Author: jennynazak

The Florida House is discussing a bill that would ban sleeping in public places. (Many cities I’ve seen in Florida already have this ban in place.)

GROSS!! <multiple anger emojis; crying emojis; the scream emoji>
I once heard a quote, can’t remember who said it, but something to the effect that the elites / oligarchs don’t need to wage war on the working classes; they can easily just get us to wage war on each other.

At some point we will learn that making life miserable for those less fortunate than ourselves just backfires on us all.

Like for example, when benches are removed because homeless people might sit there. And now nobody gets a place to sit. Ditto with closing public restrooms, shutting down water fountains, etc.

If sleeping in public places is banned, does that mean people will be ticketed for napping on the beach??? There’s no way to just punish homeless people with stuff like this. The net is cast over us all when we do stuff like this.

Not that homeless people deserve to be punished!

If there’s not enough places where people can live affordably, we can hardly fault people for sleeping outdoors.

Actually, I think people should just be allowed to sleep outdoors if they want to, period.

It used to be perfectly normal to take naps in parks and so on. I have done it many many times, more than I can count.

In the book A Pattern Language (one of my top favorite permaculture design books that never mention the word permaculture) by Alexander et al., sleeping outdoors is even presented as one of the essential patterns making up a sustainable society.

Note, many cities already have camping bans, prohibiting overnight camping. But this is going further, banding any kind of sleeping in public at all. At any time of day.

With just the camping ban, at least a person only has to stay out of sight of the police and pearl-clutching Karens / “law and order” neighborhood watch types overnight. Whereas with the total ban on sleeping in public it makes life just all the harder. For people who are already living harsh.

#classism #elitism #respectabilitypolitics #CasteInAmerica

— Oh, and if you want to know more about the unacknowledged caste system in the USA and around the world, please go see the movie ORIGIN. Very, very eye-opening and explains a lot!!

Update: possible action step

And on this topic, today I just happened to get an email newsletter from @Care2, urging people to sign this petition asking the Supreme Court to forbid cities from enacting prohibitions on sleeping in public.

Here is the text:

“In cities across the United States, unhoused people are being punished simply for existing without a home. This is the harsh reality faced by countless homeless individuals across the United States, as they are ticketed for sleeping in public spaces — a direct consequence of their circumstances. This practice not only worsens their struggles but also challenges the very essence of human dignity and compassion.

“Sign this petition to urge state governments to enact laws that prohibit ticketing homeless individuals for sleeping in public spaces.

“The Supreme Court’s upcoming decision to consider whether cities may issue tickets to homeless people sleeping on public property is a critical moment. It raises fundamental questions about our society’s treatment of its most vulnerable members. Unhoused individuals often have no choice but to sleep in public areas, especially when adequate shelter or housing is not available. Penalizing them for this is not only cruel but counterproductive. No matter what the Supreme Court decides, states must pass laws that forbid the ticketing of homeless individuals for sleeping in public spaces. Sign this petition to support the enactment of laws that protect the rights and dignity of homeless individuals.”

Go here to sign the petition:

https://www.care2.com/go/z/e/A0c5K/zy6./bXtMT

Item came across my feed recently:

A coffee shop in Kent, UK. has made the brave decision to only serve customers who bring their own cup to the store, and to illustrate why they are doing this they filled their store floor with disposable cups.

Otto’s Coffee House & Kitchen hopes its new policy will inspire other coffee shops to follow suit around the world.

Credit: Otto’s Coffee House & Kitchen

See the original post, with photo of the floor covered with cups several feet deep, at Heartland page on Facebook.

— While I hear that this shop closed after eight years, the Kerrville Folk Music Festival has had a “reusable cup only” policy for decades. And it’s remarkable how people bring their reusable cups when they have to in order to get a beverage!

Dear eco event organizer,

I’m sorry, I will not be able to make it tonight. I spoke too soon when I RSVPed for this event.

It turns out the bus isn’t an option. I had misread the bus map and schedule.

And I do not feel safe riding my bicycle there, as the route is mainly high-speed, congested roads. 

A concern that I was going to share tonight is how unfriendly this area is to people who are not driving cars. So this is perfect! 

And no, I’m not fishing for anyone to give me a ride tonight. Because it’s not just about me. I choose to represent people who have no choice other than foot, bicycle, and public transport.

I am car-FREE by choice, but I at least know how to drive, am able to drive, have a driver’s license, and would be able to afford the expenses of car ownership (if I were willing to sell my house and live in the car). There are so many other people who have no choice.

We environmentalists need to push more to stop the erosion of public transportation and walkable density. This isn’t just for the environment. This is for the well-being of elders, children, and even the driving population. I am only one person, but at least I can cast my one vote.

Getting there by public transport and/or bicycle was going to be my transportation activist homework adventure for the day, but it just physically is not going to work. So I guess in a sense I did still do my homework. I researched and found that the bus does not get close enough or run late enough for me to attend this event. And would be dangerous to try to go by bicycle, especially at night.

Conversation ongoing, and let’s shape a safe, sane transportation future for our area and for the planet.

POSTSCRIPT: Well, this whole thing ended up coming full circle, in a good way. Because a couple weeks ago, when I first got what I thought was the invitation to this meeting tonight, I emailed the person back to see if it was outdoors. (Because I have been trying to avoid indoor meetings as much as possible, so as to limit unnecessay exposure to Covid and other health risks, since I am in multiple high-risk categories and also work with vulnerable populations.)

The person who sent me the email (a person I don’t know) told me no, it’s only indoors. So then I asked her if a virtual option is available and she said no.

Then I thought, well, maybe it’s important enough for me to risk the exposure. And I decided to make it a transportation activist homework assignment.

