Author: TranZactivism

Animal Quotes

Know that the same spark of life that is within you, is within all of our animal friends, the desire to live is the same within all of us…

  • Rai Aren, Secret of the Sands

The assumption that animals are without rights and the illusion that our treatment of them has no moral significance is a positively outrageous example of Western crudity and barbarity. Universal compassion is the only guarantee of morality.

  • Arthur Schopenhauer, The Basis of Morality

Make art, not war

In my home country, not so far off from Russia, there is a tradition, or maybe we can call it a superstition, that the bears come out of their caves on the 1st February to check on the weather situation outside. If they can see their own shadow, they get scared and crawl off for an extended winter sleep. If it is cloudy, and there is no shadow, they know that spring is near and they can slowly start coming out.

How can we focus on JOY?

Current society and zeitgeist is really focused on, if not obsessed with productivity. We produce so much, so much unnecessary stuff.smiley at feet

We consume so much, but so much unnecessary stuff. We stress on so much material stuff. We want this, we cannot get that, we loose this, we gain that.

How to communicate Nonviolently?

Nonviolent Communication, (NVC), is based on the principles of nonviolence– the natural state of compassion when no violence is present in the heart. NVC begins by assuming that we are all compassionate by nature and that violent strategies—whether verbal or physical—are learned behaviors taught and supported by the prevailing culture.

NVC also assumes that we all share the same, basic human needs, and that all actions are a strategy to meet one or more of these needs. People who practice NVC have found greater authenticity in their communication, Increased understanding, deepening connection and conflict resolution.

two young women talking on a playground

Occupy – a form of protest

The occupy movement started with the Occupy Wall Street in 2011. Occupiers created physical and political space for reasserting the power of the people. People taking up space and using social media/technology to spread in different locations is a powerful tool to protest.

New york, United States. 30th May 2012 — Protesters carry a large ‘Occupy’ banner as they march in the streets. — Occupy Wall Street has a march in New York in solidarity with the Quebec students striking over student fees and Bill 78, which effectively outlaws most protests, who use kitchen pots and pans as their symbol.

Expressing your culture to support a cause

Known as a ‘war challenge’ or ‘war cry’ in Māori culture, the haka was traditionally performed by men before going to war. The aggressive facial expressions were meant to scare the opponents, while the cry itself was to lift their own morale and call on God for help to win. Here it is used in a protest in 2022 and it is a very powerful tool.