Non-Violent Non-Cooperation Can Get You In Big Trouble

by Robert Wilkinson

Apparently so can working within the system if they don't like you. Environmental Activist Tim DeChristopher bought some oil and gas leases and da Man did NOT like it.

Courtesy of the ever-great Truth Out we find a story of a man who knew the government would be auctioning off public land in a sale in Salt Lake City. He knew it was wrong, figured he had to do something, but didn't know what. So he showed up and did some legit bidding on leases.

The article, "This Hero Didn't Stand a Chance" by Truthdig's Christ Hedges, outlines just how messed up the US legal, economic, and governing system has become. It's really worth the read, since the point is made that in order to effect meaningful change, activists will have to learn ways to make connections to create a more democratic system, change the power structure, and discredit the argument that there's no problem with practices that degrade the environment. To which I'll add, all while maintaining a sense of humor.

I'm watching "Gandhi" again right now, and am reminded of something the Mahatma said about his non-violent tactics working only against a civilized foe. If the system wishes to punish activists who operate within the law, then we're on the edge of a revolutionary period unlike any seen in centuries.

In this article you'll read of an anti-constitutional prosecutor and judge deliberately misinforming a jury, a refusal to allow extraordinarily relevant evidence, and a damning indictment of the American political process that allows insiders responsible for rampant pollution to trump freedom of expression (and energy commerce, for that matter!)

Anyway, a few bits from the article:

His prosecution is evidence that our moral order has been turned upside down. The bankers and swindlers who trashed the global economy and wiped out some $40 trillion in wealth amass obscene amounts of money... They do not go to jail. Regulatory agencies, compliant to the demands of corporations, refuse to impede the destruction unleashed by the coal, oil and natural gas companies as they turn the planet into a hothouse of pollutants, poisoned water, fouled air and contaminated soil in the frenzied quest for greater and greater profits. Those who manage and make fortunes from pre-emptive wars, embrace torture, carry out extrajudicial assassinations, deny habeas corpus and run up the largest deficits in human history are feted as patriots. But when a courageous citizen such as DeChristopher peacefully derails the corporate and governmental destruction of the ecosystem, he is sent to jail.

“The rules are written by those who profit from the status quo,” DeChristopher said when I reached him by phone this weekend in Minneapolis. “If we want to change that status quo we have to step outside of those rules. We have to put pressure on those within the political system to choose one side or another....”

...“The chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said what we do in the next two or three years will determine our future, and he said that in 2007 and we didn’t do anything,” he said. “A lot of folks like Jim Hansen admit it off the record, but won’t say it publicly, that it is actually too late for any amount of emission reductions to prevent some sort of collapse of our industrial civilization. That certainly doesn’t mean all is lost. It means we are in a position where we are definitely going to be navigating the most intense period of change humanity has ever seen. What that means for us is that it really matters who is in charge during that intense period of change. It means that things are going to be desperate.”

“Generally in desperate times those in power do desperate things to hold on to their power in the name of order and security,” he went on. “That is when things have gotten really ugly in the localized examples of collapse that we have in history, whether they were economically induced as in Germany in the 1930s or environmentally induced as in Darfur. Rather than an opportunity for mass reflection, which it could be, where we could say we had this coming because of fundamental flaws in the way we structured our society, that maybe greed and competition were not the best values to base everything off of, rather than doing that, it is much more common in those historical examples to say, ‘Oh, it was because of those people.’ A class of people was scapegoated. The powerful said, ‘Those are the people who are causing our problems and if we take it out on them we can maintain order and security for the rest of us.’ That is when things get really ugly and dehumanizing.”

“We are starting to see hints of that already with the rather minor ripples that we have been having in the past few years with the economic situation,” he said. “Rather than admit the fundamental flaws, many of those in power have said, ‘Oh, it is because of those immigrants that are taking people’s jobs, or those Arabs, or those unions, whoever the scapegoat is, to try and vilify someone. What we are on track for are much larger ripples than we have had in the past couple years with the economic problems. If we go into that collapse with our current power structure and a world run by corporations, where we have ignorant and apathetic people who are afraid of their own government and think their job is to do what they are told, even if they think it is immoral, that is when things can get really ugly. If we go into that collapse with an awakened and educated population that views it as their role to create the society they want and hold their government accountable then we have the opportunity, whatever hardships we might face, to actually build a better world on the ashes of this one.”

“Our strategies must be to not only change our energy system and food system, but to change our power structures,” he said. “We shouldn’t be looking for the big corporations running the show to become a little greener and cleaner. We should be overthrowing those corporations running our government. Our job as a movement is not just to reduce emissions; while we still need to do that, we also have this other challenge of maintaining our humanity through whatever challenges lie ahead. This is much more abstract and foreign to this movement.”

