Forums › Life › Environment › Environment / wider world issues
how many of you are concerned about these as well as the fun aspects of life/partying?
even if you are sceptical or just confused over the many conflicting arguments over peak oil/global warming etc, there are still obvious changes and issues affecting everyones life – traffic congestion and pollution of the countryside, higher petrol and food prices
I know people who are unwilling to drive to raves not because of paranoia over feds, but simply because they can’t afford the petrol like they used to…
when i first started raving it was just hedonism until the mid 90s, then (perhaps because of the CJA?) we started teaming up with environmental groups, other activist groups… but now it seems to have gone back to just hedonism…
perhaps its time for everyone to look at the wider picture?
(especially as this time “normal society” seems to be getting more on the
environmentally friendly bandwagon!)
as well as partying, how many of you do something (however small) to help the environment or make society a better place?
this (along with other wider socail issues – human rights etc) has been of interest to me for years and years
I think my paretns became aware early on and it just filtered down to me,
we had our own chickens, allotment (grew veggies ets) compost heap, water butt, and recycled for as long as I can remember etc – and its something I’ve just carried on doing myself and introduced Mr Tank to,
also an awareness of other issues such as wasting electricity, and not being overly consumerist / looking at 2nd hand stuff etc and not buying stuff just because – however saying this my sister is completely the opposite and an over consumer and waster of everything
With regards to my car, I work shifts and 18 miles away from home so I do use it to and fro work but when I can I get public transport – we have great links and the oyster card makes it cheaper, my mum who is now a pensioner is so happy with her ‘freedom’ pass she hardly ever drives now, but I have noticed a huge difference in petrol and food prices recently
100% its why were involved in the party scene in the firt plase to live a total alternative lifestyle.
its not just about the party its about stepping out of society to me.
date for the diary
Part of a Global Day of Action – see http://www.globalclimatecampaign.org – last year 70+ countries were involved !
I also go on the online petition site
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/
I also find the internet has really opened stuff up for me inorder to self educate, spread the word etc
Well, being an Environmental Scientist I’m kinda quite interested in it!
Seriously though- I’ve been really getting involved over the last year or so, and looking at all the issues as you can no longer see problems in isolation. I’ve been reading a lot about globalisation issues- ‘On No, Many Yeses by Paul Kingsnorth’ for example is amazing.
I think the reason the environmental activist scene moved away from the party scene is pretty obvious. Although at first glance they have a lot of things in common- a DIY style culture for example, saying no to the system that is enforced upon us, etc- there are also a number of fundamental differences.
Essentially, the environmental/ activist movement is about the betterment of society- creating something that can survive in a sustainable way, that does not completely destroy the planet and ideally enables people to live in harmony with each other (or at least agree to disagree!). Ok I know how that sounds, but you get the idea.
Unfortunately, the party scene didn’t really have the same idea. Although a lot of the bigger systems like Exodus/ Skan etc, have publicly attempted to push the scene in a positive direction over the years, it’s general nature means that’ll never happen. Having a free party is an inherently selfish activity. Although it’s amazing and liberating for the people attending, it’s still imposing its values on the wider population in a very aggressive way.
I see free parties in very much the same way as I see people with drug problems (obviously the two are linked!). When you start it’s just a fun bit of dabbling, then over time it morphs into the whole of your life, and as long as you are still able to consume then you are happy. Eventually the amount of consumption starts to have serious effects on your health; your relationships with other people and you have to knock it on the head (or die.)
Actually this type of analogy can be used on many of the problems we are faced with today. If you look at free parties, drug use or our society’s addiction to oil then it’s all the same. If all of these things could be done in moderation then there would be no problem, but the nature of humanity means this can not happen yet.
It all comes down to the legacy that has been left to us by the Capitalist model of society. We have been conditioned for centuries to consume more and more and more. The whole point of Capitalism is continued economic growth- this cannot happen in a system of finite resources (i.e. a planet!). What we are seeing now is simply the final consequences of this.
The big challenge now is to see if we can change. This involves a complete change of society, and what we are doing now is barely the tip of what is needed. This ‘normal society’ getting on the bandwagon is not only fantastic, it is essential to clue people up to what is going on. It is also very anti capitalist- the whole point is to reduce consumption, which those in power may not like.
So, in short, yes I’m fascinated by what is happening, I’m also terrified, angry and excited about it! If everyone knew what i knew, we’d all be bricking it a bit more, but that’s not what people need right now. This is why I no longer ‘debate’ climate change with people, as far as I’m concerned, the debate is over and it’s time to get involved.
What the free party scene did for me- and many others- was show me that I could choose the way I lived my life. I could just accept what I was told, or I could do it my own way, take responsibility for my own entertainment and I didn’t need someone to provide it for me. Unfortunately this is where the party scene has always stopped.
For many people, however, the natural evolution is into protest and activism, asking the bigger questions about who is in charge and why are they running things into the ground- AND THEN GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!
Rant over.
PS:
as well as partying, how many of you do something (however small) to help the environment or make society a better place?
And I hardly think that partying helps the environment!
