REBELLION week... what to make of it all?


I feel bombarded at the moment, and even slightly overwhelmed, with the amount of climate change activism happening in this last week and inevitably in the one to come. I can't help but say that I hope that you are too, because that'll mean you're aware of the 'sixth mass extinction'* and climate change awareness popping up all over social media.
*we are not killing the planet so much as the abiotic conditions on it which host us, the human race! 

 Don't get me wrong, I am all for it! But I see a lot of people turn away in disbelief, denial, or inability to concentrate on the topic long enough to entertain a conversation. Those that understand the massive problem on our doorstep will usually make a stand and a statement, but we really, desperately, need to take this further.

 With Extinction Rebellion occupying major spots of London, the protesters are doing what they can with what they have, in the capitalist society of today, to make a drastic change. This isn't going to happen overnight, nor is it going to happen single-handedly. 

Side note, I'm currently doing research for my uni essay topic: “In fashion, how is craft maintained in the Western world despite mass production?” and I couldn't help but absolutely need to share some thoughts with my readers.

 I am looking into the Industrial Revolution in Britain, and how that changed settlements into unplanned cities and small business holders were overrun by bigger corporations. The issue really is the need for constant growth, and that measured in GDP*. And this is still the corporate's biggest concern. The fact that blew my mind was, that statistically our economy declined between the 1950s and 1980s, due to several factors including poor industrial relations, manufacturing, etc. resulting in an ill-equipped banking system. "In essence it could be argued that the capitalist system was failing the manufacturing capitalists and structural changes were inevitable as a consequence."
*Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a broad measurement of a nation's overall economic activity.

Two things clicked with me in reading this:
1. "Uuuh, that was actually quite recent so we're more than capable of change!"
and
2. We need to make structural changes inevitable by failing the capitalist system

 As the people, we need to realise for once and for all that our purchases are choices. Who we decide to give our money to matters. Who you buy your dress from, or your phone, or your coffee, or your boyfriend's birthday present, or your mother's day card from, matters. We add up. You are 1 of the now 7.7 billion (!!!) people on this planet. This doesn't make your actions worthless, it makes them your numero uno, only, ever, biggest concern.  

 As if working hard for your money as a means to trading it for goods in our society and enjoy spending it isn't enough, don't pour it back into the hands of the greedy, porfi*.
*pretty please in Spanish
(And if that isn't enough, you already know to buy less, fly less, eat meat less, drive less...)

 We can be more self-sufficient.
Let's start relying on each other, we are all in the same boat. 

 (   Image result for pink boat xr  )

Lots of love and light, in times of uncertainty,
Catherine xxx

 P.S. I have so much improvement to do myself, just wanted to share some thoughts. I am up for discussions whenever so please let me know your thoughts too!

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