“Civil disobedience puts us in a vulnerable position,” DeChristopher said. “It puts us in a position where we are refusing to be obedient to injustice. Civil disobedience puts us in a position where we are making a risk and possibly making a sacrifice to stand up against that injustice. It also puts us in a position where with that vulnerability we see how much we need other people. This is something I have experienced over the past few years as people have come out of nowhere to support me, to make actions more powerful and to help me personally get through this experience and grow from it. Appreciating these connections is one of the most important parts of resiliency. A lot of the unwillingness to take bold action is coming from a disempowerment that comes from a lack of connection. When we view ourselves as isolated individuals it does not make sense to stand up to a big powerful institution like a big corporation or big government. It is not until we gain the understanding that we are part of something much bigger that we feel empowered to take those necessary actions. This is a self-reinforcing cycle. The more we stick our neck out the more connected we become and the more empowered we become to do it again....”

“Violence is the realm our current power structure is really good at,” he said. “They are eager to play that game. Any opportunity we give them [to use violence], they will win. That is the game they win at. The history of social movements in this country shows that we are far more powerful with nonviolent civil disobedience than we are with what our audience considers to be violence.”

“Once our actions are deemed to be violent then that justifies repressive tactics on the part of the government,” he said. “With a nonviolent movement we are still inviting a strong reaction from the government or ruling authorities. We are inviting a powerful reaction against ourselves. But it undermines the moral legitimacy of our current government. That is the path we need to pursue. Rather than reinforcing their legitimacy we need to undermine their legitimacy.”

As I said, it's happening as we speak. We do not have to wait for 2012 to see the writing on the wall. Find your voice however you can, act in accordance with your integrity and your heart's knowing, and move into your power, love, wisdom, and intelligence to find your community and do whatever you must do to make your life and world a better place.

Just as there's no time to waste, there is also no need for haste or the fear of what is certain and what is not. It's also good to remember that many of us who know we are Spirits in the material world will outlast and outlive this chaotic dysfunctional political and economic spell that now grips humanity. Also that all becomes clear as we move with our higher intention and choose a greater love over a lesser fear.

Tim DeChristopher is contributing what he can, non-violently and non-cooperatively, to shine a light on a massive injustice and a rigged system that threatens our existence. Ultimately, the good, true, and beautiful will prevail after this system crashes of its own weight. The task is nothing less than helping however we can to bring our world back into balance.

© Copyright 2011 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Harlee]

Excellent!!!

[Elah]

Thank you for this. Inspirational man, Tim DeChristopher...a true hero and light warrior.

[Cris]

Dear Robert,

This is very inspiring and motivating.

I am ready to get up and go as I should.

Thank you.

Mahalo, as you would say.

[Nicolas]

Great post. This kind of information has to be shared to create a wave motion in society everywhere.

[anna]

Thank you Robert, to bring some hope to me. I have been worried about political development in my country (openly rasistic party is now the 3rd biggest party in this country, after spring elections). Your writings give me power to think that better times will come, even if the situation at the moment feels unbearable.

Thank you :)

[Sara]

Wow, this is an incredible piece of insight and encouragement to be courageously focused on making good changes, Robert. Thank you for the inspiration!! My wheels are turning....

[born free]

Wow

fabulous reading of things Robert,

a very similar situation is unfolding in the KIMBERLY REGION
NORTH WESTERN AUSTRALIA
http://www.savethekimberley.com/wp/2011/06/30/kimberley-gas-protest-camp-and-blockade-manari-rd-james-price-point-day-25/
http://www.savethekimberley.com/wp/2011/07/05/police-attempt-to-break-blockade-update-day-30/

VERY INTERESTED IN THE WAY TOWARD TOPPLING THE POWER OF THE CORPORATE GIANTS

Trying to appeal to the UN for help

any feedback from you appreciated

born free

[Beth in SoCal]

Robert - this is the best read I have come across all week; I started a media site a few months ago called Watchdog Progressive and as I do more and more research and reading, i am slowly seeing the reforming of thought & the beginnings of a new counter culture movement; broader based than the 60s and more intelligent and empathic. I have reposted this article on my original site, Path to Well-Being, as: On the Edge of Paradigm Shift. Also, reposted to my Watchdog Progressive Facebook.

[Beth in SoCal]

When I am asked what i "follow", i say, the good, the true, and the beautiful. It brought a smile to my face when you wrote those very words.

[caliban]

"maintaining humanity" what a feat! The writing is on the wall. I continue to feel we can do this easy or we can do it hard.

The attack on latino immigrants in the us is really something. I believe the stats I heard are 1 out 17 people in the us are latino and somewhere down the line it is predicted to become 1 out of 3. Maybe it would be a good idea for the enforcers to stop pointing fingers.

[born free]

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dr34uDl8EqCY%26feature%3Dplayer_embedded&h=sAQAXZXAJ

broome western australia