Category Archives: antiwar

Independent books for July 4th

Books for Independence Day

There’s never been a better time to speak out against injustices, stand up together for our rights and take action to preserve sovereignty, community and democracy.

Occupy World Street

A Global Roadmap for Radical Economic and Political Reform

Occupy World Street: A Global Roadmap for Radical Economic and Political Reform

As demonstrators worldwide demand change, Occupy World Street offers a sweeping vision of how to reform our global economic and political structures, break away from empire, and build a world of self-determining sovereign states that respect the need for ecological sustainability and uphold human rights.

In this refreshingly detailed plan, Ross Jackson shows how a handful of small nations could take on a leadership role; create new alliances, new governance, and new global institutions; and, in cooperation with grassroots activists, pave the way for other nations to follow suit.
“Ross Jackson presents us with an extraordinary global plan to tackle the multiple crises of our times—awesome in conception, sensitive in detail, and realistic enough to succeed.”—Richard Register, author of Ecocities—Rebuilding Cities in Balance with Nature.

2052: A Global Forecast for the Next Forty Years

2052: A Global Forecast for the Next Forty Years

Commemorating the fortieth Anniversary of The Limits to Growth, 2052 asks, what will happen to humanity over the next forty years?

We know that much needs to change to make our future more sustainable. But will we rise to the occasion? How much change is likely to occur? And how do we prepare to live good lives in the world that is likely to emerge?
These are the questions that propelled Jorgen Randers, a renowned analyst of global trends, to ask dozens of leading experts around the globe to weigh in with their best predictions on how our economies, energy supplies, natural resources, climate, food, fisheries, militaries, political divisions, cities, psyches, and more will take shape in the coming decades.

Do your job like a man: Peace Song for June 25th

The Great Mandala (Wheel of Life)” by Peter Yarrow is the Peace Song of the Day for June 25, 2012.

The lyrics are unusual for a peace song, because they use the discourse of the opposition. And, the song also includes sensitive reflections of male pride and self-defense mechanisms. A father, who has already lost one son to war, tells his other son, “So I told him that he’d better shut his mouth, and do his job like a man…”

I realized the power of this song, because it was praised by Richie Havens in the movie Peter, Paul and Mary – Carry It On – A Musical Legacy.

Continue reading Do your job like a man: Peace Song for June 25th

Book Review: Why You’ve Never Met A Man Named Shirley

Woman at desk. Clip Art / Copy Free Art from the 1800's. Used to illustrate a 2012 book review of Shirley by Charlotte Bronte.Charlotte Bronte’s novel Shirley is a must read for people interested in the topics of: economic justice; Occupy Wall Street ideas; women’s social history; feminism; war and peace; and charity. Bronte’s second published book, coming on the heels of the success of her Jane Eyre, is another masterpiece, full of drama and surprises, with some radical politics, and an extra heroine thrown into the mix.

Why haven’t many people heard of this book? One set of reasons can be traced to the structure of the book, while another set of reasons relates to suppression due to the political climate of the 1840’s, when it was published, through to today. Continue reading Book Review: Why You’ve Never Met A Man Named Shirley

What’s in your Occupy Handbook?

The Occupy Handbook edited by Janet ByrnePeace Couple was queried about receiving a free review copy of a book of essays called the Occupy Handbook (535pp, 2012, Back Bay Books).

The book’s title got me thinking about the possibility of which essays would be in my personal Occupy Handbook.  First, would be a selection from the Fellowship of Reconciliation‘s 1958 MLK comic book that was translated into Arabic and used as a nonviolent training tool for the Arab Spring.  Paired with that would be an essay from Gene Sharp, whose 198 Methods of Nonviolent Action shaped the tactics of the Arab Spring.  Next, I would include an article by Adbusters and Naomi Klein about the fomenting of Occupy in the US.  Delving into the Occupy movement itself would require an exploration of the power of consensus and direct democracy: So, I would include writings that reflect the concepts shown in the video Consensus (Direct Democracy @ Occupy Wall Street):

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dtD8RnGaRQ]

The Occupy Handbook we were sent to review is heavily tilted toward economic issues (and covers them well), but the book barely acknowledges the democracy, social justice, antiwar, and environmental issues that have been raised by the Occupy movement.  That is why it would be important to include  the fruit of consensus process such as Occupy Wall Street’s One Demand and the Declaration of the Occupation of New York City which contain a much broader vision of a better world than simply economic reform.

In terms of people who have informed the Occupy movement, I would include:

Continue reading What’s in your Occupy Handbook?

Waiting On The World To Change: Peace Song for 6/6/2012

Waiting On The World To Change by John Mayer is the Peace Song of the Day for June 6th. I love how this song celebrates the awakening that things are wrong, and war is bad. I hope that the message also comes through that just waiting is not enough. If you are ready to do something, see some links and suggestions at the readmore.

Continue reading Waiting On The World To Change: Peace Song for 6/6/2012