#SolarpunkPresentsPodcast

[solarpunkpresentspodcast]

Heyo followers, we’re on YouTube! 

You can listen to us in video form, if you prefer to get your podcasts that way. We are also vlogging and making shorts about our daily lives, paying attention to the details that we think solarpunks of different stripes might find interesting. Tune in for podcast uploads and the daily ins and outs of middle-aged ladies trying to be solarpunk in Canada/Germany.

[solar-sunnyside-up]

Hey, i love your blog, do you have any other solarpunk blogs that you follow? I wanna solarpunk up my dash, and thought maybe you'd have some reccs? Anyway love and peace on planet Earth ☮🌍

Hello little one! Im glad your having a good time!! Here are some other awesome people to follow!! @is-solarpunk Is really great at covering a mutlide of topics from writing and community building! Tech and adapting seems to be a focus and I love them for this <3

@solarpunkani Is one I adore and follow closely, general solarpunk stuff is found here. Good vibes, gardening and community work are all highlighted and are a beam of sunshine to my dash <3

@the-solarpunk-revolution is another general one with sunshine vibes and in my mind is like a tresure hunter going through the wild looking for beautiful peices to share with us all

@solarpunk-century is one with art, enviroment and news highlights. They are a little more on the visual end of the spectrum rather then just straight theory which is good, sweetness and i love to see whenever they are around <3

@left-reminders and @anarchblr are a little less on the sugary sweet side if you need a more dark chocolate approch to things, they are lovely stuff that is vital to what I do and think about regularly.

There is also of course @solarpunkmagazine  and @solarpunkpresentspodcast as external solarpunk media who arent just Tumblr bound worth checking out!

Of course I could go on and on foever honestly, but this will help you start to build your web of solarpunk love and connection. If anyone else has a fave they'd like to reccommend add it in tags or comments please Im also always looking to expand my web too!

[alpaca-clouds]

Solarpunk-Review: Soylent Green is People! by Carlos Orsi

Preface: I asked a couple of months ago, whether people would be interested to read reviews of different Solarpunk shortstories, given that I have collected quite a few Solarpunk anthologies. And several people said, they were. (Shoutout to @solarpunkpresentspodcast!) Hence I am going to start posting a review once or twice a week now. I will start by reviewing the stories from Solarpunk: Ecological and Fantastical Stories in a Sustainable world, given that this anthology is very much part of the beginning of Solarpunk as a genre. Though this means too, that certain ideas of Solarpunk might not be quite as thought through yet.

Summary

The nameless protagonist is a private detective. When a well-known and rich engineer dies by suicide and his mother disappears, several people want to either see the mother found or the death confirmed. After all, there is a considerable heritage to speak about. A heritage that both the engineer's girlfriend, and the mother's church want to lay claim to.

General Review

As it is so often with detective stories that hinge on a big mystery, it is quite hard to review this story, without going too far into spoiler territory. And given this story relies on the central mystery to keep you going (especially as it is fairly long for a short story), I will not spoil it.

It was kinda funny how this story very much did feel like a noir story, though I might note that I really could have done without the attractiveness of female characters being a topic that somehow had to be brought up against and again throughout this story. And while the female characters were not exactly sexualized, with each of them (even the missing 90yo mother) attractiveness was a thing that was brought out.

The mystery itself worked really good though. I was invested in it and the final twist was a good one, that I quite enjoyed. Now, I could point out one major plothole in there - but it is not one that I can talk about without spoiling the story. So just know: Something about the end of the story leaves open a big plothole that to me was not properly answered.

The Solarpunk Factor

Let me talk about the aspect, that I want to bring up in all of these reviews: How Solarpunk is this story?

And honestly, to me the point where it lost me in this regard is the very beginning, where the story brings up that the missing mother was disabled, and it goes: "Could you believe that? She totally chose to be disabled!!!" Because we quickly learn, that basically in this world nobody really is disabled, given that with cybertech and genetech most disabilities have been healed. And while the story at times feels at least somewhat critical of this societal pressure to get yourself cured - and also have your looks changed through genetech - it was this fact that really did not make this story feel Solarpunk to me.

Honestly, in general I got to say that for several reasons (some of which again are very essential to the reveal, hence I will not spoil them) this story felt as if it was set more in a very eco-friendly biopunk world, rather than anything I would consider actually Solarpunk. Partly, too, because we also quickly learn that this world is definitely one of capitalism still.

[arielkroon]

Hi there, I'm Ariel Kroon, and this is my Tumblr thing. I'm an independent scholar and a freelance academic editor, and so I'm going to be crossposting from my blog (when I blog). I'm hoping this won't take me down too many rabbit holes, but you never know.