Now, fast forward to today, my good friend who is high up in this eco organization told me that the meeting is in fact available by Zoom. And told me she wasn’t sure who I had been emailing with.

Well, it’s a very large organization so I will have to sift through my emails to see who it was who emailed me. And obviously what this other person was inviting me to must be a totally different meeting. (This organization is not only massive but has many many different levels.)

But long story short, I can attend tonight’s meeting by Zoom tonight! A very eco-friendly transportation options: virtual meetings!

POSTSCRIPT POSTSCRIPT: Except no, I had the wrong info yet again. The meeting organizer is not having it by Zoom. Well, as I am often saying, some of the most powerful activism is what we are doing right in our own homes and neighborhoods. And by postal mail and email too.

Comments I’ve posted recently in response to fellow eco folks’ comments on social media:

“[W]e’ve spent a few decades voting with our wallet by not flying, and it’s made absolutely zero difference. I think we need change at the system level – governments, local authorities, national and international companies, that sort of level. And I just don’t know how we achieve that in the necessary timescale.”

— I actually think the airlines have been systematically working to undermine buses and trains, but I don’t have any data about that.

I think the key is that in addition to our own behavior, we have to try to find ways to communicate publicly in such a manner that certain types of consumption become unfashionable.

Lately on social media, for example, I have been posting comments about how unpleasant flying is, and how much more pleasant it is to take the train. Nothing about carbon footprint and all that; just emphasizing the comfort and enjoyment aspect.

And of course now there have been some scary airline accidents so maybe some more people will become averse to climbing into a flying object.

“The only trouble with taking a train vs flying is that it can end up a lot more expensive. And usually takes a lot longer without high speed rail.”

— True, so the people we reach will tend to be people who prioritize comfort, and who don’t like to be up in the air with no escape.

And people who like to not have to worry about having their shampoo thrown away, And people who are done with not being able to bring anything from home to drink for the trip, etc. Some years ago, the last time I flew, I couldn’t even bring in a sealed store-bought smoothie. That thing was pricey and I wasn’t going to give it away to the security dump, so I had to sit there and drink it in line which was silly but at least I got my vitamins. 😆

Trains are so much more civilized in such a basic way. Also I find that the various airport hassles (Including having to get to and from the airport) ends up taking up so many hours that the train trip doesn’t end up being that much longer.

Also, on a train or bus, a person can keep their electronic devices on and get work done if they need to. I have done entire webinars aboard a train trip.

Much harder to do that on a plane.

Air travel is really quite grueling. Plus there is the fact that you’re stuck up in the air.

Regarding cost, I have noticed that plane tickets these days are shockingly inexpensive.

The cheap ticket prices totally do not reflect the damage that we are doing to the planet, and to our own transportation security/resilience, by flying. I suspect that the airlines are systematically undercutting ground transportation.

It seems like bus and train service is getting eroded with each passing year. More people should really be more alarmed about this. I know I am.

Actually alarm may not be the right word. I’m actually quite furious, disgusted, heartbroken, and outraged.

Someone in my social-media universe posted about her water heater breaking down.

I can relate to how she feels; about not wanting to impose on a friend for the costly repair or replacement.

Love what she said about her grandmother who raised her kids without having access to electricity or running water. And it was in a place with cold winters! Good reminder to us all! Especially in times when the conventional infrastructure & conveniences seem to be getting more precarious.

For some years now, I have chosen not to use a water heater (as in the big water heaters found in typical USA residences). I stopped using them for various reasons, including cost, eco footprint, and maintenance hassle.

Usually find cold water adequate for washing dishes. Those occasional times I need hot water, I heat it up in a little electric kettle, or the solar oven.

I have various ways to bathe / shower that don’t need hot water. (Have written about that elsewhere on this blog.)

But, for hot showers, the little inexpensive solar shower bags they sell at sporting-goods stores or online come in handy. Those things can get really hot!!

At an eco school I attended in New Mexico years ago, we even found out we could put the bags in an insulated cooler overnight if we wanted a hot shower early in the morning.

For people feeling anxiety about climate change & social/economic chaos:

I highly recommend reading fellow Deep Adaptation member Terry LePage’s excellent book “Eye of the Storm: Facing Climate and Social Chaos with Calm and Courage.”

The author points out that fear, calm, and courage are all contagious. And that we can be in service by cultivating calm & courage. She shares some unhelpful stories we’ve been clinging to; and offers some more meaningful, compassionate, authentic stories.

And please join the book discussion group on Zoom; details below.

From the author:

Hi all. You are welcome to join a book group starting next Sat. Jan. 13, 10am Pacific time. No charge. Facilitated by the author! I love the feedback I’m getting that this book gives people comfort and practical tools for coping and living well.

Free audiobook at https://soundcloud.com/michael-dowd-grace-limits/sets/eye-of-the-storm-by-terry-lepage-audiobook; paper and electronic editions available from all your usual sources including internationally. Let me know if you need a PDF.

Register here. https://www.tickettailor.com/events/opendoorcommunication1/1018746.
(Eye of the Storm book group)

A fellow author posted that question on their timeline.

My answer:

I’m doing it!
I wanted to be an environmentalist and now I teach people how to restore ecosystems.
I wanted to be a fashion designer and now I make my own clothes and accessories out of old clothing & scraps that were otherwise destined for landfill.
I wanted to be a psychologist/therapist, and now I help people explore their consciousness and liberate their minds.
I wanted to make art and now I do what I want.
I wanted to be a book author, and now I am.
One thing I might want to do next is secure ownership of a vacant duplex or fourplex in my neighborhood, and let the tenants become the owners, and I would be a Permaculture property manager.
Having a little community coffee shop / bookstore wouldn’t be awful either! In the meantime, I have a little free library out front of my place.

What a great post, thank you fellow author Ajay Howarth – Author!