It’s easy to know what you’re against in a dysfunctional, unsustainable and increasingly dystopian world. Railing against the world we have to endure may make you feel better but…does it lead to positive change? We know that the political, economic and social system we inhabit is rapidly heading towards its use by date and that we have to bring about radical change if we’re going to survive. There are many ways of bringing about the change that’s needed.
What this page is about is listing articles I’ve written on what can be done in the here and now to boost sustainability, community cohesion and neighbourhood resilience in an increasingly volatile world. It’s about building the new world we need and want in the decaying shell of the old one we currently endure.
As a part of this, we’ve created The Directory which is a list of grassroots projects in Bristol, Bath and the surrounding settlements.
Guerilla gardening… Just do it! 13.8.26
The other benefits are building a feeling of solidarity and cohesion in your neighbourhood as people get together to work on a common project. A project that as it matures will give people a sense of pride in and responsibility towards their neighbourhood and boost community morale. A confidence booster that can inspire people to take on bigger and more complex projects that will start to lead to real, meaningful change.
Prefigurative action 9.8.26
Being against the system doesn’t just mean engaging in reactive activity to events. It’s also about showing the kind of world we want to move towards and fight for. It’s about building the social and community structures we need, so that when revolution does come, we have the foundations ready for the new world we want. It’s about the kind of prefigurative action we can engage in to bring this about.
The Directory...it’s back:) 6.8.26
You may well ask, what is The Directory? It’s a listing of a range of grassroots projects in Bristol, Bath and the surrounding area. The projects listed range from community food growing and distribution projects, through ‘friends of’ and other amenity groups and onto community groups and social spaces. Basically, projects working at the community level that make a positive difference.
Some thoughts on ways of subverting the system:) 2.8.26
What would not just be a threat to the system but also offer the glimmer of what a new world could look like is if we organise collectively. Basically, we’re talking about putting the principles of mutual aid and solidarity into practice while telling the divide and rule merchants to get stuffed.
Cohesion vs division 30.7.26
All we can say is that if we don’t want to slide into a dystopian hell where we have neighbourhoods where no one trusts each other, no one feels safe and people feel they have no options other than calling on the ‘authorities’ to step in, or resorting to vigilantism, then people need to step up to the plate.
Actually getting stuff done... 24.7.26
The thing is that as we see it, there’s no definitive ‘right way’ of building the better world that we want. To try and impose one smacks of totalitarianism. Despite the attempts of the psychopaths who presume to rule over us to strip us of our identities and customs, humanity is still amazingly diverse.
Keeping it local and under our control 22.7.26
Gaining control of our food supply at the grassroots is not some nice, feel good add on to our lives. It’s certainly not virtue signalling. If we want the freedom and autonomy that we need to live a truly human life, it’s an absolute necessity.
A sense of belonging 6.7.26
We believe that organic radical change can only come from the grassroots. Any form of top down change is essentially a coup without any real legitimacy. A key point about working from the grassroots is the need for a sense of community. When we say community, we mean a physically based one where people interact with each other face to face in real life, not some so called online one.
A visit to the archives - Rebuilding solidarity at the grassroots… 27.6.26
So, how can we start to re-build the sense of solidarity we need to fight back against this and eventually, build the better world that we deserve? Start small and start right at the grassroots where you live. A simple act of solidarity is looking out for the neighbours on either side of you and for them to do the same.
Building for change from the base upwards 23.6.26
A project for change at the base will only work if it’s run by and for the community. Projects that are seen to have been parachuted in will not get the legitimacy they need to survive, let alone achieve anything. If a project based in a neighbourhood isn’t owned by the community, perceptions of what it is and aims to achieve will soon turn towards the negative.
Principles... 21.6.26
As part of the process of developing these principles, it’s necessary to broadly state what we believe in. Below is a brief outline of the kind of society we aspire to. To garner any kind of support, a positive vision of what we would ideally want is essential.
Food deserts, food supply and taking back control 16.6.26
Whoever, controls the food supply, controls the population. With the growing level of cynicism about the narrative we were being fed to justify the lockdowns and restrictions during the Covid ‘crisis’, trust in national government, local authorities and the mainstream media is in decline.
Already in place... 14.6.26
What is a volunteer? It’s someone who gives up their free time, who unpaid, puts in the graft to make things happen in their community. What would happen if everyone who volunteers in their community decided to quit? To illustrate this, I’ll run through what could happen in Keynsham, the town I live in if every volunteer decided to quit.
Thoughts on community safety, cohesion and solidarity 3.10.25
What is the solution to making our neighbourhoods and streets safer for everyone? There is no easy solution to a complex problem that has a range of causes. Those who are advocating simplistic, authoritarian solutions, are doing so for political gain as opposed to finding any lasting solution.
