Solarpunk

While this is certainly a valuable mindset and I agree with it wholeheartedly, it does necessitate being in a somewhat privileged position in life. Sometimes it's all we can do to make it through the day, pay our rent and bills, or keep a desperate hold of our shit jobs. Growing gardens, installing solar panels, or changing diets aren't always at the top of the priority list when there are other more basic needs that are still unmet.

If going vegan is too much for you, just stop eating beef and switch to soy milk.

The emissions per calorie from beef are way way higher than any other form of meat.

Yup. Systemic change and individual action are both very important

Seems like a more specific way of saying, "Be the change you want to see."

We need more noob-friendly systems in this direction. Better sharable guidelines to get started into this approach.

I agree. However, a much bigger step than a few privileged, first world individuals stopping to eat meat, would be shutting down the biggest polluters, starting with the fossil industry.

If you want to use more solar power but can't put up panels, get a power strip and a light timer and setit to be on from 8 AM to 4 PM and off otherwise and see what you can do with it. I use it to charge ebike batteries and I've found that if you don't ride every day it works well enough that I still always have a full charge when I ride

thank you!! I've been trying to put this exact mindset into words to my friends aaaa :)

I totally get the sentiment, but our individual effects are miniscule when compared to the devastation caused by a few wealthy elite.

Even if the entire world's population went vegan overnight, that would still only reduce emissions by 10-15%.

Solar panel tech has exploded over the last 10 years, yet CO2 emissions and power consumption have grown faster still.

Considering this is very much a time sensitive issue, I'm beginning to believe that the most effective use of resources would be direct action against the fossil fuel industry and military industrial complex. Things such as monkey wrenching, blockades, and other more radical means of force.

Of course not everyone is willing to personally go and cause damage to physical assets of corporations, fearing arrest and punishment. But some people have very little to lose and are willing to put their personal safety on the line.

For the others with more to lose (families, etc...), they can still help by identifing targets, keeping watch, donating tools/equipment, and even providing funding for more action, bailouts, legal fees, etc.

There is a reason the word punk is used in SolarPunk.

I appreciate the sentiment here, but it is a little too individualistic. Time and time again, social movements have succeeded through mutual aid and solidarity. Just focusing on your own life is great, but you need to consider the fact that, ahem, we live in a society. Even if everyone in your community suddenly lived like you describe, there would still be the looming threats of climate change and biodiversity collapse, not to mention the exploitation of workers overseas (which very well may be producing the rare metals in your DIY solar panels).

I digress. Living a solarpunk life can take many forms. "The role of the revolutionist" is manifold. Its silly to suggest that a person's life can be a model of an alternative, when we are so intertwined and connected with other human beings and environments. Direct action and organizing against state tyranny, fossil capitalism, environmental racism and other damaging systems is solarpunk. Especially if you are doing those things and still have time to grow a garden.

Again, going vegan is great. But just because you "assert your beliefs" at the dinner table doesn't mean you are somehow doing revolutionary work. Movements have the power to change things, not individuals. Lets be real.

Living a solarpunk life is inspiring and impactful! If you're interested in solar panels but worried about costs, you might find solarpricelist.com helpful. It sorts Amazon solar panels by price per watt, making it easier to find affordable options. It's a great resource for anyone looking to make small but significant changes towards a more sustainable lifestyle.