Together we are powerful and changing the world
I have been hearing and seeing a lot of people posting or talking about feeling helpless and hopeless about the situation in Gaza. And I understand that. Watching the most recent attack on a supposed protected refugee camp and seeing the images coming out have been soul-shattering to say the least.
It's been 8 months of complete horror after horror — each one somehow worse than the last. It's been 8 months of so-called democratic countries completely ignoring international law, and turning a blind eye to war crimes of a massive magnitude. It's been 8 months of fighting and there still being no material change for those on the ground. In fact, it only gets worse.
BUT taking on major super powers at the forefront of capitalist, colonial imperialism was never going to be fast. It was never going to be easy. Though the fight against genocide SHOULD be cut and dry, unfortunately we live in a system where human lives have very little value and wars of resource (for this was always what this is) will always devalue humans. Capitalism will always prioritize capital, and resource accumulation, over human lives.
We have to remember that the brutality and force that Isreal and the US are using are intentional. The inaction of Canada, the UK, and other G8 nations is intentional. It is all to get you to give up. They want us to give in to the helplessness. They want us to feel powerless in the face of such ruthless violence.
And I know I’ve written about this before. But it is so easy, in the face of such atrocity, to forget. And we need to keep reminding each other. And I will keep doing that, for as long as I still have hope (and I am prone to hopefulness, so you’re lucky there!)
But if the last 8 months have taught us anything it is that we are NOT helpless or powerless. We can see major successes everywhere we look. Even though these successes have yet to translate to material change on the ground.
Over a dozen universities are actively working towards divestment because of student encampments, across the US and Canada. This was unthinkable even a few months ago.
Most countries in the world now acknowledge Palestine as a state. This is a major geopolitical victory that would not have happened in any other context.
Starbucks, the strange face of the pro-Palestinian boycott, has seen its stock drop over 30% since October with little hope of recovery.
Elbit Systems, an Israeli arms dealer that brags on its website about testing its weapons on Palestinians, saw Scotiabank reduce its investment in the company from a 5% share (valued over $500mil) to a 2.5% share (valued at around $250mil) in the last few months. That's a massive blow to the company. This was because of the pressure through the BDS Movement.
Canada restored funding to UNRWA as have many other countries, after Israel’s lies were exposed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu and his defense minister now face the potential of arrest if they ever leave the country because of an internationally supported criminal case against them.
And because of South Africa, Israel's genocidal actions are now a matter of public record and it's violations of international law are clear for all countries to see.
Celebrities are being canceled for supporting Israel and pro-Palestinian celebrities are gaining more of a following. It is becoming more mainstream and acceptable to publicly support Palestine.
McDonald's has closed 14,000 locations in the SWANA (formerly the "middle east" now the South-West Asia and North Africa) region because of BDS boycotts.
The public support of Israel is slowly, but surely, waning. The state of Israel is losing its soft power and is no longer the sympathetic victim that it has always claimed to be.
And people are raising millions of dollars for mutual aid, in an act of solidarity and Palestinian self-determination, helping hundreds of Gazan families escape the carnage. Even when governments are putting excessive barriers in place, even when it should never fall to individuals to do this.
People are changing the media landscape and forcing major networks like CNN to go from publishing blatant Israeli propaganda and lies to in-depth exposes of Israeli concentration camps for Palestinian hostages.
The list goes on and on and on and on.
And all of this happened in 8 months because of the millions and, perhaps, billions of people who have all been fighting and pushing for a free Palestine.
This is all proof that WE ARE POWERFUL! Together! And the capitalist colonial powers are terrified that we are realizing it, so they are using all the tools in their arsenal to make us feel powerless. To make us feel helpless and hopeless.
And while these are valid feelings, and while taking breaks is necessary and important to long-term sustained activism, falling prey to powerlessness only supports the oppressors.
So, do what you need to do, today, or this week, or this month, to fill yourself back up. Find some compassionate humans to hold you in your grief and rage and hopelessness. Go and let the glory of the natural world cradle and nourish you. Dance or fuck or sing or whatever makes you feel whole again. And then, come back, again and again, for the good work of changing the world.
Because it is changing. Massively. And quickly - even though it is not quickly enough. And this change will only continue if we continue.
*note — if you are reading this and you have not yet taken action to work to stop this genocide it is not too late. You can always take action. The best time was before now, but the next best time is now. We need your beautiful and important presence and skills.
With hope and solidarity
Amelia
If you find this writing helpful, please consider subscribing, or if you can, for the cost of a coffee a month, you can support me financially so I can keep putting out revolutionary writing.
If you know someone who needs to hear this message — please share.