I thought I'd take a minute to blog about what was memorable to me over the past year. I did this last year so why not make it a new tradition? … I heard Chelsea Manning ask her followers recently: “Was 2018 just an expansion pack of 2017?” – like buying new content for the same game. A new game, a new system is needed. What we need is radical social change, real democracy, and a caring economy – not just expansions of evil institutions that oppress humanity and turn our shared world into their dumping ground.
In 2018, I heard warnings from physical scientists about humans having 12 years to reduce carbon emissions in order to avoid catastrophic warming scenarios. Some people responded to the IPCC report this year by renewing the concept of a global carbon tax – they argue the 'invisible hand' of the market has failed to reduce net consumption of fossil fuels. Findings of climate scientists regarding increasing rates of polar ice caps melting has underscored the need for humans to act now – a carbon tax is a potential ecosocialist transition. A green coalition may be formed by environmental activists working together across lines of resistance – the alliance of red and green, of economic justice and environmental activism, must be placed at the center of the socialist vision. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who was elected to the US House of Representatives this year and will become the youngest woman to serve in the US Congress, has tried to push for more climate action by framing the issue as a “Green New Deal”. What we need are not technological approaches to the ecological crisis but a wider revolution in ecology and community, an ecological revolution, and an end to environmental commodification.
One of the most poignant moments this year came on the “transgender day of remembrance” – this was a day when we remembered people who died because they were targeted for being transgender. Most were black trans women. There is more research which now confirms that discrimination and harassment against LGBT individuals is an epidemic. I cried when I listened to the stories of lives that were ended because of hate and bigotry. I listened to my peers talk about how gender violence and transphobia affects them and makes trans people feel threatened, such as when tran people use public restrooms that are partitioned by gender. When it was reveled that the Trump administration was trying to use legal/policy moves to erase transgender people from existence, I became enraged and concerned for my friends. What would it feel like to be told you don't exist and to face the threat of violence on the street everyday? On the tag #transrightsarehumanrights people were discussing the recent threats to trans existence and organizing political responses. I felt inspired when I read this hashtag over the past year because I see trans people fighting for their rights to live free from violence and discrimination. It gives me a little hope for the future.
I want to thank some of my friends who've helped shape my politics and motivated me to become a better person over the past year. Lapis has challenged me to become a better writer and to be more critical of the media – she is amazing, follow her. I also need to thank geek, google it, raddistleft, robynette, owen macdonald, amber, and kotenruu (charlie) for helping me understand more about working class politics and ecosocialism over the past year. I am sorry if I missed anyone, I am so grateful for your friendship and I am very proud to be your comrade.
Peace to you in the new year,
teglin