What is 'activism' when we’ve already passed the point of no return? | Mickey Z.

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Mickey Z. -- World News Trust

For years, whenever I gave public talks, I’d provide some gloom-and-doom factoids in a misguided attempt to jolt people into “action.” For example:

• 93 percent of the large fish in the ocean are already gone.
• 78 percent of old-growth forests have been clear-cut.
• Every 24 hours, 200,000 acres of rainforest are destroyed.
• Each day, about 200 plant and animal species go extinct.

Jolt people into action? [insert laugh track here] As if most people are even remotely interested in taking action. And for those who do claim to care, what type of “activism” could any of us perform (key word) that wouldn’t be laughingly pathetic? Deck chairs on the Titanic, and all that… 

Imagine you’re running out of time.
I’ve long stopped giving public talks but if I did, here’s a surprise: I’d still offer those dire statistics. 

• 93 percent of the large fish in the ocean are already gone.
• 78 percent of old-growth forests have been clear-cut.
• Every 24 hours, 200,000 acres of rain forest are destroyed.
• Each day, about 200 plant and animal species go extinct.

Here’s why: If these and other nightmarish realities can jolt us instead into acceptance, a whole ‘nother brand of “action” may follow. Thanks to the white-supremacist-capitalist-patriarchy, we’ve long passed the proverbial point of no return. The mythical #revolution ain’t happening, comrades. We’re fucked.

This accurate assessment can be great news, however, for the most vulnerable beings among us, the ones suffering more than anyone, those always ignored while ego-driven #radicals scheme up another hare-brained movement [sic]. Acceptance of our impending doom -- in a global sense -- can inspire us to be WAY more useful -- in a local sense. 

Imagine you just don’t have enough time.
The oceans are rapidly dying, for example, so there’s absolutely no logical reason to do something inane like bring your own bag to the market or carry a sign that reads: “There is No Planet B.” But the health of the oceans is of no concern to anyone (human or non-human) in urgent need of food, shelter, medical care, or protection. Therefore, we can each instantly become active and productive by focusing on the present moment. 

If someone within your reach needs help and you have the means to make it happen… help them. Now. Feel the urgency. Go out of your way. Make yourself uncomfortable. Every single day.

• 93 percent of the large fish in the ocean are already gone.

We waited too long to challenge such devastation.

• 78 percent of old-growth forests have been clear-cut.

And we can’t do a damn thing to stop it.

• Every 24 hours, 200,000 acres of rain forest are destroyed.

We woke up way too late, fam.

• Each day, about 200 plant and animal species go extinct. And we won’t save any of them. 

But we can embrace old, old school “activism”: Compassionate humans working almost exclusively within their tiny communities. Our daily goals should (logically) have nothing to do with “revolution” or “saving the environment.” We lack the power or cohesiveness for such goals -- and there’s not enough time anyway.

We blew it. It’s way too late in a vague, amorphous collapse-y kind of way. But, in a clear and concrete way, it’s never too late to surrender our egos and accept reality. From there, we can become effective at last. After years (or decades) of virtue signaling, we’ll finally make a difference in someone else’s life.

Imagine you’ve already run out of time.
Your #badass social media posts and #radical perspective are worthless. Your most wonderful power exists right here, right now -- in your community and in your willingness to trade “theory” for in-the-moment, short-term, empathetic practice. Like, say, the way a hospice nurse or cat lady behaves.

TL;DR: We’re fucked and we’ve run out of time. So shut up and help someone ASAP.

Mickey Z. is the founder of Helping Homeless Women - NYC, offering direct relief to women on the streets of New York City. To help him grow this project, CLICK HERE and make a donation right now. And please spread the word!

What is 'activism' when we’ve already passed the point of no return? by Mickey Z. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at https://worldnewstrust.com/what-is-activism-when-we-ve-already-passed-the-point-of-no-return-mickey-z.