The Necessary Revolution summary

If you consider the devastation climate change will wreak on our world, you’ll probably feel pretty overwhelmed. The damage we’ve already done may seem too dire to reverse. But, of course, despairing won’t get us anywhere. It’s crucial that we develop an empowered mindset to push for a sustainable future. But how?

The first step is realizing that, in spite of everything, we aren’t helpless. It doesn’t take a national government or transnational organization to create radical change. Indeed, small groups constantly prove themselves capable of shaking up the system.

If you want to be active in the necessary revolution, where should you start? Well, first off, with your mindset. Anything to which you dedicate time and effort will move forward, a fact it’s vital to remain aware of. So, in other words, we’ve got to stay optimistic. Of course, this is easier said than done.

In part, this is because it’s much easier to concentrate on eradicating what we don’t want than on creating the things we do want. The way we name our causes certainly reflects this. From anti-nuclear groups to anti-smoking protests, a negative focus creates a complain-and-protest mindset, rather than a push toward constructive action.

Corporations play a central role in your life – not just because you might be employed by one but also because, for better or for worse, you probably rely heavily on their products.

Thanks to certain legislation, corporations have what’s called limited liability. This means that, if a business fails, the business owner owes nothing to their investors. Furthermore, business owners are more or less free to damage the environment, so long as their business is economically successful. This is especially true if the products provided by the business are deemed vital for the people where the business is located.

How will you contribute to the necessary revolution? Well, you have a lot of options. One option we don’t have, however, is impartiality. Like it or not, we’re all part of the necessary revolution.

Disgusted by our corporate, consumption-driven society, some individuals decide to start living outside the system, becoming autarkic marginals. This act of protest may be radical, but it isn’t actually effective.