The Filthy Politicians write smart, hard-hitting lyrics eloquently arguing against consumerism, misogyny, colonialism, abuse of the environment, and civilization in general. DGR Great Basin member Max Wilbert wrote a review of The Filthy Politicians album “Modern Man.” View their music videos below (warning: some graphic photos in “Party in the USA” and in “The Un Free Trade”) or download their music from Soundcloud and Bandcamp:
Category: Culture of Resistance
Visit the global archives for posts from all DGR sites.
Feminist Current – smart analysis of feminist issues
Meghan Murphy at Feminist Current writes a steady column of insightful and incisive articles from a strong feminist perspective, and regularly interviews women and men on a broad range of feminist issues. She lives in Canada, so some of her focus is specific to that country, but most of it is relevant to all of North America and the rest of the world. Smart and often funny, her analysis from current events to issues fought by feminists for decades is always worth the read. She also does a good job of moderating comments, so the space is useful and safe for women and feminist allies to have productive discussions.
Last summer, Murphy interviewed DGR’s Rachel and Lexy Garza in the podcast Deep Green Resistance Under Attack, and has provided outstanding coverage in general of the backlash to radical feminism by Men’s Rights Activists, trans/queer activists, and other misogynist attackers of women. You can see all the available Feminist Current podcasts or read the most recent Feminist Current articles. We highly recommend taking some time to peruse the site and its contents!
Deep Green Resistance Radio #1
Listen to the first episode in the new Deep Green Resistance Radio show, featuring Jennifer Murnan and Kourtney Mitchell, published on April 1, 2014.
This episode includes news of Mohawk protesters blockading rail lines in eastern Ontario, an interview with William Falk of DGR San Diego on police sexual violence against women, Rachel on the roots of patriarchy and resistance to male violence, a summary of recent DGR activity around the world, discussion of the Jericho Movement, and some news about the release of former Black Panther Party leader Marshall “Eddie” Conway from prison after 44 years.
For more information on issues covered in this episode, see:
- FED UP San Diegans Against Police Sexual Misconduct
- Warrior Sisters Society
- Deep Green Resistance Campaigns & Activity
- Marshall “Eddie” Conway on Democracy Now!
- The Jericho Movement fights to free all political prisoners
Browse all Deep Green Resistance member appearances.
Sam Leah on Resistance Radio
Sam Leah serves on the DGR Steering Committee and is a founding member of Warrior Sisters Society, a women-run Eugene OR nonprofit providing free self defense training to women. Derrick Jensen interviewed Leah for the June 1st episode of Resistance Radio.
Leah explains the realities for women of living in a rape culture, and how self defense training has been shown to empower women and dramatically decrease the rates of assaults by men. She describes the work being done by Warrior Sisters Society, the inspiration it takes from the Gulabi Gang in India, and the positive results already experienced by participants.
Warrior Sisters Society provides a strong example of how women can collectively take matters into their own hands and resist patriarchy and rape culture, and this interview gives important insight into the direct action philosophy that led to its formation. Play the embedded audio below or listen to the interview on the DGR Youtube channel.
Browse all of Derrick Jensen’s Resistance Radio interviews.
Radfems Respond
Several Deep Green Resistance members participated in Radfems Respond the weekend of May 24th 2014, in Portland, OR. The event was facilitated by Samantha Berg, with the goal of providing safe space for discussion:
Hey social justice activists!
Are internet flamewars bumming you out?
Do interactions on social media sometimes make you feel like you’ve entered a fighting pit?
We’re tired of the lightless heat, too. That’s why Women’s Liberation Front (WoLF) has arranged for a public dialogue on two of the most controversial issues facing modern feminism, abolishing prostitution and ending gender.
On Saturday May 24 we will honor Memorial Day weekend with a political ceasefire and call for the opening of peace talks. In the spirit of honest, respectful engagement, you are invited to come ask radical feminists any questions on these subjects you may have wanted to ask but were too intimidated by rancorous internet interactions.
Please join us at Multnomah Central Library in Portland for what will be a thought-provoking day for everyone who wants clarification on what radical feminists really think about prostitution and gender.
The panelists shared important information, concepts, and experiences around radical feminism, well worth watching and reading. You can see videos of three of the presenters, and read transcripts from two of those three:
Lierre Keith
Keith speaks on the difference between liberals and radicals.
Rachel
Watch the video above, or read Rachel’s “This Is What I Said At Radfems Respond for her analysis of a radical conception of gender and her experience expressing these politically challenging ideas.
