andrew-ism

[andrew-ism]

I am once again thinking about digging holes

It's so fucked up that digging a bunch of holes works so well at reversing desertification

I hate that so much discourse into fighting climate change is talking about bioenginerring a special kind of seaweed that removes microplastics or whatever other venture-capital-viable startup idea when we have known for forever about shit like digging crescent shaped holes to catch rainwater and turning barren land hospitable

[andrew-ism]

the fact that "eco" and "ethical" are two separate concerns in the global north, and that "eco" is a much more popular concern, with many "eco" products being made in actual sweatshops, is a big part of why i am The Joker

[andrew-ism]

Plenty of highly intelligent people end up getting sucked in to cults because they just wanted people to hang out with. There are antivaxxer nurses. Your ability to act on empirical reason breaks down fast if your social and emotional needs aren't being met.

[andrew-ism]

The thing is, until you get past the mindset of "justice=punishment" you will never be able to create lasting change. We have actual proof that punitive justice creates more crime and makes criminals more violent. We have actual proof that rehabilitation reduces crime and recidivism. But some of y'all are so stuck on this idea that the wrongdoer must be punished for justice to be done that you will choose sating your need for revenge over actually moving toward a better world every time. And that's sad!

[andrew-ism]

I thought of how the world can be anything and how sad it is that it’s this.

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Chain-Gang All-Stars

[andrew-ism]

[andrew-ism]

[andrew-ism]

DO NOT DO THIS!!!

If a website has a paywall, like New York Times, DO NOT use the ctrl+A shortcut then the ctrl+c shortcut as fast as you can because then you may accidentally copy the entire article before the paywall comes up. And definitely don't do ctrl+v into the next google doc or whatever you open because then you will accidentally paste the entire article into a google doc or something!!!! I repeat DO NOT do this because it is piracy which is absolutely totally wrong!!!

[andrew-ism]

I have seen posts on Palestine get thousands on thousands of notes. If each person who engaged with them donated one dollar—literally just one; no more, no less—thousands of dollars would be raised to humanitarian aid in Gaza just like that. I understand there’s the whole bystander effect going on. People are probably like “Well there’s likely someone out there donating right now, so they can probably do without my one puny dollar” wrong. One dollar makes a huge difference. Any amount you can afford can make a huge difference.

I’m not going to say every single person on here can afford to give up a dollar, because that’s absolutely insensitive to people’s individual situations—but if you can, please donate. So many of us on here aren’t swimming in money, but we still make it a point to donate, regardless of how little or how big a sum it is. I promise it adds up.

The PCRF could use every last penny. Don’t be a bystander in a world of bystanders. It matters.

[andrew-ism]

Hey, I just wanted to ask as a person from the Caribbean also. What got you so passionate about, or I guess got you into the political sphere. A lot of the things you speak about aren't typical of a lot of Caribbean YouTubers one of the reasons your content stood out to me.

From a very young age, I noticed the problems in my country (Trinidad & Tobago) just from looking around and I wanted to change things. Many of my old drawing and writing books were thus filled with ideas for change or worldbuilding fantasies. I've always loved writing and seen it as my way of shaping the world. As I got older, I spent more time trying to understand the issues, the history, and the contemporary situation by reading, chatting with folks in person and online, and consuming edutainment. My passion for learning was also helped by my homeschooling experience.

Without getting deep into my whole life story and political journey, this pursuit of knowledge and solutions was kicked into overdrive in 2019 as I was introduced to the ideas of socialism and anarchism and later in that same year experienced the depressing and life-draining nature of full-time work for the first time (previously I had done a few part-time internships, short-term contracts, and sole trade work). While in the office, I read digital copies of both The Communist Manifesto and The Conquest of Bread, which led me to start a blog in 2020 where I would be able to publicly share what I had been thinking about and learning about for so long. That was on Medium.com. At that point, I wanted to be an art journalist.

Before long, radical ideas explored through a local lens became the prime focus. But due to low readership over months of consistent effort, I came to see blogging as a medium with limited opportunity for reach in our increasingly video-dominated age, which culminated with the creation of my YouTube channel.

However, as much as I wanted to keep my focus on the country and the region, I couldn't limit my message. I don't tailor my voice and message to either a local audience or an American audience. I grew up on content that acted like America was the only country and audience in the world, but I knew there were people like me globally going through the same issues who didn't want to hear every message filtered through the American lens.

