precarious seperation::the precarity movement

[fable]

-boroughs, ghettos, shanty towns, the projects, the wrong side of the tracks, the working class, the bums, the dredges, the poor, the lowly, the drifters, the uncouth, the simple, the powerless

the under estimated.

Awhile back and through the course that brings me to the point of where I am today, amidst aggressive activism, militant empathy, rampant apathy, condescension, distaste, and sometimes naked hatred, I always was searching for new ways, new approaches and vehicles for the an ever growing population of people; who don’t know the sweet pleasures of internet board flame wars, and ipod nanos, and 45$ party tickets, or 65$grm's of blow, or 10$ pills of e. People who don’t even know the sweet pleasures of shitty Chinese food, half eaten and thrown away, or a spicy full Merlot, but a population that knows work ethic, that knows survival, street art, sewer music, and unrelenting hood politics that makes progressive suburban libertarianism look like, well progressive suburban libertarianism. And fuelled by a need to change, a need to break out of stigma, prejudice and an all consuming need to breath the fresh air, and feel grass between the toes, and the ever elusive feeling of safety and HOME

I've heard quite a few opinions, high and low, and lower from "neo hippies," "thugs," "suburban coke sluts," "young conservatives," "radical activists," "the man," "the masters" "the philosophers," and my personal fave, the stats suckling, money grubbing "I’m educated-my proff. told me so-students of economy" I've head quite a few over my years, and I think for the first time in my life, I’m getting drift of a movement, that just makes sense. Not hypothesized in a Harvard economics lab, or a field experiment in Idaho, but one that was developed and practiced by the poor of various south American, Spanish, Italian, Turkish etc poor communities that fuel many a "trendy" fad in north America, but not "chic" enough to be included in the greater picture, the "American dreams" of the world.

But really, who did we think would start such a movement? Born out of necessity and desperation, communities of squatters, "chain store workers" the laid off, the disenfranchised, the betrayed, the hungry(literally and spiritually) mobilized, united, hijacked, stole, and demanded a life on their terms.

Is this temporary, or is it a representation of who our next world leaders and prophets will be? Who knows? All I know, is if the tales of world Armageddon, global collapse, world war, famine, plague, and the all to horrific END OF THE CELLPHONE AAARRGGH!!!! are true, then its going to be the contemporary survivors leading the over fed, the over indulged, the protected, the blissfully ignorant, and the ignorantly blissful into a state where we may get out without blowing our fucking heads off with our trophy 303.

Someone once said that gentrification was the a positive solution, and although I was too awestruck at that time to come up with some scathing retort, I feel, even today too numb, to amazed to such an answer. What does someone grow up in, how out of touch does someone have to be , to actually utter such a comment. Regardless, this person, like all, have their rights, but more importantly the people of shadows that I have been hinting at, are starting to believe the same thing, and by what I’ve seen and researched thus far, I thinkthis belief may come in the form of revolution - but until such a reality occurs in our own backyard, or is put down by government backed, and corporate fronted terrorism, here is a few links to explain what I was referring to, a lot better than I can at the moment--

http://designpowerrelations.blogspot.com/2004/11/precarity-and-neuropean-identity.html

http://adbusters.org/blogs/Big_Ideas_Precarity.html

http://www.mediajihad.com/

http://www.globalproject.info/index-en.html

http://sendika.org/english/article/guvence_30-12-2003.html

http://thistuesday.org/node/31

if this interests you, feel free to hit me up

action+mobilization

shakeel

[decypher]

Are you willing to give up your comfortable living for the rest of the world?

[esoter1c]

2012

[fable]

Originally Posted by decypher

Are you willing to give up your comfortable living for the rest of the world?

-its not even a question, i look at it as a personal requirement. Growing up in a dirt poor environment, but one that was amazingly generous to family and strangers alike(despite major dysfunction) that were in a economically challenging position was an everyday thing. I would be lying if i said i could give up my Discman, cans, computer etc, up without any effort, or a deep sense of loss, but perhaps that’s the next stage of "evolution" giving up the "trivial" DIStractions for a far greater, more rewarding INTERactions.

-i think the idea that most "average" people, might be the primary "source" for the feeding of the precarity movement, is misdirected. I think the focus will be more on the top twenty percent of the economic scale, and target specific business entities i.e. on a corporate scale, and governmental positions, that eventually will be rendered obsolete.

