#dark solarpunk

[lonereaper]

WHATEVER YOU DO, DONT! GO IN! THE SHED!

[eleanor-arroway]

times, places, and practices that I want to learn from to imagine a hopeful future for humanity 🍃

the three sisters (squash, beans, maize) stock photo - alamy // anecdote by Ira Byock about Margaret Mead // art by Amanda Key // always coming home by Ursula K. Le Guin // Yup'ik basket weaver Lucille Westlock photographed by John Rowley // the left hand of darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin // photo by Jacob Klassen // the carrier bag theory of fiction by Ursula K. Le Guin // article in national geographic // the dawn of everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow // braiding sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer // the birchbark house by Louise Erdrich // photo by John Noltner

I'm looking for more content and book recs in this vein, so please send them my way!

[solar-sunnyside-up]

I don't want street lights and advertisements lighting and blinding the skies!!! I want this-

[hope-for-the-planet]

I highly recommend listening to this podcast episode. Especially if you're someone who is entering the new year feeling hopeless or like there's nothing you can do to make anything better.

Actually, I recommend listening to their entire four episode series on finding hope in the wake of the 2024 US election (Season 9, Episodes 11-14)

The short version is: The science shows us that humans are "kinder, less divided, and more cooperative than we realize". Most of us underestimate how much other people care about the same issues we do and how much of an impact we can have in fixing those issues when we try. But really, listen to the podcast.

"Research finds that cynics don't vote or protest as much as their more hopeful counterparts. They leave the work to others. And even worse, people who feel hopeless sometimes belittle that work. They're quick to talk about society's ills, but also claim there's no cure and it's dumb for anyone to try to fix it.

We often think of cynicism as a radical feeling which will hold power to account. In fact, it's often the opposite--a tool of the status quo."

-Dr. Jamil Zaki

[burningvelvet]

"Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it."

— Mary Shelley, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.

[xkaru-karux]

the first session warden ladies :)

Pearlo's solarpunk design was made by @applestruda

[distortedsense]

]art for my fantasy novel THE DAY MY_DREAM DIED

[burningvelvet]

"O Wind, if Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?"

— Percy Bysshe Shelley, Ode to the West Wind.

[distortedsense]

]art for my fantasy novel THE DAY MY DREAM DIED

[distortedsense]

Art for The Day My Dream Died

[hidefdoritos]

GUYS GUESS WHAT

I took my friend (who doesn't get out much and needs to have a quiet retreat space) to the library today.

I FORGOT HOW RAD THE LIBRARY IS.

-My library has private rooms with locking doors that you check out with your library card and then have keycard access to.

-These rooms are made of plexiglass for Obvious Reasons, but still. Rooms.

-I checked out a Lounge space and, guys, it's a balcony.

-It's over the main entrance to the library so you can see everyone coming in and out. The door locks so it's private, but it's also open air to the tall ceilings and has SO MUCH natural light.

-literally so much natural light the one exterior wall is floor-to-ceiling windows with a view over a fountain and a courtyard and the local shopping district. the sunset was rad.

-My laptop connected directly to the WiFi.

-There were so many people there! There are chairs spread throughout and a bunch of computers and people just chilled and hung out!

-My friend was thrilled to be able to navigate a quiet space with strangers who didn't speak to her, and then to have a retreat space.

-My library also has a Makerspace (!!!) and a Cricut machine (!!!) and I can email someone and get trained in how to use it!

-Someone was in the recording booth and I couldn't tell what she was reading but it sounded cool.

-There's a whole room along the side of the upstairs that's just for teens. Like literally just. The sign says that if you're not a teenager you should see the staff for other rooms. There wasn't anyone there when I stuck my head in but there's a giant whiteboard and orb-style chairs and

-sorry I forgot to mention that my balcony has not only a couch but also several big comfy chairs (like, I can sit on my chair and put my feet on it too and balance my book on my knees and it's STILL not too small of a chair) and a couple coffee tables and a corner where the sunlight isn't direct y'all it's so nice

-I'm so glad my tax dollars went to this, guys. We're stuck on campus for Thanksgiving break and we desperately needed to go somewhere that didn't cost money.

-for as much as I get on about the necessity of Third Spaces, you think I'd remember this.

-I also found out my friend likes Agatha Christie novels. She read me a section while I washed dishes tonight, and I think I'm gonna like them too.

[outtawack]

Aurora Borealis

10/05/24

Edmonton, AB