There is so much each of us can do if we put our minds and hearts to it. By simply occupying a piece of land you can begin to grow food, house friends, open space for yoga and Tai-Chi, put together a workshop to build tools and machines…the potential is endless. If land is not available to you there are dozens of projects you can work on in your community to make it a better place for everyone.
I’m not suggesting that by doing these things alone all of the world’s problem will go away. However, if you fill your day with positive work, the problem’s of the world will seem less overpowering. You will meet others that are productive and the potential to solve the world’s problem will begin to appear possible. By spreading these concepts to other communities and across the world, individuals, families and communities can lift themselves out of poverty and begin to build the society we all want.
Occupy The Land
Here are two examples of how a group of people gaining access to even a small plot of land can have a massively positive effect on the community around them. In Kansas City, the most blighted Zip Code in the U.S. a group of farmers have been able to reduce crime while they grow food for families in the area. In Jordan, the Permaculture Research Institute of Austrailia has been able to change the entire direction of Middle Eastern Agriculture, even as their original project fell apart other’s inspired by their work spread it throughout the region. These are true stories, and anyone can do this any where in the world. It is up to you whether or not you take on this work or whether or not you spend your day protesting and pointing fingers.
If you do not own land, you can work with others to purchase property together. You can find a friend that owns land and offer to help him use it to produce food, water and energy. You can work with your City to start a Community Garden. You can find willing farms through WWOOF to work on and help out. If you have the desire to take back the land you will be able to find a way to do so.
Occupy Your Community
By being a part of your community; talking to your neighbors, helping out projects, starting community gardens, gathering resources for school children, and by simply being available and not distracted by the numerous superficial and apathetic options, you can do great things and change the entire outlook on life for you, your neighbors, and those that see what you are doing for them. In Philadelphia a small group of activists bring it back to the basics, back to community, to helping out your neighbor, and focusing on what is truly important: life.
These are just a few examples of people making a difference. Too often we let pessimism get in our way of progress, we let the temptation of large scale, top-down, reform distract us from the small scale, bottom-up, solutions. To often we turn on the television as default until the night is over. All it takes is taking a step back, turning off distractions, and having a conversation with a neighbor. It is about letting go of judgments, letting go of sarcasm and angst, letting go of pessimism, moving beyond hero worship and not waiting for the perfect solution to do all the work for you.
The Revolution will not be televised because the Revolution will happen within yourself. It is when you take responsibility for your place in the world, when you accept that it is the small everyday actions that will result in sustainable change, not massive social reform through big government; which requires more and more power to maintain. The Revolution is when you realize that it is not other people’s responsibility to solve the problems you see in the world. When you realize that the power to change has always been yours to take, or yours to give away. The Revolution is when you stop pointing fingers, stop wasting time with those that disagree with you, and start building the society you want with your friends and family, with your neighbors and community. The Revolution will not be televised because the Revolution is a choice you make about how you see the world around you, and how you place yourself in it.
Let us put aside religious prejudice, put aside rhetorical arguments, and put aside our fear in exchange for love. Let us love the land and love our community. Let us love our lives and love ourselves. Together we can make the world a better place if we just remain confident in our resolve.
Thumbnail Image By Klest (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Jack Wagner is the Editor of The Free Independent-Sun. Born in Sonoma, California and currently residing in San Francisco, Jack set up The Free Independent-Sun on July 4th, 2009, after sleeping in and not making his usual trip up north for his hometown festivities. He figured he'd do something revolutionary to make up for it. In the Summer of 2010 Jack registered Seraf Media with the City and County of San Francisco as a Sole-Proprietorship. He is dedicated to articulating the finer points of the Revolution in order to bring about a Global Renaissance and Abundant World Economy. He also isn't afraid to get his hands dirty transplanting succulents. 
