People Power
Spiritual Activism, Together
Article
Deconstructing Assumptions When I say ‘activism,’ it almost certainly brings a particular picture to mind. Perhaps it’s people peacefully assembled […]
Building a Progressive Spiritual Movement
Article
Let’s Unite Our Efforts and Build a Truly Progressive Spiritual Movement Thousands of activist groups work to save the environment, […]
Kosmos Seed Grant Awards 2015
Article
In January 2015, Kosmos Journal invited open submissions for two Seed Grants in the amount of $2,500 each. We received […]
The Rising People-Powered Movement of Movements is Transforming the World
Article
On a snowy weekend in January, activists for social, economic and environmental justice from across the United States gathered in a Chicago union hall to plan a Global Climate Convergence: ten days of action from Earth Day to May Day. Many of these activists had never focused on the climate crisis before, being mired instead in fighting battles that loomed more immediately in their lives. Who has the capacity to worry about climate change when your community is hungry, cold, without shelter, lacks health care or is being poisoned? During that weekend meeting, we transcended the barriers that typically lead to working in narrow silos and treading water while the oceans literally and figuratively continue to rise around us. We stepped outside of our particular areas of advocacy, connected our struggles, and forged a collective effort to take action together this spring and beyond. The rallying cry was that the time has arrived to join hands and change course.
InterOccupy: Toward a Democratic Global Communications Commons
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The world is in need of adopting a radical new operating system. The challenges are vast. The sobering reality is that not a single person knows the best way through to greener pastures, or even if such a world is attainable.
Experiments in Democracy and Diversity within the Occupy Movement(s)
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Horizontal democracy attempts to ensure equality by embracing diversity and conflict. Within these political structures, diversity is not a problem that needs to be resolved: there is no narrative of uniformity, no shared identity (national or otherwise) and no predetermined ideology.
Occupy the US: Musings on Horizontal Decision-Making and Bureaucracy
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The year 2011 has breathed new life into horizontal models of democratic decision-making. With the rise of the 15 May movement and the Occupy movement horizontal decision-making became one of the key political structures for organising responses to the current global economic crisis. While this decision-making process has arguably never been as widely practiced as it is today, it has also never seemed as difficult and complicated as it does today. At its height there were 5,000 people at the general assemblies in Placa Catalunya in Barcelona and even more in Madrid. It is no longer just activists trying to use and teach each other these decision-making processes but it is hundreds of thousands of people who have a far greater disparity in terms of backgrounds, starting assumptions, aims and discursive styles. This is incredibly good news, but it is not easy.
Alms Bowl Upside Down
Article
“We cannot wait until we are enlightened,” says Marisa, in her compelling Kosmos article Alms Bowl Upside Down. “I have participated in countless demonstrations, sung and spoken over numerous loudspeakers, and handed out scores of flyers. But this time was different. Typically those who aren’t with us avoid us: passers-by chatter determinedly into their cell phones as they advance, shake their heads vociferously at flyers, veer around us. But this time it was as if our silence was contagious. Conversations died on lips…”