Many months ago now, I wrote the post below, decided not to post it, and then didn’t post again for a long time! I have not made a habit of posting a whole lot about big picture politics. I have a lot of opinions and I care deeply about humanity and the natural world. As a result I have spent a lot of my life in various forms of activism or campaigning (call it what you will)–trying to change things for the better, and especially in the direction of peace, nonviolence, an end to abuse of all kinds, equality, and care for the environment. But often I feel there are better writers on these subjects and that I am already doing what I can figure out about the pain and suffering of humanity and the breakdown of the natural world. I do not feel equal to the task of writing something pithy and moving on these subjects. Today, I just sat down to write a different post and saw this one sitting in the drafts folder. I’ve decided to release it, with an update.
You have been warned. So if you wish to read this, read on and share my heartbreak in a moment prior to the (most recent) bombing of Gaza and prior to (yesterday’s) Invasion Day, and so much more.
Today, I rode my bike into the city to support someone in court. Yesterday, I did the same thing for someone charged with a crime for participating in civil disobedience intended to bring the climate emergency–and the actions of the fossil fuel industry in making it worse, and the government’s inaction on responding to it–to public attention.
On my way home, I rode past a camp of homeless folks. It has been there a couple of weeks now. At least five tents, in midwinter, with a shared campfire, in the parklands. Let me tell you for those who are not local, that there have been at least 4 extreme weather warnings in the last 48 hours, for extreme winds. It has been raining, torrentially at times. It is cold inside my very nice house, especially at night. Why are we having extreme weather with this regularity? Could it be in some way related to the rise of El Nino, and the fact that this week the all time record for the hottest day the Earth has ever known, has been broken twice? As it happens, I believe these things are connected.
I went for a walk with a friend who visited for lunch, and we went to some of the guerilla gardening sites where I have planted, and I saw the watering system in one of these sites maintained by the council has been busted. I planted it out after the watering system was cut and most of the plantings died in the previous El Nino (and council did not replant them). I went for a run in the afternoon. I passed the campsite on my way out. I passed it on my way home again. I passed the place where I have called in one leak in the water supply system but another has happened. This time, I called in the leak. Then I called in the broken watering system. Because water needs to be protected in this time and place and I have the capacity to do it. And there is a number I can call to report these things.
And yet, there is no number I can call because at least ten people are sleeping rough in the parklands. No number I can call that would get them food, or shelter, or medical care, or better–all three if they are all needed. Nowhere they have been able to call either, I assume, that they believe can help them. And doubtless, places they have tried and found wanting, because sleeping in a tent in this weather is not something most people would do by choice. Because a lot of people (in my country) have better choices.
No number I can call to report that the system is broken and as a result the lives of homeless folks are getting even worse. No number I can call that can fix growing inequality. No number I can call to report the climate emergency and those contributing to it through action and inaction. And the people I know sounding the alarm are in court needing to argue against the kind of bail conditions normally applied to people in outlaw gangs that use violence and deal drugs.
Update: after thinking these thoughts for some time, one day I asked myself what the Minister for Housing is doing about this issue. Each time I was troubled anew by what I saw (that would be every time I passed)–I rang the Minister for Housing. I rang and left several messages and eventually I spoke to a person and left a message with her. Then the next time I said I had called to advocate for the human rights of people sleeping rough in our city, and that I believed we ought to be able to do better. I got put through to a person who spent a lot of time on explaining the many actions of the state government on this question. He impressed me a good deal, but not once did he suggest that homeless people would be provided with actual housing. Since we spoke, this camp I regularly pass has continued to exist through 41C heat. It is not the only encampment in the park lands. Homelessness is at a level I have not seen before in my lifetime. It may be time to ring the Minister again.
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