A few years ago, I was invited to join a meeting to think through the polycrisis. It happened a few weeks after the assassination of Lindokuhle Mnguni, one of the most startlingly wise and visionary leaders I’d ever met – he was 28 years old. The polycrisis – understood as climate emergency, democratic decline, pandemic disease, the sixth extinction, authoritarianism and the emboldening of supremacists everywhere – felt very close to home. The discussions were, however, centred mainly on Europe and North America – the donors who convened the meeting had little experience of networks elsewhere.
Despite never having funded outside Europe and North America, they agreed to bankroll a project anchored by Focus on the Global South, in which Lilak – Purple Action for Indigenous Women’s Rights, Southern Peasant Federation of Thailand, Abahlali baseMjondolo South Africa, the Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra, and West Street Recovery exchanged ideas about how they were navigating this polycrisis. The result, just published by A Growing Culture, is brilliant.
Here’s some of the art, the zine, and the movement conversations.
Movement Conversation
HOLDING RAGE IN ONE HAND,
LOVE IN THE OTHER
This conversation features Doris from West Street Recovery, Judy from LILAK, and Thapelo from Abahlali baseMjondolo, discussing trust, empowerment, and resilience in their organising. They emphasise creating spaces for communities to lead their struggles, resisting systemic oppression, and balancing anger with love for their communities.
The conversation touches on self-care to combat burnout, the emotional toll of activism, and challenges like external pressures and trust within movements. Despite obstacles, they affirm solidarity and mutual support, highlighting the transformative power of collective action.
WOMEN WHO RESIST
This conversation includes Jen, a Teduray Indigenous leader from LILAK, Paula from MST, and Nomsa from Abahlali baseMjondolo. They discuss the intersection of capitalism, patriarchy, and racism, showing how these systems create hidden work and unfairness, especially for women.
They share personal stories of organising under oppressive conditions, from secret gatherings to collective economic practices, highlighting the resilience and strength of women in their movements. Despite challenges like violence, displacement, and loss, they highlight the importance of supporting each other, learning from older and younger generations, and holding onto hope for the future.
THE AUDACITY TO DREAM
This conversation features Lizandra from MST, Ben from West Street Recovery, and Khim from SPFT. They discuss collective care, systemic oppression, and how we can begin to envision a better world.
The conversation highlights the struggles of marginalised communities under capitalism and patriarchy. It explores how care, both personal and shared, can push back against the way capitalism treats some people as disposable. The discussion underscores the importance of dreaming and collective action to sustain hope and ultimately transform the societies we live in.