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DARK_HOPE

                                                   September 10, 2004

Rebecca Solnit, author of
"Hope in the Dark", has a             (The number of books published
rap about "post-                      with "Hope" in the title
oppositional politics"                should probably be tracked
that has some appeal.                 as a social indicator.)

Part of her line is that you
shouldn't get discouraged
when you don't seem to be        A small demonstration that seems
getting anywhere.                pointless can influence one
                                 person who has some influence, to
"You can't tell what the         do something years later...
effects of your actions
are, and that's a reason              (Her example is Doctor Spock, who was
to act, not to not act."              inspired to come out against the Vietnam
                                      War years later by his memory of a
    The problem with this:            handful of dispirited demonstrators
    how do you know that your         hanging around in the rain.)
    actions aren't counter-
    productive?
                                   TREED
         My favorite example:
         the anti-nuclear power
         movement of the 70s.

         Intended to promote
         clean, renewable energy
         sources like solar or          Even if you don't
         wind, it's actual effect       buy anthropogenic      NUKE
         was to promote coal power.     global warming, coal
                                        is the dirtiest of
                                        available power
                                        sources.  If you do,
                                        it gets even worse...


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