Today, I came across a blog for the first time, and wanted to share the first post I read from it. There is an effective use of analogy to comment on some key issues for activists and society to reflect on. [I have not included embedded video, links or footnotes]

when we fight we let them win
http://vegina.wordpress.com/2010/08/02/when-we-fight-we-let-them-win/

“Fox pens” are outdoor enclosures that imprison foxes and coyotes, originally captured with leg hold traps, for the sake of hunters training dogs by setting a pack of dogs on one coyote or fox. Hunters often bet on whether the pack of dogs will catch (and maybe kill) the coyote. The practice is much more cruel than I just described and you can learn more about it here. The vile and cruel nature of this practice is obvious, so I am going to skip that part. (And if you don’t see why this is cruel you are clearly too far-gone to help at this point).

Outside of the torture implicit in this practice, a part of this practice that is resonating with me is the way that humans pit one nonhuman animal against another. Humans inflict cruelty on one animal by trapping and then imprisoning him or her. They inflict cruelty on others by training the good nature out of them and aggressiveness into them (most likely through deprivation of food and physical affection and/or by inflicting physical abuse). Then for entertainment, the human abuser watches as the latter torments and often viciously kills the former. The same sort of process occurs with dog fighting and cock fighting.

Looking beyond the pain and torture involved, this also strikes me as perverse because the human perpetrators get nonhuman animal victims to abuse each other. This makes their work of animal abuse easier on them. They don’t have to feel culpable or psychotic when they don’t physically commit the act of torture or murder in its most vile moments, as the coyote or fox is being hunted or torn to shreds. By having one animal do it to the other, these sadists get away with murder, without ever getting their own hands dirty.

This is the same sort of logic that makes all oppression and subjugation successful. Those in power maintain their power by getting those without power to turn on each other. The oppressed are so busy fighting each other they forget to look up and see the real villain. Social justice movements often work against each other; they see a limited pool of resources (membership, volunteers, donations, media attention) and begin to feel as if they need to fight against other social movement organizations to get these resources.[1] Animal rights activists are used to this; we often have activists for human justice movements argue that we need to take care of women’s rights or racism or “starving children in Africa” before we take care of nonhuman animals. As a feminist who begs for vegan events and a vegan who wishes that we could make our point without turning to sexist hooks, I have had enough with this intra-movement conflict.

I have had enough with inter-movement conflict as well. I see this process, where the oppressor gets the oppressed to turn on each other, replicated in the very movement that is supposed to help the foxes and coyotes and dogs in the fox pens. On multiple occasions I have experienced activists blaming each other for being falsely arrested during protests, when the police are the only ones who should be blamed. I have heard of groups taking credit for the activist activities of other organizations, fund raising events carelessly planned on the same day and distracting fights then ensuing when the double booking was unintentional. This all gets topped off with interpersonal friendship and dating drama. This is all is tolerable at the potlucks but not in organizational meetings or at protest events.

When we think of fox pens we can see the real villain is the human that supports and pays for it to happen. We do not look at the dogs and blame them for being vicious, we know the hunters did that. We do not look at the coyotes or foxes being attacked and think they should fight harder, we know it is the hunters’ fault they are attacked. We can see the big picture in regard to the fox pens. We need to see the big picture when it comes to our movement as well. And unlike the foxes and the coyotes and the dogs in fox pens who were forced into these positions, we do have a choice and it is our own fault. Until we stop letting those that maintain the institutions that oppress and dominate pull the strings, we will never have enough momentum or strength or focus to end fox pens or any other injustice.

Every time we deny that other social movement struggles are important, or try to rank order importance, we defeat ourselves. If we don’t leave room for all oppression to matter, we accept that compassion has limits. But the premise of the animal rights movement is that love and compassion is limitless. Every time we fight each other, we solidify the labels and boundaries that define our oppressions. But an important teaching of feminism is that the boundaries established by those in power exist only so that they can maintain power. When we turn on each other and fight we waste time and we get weaker, all the while doing nothing to weaken those who oppress us. If we turn to each other in solidarity and act together against oppressions, we will have a much better chance of defeating this system, or at least at making fox pens illegal.

Yesterday was an interesting day for me. I spent most of it outside in the heat of a very hot day, which took a toll. This compounded a far from as fruitful search as wanted that I had embarked on. Repeated misrepresentations, seemingly deliberate purveyance of misinformation, and the frustration that ensued made for a challenging day. I returned to St Kitts that evening—a place I had only known for the last couple weeks—and experienced what I can only describe as a somewhat surprising sense of relief. The moment, in itself, picked up my spirits, though it was what came to follow soon after that I found worth reflecting on.

In needing to debrief myself, to take stock of the days events, I picked a place I had a little familiarity with. It was somewhere I could sit for a while, and reflect, mull over what choices I had and what actions were available to me. Whilst reflecting, I noted someone riding passing by on their bike. They were not the first to go past, and not the last, whilst I was there. In that moment, it was the the normality of it that stood out. People riding their bikes, being and feeling free and safe enough to ride their bikes (the class privilege of this was not in my mind at that moment)—the joy of it, normality, struck a chord.

