For those of you that don’t know, I’m a significant portion of the way through completing a Master’s degree in Ecological Design Thinking at Schumacher College. I am currently researching and writing my dissertation, which is why I have to put the newsletter on a brief hold — likely for one month. Sorry! But I have two queries for you.
Seeking interviewees…
My dissertation is focused on understanding how activist campaigns might empower workers in fossil fuel and fossil-adjacent (everything from environmental consulting to advertising to machine learning) to engage in a collective movement against the development of new fossil fuel sources and infrastructure, something even the International Energy Agency now calls for. The question is, basically, is there an opportunity for a worker-led mobilization against new fossil fuel infrastructure along the lines of India’s non-cooperation movement or a handful of other campaigns and solidarity movements over the last century?
As part of this project, I am seeking to interview people in a variety of positions including: workers in fossil-adjacent industries who appreciate the severity of the climate crisis; workers who have initiated campaigns within their companies calling for stronger climate action or boycotts of certain clients; and climate campaigners who have worked on projects trying to encourage activism in the labor movement.
I should be clear: there’s no shame in being in these positions. The “individualization of responsibility” that we read about in the last issue applies just as much in this context; this project isn’t about blaming labor. It’s about the potential to empower workers who may not be sure what they can do; to help more people become the internal activists that companies like Google, Amazon, and others have seen in the last couple years.
So — with all that said, if you fit this description or if you know someone who does, please — reach out directly to me. I would love to interview you/them for this project.
Thread — Future Issue Topics?
Second query: is there anything you’d like to see a future newsletter issue about that I haven’t covered yet or need to cover in more detail? I have plenty of ideas, but I imagine that you have plenty more. Comment below!
Best wishes for your thesis completion, Nicholas. I've greatly enjoyed the newletter so far.
As for a future topic, I've become interested in natural building materials that are entering the construction industry as replacements for steel and wood timber. One leading candidate is bamboo, which can be laminated into dimensional shapes, is fast growing once established, sequesters carbon from the atmosphere, and provides jobs and brings positive economic focus to areas that are not aligned with petroleum natural resources, such as the Philippines. I submit this as a topic, or a lead into potential interesting fields to explore.
I second the request from Paul about an article about natural or alternative building materials and approaches. Another topic I'd love to see is investigating community investment models for renewables such as community solar.
Hi Nick! Congrats on the Masters and best of luck for it, super interesting degree and study! Just wanted to say this when I linked in here, but after reading Paul´s message I have to say that would love to know more about bamboo also. I started digging into permaculture techniques trying to find the best way to build something in Marañón Libre (our conservation area in the Marañón where we are developing ecotourism and scientific research), after realizing there´s not much rock and soil is too sandy for mud bricks (and we don´t wanna cut trees, since they are slow growing and endangered), bamboo appeared as a suggestion from a client, though I also got lots of warnings from others, stating this could be a threat for the ecosystem since bamboo can be like a plague that spreads fast and it´s hard to control. My brief research and advise from proper experts opened my eyes about how incredible this material is all around when properly managed, and just a couple months ago we were planting 8 bamboo babys in our two creek confluences with the Marañón (holds the soil so good also protecting rivershore while avoiding erosion). Seems like construction, infraestructure, and all materiales we mostly use for building are high impact and researching and promoting more sustainable ways of building could make a big difference. But no rush! keep your focus on the dissertation and looking forward to read some of it! Cheers!
I can't see a non-cooperation movement or something similar coming from within the industry and adjacent industries. These movements are created through massive oppression of peoples rights, health and well-being and the oil industries and off-shoots pay well, provide health benefits and people can support their families. As a past worker in adjacent industries it seems to me it comes down to jobs and family security, the workers are fed a line (we all are) of what happens to our jobs, how do you support your kids or elderly parents without this industry or that? Movements can focus on that aspect in my opinion. Show them that building and maintaining community networks of geothermal plants, working in the industrial hemp decordication and manufacturing industries, increasing employment in forestry through restorative, selective logging practices in community run forests and their supporting community mills, can and do provide well paying jobs and benefits that support families and more.
Where are the unions that are supposed to be looking out for not just the workers but their families in the long term and not just for short term monetary gain?
In my experience it's easier to shift someone's perspective by showing them an alternative rather than telling them they "should" be doing something different.
Appreciate all your work on this newsletter and good luck with your dissertation!
Best wishes for your thesis completion, Nicholas. I've greatly enjoyed the newletter so far.
As for a future topic, I've become interested in natural building materials that are entering the construction industry as replacements for steel and wood timber. One leading candidate is bamboo, which can be laminated into dimensional shapes, is fast growing once established, sequesters carbon from the atmosphere, and provides jobs and brings positive economic focus to areas that are not aligned with petroleum natural resources, such as the Philippines. I submit this as a topic, or a lead into potential interesting fields to explore.
I second the request from Paul about an article about natural or alternative building materials and approaches. Another topic I'd love to see is investigating community investment models for renewables such as community solar.
Hi Nick! Congrats on the Masters and best of luck for it, super interesting degree and study! Just wanted to say this when I linked in here, but after reading Paul´s message I have to say that would love to know more about bamboo also. I started digging into permaculture techniques trying to find the best way to build something in Marañón Libre (our conservation area in the Marañón where we are developing ecotourism and scientific research), after realizing there´s not much rock and soil is too sandy for mud bricks (and we don´t wanna cut trees, since they are slow growing and endangered), bamboo appeared as a suggestion from a client, though I also got lots of warnings from others, stating this could be a threat for the ecosystem since bamboo can be like a plague that spreads fast and it´s hard to control. My brief research and advise from proper experts opened my eyes about how incredible this material is all around when properly managed, and just a couple months ago we were planting 8 bamboo babys in our two creek confluences with the Marañón (holds the soil so good also protecting rivershore while avoiding erosion). Seems like construction, infraestructure, and all materiales we mostly use for building are high impact and researching and promoting more sustainable ways of building could make a big difference. But no rush! keep your focus on the dissertation and looking forward to read some of it! Cheers!
I can't see a non-cooperation movement or something similar coming from within the industry and adjacent industries. These movements are created through massive oppression of peoples rights, health and well-being and the oil industries and off-shoots pay well, provide health benefits and people can support their families. As a past worker in adjacent industries it seems to me it comes down to jobs and family security, the workers are fed a line (we all are) of what happens to our jobs, how do you support your kids or elderly parents without this industry or that? Movements can focus on that aspect in my opinion. Show them that building and maintaining community networks of geothermal plants, working in the industrial hemp decordication and manufacturing industries, increasing employment in forestry through restorative, selective logging practices in community run forests and their supporting community mills, can and do provide well paying jobs and benefits that support families and more.
Where are the unions that are supposed to be looking out for not just the workers but their families in the long term and not just for short term monetary gain?
In my experience it's easier to shift someone's perspective by showing them an alternative rather than telling them they "should" be doing something different.
Appreciate all your work on this newsletter and good luck with your dissertation!