Since December of 2008, Peaceful Uprising has been hard at work. This week, the federal government called us to the carpet and asked what we were made of. Because of you, we responded with joy, resolve, and power. It’s natural: you’re wondering what’s next.
What’s next has everything to do with you.
We were blown away by the numbers, depth, diversity, and commitment of the people who made this week such an enormous success. We made a strange new kind of history together: history with a narrative; history with a face. We stood against outrageous odds and sang together. We showed that each of us is determined to combat the most urgent issue imaginable. And then together we weathered a conclusion that was anticipated for two years, and nevertheless felt like a fresh, shocking, personal attack on the character of our values and the fabric of our work, of our lives.
Together we experienced a very real and very immediate outrage. But, placing blame is not going to solve or further any problems or goals. Tim knew what he was up against. The fossil fuel industry is the most powerful in history; the Bush administration was notorious for its ceaseless, shameless disregard for the welfare of ordinary people. The Obama administration inherited a legacy of widespread corruption, malice, and disregard; a legacy that two years of work within a badly damaged system could not conceivably undo. The prosecution was unabashed in its dismissal of crucially relevant evidence, and in its intimidation and bullying of the confused and deliberately ill-informed jury.
But Tim still won: don’t forget that. Tim rescued that acreage of cherished Utah red rock from being surrendered as sources of dirty energy. He made a choice and a sacrifice. And it worked; he was creative, unexpected, and brave enough to actually right an enormous wrong. What could we accomplish with thousands of people as committed as Tim? What if they were working together?
Start feeling and seeing exactly what hope can really mean, and be. Start seeing how powerful you are, and how unfathomably powerful we can be, as soon as we’re ready.
As soon as you’re ready, let us know.
We know, going in, exactly where we stand: in the sprawling shadow of systemic injustice and moral bankruptcy, with the odds stacked in favor of an industry that’s trading away our future and exploiting the vulnerable and voiceless. But just lately, everywhere in the world, we have seen what personal power can do; nothing less than peaceful social transformation, collective re-visualization of our role as citizens and as human beings. The world is full of uprisings.
Stay tuned. It’s happening faster than you think.
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