My love for Solarpunk
My love for Solarpunk
Solarpunk is a speculative sci-fi genre that focuses on sustainable tech- we see beautiful art of green cities, solar panels, wind turbines, and art nouveau-inspired architecture and clothes. It really is beautiful aesthetically.This is widly accepted as the best representation of solarpunk.
But what really got me into it was the movement of people calling themselves "solarpunks", people who knew that we had the tech and capabilities to create these worlds we see on screen and were willing to fight for it.
I would argue yes. Capitalism relies on infinite growth and exploitation to function. This is the antithesis of solarpunk, which would see an egalitarian and sustainable world. Many solarpunk hold different political ideologies, however. There are socialist, communist, and anarchist solarpunks.
And solarpunk can encompass a whole range of actions a person can take to bring this world into reality. This is truly what i think got me invested in solarpunk. There are so many people in the world with different abilities, skills, educational backgrounds, and privileges; and nobody should be ashamed of what and how much they can do. we're already doing so much under late-stage capitalism as it is. Below is an incomplete list of things you can do, some low-energy, some not (because solarpunk must always be inclusive of disablilties)
this article will be updated in the future
Anarchy in the USA
Anarchy is not chaos, even though it's been fearmongered as such for years. Anarchy is order without authority
We see this often after natural diasters, communities coming together to provide the care to each other that the state lacks. In fact, it's the state that often brings the chaos. Its seen clearly in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. This article on the Anarchist Library by David Van Deusen/Green Mountain Anarchist Collective is quite revealing.
this article will be updated in the future
Preparing your home for climate weirdness
Climate change can be scary! As I'm writing this there are wildfires raging in my state; and we're still recovering from Hurricane Helene, with a number of homes in my area now abandoned due to fallen trees. But don't be scared, be prepared! I hope this guide can be of use for you in the coming years as we see more "100 year" events.
Everyone has different risks according to the area they live in. For example, I am most at risk for hurricanes, extreme heat, and tornados. Research your area (state, country, city, etc) and figure out your biggest risks. In the age of climate weirding, anything could happen, but prepare for what is most likely. If you're American, this my be a good resource for you!
Think about your budget or alternatively, what is most likely to happen. Remember, small steps are okay! I have many changes i need to make on my list, but not the budget. For example, I need to replace the insulation in my house and replace every window with double-paned glazed windows. These are long-term goals for dealing with extreme heat. But I can make minor changes now to help me while i save for these larger tasks. On another hand, a goal that is more pressing is getting tree climbers out to cut down the large pine trees nearest to my house to mitigate risks due to damaging winds from hurricanes or tornados. (Remember I mentioned the abandoned homes?)
Small fixes like blackout curtains or removing landscaping against your house can help with extreme heat and wildfires, respectively. One minor change i'm making is adding small shade trees around my house to keep the sun from blasting it all day. If you start small and think before jumping into major fixes this can help your budget in the long run.
In these circumstances it would be best to look into local tenants unions (or starting your own!) and figuring out your tenants right. They vary from region to region so looking up ones specific to you would be the best bet. Some places have government incentives in place for making your residence more climate resilient, so you could try mentioning this to your slumlord I mean landlord.