-i think the government powers will first perpetuate a mindset that the precarity movement will effect the "everyday" person, when in fact, it is themselves that face the greatest threat.

I’m just starting to research this in earnest, and I’m sure ill be forced to backtrack on many arguments throughout the process. I intend to use the downtown eastside as a model for a hypothetical experiment, and see where it takes me. I believe that the ideas of "comfort" have been warped and blown out of proportion, and i believe that the precarity movement will involve some major restructuring of many peoples belief systems.

The reality of the movement, is that it will only really fly, with massive support, but more importantly, massive involvement. This movement only gains legitimacy, and longevity by the actions and drive by its own contributors, and subsequent benefactors.

I guess, this held an attraction for me, because realistically it holds accountable many roles in society of whom we have stopped question their viability or even usefulness. Whether it be on a government bureaucratic level, or amongst practitioners of societal administrative levels. Lawyers, would be my first pick! Then, toss all our "elected officials"

There are still many holes in the whole movement itself, but to try to get back to your original question 'cyph, (i always ramble!)

I am willing, and able to give up more of my "creature comforts" for a "greater good" that is community based, and i have already been raised in a family environment to respect such ideals. So the question isn’t about, my willingness, its about my participation in helping the movement transform from theory to practice beyond my little world.

I think at the very basic of levels, its all about understanding our connections to each other, and that collectively, we need to stop searching less for material distractions, and more for a largely intangible sense of connection and involvement.

action+mobilization
fable

[fable]

as a result of being accused of falsifying information i would like to ask for any infromation that could lead us to a particular thread in which the topic of the downtown eastside played a predominat role. It was not the initial threads topic but it was quite expansive in length, in regards to #'s of posts. I believe it is older than the 11 pages of posts that are provided in the history, SEAN! if you are reading this, this was the thread where you and i were debating the effectivenes of spreading out the homeless/impovrished peoples of the downtown eastside would be a good thing, along with massive redevolpment, i insiuated you were a bastard who supported gentrification(whos kidding who, i admit i was an asshole) and you countered with the notion that perhaps id rather see the DTES as a "ghetto" We discussed the flase creek model, and you gave me a link.

I was accused of falsifying information, and although when i stated that someone had once caught me off guard(that doesnt happen often) when he essentially told me gentrification could be a good thing, the thread in question was not my only example. I have grown up listening to this belief throughout my life. And admitedly when SEAN! through in his opinion, mine almost changes, almost.

I apologise for making this a big deal, but my words on serious topics, are representational of my beliefs, which are cemented by my actions, which seek to support a cause. So debate is invited, and hell even insults are ok, if they have some wit or sophistication, but calling me out on my integrity is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

So robyn if you have anything to add, then add, otherwise take the topic of this post with a grain of salt, and continue with whatever way you live your life, but accuse me again, and all bets are off.

[fable]

once again Robyn you have decided to make baseless accusations, this time as to go so far as believing that it is a conspiracy to diminish your name, pointing out that I have been privy to opinion that supports gentrification. for your messages, i get the feeling that your are implying that i first fallisfied information, as in, i lied when i gave an brieg account of talking to people who support gentrification, on off the board, and then that i erased the original thread so there would be no proof! PARANOIA!!!!

if I deleted a thread it was because it was turning into a shitstorm and the thread in question was not that.

I asked you to speak to sean! and I also informed you that "someone" also met the collective opinion from many a stranger and personal friend alike who shared a sentiment that the best way to deal with the impoverished people of Vancouver is too redevelop like crazy and transplant said poor people into different neighborhoods. This is a manifestation of gentrification.

As far as anything else your trying to prove, or do, I’m honestly confused. The primary purpose of the thread was to introduce people to a rising movement that they may be interested to know about, if they didn’t already. A movement that sits high amongst the table of viable solutions and endeavors.

If you want to call me out, back it up, make point, suggest an action recourse, do something, otherwise leave me the fuck alone, unless it is your intent to escalate things into a shiticane, of which case, get over yourself, I already have

once again FUCK YOU

bring something to the table, or leave me the fuck alone

once again leave me alone!!! ROBYN DOES NOT SUPPORT GENtRIFICATION, I NEVER SAID THAT IN THE FIRST PLACE

happy?
now seriouslly, fuck off