I see what your saying totally,
but I find it such a shame that to some people holding such views are seen as ‘alternative’
as I believe we should all be aware of these issuse as a human being and do what we can to make the world / our communities a better place
It seems some people are either ignorant or blind sighted and too lazy to ‘do their bit’ and it is left to people who are then viewed as being ‘lefties’ or ‘trounle makers’ for careing
I am a mamber of a forum for where I live and I’ve ended up getting abusive misogonistic and suspissious replies to some of my posts – just for putting across my opinion – which in suburbia are seem as ‘alternative’ by some of the ignorant middle classes who post on there,
to the point I’ve said if I were looking to live in this community as an outsider I’d think again having read some of the stuff on there, however living here – I’m presuming all they do is sit behind their closed doors posting poision rather than activley doing something to change the things they see as problems (and again when I said that it didnt go down too well :wink:)
maybe its because I’ve left “Londonistan” and moved to a semi-rural area but I’ve noticed a different attitude here particularly amongst older folks (age 40+)
here it is not seen as “alternative” at all to do thing like cycling to work, growing your own food, recycling, consuming less etc.. for the middle aged people its just normal life and adjusting to circumstances
OTOH a lot of younger people here (but by no means all of them) aren’t as happy about having to do this, they think its a big chore..what is worrying though is that the more hedonistic younger people into raves/clubs seem to be falling behind whilst the “normal” youths (especially those who do not take drugs, go church/temple/mosque etc) are heartily embracing all this green/eco stuff alongside their families – and its not just that they are a bunch of bumpkins because its happening in the urban areas of Ipswich too…
Whilst I see where they you are coming from TG and MrAHC- I completely disagree with you. The problem with stepping out of society is that this is what a large number of pssionate people choose to do, and thereby society in general becomes slightly more stale.
I would suggest that a better method is getting involved in society, and helping to change it more towards a society that you want to be a part of- rather than stepping out and letting it get on with destroying itself.
(I feel much the same way about religion for that matter as well……..)
this is what I’ve noticed here in Suffolk, if people want to do something “different” they are tolerated provided they don’t affect anyone else yet they remain “in society”
one of the “guerilla gardeners” in my area is this old Chinese dude who goes around tidying up all the verges and green spaces between the blocks of houses that the Council forget to do or miss bits with their mower – there is a odd corner of land and I think he has planted a few random flowers and other plants there as well..
he doesn’t put up big protest banners or make a big thing about it, he just does it and no one gives him grief or grasses him up or anything, I think most of the people just assume he’s “supposed to be there”….raaa
I would suggest that a better method is getting involved in society, and helping to change it more towards a society that you want to be a part of- rather than stepping out and letting it get on with destroying itself.
(I feel much the same way about religion for that matter as well……..)
I’ve either not written what I wanted to correctly or you’ve misunderstood me as I completeley agree with you on this
what I was trying to say binge is I dont think haveing these views should be viewed as ‘alternative’ or stepping out of society’ as a human being it is up to each and every individual to be part of their community and do what they can to make things better
but sometimes (where I live it is seem as alternative ) and I dont understand why it is so – or why I have begun to get so much abuse on that other forum I said about – as living where I so I dont generally see it out on the streets (appart from the general trouble you get everywhere) over the years I’ve worked on numerous community projects and find it a really good place to meet like minded people, have some fun and do something worth while
one of the “guerilla gardeners” in my area is this old Chinese dude who goes around tidying up all the verges and green spaces between the blocks of houses that the Council forget to do or miss bits with their mower – there is a odd corner of land and I think he has planted a few random flowers and other plants there as well..
he doesn’t put up big protest banners or make a big thing about it, he just does it and no one gives him grief or grasses him up or anything, I think most of the people just assume he’s “supposed to be there”….raaa
That sounds like good fun :bounce_fl my guerilla approach is a lot more simple and less fun – I pick up litter I find in my travels and get it binned. It all helps 😉
The big challenge now is to see if we can change. This involves a complete change of society, and what we are doing now is barely the tip of what is needed. This ‘normal society’ getting on the bandwagon is not only fantastic, it is essential to clue people up to what is going on. It is also very anti capitalist- the whole point is to reduce consumption, which those in power may not like.
So, in short, yes I’m fascinated by what is happening, I’m also terrified, angry and excited about it! If everyone knew what i knew, we’d all be bricking it a bit more, but that’s not what people need right now. This is why I no longer ‘debate’ climate change with people, as far as I’m concerned, the debate is over and it’s time to get involved.
hear, hear… i think the relentless degrading of our environment stands as possibly the greatest ‘market failure’ in the history of capitalism. how is anyone gonna make any profit when we are all toast! :hopeless:
I’m an armchair env sci enthusiast (i only managed the first year of my degree!), and i’m brickin it(more than most), too… so i agree that gettin involved is the responsible thing to do, but i have the suspicion that the gettin involved to the degree necessary to make some real impact, is really, really hard… respect to the kingsnorth climbing party! :group_hug
nice to c this thread anyways… one thing strikes me about partying, is that whilst it is hedonistic, it is not, of itself, particularly harmful to the environment, especially when compared to some other leisure activities!
and it has an underlying anti-materialistic vibe… party on! raaa
Yeah I just do little bits, I dont own a car cos i dont need one, I try and buy local fruit and veg and free range stuff, I recycle and reuse stuff and just generally be really mindfull of my actions on other people and the environment. I volunteered on a community farm project when I lived in wales too which was all about getting kids from a really horrible deprived urban area outside, learning about and enjoying the environment and stuff.
Id like to do more in the future too and really try and make a positive impact.
raaa
Mate- that is going to be a landmark decision. For too long corporations have been getting away with stuff as they has somehow managed to convince society that they are entitled to the same rights as a person (i.e. freedoms) which they have squandered.
But that goes both ways, am I’m sure there are a load of people right now trying to work out how to sue the energy companies in compensation for the damage their actions will do to the planet!
And TG- I completely agree with you, but this just shows how small minded most people are.
I offten go round with a bin bag at partys and pick up rubbish for a half hour or so, just to help out. In my general life i just try and recycle rubbish, walk instead of drive etc. I could go a lot more 🙁
0
Voices
17
Replies
Tags
This topic has no tags
Forums › Life › Environment › Environment / wider world issues