Heath Atom Russell
Read Russell’s “Radfems Respond, WoLF, and MRAs” to learn of her personal experience transitioning to be a transman, then detransitioning, and the backlash she received from the queer community for developing a critique of gender
Other Panelists
Kathleen Barry and Dawn Schiller also spoke, but were not recorded.
Backlash
Samantha Berg’s “The City of Roses Shall No Longer Tolerate Feminism” gives an excellent overview of the threats and backlash from local queer activists, angry that radical feminists were gathering to speak.
Beehive Collective: The True Cost of Coal
The Beehive Collective draws amazingly intricate and detailed graphics showing stories of Biotechnology threats, globalization in the Americas, and “The True Cost of Coal”. You could spend hours studying the poster and its interwoven tale of the effects of coal on mountains, valleys, wildlife, and human communities. Enjoy this and the many other posters at the Beehive Collective website!
To Be a Warrior Poet – Reflections on an attempted suicide
Will Falk, a Deep Green Resistance member in San Diego CA, tried to commit suicide a year ago, seeing that as his best chance to escape the crushing weight of student debt, relatively meaningless work, and disconnection from the natural world. Will has since found meaning in writing and in action to protect the natural world. He calls on artists to use their skills to support all those fighting on the side of life.
The world is burning at an ever-faster pace. We are at war. Many of us may be imprisoned, tortured, raped and ultimately killed. Before I tried to kill myself, I let myself wander too far with clogged ears deaf to the friends – both human and non-human – that fill this world with meaning.
Armed with my experiences, I know that art can – and must be – a weapon used in defense of the world. Art can help us listen to what the natural world is telling us. Art can also give us the strong hearts we are going to need to face and stop the horrors that stand before us.
Read the rest of To Be a Warrior Poet.
Native Youth Movement Statement on Social Media
The Native Youth Movement has written an important statement, targeted to other native youths, but a valuable read for everyone. It lays out their vision: “to raise babies who are Independent of other humans and machines, knowing the land & water, how to sustain themselves with real skills, working with the Natural Law, Food Harvesting, Building, Healing, Protecting, Clothing, Making Fire, with good Leadership Qualities, Virtues and all the skills for living on the Land in various seasons and terrains.” It examines how civilization went so far off track and how the modern “Tech-No-Logic World” and the Internet have expanded centralized control over our lives. It calls on indigenous people to decolonize and restore mental, physical, and social health, contrasting the narcissism bred and encouraged by “Fed-book” (Facebook) with true self-esteem born of serving one’s community with useful skills. The statement asks crucial questions including “Are We Stronger Social Beings because of Fed-book?” and “What type of future Adults are we raising today?”
The final pages examine the ease of federal data mining and infiltration of social media, and the illusion of organizing by clicking to “friend” someone vs developing real world, face to face, long-term relationships.
Download the Native Youth Movement Statement on Social Media (175K – 21 page PDF)
How to Stop an Abusive Stalker
Reinforcing boundaries shouldn’t be up to any single individual. This group of anarchists decided enough was enough after a friend was subjected to the unrelenting harassment of an abusive ex-partner. Social repercussions can and do influence behavior. What follows is a useful tactic for anyone struggling to maintain their personal boundaries against abuse.
Excerpt:
Our goal was to read a letter of demands to him and then turn around and leave silently. This was not going to be a discussion or a dialogue. This was an ultimatum and a warning.
Read whole report here.
Ben Barker on Resistance Radio
Every Sunday, Derrick Jensen interviews an activist for Resistance Radio, asking great questions about their work, how they got into it, and how other people can get involved.
Last Sunday, Jensen interviewed Ben Barker, a writer, activist, and farmer from West Bend, WI. He is currently writing a book about toxic qualities of radical subcultures and the need to build a vibrant culture of resistance. Barker has been a long-time member of Deep Green Resistance Wisconsin, has served in the past as DGR staff, and has contributed in crucial ways to getting the organization up and running.
In this interview, Ben talks about his experiences in and the differences between movements for social change vs subcultures, which he defines as style-based groupings of people content to exist in opposition to a cultural mainstream without making serious efforts to change it. He reassures those new to radical activism that there are options beyond such dead-end subcultures.
Play the podcast below, or listen to the interview on the DGR Youtube channel.
Browse all of Derrick Jensen’s Resistance Radio interviews.