I think both globally and locally when I make my videos, and I believe my approach has allowed me to reach folks internationally, which has gotten me to a size where people across the islands can now more easily take notice of my work and hopefully get some good out of it. My heart remains here in the region, and I would like to expand my reach here in the region, but it's easier said than done. I've seen an opportunity in TikTok, but I really can't add more to my plate at this point. A burning passion for learning combined with consistent effort, the help of various folks, and luck sprinkled in has brought me to where I am now, and that's what I'm trying to maintain going forward.

#ask andrewism #andrewism

[andrew-ism]

hey, not a question but wanted to say how inspiring you are. your videos and writings have been a big influence on how I dream and move about the world. I do believe that liberation must be rooted in love, and I feel love from your works which has given me the confidence to start building community with the people around me. I pray for your well being and success in your endeavors and good luck with your book!

🫶🏽

#ask andrewism #andrewism

[andrew-ism]

Hello! I'm from the Philippines and currently pushing for liberation from the colonized mindset that permeates through our everyday life, as well as mutual aid initiatives to mitigate economic disparity. Your videos have been eyeopening for me and I was wondering... What do you think are the most sustainable and efficient courses of action? I have leadership experience in grassroots movements but I find it quite difficult to organize as I struggle to find like-minded people.

I think that the most sustainable and efficient courses of action are entirely context-dependent and it's tough for me to give the people who ask me this question specific recommendations without a fully detailed description of their unique situation.

As much as I hate to borrow from "corporate speak," it might be helpful to do a SWOT analysis of your area to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats present in your unique context. Maybe someday I'll make a video going into that idea in more detail.

It may also help to do a resilience assessment. I found Think Resilience's self-directed course to be quite helpful in explaining this way of thinking in a concise manner. It's also completely free.

I fully relate to the struggle to find like-minded people, and it has certainly continued to be a challenge in my own local efforts. If/when I find an easy solution to this, you'll be the first to know. What I can suggest for now is that you seek out not necessarily like-minded people, but perhaps like-invested people. Meaning seek out groups that are already doing some sort of social, political, environmental, or educational activism but may not necessarily share your radicalism and try to work/build relationships with them that will naturally create opportunities for you to radicalise their efforts and tactics and spread anarchic and decolonial ideas.

Of course, doing this solo comes with the risk of your own radicalism being watered down--especially in more institutional spaces--which is why especifists recommend you engage in social insertion within movements as a group rather than as an individual.

My video on social revolution is meant to be a comprehensive overview of the variety of actions necessary to transform our world, so you can also look to those tactics and projects to draw inspiration once you've identified what needs doing and been able to connect with some folks who are as motivated as you to see change.

Hope this can help in some way. All power to all the people in the Philippines!

#ask andrewism #andrewism

[andrew-ism]

hi andrew! are you still active on tumblr? been loving your youtube series :)

I'm making something of a comeback now :)

#ask andrewism #andrewism

[andrew-ism]

Solarpunk Art 2023 (BIOREGIONS)

Temperate Grassland in Ukraine by @the.lemonaut.

Desert/Xeric Shrublands in South Africa by @draakart

Mediterranean Forests/Scrubs in Southern California, USA by @helentadesseart

Boreal Forest by @_frandszk.

Mediterranean Forest/Scrubs in Tijuana, Mexico by Limonarte

Subtropical Evergreen Forests in South China & Vietnam by @solariscrescentart

Tropical & Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests in the Philippines by @lacan.lacapat

Temperate Broadleaf & Mixed Forests in the Ozark Highlands of the USA by Xiantifa

Temperate Broadleaf & Mixed Forests by Arikadough

Temperate Broadleaf & Mixed Forests in Indiana, USA by Toby Raab

Subtropical Evergreen Forests in South East Asia by @erisdar_art

Various Bioregions by Dustin Jacobus (@solarpunkart)

#solarpunk #solarpunk art #solarpunk art 2023 #andrewism #social ecology #bioregionalism

[andrew-ism]

The West is, much like White People, defined by what it is not, rather than what it is. White people are not black, asian, indigenous, and can't even be mixed. The West is not The East, it is not Africa, and it is not the underdeveloped, "uncivilized" countries. And much like whiteness depends on whether white society views you as white, independently of your actual skin color, westernness depends on whether western society views you as western, regardless of what hemisphere you're in.

[andrew-ism]

no cause some of the shit y'all are saying has me genuinely worried that you don't understand the difference between immigration and SETTLER COLONIALISM. y'all do realize that if jewish people just mass migrated to palestine and lived peacefully among palestinians as neighbors and countrymen, then none of this would be a problem. right? you get that, right? you get that our issue was never "there's too many jews here" but rather "why am i getting kicked out of my house." RIGHT?

[andrew-ism]

[X]

Gaza and trauma.