Open Thread WE 13 OCT 21 ~ Solarpunk


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“There is a real situation, that can’t be denied, but it is too big for any individual to know in full, and so we must create our understanding by way of an act of the imagination.”
― Kim Stanley Robinson, The Ministry for the Future

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In the spirit of open threads for open minds, today's offering is on near-future sci-fi novels with a positive perspective. It is a sub-genre roughly described as Solarpunk. Quite a change in focus from the gothic styled Steampunk, an outgrowth of the Madison 5th ave heroin look. Why not imagine the future as something enlightening and fresh? The top display is mostly Asian authors, then the venerable KSR weighs in, followed by an ancient writer projecting ahead. Enjoy.

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It is a novel both immediate and impactful, desperate and hopeful in equal measure, and it is one of the most powerful and original books on climate change ever written.

“it’s called socialism. Or, for those who freak out at that word, like Americans or international capitalist success stories reacting allergically to that word, call it public utility districts. They are almost the same thing. Public ownership of the necessities, so that these are provided as human rights and as public goods, in a not-for-profit way. The necessities are food, water, shelter, clothing, electricity, health care, and education. All these are human rights, all are public goods, all are never to be subjected to appropriation, exploitation, and profit. It’s as simple as that.”

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50998056-the-ministry-for-the-future...

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“For if you suffer your people to be ill-educated, and their manners to be corrupted from their infancy, and then punish them for those crimes to which their first education disposed them, what else is to be concluded from this, but that you first make thieves and then punish them.”

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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1663412.Utopia?from_search=true&from...

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Top book ..
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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56906532-multispecies-cities?from_se...
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What might city ecosystems look like in the future if we strive for multispecies justice in our urban settings?

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Just a theme, mind you. This space is open to all thoughts and observations, except for jab jabber, which can be addressed in The Dose.
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Namaste
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1629 -- Dutch West Indies Co grants religious freedom in West Indies

1773 -- The Whirlpool Galaxy discovered by astronomer Charles Messier

1864 -- Maryland voters adopt new constitution, including abolition of slavery

1884 -- Greenwich in London established as the universal time meridian of longitude

2017 -- Archaeologists announce the discovery of Arabic characters "Allah” and “Ali” on Viking funeral costumes from a grave in Gamla Uppsala, Sweden

2021 -- We are still here

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Lookout's picture

The KSR book sounds like fun. Most people read Huxley's BNW, but many fewer read his book "Island" where he describes an idealistic society. Not to be a spoiler, but at the end it isn't allowed to thrive, but is curtailed by outside forces. So it has a bit of realism as well.

I've been a fan of futurists most of my life...Bucky Fuller, Alvin Toffler, James Lovelock, Paul Ehrlich, and many others have been a major influence on my view of the world.

If I was world czar, I would promote community based living, minimizing energy use and promoting small farms and local food production, walkable/biking multipurpose neighborhoods, as well as local energy production with healthful housing for all. It is doable, but TPTB would rather gin up a war with China instead. Nice to dream though.

And at least I've been able to accomplish much of that vision for myself, but wish others could have a better existence too.

Thanks for the Ministry of the Future rec and OT! Take care and be well.

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12 users have voted.

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

@Lookout

is a great concept. Also admired Bucky Fuller's approach to organic architecture. All these ideas make so much sense. The theory of devoting a future to positive outcomes is enticing. Gives less credence to the doom and gloom scenarios being fed to us by the fear mongers.

Imagine a better future!

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snoopydawg's picture

@Lookout

Try Hard Magic book 1 of the grimnoir chronicles. It’s based on history around the Great Depression but some people can do magic like extra strength, immediate travel or teleport and other fun things. Buckminster Fuller makes appearances through the tales and it’s just a fun read. I fell in love with Faye and her funny attitude about life. I can’t recommend it enough.

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

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3 users have voted.

@gjohnsit
from the author of this OT?

Just a theme, mind you. This space is open to all thoughts and observations, except for jab jabber, which can be addressed in The Dose.

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@JtC
I just thought that this was really funny and thought I would share it.
Has C99P lost it's sense of humor?

[edit: Oh. So we've got an entirely different OT just for covid vacccines? Seriously?]

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@gjohnsit
and yes, I have lost my sense of humor.

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@JtC
I got banned from r/socialism recently simply for pointing out that both major parties were undermining democracy.
I also got banned from r/CAStateWorkers a few weeks earlier for proving that the primary state labor union was corrupt.

So do what you feel that you have to do.

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Raggedy Ann's picture

@gjohnsit , like all the rest we are subjected to.

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

@Raggedy Ann
you wont like the next mandate if this doesn't work.

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Raggedy Ann's picture

@JtC More surprises from tptb!

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

@Raggedy Ann
take a week off.

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3 users have voted.

@gjohnsit
you need to get out a little more.

[edit: Oh. So we've got an entirely different OT just for covid vacccines? Seriously?]

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Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal's picture

Excellent choice, sir!

May I include an old standby?

"What's the challenge?" the capitalist asks, while the entire fucking universe unrolls just outside the window behind him.

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"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

@Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal

brought up in your OT yesterday might work to fill
the apparent void we have on Fridays?

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@QMS
I'm doing the Friday OT for now.

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@JtC

Sorry, I guess that slipped my mind.
Glad you are taking it on!

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2 users have voted.

Sorry to see the devolution of this thread.
Tried to start it out with a positive slant.
Shucks folks.
Please reserve Covid related topics to the
concurrent Dose thread.
Thanks.

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2 users have voted.

regards to this.

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enhydra lutris's picture

Solar punk sounds good, public ownership of necessities sounds like a primal necessity, but this and far too many other societies and economies are bsed on exactly the opposite, theft and privatization of the commons, so it will be a constant struggle.

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4 users have voted.

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

As I was working on the offline member contact list, I was looking for a fellow who used to host OT's here. Lot's of poetry. He was a retired broadway actor, last heard from when he moved to the Piedmont to settle his mother's affairs. Then he moved out to the outer banks to go fishing. Sent him a C99 hat. We had a delightful phone conversation one night, maybe 2 years ago. Does anyone remember his member name? Thought I'd include him as an honorary member.

Thanks!

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Lookout's picture

@QMS

https://caucus99percent.com/users/smiley7

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

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the book reviews QMS. It would be nice to aim for a Utopia instead of our insistent aim for a dystopia. It's a choice, we've been going along the dystopia path for a long time now. I'm all for trying a better path.

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Sima's picture

Multispecies Cities idea. Love it. I've always tried to follow where that idea leads, for instance almost every species (except introduced non-native slugs - if they are on my veggies, they gotta go) is welcome on our farm. Even the predators. A cougar has taken a couple of my goats. I don't want to kill the cougar, I want to protect my goats better. So a new gate and fence went up, I walk the perimeter every night, the dog goes out in the early morning to sniff and bark, and the goats are protected.
We've got a 'grinnie' (oppossum) visiting our feral cats' food dishes in the garage. I don't want to kill the grinnie. So I put on gloves and go out, pick it up and move it outside. A few times of that, and it won't visit anymore; until the next year, when a new grinnie takes over. And so on... when my future husband first met me I was showing him through the rose garden. We came across a spider web spanning the pathway. I stopped, and he offered to kill the spider for me. I gave him a shocked look, 'No, no. They eat aphids and kill mosquitos and all kinds of things. They are GOOD', and I very carefully unhooked the web so we could walk past, and rehooked it once we were beyond it. Heh, future husband's reaction was priceless!
Anyway, thanks for letting us know about solarpunk! I'm off to get a few books!

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If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so