I did my dissertation on post-apocalyptic Canadian science fiction published between 1948-1989, so expect me to post about obscure SF as well as my Opinions on apocalyptic discourse, the apocalyptic imaginary, cyberpunk and solarpunk. I use an intersectional feminist lens, as well as thinking with ecocriticism, affect theory, queer theory and gender studies, and I have a weakness for/history in feminist philosophical thought and also (xtian, protestant, crc, dutch-settler) religion.

I'm a third-generation Dutch immigrant, settler scholar on the trad. territory of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe and Neutral peoples and it feels weird to disclose this because I'm also a millennial who grew up with LJ and non-anonymity online makes me feel really squeamish and vulnerable, but that's a privilege a lot of people don't get these days. Expect me to wrestle a lot with the discourse/idea of reconciliation in so-called Canada, cause I'm complicit as hell but I'm trying to do my best to be a conscientious race-traitor.

I also struggle with chronic fatigue, chronic pain, brain fog, short term memory issues, executive functioning, and I am on the road to figuring out what I suspect is the fact that I'm on the spectrum, so sometimes I don't really have the spoons or grace for being the best ally I can be. The discourse of the perfect activist is one I want to push back against, as someone with multiple disabilities; the excuse of being "too disabled" to ignore the suffering of others is, I think, a harmful myth that many of us - intentionally or not - tend to buy in to and I want to also push against that.

Disability studies isn't something I'm very familiar with at all, since my disabilities manifested after a car crash in 2019 (which exacerbated all the underlying issues I was busy masking / repressing while being in grad school, because I suddenly lost the ability to keep up my coping mechanisms). I look forward to learning more about pretty much all of these things, by the way.

Speaking of being very new to a field, I'm co-host of Solarpunk Presents Podcast (@solarpunkpresentspodcast); come along and learn with me and Christina De La Rocha about people doing their best in the present with an eye towards a better future world for all.

[solar-sunnyside-up]

Yk Ive run across this complaint like,, a lot ,, over the time ive been interacting with Solarpunk spaces and I just dont get it?? Like I dont wanna be mean, this seems to be a legit frustration, but I just dont see it that way.

Like if solarpunk is so separate from praxis activities what is all guerrilla infrastructure projects, co-living community boards, anarchist community gardens, Mending and general DIY projects?? Traffic safety projects and open source food maps? Podcasts dedicated to ppls personal projects to get better organized or change city laws? Are these not activities that support Solarpunk values and actively push them into the real world? Are these activities not punk enough?

These aren't the rare occurrences either, all the stuff ive linked are stuff ive run across in the last few months pretty passively btw, I got loads and loads of examples I could give that cover more then those topics and values.

Granted theres not a whole lot of direct convo of theory but that mostly bc we like our speculative fiction instead of direct debate. Im sure lots of us would love to have those indepth convos! But then the only way those start is by you starting them. You gotta be the change you want to see. I'd happily have those more academic convos!! Tell me where to start and we can start!!

btw if you want a list of ppl that I know for sure are doing punk activities and showing them off in the tag here are my 2 faves atm

@solarpunkani - gardening projects, I've seen indeapth convos but I can't find the links to them atm but they are there!! Fashion, aesthics, etc..

@bramblepatch I've seen their art projects and some diy stuff!!

@solarpunkpresentspodcast - podcast about ppls projects and other fun irl stuff!!

i think solarpunk is too much of an aesthetic. that tag is full of pretty photos of flowers. isn't it supposed to be an anarchist movement? the anarchism tag has actual deep conversations about politics and protests. the solarpunk tag is just 🌼🌻🌴☀️. where is the anarchy? you can do more than plant things. thats great and all, but few people seem to remember that its a political movement. put the punk back in solarpunk

[solarpunkpresentspodcast]

Heyo followers, we’re on YouTube! 

You can listen to us in video form, if you prefer to get your podcasts that way. We are also vlogging and making shorts about our daily lives, paying attention to the details that we think solarpunks of different stripes might find interesting. Tune in for biweekly podcast uploads and the daily ins and outs of middle-aged ladies trying to be solarpunk in Canada/Germany.

[solarpunkpresentspodcast]

And we're back, baby!

6.1: How Dare Solarpunks Do OUTRAGE?!!! Ariel & Christina Discuss

Now streaming: some hot takes from your solarpunk aunties. Ariel and Christina consider why wallowing in negative feelings is just so delicious ... as opposed to wallowing in, you know, acts of kindness and feelings of compassion, which are just a bit more solarpunk. We live in an age of outrage, it seems: cancelling, social media mobbing, cyberbullying ... but also drawing attention to human rights violations, or dodgy political happenings, or just straight-up illegal goings-on! How can we tell whether our outrage is justified or not? How can we avoid emotional manipulation? Can we think of outrage as a solarpunk tool?

