A Social Transformation Toward Sustainability and Justice Would Benefit Everyone

the words of Mahatma (Mohandas K.) Gandhi

This quote needs to be framed in reference to the struggle by people native to the Indian Subcontinent against what was the tyrannous and incredibly violent and harmful colonialism that was waged under the auspices of the British Empire.

I also like the idea of altering the quote slightly so that it ends with "everyone wins" - because real social transformation toward justice and sustainability would benefit everyone. Real social transformation, justice and sustainability would prove to be a winner for everyone...

Wow!!! Humanity has done such a huge damage to itself and to the living systems of the Earth in such a short time since the advent of fossil fueled industrialization!

The following are thoughts which are cross-posted at OlyBlog, link below:

I would really like to see people from the various social and environmental justice movements working along more of a unified front.

The root causes of environmental degradation and ecological unsustainability; imperialism and wars of aggression; exploitative labor practices; societal oppression; and poverty and any other social injustice are the same.

I would like to see a broad based, inclusive and supportive social movement - a movement that is accessible to everyone regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, ability, creed, and/or any other distinguishing feature - in order to effectively and successfully challenge the status quo: a status quo which is currently doing so much harm to all people.

Please imagine a movement to challenge the current establishment's enablement of a degrading and dehumanizing status quo of economic instability, ecological unsustainability, and social injustice...

Further thoughts and avenues for consideration on this topic include, but are not limited to, potential solutions and responses such as 1) permaculture: a resilient, sustainable and independent local/regional economic infrastructure, 2) socio-economic egalitarianism, 3) making health care a central and foundational economic feature ...and etc....

larger image olyblog.net/working-union

The Science of War v. The Science of Nonviolence

Reverend James Lawson

(photo by Glen Anderson)

I had the opportunity to see Reverend Jim Lawson on two occasions during his several day visit to Olympia, Washington. Reverend Lawson was in Olympia to address the community about the concerns of the social justice and peace movement in regard to recent disruptions and hostility and outbursts of violence.

Reverend Lawson is a war resister who, instead of seeking Conscientious Objector status, served 13 months of a 3 year prison sentence for refusing induction for service in Korea.

After he was released from prison, he traveled to India where he studied Satyagraha, AKA Gandhian nonviolence.

He became active in the Southern Black Liberation Movement of the 50's and 60's, and has dedicated his life to the cause of bettering the world through the dedicated practice of nonviolence and social movement organizing, as exemplified by Jesus of Nazareth.

Lawson led the first wave of Freedom Riders into Jackson, Mississippi in 1961. He is a brilliant man and a tremendous leader.

Thank you to Rev. Jim Lawson for visiting the City and Community of Olympia, Washington.