POST-ACTIVISM - A NEW APPROACH WILL REQUIRE A NEW APPROACH

Lawrence Toye - 21 January 2021

“So what if the way we respond to the crisis is part of the crisis. What do we do then?’” This was the inquiry made by Bayo Akomolafe at our December YES& digital event. 

Bayo Akomolafe (PhD) has been speaking to and writing about “post-activism” for some time now. This concept and it’s deeper implications have really landed for me lately. 

Whilst reflecting on these poignant words, a question that came up in response:

- ‘what will it take for us to realise that we may not have the answers…and that’s OK?’ 

Throughout my life I have had experiences of people telling me, or implying through their actions, that humans are the superior species who have the rest of creation “at their disposal”. I’ve been wondering whether this attitude of superiority has contributed to bringing about the myriad of “man-made” crises in which our species seems to be frequently finding itself of late. 

In part, it seems as if the planet is doing what the planet has always done - regulating her conditions, creating climatic shifts and weather patterns. Over the millenia, until quite recently at least, humans have chosen to adapt and align with these shifts. 

In more recent times, there have been more and more instances where human behaviour and endeavour seems to be working directly against the rhythms and forces of this planetary self-regulation. 

The result of this clash of “force” is increasingly extreme and unpredictable seasons and weather movements.  

Even as I write these words I feel it. This sense within, of “we can fix this!”, “we have the technology!”. We’ll innovate our way out of anything. Or at least we’ll give it a good go! 

Coming back to Bayo’s question, I think to myself, ‘what would it mean to NOT give it a good go…?’ 

Sitting with that notion brings up a deep fear and anxiety. 

This makes me wonder about many of our recent responses to times of climatic or economic or even political crisis. It makes me wonder how often they’re driven and influenced by fear. 

Are we collectively amplifying a “fight or flight” frequency in the face of emergency and crisis? Are we flooding ourselves and our collective experience with a cortisol hit which renders us frantic and desperate? 

The current, default strategy for stress,  confusion and a lack of clarity is to “do” our way out of it. Bayo Akomolafe suggests an alternative by asking;

“...how can we stay with not knowing, not as a state of inertia, but as a state of making moves?

How can confusion become a methodology instead of just an obstacle that stands in the way of our enlightenment?”