[solarpunkpresentspodcast]

Support Solarpunk Community!

Heyo followers and friends and solarpunks, here’s your reminder for the day that we have a Patreon and we need support! This podcast is run by two people who are actively trying to figure out the very technology that we’re trying to use to broadcast solarpunk content out to the world, and that means we’re pretty busy and paying for this out of our own pockets. We are currently able to cover our hosting fee, but we aren’t able to like, actually properly compensate ourselves or pay for better equipment yet. It’s a goal we’re working on. So if you like what we do, or you want some of that sweet sweet bonus content and early access to episodes, or just want to support solarpunk work in the present, please support us financially through Patreon (starting as low as $3 a month) or make a one-time donation through PayPal. If you’re hard up for cash, but still would like to support us and solarpunk in general but just can’t financially right now, it would still go a long way if you could take a moment to write us a review on your podcatcher of choice, or subscribe to our YouTube channel and leave us a comment on your favourite video. Sometimes we feel like we’re shouting into the void, and as writers we do thrive on feedback. If you really liked a certain episode, please share it with someone you know who you think would like it!

As I’ve said before, it's rough out there for anyone valuing the environment, social justice, compassion, and more, and we want to keep doing our part to keep hope alive. We want to broaden the imagination of what it's possible to do to contribute to a better world, no matter who you are, where you live, or what life stage you're at.

-Ariel

[solarpunkpresentspodcast]

Support your local solarpunk podcast

Heyo followers and friends and solarpunks, here’s your reminder for the day that Solarpunk Presents Podcast has a Patreon and we need support! This podcast is a passion project run by two people who have (multiple) other jobs, aging and sick family members, and the endless tasks of adulting to attend to, and that means we’re pretty busy and paying for this out of our own pockets. We're ad-free and we'd like to keep it that way. So if you like what we do, or you want some of that sweet sweet bonus content and early access to episodes, or just want to support solarpunk work in the present, please support us financially through Patreon (starting as low as $3 a month) or make a one-time donation through PayPal.

If you’re hard up for cash, but still would like to support us and solarpunk in general but just can’t financially right now, it would still go a long way to write us a review on your podcatcher of choice, or subscribe to our YouTube channel and leave us a comment on your favourite video. Sometimes we feel like we’re shouting into the void, and as writers we do thrive on feedback. If you really liked a certain episode, please share it with someone you know who you think would like it - word of mouth is really important for podcasts!

It's rough out there for anyone valuing the environment, social justice, compassion, and more, and we want to keep doing our part to keep hope alive. We want to broaden the imagination of what it's possible to do to contribute to a better world, no matter who you are, where you live, or what life stage you're at.

-Ariel

PayPal

Patreon

YouTube

[solarpunkpresentspodcast]

Solarpunks, we’re on YouTube!

Well… sort of. We have our two latest episodes up, and we’re going to make a concerted effort to get older episodes uploaded over the next couple of months, so that you can listen to us in video form, if you so choose!

Like, subscribe, comment, ring the bell, follow …. (Whatever it is that YouTube influencers say. We’re sort of new to this…)

-Ariel

[solarpunkpresentspodcast]

Dear Solarpunk Presents...

We're launching an advice column! (Well, sort of...) Our first question is from a listener who wanted our opinion about the "California Forever" project to build a sustainable city in Solano County, California. Is it solarpunk?

Click through to see what California-raised Christina has to say about it, and join the conversation in the comments to share your opinion.

(Ariel also took a look at the project, but this is more in Christina's wheelhouse!)

-Ariel

[solarpunkpresentspodcast]

Our monthly bonus chat is live! This special episode focuses on a simple question - Why can't Hollywood make a good climate change movie? This was prompted by Christina's rewatch of The Day After Tomorrow some time ago, and as a scientist and solarpunk, she was both horrified and offended.

Join us as she gets it out of her system, and we deep-dive into this example of the representation of climate catastrophe on the silver screen!

PS: This topic was voted on by our Patreon supporters, who also received exclusive early access to this and other bonus materials. Just FYI ;)

[solarpunkpresentspodcast]

Solarpunks, we’re on YouTube!

Well… sort of. We have our two latest episodes up, and we’re going to make a concerted effort to get older episodes uploaded over the next couple of months, so that you can listen to us in video form, if you so choose!

Like, subscribe, comment, ring the bell, follow …. (Whatever it is that YouTube influencers say. We’re sort of new to this…)

--Ariel

[solarpunkpresentspodcast]

Hey friends, come follow us on Mastodon @solarpunkpresents@climatejustice.rocks! We post a lot of content there, and Ariel is a lot more active with replies over there (usually….).