solid perspective that more people should consider; I would’ve like to see more on substantive policy on how the two work together as well, for instance like what stop greed build green put together: https://stopgreedbuildgreen.climateandcommunity.org/posts/agenda
Thank you. I write about this same dynamic about environmental health, many who push for consumer choices only away from toxic chemicals miss the larger environmental justice impacts.
I’m wondering how the working class are being left out or kept out, not allowed to contribute, as is claimed here? I’m not saying I don’t believe that view I just would have liked to see some meat in this piece.
Hi Mark as a working class person whose been involved in activism since I was 15 (I’m now in my sixties) I’m finding that the progressive / alternative community is becoming more intolerant of working class people and it is a place where I feel more alienated and less safe.
Stereotyping , using words like thick or stupid to describe working class people with different views hurts me. The words are aimed at working class people and they are taunts we have had to deal with all our lives .
Also assuming that somehow we are too busy surviving, then to get involved in the climate change and green movements is patronising , there’s lots of us giving up our lives to what matters the most to us , working hard and passionately to work towards change .
A lot of the tools and opportunities working class people need to be given involve the space to be listened to, in forums where voices are heard equally with patience , understanding and less judgement.
The idea of a classless society sounds very beige and dull to me . I love my working class roots and experiences. I love that we all have very different experiences of life.
Involving more working class people in activism should not be seen as a problem to be solved but as an opportunity for open dialogue , uncovering a few elephants in the room , and receiving the passion , clear voices and grounded language that working class people can often bring .
Also dare I say it , economic accessibility is a huge issue , for instance forums like Substack should support a range of subscription charges for people with different levels of income .
Great article, but I wonder, do you think it is possible to build ties with us, the working class, as a middle class person? Does that mean the working class becoming more middle class or vice versa? Surely the only answer is to build a classless society, rather than seek to build alliances across classes?
solid perspective that more people should consider; I would’ve like to see more on substantive policy on how the two work together as well, for instance like what stop greed build green put together: https://stopgreedbuildgreen.climateandcommunity.org/posts/agenda
Thank you. I write about this same dynamic about environmental health, many who push for consumer choices only away from toxic chemicals miss the larger environmental justice impacts.
such an important perspective and reminder - thanks Cass and Emma!
I’m wondering how the working class are being left out or kept out, not allowed to contribute, as is claimed here? I’m not saying I don’t believe that view I just would have liked to see some meat in this piece.
Hi Mark as a working class person whose been involved in activism since I was 15 (I’m now in my sixties) I’m finding that the progressive / alternative community is becoming more intolerant of working class people and it is a place where I feel more alienated and less safe.
Stereotyping , using words like thick or stupid to describe working class people with different views hurts me. The words are aimed at working class people and they are taunts we have had to deal with all our lives .
Also assuming that somehow we are too busy surviving, then to get involved in the climate change and green movements is patronising , there’s lots of us giving up our lives to what matters the most to us , working hard and passionately to work towards change .
A lot of the tools and opportunities working class people need to be given involve the space to be listened to, in forums where voices are heard equally with patience , understanding and less judgement.
The idea of a classless society sounds very beige and dull to me . I love my working class roots and experiences. I love that we all have very different experiences of life.
Involving more working class people in activism should not be seen as a problem to be solved but as an opportunity for open dialogue , uncovering a few elephants in the room , and receiving the passion , clear voices and grounded language that working class people can often bring .
Also dare I say it , economic accessibility is a huge issue , for instance forums like Substack should support a range of subscription charges for people with different levels of income .
Great article, but I wonder, do you think it is possible to build ties with us, the working class, as a middle class person? Does that mean the working class becoming more middle class or vice versa? Surely the only answer is to build a classless society, rather than seek to build alliances across classes?