interesting. I think both your comments are relevant. Since campaigning in the 90's has activism lost its potency? If you were born anywhere after the late 80's you may well think that change is achieved through critical mass, and something you carry out through 'likes' and petition signing.
I think modern activism has been captured by algorithms, and lost a focus on real action, and the self. I came across this quote recently 'Movements are born of critical connections rather than critical mass' by Grace Lee Boggs. Have we become too concerned with building likes and followers?
I feel, in this moment that we need the likes of Matt and Calum questioning the effectiveness of modern activism, as well as the knowledge and wisdom of Chris to help create a different way forward. And not to self champion what we do at Re-Action, alongside the collective spaces we're creating that support a human transformation.
"We're all engaged in a kind of mass delusion, aren't we?"
I think humanity is at a pivotal moment where we need to evolve. Where we need a collective awakening, so we can step in to a whole new story. Activism also needs to evolve to support that transition. This is a time for placing more emphasis on not just acting against the past, or the present, but on acting towards something. Through a collective demonstration, and storytelling of what is possible.
All of us will have to break from the shackles of our current stories, and step out of the mass delusion. That is activism on a scale never experienced, and it will take our combined efforts and wisdom. It will need a blend of modern communication and action but, because this is as much of a systems problem as an internal one, it will need action that transforms the self. Likes, following and petition signing will not be enough.
We need real participation, and more action in the places we live.
Brilliant - that vision of where SAS wanted to go - clean healthy seas was always there. and yes, pivotal times (maybe they have always been?), John Elkington's contribution to Episode 3 of the Announcement is spot on.
Love the opening to future investigations and more documentaries in the form of the announcement :) Or maybe I read between the lines that had nothing to read in between :D
I really appreciated reading this conversation, especially the fact that Matt pushed back on some of the questions. It's good for us to question our dogma and force us to re-defend it, given new information. Do are beliefs/arguments still hold up? Sometimes they don't and we should re-evaluate our standpoints. Worthy discussions among like-minded individuals as it only makes the arguments stronger and more well thought out.
Now the real trick is to get all our arrows aligned at the same target.
You should hear me and Sam talk about football....
Just to challenge the statement: "With sewage, there might have been a short term impact but if you ask any professional in that industry, they’d probably say it’s worse than ever."
If you go back to 1990 when SAS was formed there were no sewage treatment works in coastal, towns, cities and villages. Part of the successful campaigning of the 90s was to ensure that sewage treatment works were built and to a minimum standard of at least secondary treatment with the majority getting tertiary treatment. So it was 400 millions gallons a day completely crude sewage to everything getting treated.
Today, sadly many sewage treatment works are by-passed, intentionally or due to overload and under-investment, but the majority is still treated. It is not worse than it ever was. That is simply not true. Campaigning does achieve wins and Intelligent Activism has an important role to play.
Hi Chris. Now you point it out, of course you’re right that my point about the effectiveness of activism was crudely made, and this was a poor example to use. It’s important to be clear about language, so many thanks for setting the record straight there.
Thanks Matt! Though also agree - it's gone backwards... A LOT! I read something on "performance environmentalism" recently and there is a real danger of not doing the hard work behind the photo ops. Such challenging times!
(Love the "crudely made" link to the crude sewage).
PS Glad you got a wave at the Witterings!
Ha, I’d love to say that was intentional lol. But yes that was the point I was (very poorly) attempting to make. Sounds like one to continue on that long- awaited follow up podcast chat 🙏
Now, this is a conversation that I find very interesting. I think both your comments are relevant. Since campaigning in the 90's has activism lost its potency? If you were born anywhere after the late 80's you may well think that change is achieved through critical mass, and something you carry out through 'likes' and petition signing.
I think modern activism has been captured by algorithms, and lost a focus on real action, and the self. I came across this quote recently 'Movements are born of critical connections rather than critical mass' by Grace Lee Boggs. Have we become too concerned with building likes and followers?
I feel, in this moment that we need the likes of Matt and Calum questioning the effectiveness of modern activism, as well as the knowledge and wisdom of Chris to help create a different way forward. And not to self champion what we do at Re-Action, alongside the collective spaces we're creating that support a human transformation.
"We're all engaged in a kind of mass delusion, aren't we?"
I think humanity is at a pivotal moment where we need to evolve. Where we need a collective awakening, so we can step in to a whole new story. Activism also needs to evolve to support that transition. This is a time for placing more emphasis on not just acting against the past, or the present, but on acting towards something. Through a collective demonstration, and storytelling of what is possible.
All of us will have to break from the shackles of our current stories, and step out of the mass delusion. That is activism on a scale never experienced, and it will take our combined efforts and wisdom. It will need a blend of modern communication and action but, because this is as much of a systems problem as an internal one, it will need action that transforms the self. Likes, following and petition signing will not be enough.
We need real participation, and more action in the places we live.
Brilliant - that vision of where SAS wanted to go - clean healthy seas was always there. and yes, pivotal times (maybe they have always been?), John Elkington's contribution to Episode 3 of the Announcement is spot on.
Love the opening to future investigations and more documentaries in the form of the announcement :) Or maybe I read between the lines that had nothing to read in between :D