A short time later in walking, I was passed by someone cruising the streets on a longboard. They were clearly enjoying themselves. As they went past, I had my first real thoughts of surfing since I left Oz. It was the fluidity of motion, the simple pleasures. Their tranquillity in effort and effortlessness. My recollections of surfing were not in any way a missing of it, rather an awareness of the spatiality of it, the connectedness and sense of place that floating amongst the waves, gliding through a bottom turn. Simple pleasures.

In these thoughts, these recollections, of an act than is very much individual, though often collective in its separateness, it is a little paradoxical that I began to reflect on the importance of relationships. Some of the most simple yet prudent advice I have been given was shared with me on an occasion similar to this, some years back. I had similarly embarked on an adventure, living in an unfamiliar place far removed from my networks and circles of friends. Relationships are central to happiness, to being happy.

Perhaps this is why I felt the relief on returning to St Kitts. In my short time here, I have met some pretty inspirational and good-hearted people. People who are engaged in worthwhile issues. Just knowing they exist seems to be enough, in my current stage of liminality, to make my days much more enjoyable...

There is so much to write about, that I have not managed to put something together... I have decided to include someone else's reflections on the last weeks G20 protests in Toronto, as a prelude:

Cop Car Burned! All Criticisms of Global Capitalism Rendered Moot!
http://propagandhi.com/2010/06/959/

i don’t endorse violence. i don’t think it’s the ideal way forward to a better society. i think all sane people would agree. heck, i don’t even endorse vandalism in the “service” of social change. i’m conservative that way. but the disproportionate reaction (to the disproportionate mainstream media coverage) to the image of a burning car and some broken windows at the G20 summit in toronto needs to be put into perspective.

i won’t bother with the obvious comparative study of the isolated “violence” of a handful of protestors versus the overwhelming violence practiced day in and day out at the expense of millions upon millions of human lives by national states the world over in order to secure their geopolitical interests. too easy. too obvious. too fundamental.

i will however, point out that unless you’ve been in the situation of being a direct, physical and psychological target of overwhelming and belligerent street-level force FUNDED BY YOUR OWN TAX DOLLARS, it can be hard to understand the frustration and rage that can build over the course of an afternoon let alone over the course of a lifetime.

hell, you don’t even have to have experienced it directly. just sitting on our couches in our homes, cursing the stinking system, we all know that the state has a monopoly on ultimate violence and total control. otherwise it wouldn’t exist as it does, right? things would be different, cause we would have gotten up off our couches and changed it if we were operating on a level playing field. but their is no level playing field between the state and its subjects. citizens plainly have insufficient institutional power to derail the sociopathic behaviour of the prevailing order. frustration and rage is the predictable result.

that frustration and rage is exacerbated when you’re pitted face to face against a wall of riot cops who are alternately corralling and intentionally provoking your otherwise peaceful demonstration into a corner, firing rubber bullets at you, detaining and searching you with no cause, hitting you with batons, singling out and abducting organizers, impersonating protesters, firing gas canisters intentionally at head level, exploding sound grenades by your ears, permanently damaging your body with exposure to chemical bombs (all based on personal experience by the way) and then having it all portrayed in the media as if it were YOU that needs to be restrained and punished rather than the megalomaniacs on the other side of the fence that continue to plunder and pillage the planet at these obnoxious publicly-funded private-parties of the global elite.

in these situations, there is only so much futility a person can take before their rage can get the best of them and a burning cop car or a smashed bank window starts to look pretty appealing. yes, these are futile acts, but what do we expect people to do when they are treated like shit and the justice system does nothing to intervene on their behalf?

sure, ideally we could all rise above it and aim for a perfect, superhuman state of restraint. sure. and yes, ideally i too would prefer the demonstrations were strictly peaceful (for strategic reasons mainly) and that other, more polarizing means of demonstration and protest and disruption occurred outside of these public gatherings (where they would be more effective).

but the people who manage the security state won’t let that happen anyways. they WANT violence. they provoke it. why? it justifies their absurd budgets. it lets them test and refine (and demonstrate to the rest of the population) their methods of population control in a managed setting, preparing for the day that the shit really hits the fan and the police state finally gets to give up any pretense of democracy. why else would they have the summit in fucking downtown toronto, where spirited protest was absolutely certain to occur, rather than on some cruise-ship in the atlantic where it could all be completely avoided? these are essentially war-games being staged on our nickel. and we, the people, are the enemy.

so let’s just try to keep things in perspective when corporate media habitually fails to hold concentrations of global power to any sliver of account and instead chooses to replay footage of a stupid burning cop car on a loop for hours on end as their marquee story.

there are plenty of examples of independent video footage of cops provoking and mistreating people at the G20 summit surfacing on the net. do yourself a favour and check them out and ask yourself how you would feel if you were on the receiving end of it. or if it were a member of your family.

that’s all i got to say.

