Socialism: Creating a World to Change Our Lives by Sam Friedman (must-read)

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Dandelion Salad

Republished with permission from Solidarity and Against The Current

by Sam Friedman
Solidarity and Against The Current, January-February 2017, #186
Originally posted Jan. 10, 2017
December 26, 2017

THERE IS A growing suspicion among many people involved in movements against war, for social justice, and for an ecologically sustainable society that capitalism can only create a world of war, injustice and environmental destruction. There is widespread and growing understanding that the current social order cannot continue without catastrophe occurring —yet we lack a vision of what might replace it.

Ellen Brown: Real Wealth – A Future We Can Bank On + Vicki Robin + Donnie Maclurcan + Helena Norberg-Hodge

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Updated: June 1, 2015

with Ellen Brown
Writer, Dandelion Salad
The Web of Debt Blog
May 21, 2015

The Economics of Happiness on May 21, 2015

Ellen Brown is the founder of the Public Banking Institute, and author of twelve books, including the best-selling Web of Debt. This is her plenary talk at the Economics of Happiness conference, held in Portland, Oregon in February, 2015. The conference was organized by Local Futures, a non-profit organization that has been promoting a shift from global to local for nearly 40 years. To learn more about the conference or Local Futures’ work, go to www.localfutures.org.

Connected – A Film for Change

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globaldocumentary on Nov 7, 2013

“‘Connected’ is a film made by Paul and Kate Maple, a UK based family who have made it their lives for the last 4 years. Worried about the future and the seemingly insurmountable mountain of problems in the world, Paul and Kate decided to ditch their busy lives and start working out if there was any way they could help create positive social change…”

Secret Trade Agenda Threatens Shift Toward Sustainable Food System by Karen Hansen-Kuhn + Promises and Perils of the #TTIP

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by Karen Hansen-Kuhn
www.iatp.org
October 24, 2013

After being delayed by the U.S. government shutdown, talks for a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) are quietly gearing up again. Tariff barriers between the U.S. and EU are already low, so these negotiations are focused squarely on achieving “regulatory coherence.”

Shutdown Solution: Opt Out of Tyranny by David DeGraw

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by David DeGraw
EvolveSociety
October 16, 2013

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It’s Time For A Do-It-Ourselves Revolution

“All countries are basically social arrangements, accommodations to changing circumstances.
No matter how permanent and even sacred they may seem at any one time,
in fact they are all artificial and temporary.” -– Strobe Talbott

How much longer are we going to protest and post online reports, rants, videos and launch campaigns that will hopefully raise awareness on issue after issue, problem after problem, as the situation gets worse?

The Story of Solutions

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storyofstuffproject on Oct 1, 2013

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The Story of Solutions explores how we can move our economy in a more sustainable and just direction, starting with orienting ourselves toward a new goal.

In the current ‘Game of More’, we’re told to cheer a growing economy — more roads, more malls, more Stuff! — even though our health indicators are worsening, income inequality is growing and polar icecaps are melting.

But what if we changed the point of the game? What if the goal of our economy wasn’t more, but better — better health, better jobs and a better chance to survive on the planet?

Shouldn’t that be what winning means?

Saru Jayaraman: Why Sustainable Food Must Include Sustainable Working Conditions for the People Who Serve Us

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talkingsticktv on Sep 8, 2013

Talk by Saru Jayaraman author of “Behind the Kitchen Door” on “Serving Up Justice: Why Sustainable Food Must Include Sustainable Working Conditions for the People Who Serve Us” given September 7, 2013 at the Community Alliance for Global Justice 7th Annual Strengthening Local Economics Everywhere Dinner held at University Christian Church in Seattle, WA. 

Chris Hedges: As a Socialist, I Have No Voice in Corporate Media, Part 6

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with Chris Hedges
Writer, Dandelion Salad
July 21, 2013

TheRealNews on Jul 24, 2013

On Reality Asserts Itself with Paul Jay, Chris Hedges says an effective movement that defies power will have to be disciplined and articulate what a vision of socialism might look like.

Spinning Out Of Control by Lesley Docksey

by Lesley Docksey
Writer, Dandelion Salad
March 12, 2013

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Being born ‘with a silver spoon in your mouth’ means that you start with an advantage that others don’t have: parents with money, property, influence, business connections and so on, connections that can last for generations.  A silver spoon that appeared recently was the exceedingly generous compensation paid to British slave owners when the UK abolished slavery in 1833, though not one penny went to the freed slaves.  The ancestors of many well-connected people (including David Cameron) benefited. 

Carolyn Baker: Preparing Emotionally for the Coming Chaos

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peakmoment·Jan 1, 2013

“The external growth of a budding economy is over. The focus on growth now needs to be on the inner world.” Carolyn Baker’s Navigating the Coming Chaos is a toolkit to prepare emotionally and spiritually for the collapse of industrial civilization now underway. First build an “internal bunker,” she suggests, to begin healing the fear, grief and despair that immobilize many people in our “culture of numbness.” From that foundation, she invites us to look at who our allies are ? people, places, possessions. Carolyn observes that many people experience a level of joy by doing this work (Episode 225).

The Quiet Revolution: Combating Climate Change by Lesley Docksey

by Lesley Docksey
Guest Writer
Dandelion Salad
originally published on dissidentvoice.org, Dec. 2, 2012
Nov. 28, 2012

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While the great and the not so good were preparing to jet to Doha to disagree over what, if anything, they were going to do about climate change (and indigenous people everywhere wring their hands), and the British government was preparing to allow a possible 60% of the UK to be affected by shale gas exploration, Crisis Forum was presenting the last in a series of workshops on Climate Change and Violence.  We tried to remain positive, but…  To help prepare us the organiser, Dr Mark Levene, asked us to consider these deliberately provocative questions:

Peak Moment: Cecile Andrews on Community, Simplicity, Joy and Social Change

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Sep 30, 2012 by peakmoment

Peak Moment 220: When Cecile Andrews asked herself, “What matters?” the answer popped up: “Having time to do the things you want to do.” She simplified her life, quit her full-time job, and started simplicity circles to support others in savoring life. Now she has expanded into neighborhood stop-and-chats and a Gross National Happiness movement. Her latest book advocates broadening the joy in our lives, Less is More: Embracing Simplicity for a Healthy Planet, A Caring Economy, and Lasting Happiness.

The CEB Story: The Liberator — Open Source Brick Press

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by Open Source Ecology

This story traces the evolution of the Liberator, OSE’s open source compressed earth brick press, from 2007 to 2012. If you’re interested in our CEB press, you can find our information and designs at opensourceecology.org/

The Collision Course Is Set by Chris Hedges

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by Chris Hedges
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
Truthdig
September 10, 2012

Dirt! The Movie

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Jamie Simko

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DIRT! THE MOVIE is an astonishing, humorous and substantial look at the glorious and unappreciated ground beneath our feet. Dirt feeds us and gives us shelter. Dirt holds and cleans our water. Dirt heals us and makes us beautiful. Dirt regulates the earth’s climate. Why do we humans ignore, abuse, and destroy our most precious living natural resource? Consider the results of such behavior: mass starvation, drought, floods and global warming.