From Ideas to Action

Photo by AbsolutVision on Unsplash

This is a hard but obviously essential step for any movement.

I think some people are aching to mass in the streets. We want change, we want it now, and we don’t want to wait.

I (personally) absolutely don’t want to wait. But I must. WE must. Because we aren’t (yet) ready. We need to get ready, and we need to start by doing smaller things.

For the past year or two, I’ve been thinking and studying and writing and organizing. This is groundwork. Now, the thinking and studying and writing and organizing continues—it never ends. But we are at a new stage, and we will need to learn to do things, both on our own and in co-ordination with each other.

In early 2025, we are focused on these new things.

Here’s what’s happening and, if you are a Saner or decide to join The Saners (and you should!), here’s what you could be doing.

1. Join or form a Saners community.
   There is a beta of an online Saners community. It’s barely active now, but we plan for it to be buzzing with activity and important discussions to help us work together, to co-ordinate activities and strategies. And to build relationships. We will also build a network of smaller community groups, local Saners groups that meet in person. (The first one has begun, and we will be helping others who seek to start new local groups.)
2. Learn more about the movement, and about movement strategy.
   A free course is being developed and will be available from within the Saners online community, a kind of Saners 101. The ideas and strategies of The Saners-how we are going to replace a cruel, unsustainable and dying civilization with a humane and sane one-will be explained as clearly and succinctly as possible.
3. Begin with the easiest actions.
   We are not (yet) in a position to change the world. We are moving into that position. First, we need to become more of a group, and to recruit more members. We need to establish The Saners’ identity, and make the movement visible. Our first (seemingly trivial but actually crucial) action is WEARING THE GREEN DOT. And talking with people about The Saners. People will ask “why is there a green dot on your shirt?” And you will tell them “it’s a symbol of The Saners, a group determined to end the climate crisis and build a better, more humane and sustainable civilization. You should consider joining.” I myself don’t always wear the green dot, but I’m determined to make it a habit. I’ll nag you (gently), too!
4. Later in 2025, more visible, sophisticated actions.
   We need to steadily build our capacity for action, so after people are wearing the green dot, and recruiting new members, we will begin co-ordinated tactics, designed to be visible and to start conversations. We want The Saners agenda to be something the public-worldwide-is discussing. We want to move The Overton Window, and make the goals of our group a genuine possibility.

Movements are all different, and (sadly) we won’t do everything perfectly. (Even Gandhi made mistakes.) But if we do a good job, there’s a real possibility that big changes could begin within about three years. For reference, historically nonviolent movements succeed twice as often as violent ones, and when they succeed, nonviolent movements take an average of 3 years. (When they succeed, violent movements take on average about 9 years.)

Overall, The Saners movement will be a process of learning and acting, with a growth in the size and scope of actions. This will lead to the disempowerment of those abusing the Earth, and empowerment of those of us determined to protect the planet and transition our species to a better society.

Please read about (and join) The Saners.