Posted by Jesus H. Chris on June 27th, 2010
http://propagandhi.com/2010/06/959/

Having relocated to a new place, leaving my established networks and circles behind, has fostered some reflection — amongst the personal challenges that arise from uncertainties. I am noting two very distinct and contrasting emotions: being very excited about what may come — which dominated prior to the move, and feeling quite daunted by it all. The latter currently overshadows the former, though the former does shine through at times. I have experienced similar circumstances in the past, though seemingly find myself struggling/unprepared this time (again?).

A key basis for feeling daunted is the uncertainty. This is directly linked to being way outside of my comfort zone. I am most certain that there is good to come, and much good in time. This is why I made the decision to relocate, to embrace the opportunity placed in front of me.

It is the present, being very much present in the here and now, that overly shapes my experiences. The physical move away from the diverse and strong circles and networks that I could be fallen back on, even draw from in simple ways — their existence often being enough in itself — is most profound. I can not just visit someone, or drop by a common space expecting to note some familiarity. Draw from spatial comfort and sense of place.

I am very aware that new networks will emerge, that I need to work on creating the potential for these. It is the void that exists between this point in the near future and the here and now that is quite challenging.

My current experiences also illustrate how even one event, the actions of a single person (or more), can make such a huge difference on feelings of uncertainty and the dautingness [yes, I believe I did make this word up] of it all. This provides much relief, yet is also has a tendency, at times, to reinforce feelings of uncertainty. Concerns about the pressure this can place on who/those this emanates from, alongside the loss of this support, come to the surface at times. It is almost like a Pandora’s box. Really wanting to have this support, though having some uncertainties about drawing too much from it and potentially losing it through too much expectation or pressure on them — even just losing aspects of it. This is challenging in itself.

These uncertainties aside, and they can and are pushed aside at times — and hopefully more every day, I have already noted the roots of potential and exciting prospects. I have already had exposure to many good things, and see many more interlinked with these. I have noted people doing and being prepared to do amazing things. In as much as I my move was to a location culturally very similar, and I find myself seeking connection with very similar networks to those I previously had, it is comforting to see this. I try not place expectation that I will find these. Perhaps is that I do not want to not find them. Rather, is it that I find expectations not being met as much harder to come to terms with than not having the expectations in the first place? Maybe this is borne out of my experiences, my socialisations, of experiencing life?

All this said and done, even though this may be far from my dominant feelings since the relocation, I still think that being pushed outside our comfort zones is a good thing. In hindsight — some time down the track — I foresee that I will look back on this as a time of personal growth and the roots of many wonderful experiences. The challenge for now is to face up to these feelings, these concerns — even fears — and try to embrace the uncertainty. To look past, at times, perceived feelings of being close to personal limits — the proverbial straw, and try and enjoy the moments. To be present and enjoy the real...

I am once again in a position where I will be moving away from friends to start largely a-fresh. In these weeks leading up to my departure, I have found myself appreciating the little things: many specific trees and plants, rock formations and other features of local landscape that I see everyday. I may have seen them everyday, yet I never really noticed them. Wheres sense of place such as these are often dismissed as being the realm of hippies, they ground much deeper in the politics of space, capitalism and the disassociation it both relies on and attempts to create.

Implied in having a sense of place, is have a connection. A connection to the social, political and environmental. Being rooted in community. We are very much happier when we feel part of a community, feel that we belong. Having networks, being a part of a network, adds to both sense of place and community. We become rooted in place socially, and often so much more. This can foster an appreciation of the local environ — whether this is based on ecological values, or an everyday appreciation of function and form.

I have been reflecting on the associations I have with place — the many places that form part of my locale. These are social and environmental. My work environment is quite aesthetic, and a number of animals have moved back in after prior dislocation. The forms and function of the structures are secondary to me, though they act to reinforce the sense of place I have.

In appreciating, feeling a connection to the small things, I recalled a conversation I had with a counsellor many moons ago. I was heavily invested in campaigns seeking to protect forest areas from destruction — areas whilst far from my locale, I had developed an strong association and sense of place. Some of these areas I had visited and immersed myself in, others I appreciated based on their existence — transcending anthropocentric value. I was having difficulty comprehending the destruction imposed by our species, often for little more than notions of development, progress and capital accumulation.

The counsellor advised I ground myself — literally. To go outside and take my shoes of, to stand on the stone and grass and feel it. Whereas this may sound very new age or hippy, it directly contrasts with the dissociation that capitalism requires. By this simple act of bare foot on ground, there is a physical connection. Much the same was as placing your hand on a tree, running some foliage through your fingers — of physically hugging a tree. There is a connection there. Unfortunately some of us are uncomfortable with this. This can be that some of us can appreciate the natural without this direct physical connection, whereas for others, they are so far removed that they cannot see the benefits of such connectedness.

In my reflecting on the local, on the individual trees, plants and landscapes that have formed my peripheral visions for many years — sometimes drawing in my attention, what is clear to me is that we are far too disconnected from the real, the actual, the natural. I think we lose something of ourselves in this. Taking our shoes off and standing in the grass is a simple step towards countering this. As is stopping for a moment to take in what is around us. Slow down. Take stock. Be present.