We don't get to have a community if we don't play our part
Time to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
We don’t get to have a community if we don’t play our part.
This is the fundamental tenet of human connection. It’s one of the bases behind the Bantu concept of ubuntu - I am because we are.
But lately we’re losing this sense of personal effort being necessary to maintain strong connections and community.
Recently, I wrote about the plague of White Guy Chill. I talked about the way the most privileged groups in society weaponise their mental health to avoid taking any action to help advance social justice. Because, you know, signing that petition is effort and ‘not his thing.’
Of course, I had a series of men reach out to tell me that I was projecting my personal experiences and being unfair. So it was validating to read Maybelle Morgan’s piece in Dazed ‘Is inconvenience the cost of community?’ on the ways that we have extended mental health talk about our boundaries and protecting ‘our peace’ (did any of us really have that to begin with?) to the extent that we erode the very social relationships that we need to survive.
Community, to me, feels like a careless word thrown around by right-wing politicians who want to justify shutting people out of their borders, while doing nothing to improve the lives of people within them. As we see right now in the UK, ‘defending our community’ quickly becomes ‘taking our country back’ which becomes deadly violence against immigrants and black people in the streets.
But what community is grounded on exclusion? Isn’t that what we do when we tell ourselves we don’t have the ‘headspace’ to check in on that friend or help them move? We shut the world out and then - well, then we’re lonely and have even less energy than when we began.
But of course, right-wing and neoliberal portrayals of ‘community’ will never tell us that. They want to sell the idea that through exclusion and individualism, we can still somehow - easily and without any sacrifice, of course - cultivate a feeling of connection and belonging.
I think that’s bullshit. In fact I usually avoid using the word community altogether because it’s so co-opted. But I do think that the ever-present shadow of authoritarianism and economic instability that looms over us all, calls for us to put more effort into our social ties. We need to examine what our boundaries really are, and what discomfort we can tolerate. We need to see ourselves through the lens of collective care - that our existence and survival is predicated on the existence and survival of your family, friends, coworkers, city cleaners, nurses, teachers and farmers.
Maintaining strong social networks seems to me like tending a garden. You need to put in the dirty work, the potting and planting and watering. Not just plant a seed and hope for the best - that’s why all our attempts to grow herbs on the balcony die.
If we want the fun and the feeling of belonging that comes with being invited to parties, we have to show up to them. If we want to be cared for when we’re sick, we have to make the soup and take it to others when they’re ill too. If we want someone to show up when the government comes after your human rights and the police come knocking, you need to show up for those who are suffering those violations and persecutions now.
And by tolerating the discomfort of getting up early to help a friend move house, or cooking for a sick neighbour, or showing up to the protest even when it’s cold, we unlock far greater benefits and a life that we want to live in, not just survive.
You’re invited! Brussels Climate Coffee - 7th November
Come join The Green Fix Brussels team for a climate coffee break on the 7th November in MIR Concept! It’s an open space to meet, discuss any struggles and successes you’re facing in your climate action efforts, and take a needed break from these chaotic times. RSVP for free here.
What’s Going On?
We’ve hit a climate tipping point, but leaders show no sign of acting.
How Eastern European politicians paid Meta to attack journalists.
Solar and wind power overtake coal as world’s biggest generator of electricity.
Prominent Palestinian protestor Mahmoud Farajalah dies in Belgian custody.
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Some recent things we want to share
What we’ve been up to in Brussels lately - share your own updates and recent wins (reports, campaign launches, protests) in the comments!
New report: Unjust Transition: Reclaiming the Energy Future from Climate Colonialism
I recently worked with Oxfam International (my job when I’m not doing this) on the launch of this new report Unjust Transition detailing research on how the richest countries are repeating colonial patterns of extraction and exploitation to get critical materials for the renewable energy transition.
Some key findings:
Although Global South countries hold roughly 70% of transition minerals reserves, the majority of the investments in renewable energy are concentrated in the Global North (50%) and China (29%) – with those profits largely falling into the hands of the richest 1%.
In 2024, Latin America received 3% of global clean energy investment, and Southeast Asia, Middle East and Africa each received just 2%, despite Sub-Saharan Africa being home to 85% of the world’s population without access to electricity.
Latin America holds nearly half of the world’s lithium but captures only about 10% of the value.
The energy consumed by the wealthiest 1% alone would be enough to meet the basic energy needs of people without electricity access seven times over.
Tesla, the firm owned by the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, made $5.63bn from Electric Vehicles (EVs) sales in 2024. For each EV, the company earned profits of $3,145 – 321 times more than the entire Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) got for supplying the 3Kg of cobalt in each car.
The DRC captures as little as 14% of the cobalt value chain, but retaining the full value could generate more than $4 billion a year — enough to provide clean energy to half of its nearly 110 million population.
More information here.
Belgium went on strike! And NGOs joined them
If this sounds familiar, it’s because Belgian workers have been striking in growing numbers every month since the new right-wing coalition government was announced. The ‘Arizona’ government is proposing cuts to essential benefits, raising tuition fees, increase in retirement age, and a host of other measures designed to cut public spending - but is giving bonuses to the richest.
On the 14th October, well over 80,000 people marched through Brussels - including NGOs, who we interviewed in a previous edition.
There were also incidences of the police using water-cannons and teargas on peaceful protestors. They have not provided comment to any media outlet.
Another three-day strike is planned from 24-26 November. If you’re based in Brussels and work for an NGO, join the #FairCSOs WhatsApp channel to get involved.
Sign up to the EU Changers Academy! [sponsored]
Register for an interactive and practical two-day training drawing from multiple cases on EU decision-making and influencing delivered by experienced practitioners and drawing in insiders from the EU institutions. €549 with some pro bono places offered. More info here.
Book your sponsored slot by emailing wearethegreenfix@gmail.com.
So Now What Do I Do?
LEARN SOMETHING
Join this webinar on how to have effective sustainability conversations, tomorrow 23rd October at 12 CEST.
Learn practical tools to be a proactive bystander and end sexism, in this free online training on the 29th October at 20 CET.
Read: 10 principles for activists and organisers in the face of state repression (updated for 2025).
DO SOMETHING
Brussels: Join Rise for Climate for a demonstration to defend the European Green Deal, on the 23rd October at 18h in Gare Centrale.
ILGA are inviting Pride organisers in Europe to attend their Pride Organisers Summit in November in Ljubljana. Apply by 27th October.
Heading to COP30? Join this online webinar on mindset and preparation for delegates, on the 30th October at 16h CET.
Stay in the loop
You can follow us on Instagram, Bluesky and LinkedIn. Connect with Cass on Instagramand LinkedIn.
I really appreciate this take. In my own work, I focus on confronting fast fashion and overconsumption with rebuilding our local communities around shared love of textiles. If you are in the same knitting club or did a garage sale with someone, you are more likely to help them (or they - you) in times of crisis. We can only built trust and improve people's wellbeing by showing up in person. And that's our individual responsibility, introvert or extravert, bubbly or shy.