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This is from a long article posted on Truthout: " Water Protectors are modeling a relationship with the Earth that could help guide us into a new era." Except, as I tried to explain in my last post, if they "model" political defeat. Sure, we will have the example of a Beautiful and True cultural readout, one that expresses the desire for simplicity and raw authenticity craved by those alienated by capitalist modernity. But the reality will be a bunch of people returning to their harsh worlds as tar sands flow through a pipe beneath them. We don't need a model of utopia or "culture of mutual-aid", we need to stop the oil. What I hear is an echo of my own hippie generations yearning for "a relationship with the earth". Look how that turned out. As with Standing Rock, lots of those who still yearn go to these camps for a spiritual boost, like finding a Zen master or climbing Half Dome. A Personal Journey of Fulfillment. we are told over and over that the “building of a resistance community on the front lines” is an “under-respected, undervalued, but critical component to a healthy movement.” As I see it, this tactic has been used repeatedly and failed repeatedly and yet remains gospel, a standard part of the repetitive playbook that goes unquestioned. Because it feels good. Because it fills a human need. But it doesn't stop development. And the experience of defeat as the valves get turned on will have a much more lasting impact than the spiritual communion. No one is going to say this publicly because the action camps are run by indigenous people and a settler colonialist is going to find it difficult to criticize strategic decisions. Because it is indigenous run, much of the messaging is focused on sovereignty and treaty rights and wild rice. All important issues, but not THE issue. A few progressive politicians have shown up "to listen" and 800 protestors have been arrested in scattered, sporadic actions. The pipeline is 90% completed.