What I'm working on as the summer breaks

Even campaigners for real democracy have to do life admin.

I’ve been running my substack for five months now, and although I’ve maybe not learnt quite as much as these people, I have been overjoyed by people reading it, commenting, and reaching out to me for conversations about the work we need to collectively commit to, if we’re going to build a new world to replace the old.

There’s a few things I’m still getting right though, which includes regular posting! But coming up over the next few months, myself and the team who support me in making stuff are going to nail it🌪️ ❤️.

From mid-September I’ll be releasing a whole bunch of video interviews that I’ve done with wonderful, wise people on the revolution in consciousness we need for the new world that we are building. Without this revolution in consciousness, the new institutions that we build together won’t stick. Over time, they’ll simply revert to the old architecture of fear, scarcity and extraction that are the dominant frames on which neoliberal capitalism rests.

The good thing now is that everyone hates capitalism. Everyone (except the 0.001% of course, for whom capitalism continues to work exactly as planned: concentrating wealth and power in their hands.) If there was ever a moment — the genocide, the wars, the inequality, the racism, the collapse of our earth energy systems and climate — this is it.

This is the moment we build the new.

You know, last week I was meant to keep my regular weekly posts going and announce that I was taking a break for a few weeks. But I missed that deadline! Haha. But that’s because the summer just got busy with life as well as projects. Building the new doesn’t stop! (Unless it does, of course. We all have admin to do; even holidays.)

But before my next proper post, I wanted to share some of what I’ve been working on, and say thank you for continuing to read my analysis for a real democracy. It took me a while to build up the courage to keep putting myself out there in words. Thank you for the support, encouragement, and love.

So, what I’ve been working on…

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Absurd Intelligence’s Convention on the Fate of Britain (Thur 11th Sept)

A call to collaborate for artists, organisers, funders, and everyone who wants to build the new institutions of relationship and democracy that we’re going to need to get out of what my friend Charlie calls the Multifaceted Intersecting Shitshow — it’s on Thursday 11th September at Conway Hall in London 10am-330pm, and I’d love you to be there; here’s more on why we’re doing it, and tickets are here;

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Humanity Project’s National Gathering (Friday 19th-Sunday 21st Sept)

I’ve worked on Humanity Project for exactly three years this coming Monday! It’s been a labour of love to see how the fast work of mobilising and the slower work of community organising can be explored in creating, perhaps, a new kind of process for helping people re-find their agency and participate in democracy where they live.

This gathering is for community organisers from across the country, and very much led by the brilliant Community Organisers. Lots of people will come together, have fun, build connection, and learn about the different kinds of participatory democracy that might work for them, by them, in their neighbourhoods. If you’re interested in learning more about Humanity Project, please get in touch.

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I’ve given up smoking

My good friend Felix who founded Black Elephant once said to me “the opposite of addiction is connection” and I really believe it to be true.

I was a smoker for a long time. You don’t need to be told how bad that can be. But I really believe that I’ve been able to give up smoking, finally, because of the fact my boyfriend loves me and we’re getting our own place (which is going to be yellow.)

If you come from a traumatised background — and who doesn’t? — then there is only so long that you can let that trauma manifest in practices that harm you and sometimes harm others. Well, you could keep on doing that. Many do, sadly, those who never get the chance to heal and to properly connect with others. But there’s also a time when you are healed enough — and that time often comes after learning to feeling safe in relationships of reciprocity, care, and love.

I don’t think it’s coincidental that these feelings of safety have come at the same time as giving up smoking. Just don’t ask me to not celebrate with a glass of wine!

I told you this is the moment we build the new. ❤️ ❤️ ❤️