Based on this year’s events alone, the 2020s will be a decade full of intense transformation — for better or for worse. We will not only make history, but determine the story of humanity on this planet. What happens next is up to us.
Given the mission of Active Allies, we think we’ve found a significant way to help usher in the transformations we need. But more on that later. First, let's reflect on the significance of the historic turning point at which we found ourselves.
How will we respond to chaos and crisis?
As nationalist movements around the world continue to suppress human rights, the U.S. now faces our own immediate democracy emergency. Our country’s civil rights protests, authoritarian White House, pandemic mismanagement, and economic depression collide to put the 2020 election’s outcomes at severe risk.
Will we mobilize against voter suppression, for record turnout and a major win for our imperiled democratic institutions?
As police violence against Black bodies continues to go unchecked, the sickness of centuries-old white supremacy fuses with the novel coronavirus pandemic to disproportionately devastate Black and Brown communities. Many people are finally coming to understand and protest America's cancers of systemic racism and inequality.
Will we as a society finally fully heed the call for justice?
As coronavirus cases and deaths continue to rise, the Trump Administration continues to bail out corporations, enrich billionaires, spread disinformation, and withhold resources, refusing to cooperate nationally and globally to protect human lives and livelihoods.
Will communities and states fill in the gaps, to create and fund adequate relief & recovery programs that can become national in 2021?
As our nation’s economy continues to break down, tens of millions of us are unemployed; hunger and evictions are growing. Young people especially are watching their job prospects vanish. Every day, essential and frontline workers must risk their health and the health of their loved ones, without adequate protection, hazard pay, or benefits. They urgently need universal basic income and healthcare.
Will we push until we're all treated with fundamental dignity and respect — until we are all covered and safe?
As world governments and institutions continue to delay action on our climate emergency, we’re seeing how these other immediate crises are merely a preview for all the suffering to come. The climate crisis already exacerbates public health and inequality.
Will we continue to support youth-led groups like #FridaysForFuture, the Sunrise Movement, and campaigns for a Green New Deal?
Will we invest our time, money, and other resources in the safe, healthy, just future we all require and dream of?
There is no going back to “normal”.
“Normal” was an inhumane experience for far too many people, that benefited only the upper extremes of wealth and power. The pandemic has laid bare this harsh reality, opening up a profound possibility:
We the people can take back our government, our economy, and our rights to safety and equality. Such breakthroughs are possible when millions are open to supporting the social movements standing up for people and the planet. We are currently in such a moment.
That’s why we’ve started Active Allies, and proposed a Course-Correct Corps to employ young people on critical climate and health projects in 2021.
To jumpstart our efforts, we aim to enlist a few dozen supporters and part-time organizer-networkers ASAP. If you’re interested in joining us, please reach out!
Bright rays of hope are guiding us forward.
In March 2020, for the first time in human existence, billions of us worldwide agreed to change our behavior to protect ourselves and each other by sheltering in place.
Starting in late May, tens of millions in the U.S. (joined by hundreds of thousands around the world) took to the streets to proclaim, loudly and unequivocally, that Black lives matter.
Humanity is starting to prove that enough of us can start to build a better world, based on compassion and cooperation. What could come next?
The Declaration of Independence said it well.
"We Mutually Pledge To Each Other Our Lives, Our Fortunes, and Our Sacred Honor."
For us at Active Allies, that means:
We agree to do whatever it takes to build a safe, healthy, just, and abundant world for eight billion human beings and all life on Earth.
We believe we’re at a key inflection point: breakthroughs are possible if pluralities support social movements pushing for systemic changes.
In the face of uncertainty, we will believe in ourselves and each other — and commit to ambitious action, for as long as it takes.
Let's put our words into action.
Let us be the generation of Americans who finally fulfills the promise of the Declaration of Independence, so that we may elevate everyone. Amid the ashes of our broken world, the phoenix of humanity can arise and take flight.
Will you consider joining us? You can get involved in a variety of ways; we're immediately seeking funders and part-time volunteers for the overall Active Allies project. You could also help us create the foundation for a California Course-Correct Corps. Let's talk!
This is one of four blog posts announcing the launch of Active Allies: