Green Anarchy #12

30 Pages·2003·11.1 MB·English

by  Green Anarchy Collective

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fight back!give up oru have two choices: [email protected] Box 11331, Eugene, OR 97440Green Anarchy Modernity and the HolocaustZygmont Bauman,— by bureaucracy true to its form and purpose.”a genuinely rational concern, and it was generatedgoal-implementation. On the contrary, it arose out ofstage with the rational pursuit of efficient, optimalrationality. The “Final Solution” did not clash at anythe Holocaust come in conflict with the principles of At no point of its long and torturous execution did achievement of a bureaucratic society . . .an industrial society, but also the organizationalJewry was not only the technological achievement ofthinkable. The Nazi mass murder of the Europeanmodern civilization that made the Holocaustwould be unthinkable. It was the rational world ofits necessary condition. Without it, the Holocaustsufficient condition; it was, however, most certainly“MODERN CIVILIZATION WAS NOT THE HOLOCAUST’S is assembly-line che end point of
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Around the Corner
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“I come as a thief in the night, my sword drawn in hand, and as the thief that I am, R
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I say: Give me your purse, give it to me, rogue, or I’ll cut your throat! I say give it to
the beggars, to the thieves, to the whores, to the pickpockets that are flesh of your
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flesh and that are quite equal to you, those who are ready to die of hunger in
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pestilential prisons and filthy dungeons have everything in common, otherwise the
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scourge of God will cut down all that you have in order to putrefy it and consume it.”
—Abiezer Coppe, 17th century England
a E
The fire of anti-aircraft guns illuminates each other for years, convinced that their next-door
the Kabul night, and yet the war did not neighbors were their enemies. The poor of Somalia
Kerupt either today or on September 11, and Rwanda have not acted so very differently.
2001, the day of the destruction of the Now the huge powder keg of the Islamic world is N
Twin Towers in New York and a good exploding. The poor have every intention and utter
part of the Pentagon. This war did not erupt in Afghanistan determination to call in accounts for years of suffering.
for the sole, valid reason that it had already erupted Deprived of every concrete social connection —

some time ago; for years, the entire world has lived in a apart from precariousness and fear — most super-
state of permanent war. impose the words of the only common feeling that
A
We did not want to see how close Rwanda and is proposed to them onto their rage, that of religion.
Kosovo, Somalia and Bosnia, Algeria and Macedonia The identification of a collective enemy causes
were to us. But the Boeings of September 11 have fraternization beyond every boundary and every
brought Jalalabad, Baghdad and Jericho into the hearts division; the epic poetry of the struggle against Evil
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of our cities. Therefore, no one can any longer ignore fills History with meaning — it speaks of a future
the planetary gangrene that shows no signs of coming promise and gives a meaning to past tribulations.
to an end, the chosen heir of modernity, of the techno- This is why they wage war against the entire western
logical era. world and not, instead, against those specifically A
The industrial system has poisoned the earth, rendering responsible for their oppression: the masters and
it sterile; the opening of global markets has sent the governors of the east and the west.
peasant world into ruin; industrial restructuring has When you read these lines, we don’t know what
dismantled the old productive apparati; strategic and will be happening in Afghanistan or Iraq, we don’t R
geopolitical necessities determined by the control of know what will be happening in Palestine. The bombs SSSSSPPPPPRRRRRIIIIINNNNNGGGGG FFFFFOOOOORRRRRWWWWWAAAAARRRRRDDDDD
resources have unleashed unending conflicts — capital, over Kabul precipitate events, increasingly channeling
heavy with the immense possibilities that technology revolt in the Islamic world into the narrow path of religious Winter is ending in a climate of constant wars(cid:1) a
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is providing to it, has broken up every possibility for war. The bombs over Kabul don’t just wreak havoc on dying biosphere(cid:1) an increasingly unhealthy social
autonomy, every past form of community in a large Afghani civilians, nor do they only cause further surges existence (in fact(cid:1) a society less and less social and
portion of the globe. At our latitudes, this same process of refugees, nor do they just set the Middle East on fire: more simply a force(cid:2)field of the market)(cid:1) and personal
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has brought forth the precariousness that we have been the bombs over Kabul also fall on our heads, finally giving desolation(cid:3)
tasting for the past few years, the abandonment of the meaning to our fear of the future, putting order into the At the same time(cid:1) movements of opposition are
old certainties and guarantees to which we were social precariousness of these times. The hypocritical germinating(cid:1) joining others that have been going for
accustomed. Distorting the conditions of life for the “anti-terrorist” rhetoric of the western powers terrorizes centuries(cid:3) Of special interest are those(cid:1) from Algeria
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exploited, capital has removed practical knowledge, us and, at the same time, gives a name to our terror; it (see p(cid:3) (cid:4)(cid:5)) to Argentina(cid:1) whose struggles are
the autonomous capacity to create one’s existence bestows on us a new enemy against whom we can fight: predicated on a conscious withdrawal of support for
for oneself. Where it still survives, the means of the exploited of the Islamic world, who are in Afghanistan the State(cid:1) aaaaannnnnyyyyy State(cid:3)
subsistence are mere and in Italy and In North America (and elsewhere) anarchists were

appendages of a America, instead of almost non(cid:2)existent just a few years ago(cid:3) Now
anarchy is certainly the orientation of most who fight
technological system capitalist society, as was
#
for a radical transformation(cid:3) Even more significant is
that none of the beginning to emerge
the swing toward a politics based on indictments of
exploited can under- in social conflicts.
the technological imperative and of civilization itself(cid:3)
stand or dream of Therefore, it is not a 1
In (cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:7)(cid:8) even academic journals (usually so reluctant
controlling: no one collision between
to recognize or discuss disturbing ideas) are paying
knows what to do civilizations that is being
attention to the primitivist critique/vision(cid:3) See “The
anymore; no one fought. It is the real- 2
State of Nature” in a recent issue of the U(cid:3)K(cid:3) eco journal
knows how to do ization of the civilization
Environmental Values(cid:1) and “Why Primitivism?” in the
anything. Goodbye, of capital, its ripest fruit
U(cid:3)S(cid:3) theory quarterly TELOS(cid:1) for example(cid:3)
then, to every common — putrefaction, death, As the U(cid:3)S(cid:3) Empire plays its last card(cid:1) the card of
feeling of the poor, to war between the poor.
force(cid:1) it’s vital to adequately situate our own forces(cid:1)
all collective identifi- Not a single word of at home and abroad(cid:3) To put it negatively(cid:1) it would be-
cation, goodbye to the peace makes sense supremely disadvantageous to keep on recycling an
dream of appropriating anymore; no mediation approach that has consistently failed(cid:1) in every time
this world and driving is possible when the and place(cid:3) The Left has been a mammoth(cid:1) universal
out its masters. desperation of the poor disaster(cid:3) To look for a place in the ranks of the Left is
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This is how, over the breaks through the doors to accept that the new movement will go nowhere(cid:3)
last twenty years, the of a world that is falling Who doesn’t realize that something different is
planet has increasingly to pieces. All that we can urgently needed?
come to resemble a oppose to the bombs An urbanized dis(cid:2)embeddedness spreads asP
refugee camp. One over Kabul is class attack: megalopolis cities continue to swell(cid:1) in perfect
runs from conflict or freeing the hatred that parallel with the growth of the dis(cid:2)embodiment of
from a wasteland, smolders and hurling it cyber(cid:2)tech(cid:3) The “advanced” world hurtles toward itsR
from poverty or from against those responsible fateful crash like a space shuttle(cid:3) But leftist holdovers
dictatorship; one runs for our oppression and never question why things are headed in this direction(cid:1)
from a world one no that of all of the poor of or seek the underlying causes of this suicidal trajectory(cid:3)
longer recognizes. The old ways of life, of being to- the world. Identifying the common enemy with precision Who besides primitivists (and indigenous insurgents)I
is truly anti(cid:2)globalization? Does anyone on the left
gether, have vanished irremediably, and nothing can — the masters, the rulers, the technological and produc-
oppose the industrial(cid:2)technological Order? To fail to
be seen on the horizon. All that is left is hatred and fear, tive network — is the first concrete form of solidarity
do so is to remain(cid:1) fundamentally(cid:1) on the side of capital(cid:1)N
with more accumulating every day, and it is having diffi- toward the bombed, toward the refugees. Attacking this
coercion(cid:1) and their universalization(cid:3) Those are the
culty finding an objective, an enemy to fight. This is why enemy is the only message of fraternity that we can send
dynamics that consign people everywhere to the
— whether hidden or declared — civil war has already to the exploited of the world, the only tool that we have for
onerous servitude of reproducing the Machine(cid:1) while
broken out, everywhere. transforming the war between the poor that is about to set G
pushing all of nature to extinction(cid:3)
To each their own then, in this macabre exhibition that the world on fire into a war of liberation from exploitation
Some go halfway(cid:3) They grasp the depth of the crisis
celebrates the decomposition of an entire planet. Led by and from authority.
and the unprecedented quality of what is at stake for
their masters, the exploited Yugoslavs’ have slaughtered ----- SSSSStttttrrrrraaaaannnnngggggeeeeerrrrrsssss EEEEEvvvvveeeeerrrrryyyyywwwwwhhhhheeeeerrrrreeeee,,,,, IIIIItttttaaaaalllllyyyyy our movement(cid:3) They make very occasional and vague
references to civilization(cid:1) patriarchy(cid:1) domestication(cid:1)
Welcome to Issue #12 of Green Anarchy, our largest issue yet - 32 pages! As we go to print, another war is
upon us. We hope that a militant resistance is the response, one that puts the entire system in danger. We division of labor(cid:1) etc(cid:3) But they seem content to ‘
continue with the old patterns(cid:3) No amount of
hope that the “peace movement”, a movement which has shown its ineffectiveness and lack of interest in
discourse in any new context will uncover root causes
questioning this system fundamentally, does not attempt to control and stifle resistance. In this issue, which
was to have more of a “tactics” focus, we note that a war is always going on, that being the 10,000 year-old or result in inspiring new directions(cid:1) unless it strives0
to do so(cid:3) We need to see through and past worn(cid:2)out
nightmare known as civilization. It is a war on life itself, and it will not be stopped by symbolic protest or
alternatives(cid:1) instead of letting them define us(cid:3)
good intentions. It requires a war in return. It requires a level of seriousness; often lacking in the scene-
The pall cast by (cid:5)/(cid:4)(cid:4)/(cid:7)(cid:4) is lifting(cid:3) A new season of
oriented nature of the anarchist movement. We need to discuss how to proceed tactically and what we are 3
contestation is before us(cid:3) (cid:3) (cid:3)
moving towards. We hope these discussions continue to happen, but it is also important to shut up and fight!
It is a massive project to undo civilization, requiring a tremendous social and physical transformation. We (cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3) LLLLLeeeeettttt’’’’’sssss ssssshhhhhooooowwwww wwwwwhhhhhaaaaattttt wwwwweeeee cccccaaaaannnnn dddddooooo!!!!!
must deconstruct their institutions and their infrastructure. Good Luck! - The Green Anarchy Collective
page 1 GREEN ANARCHY #12 - SPRING ‘03
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The Women Of
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The West Bank
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l It is just past midnight and the woman in black is there again, standing alone in the
s outskirts of the village. As she starts to hurl stones at the soldiers’ jeep, flashlights break
the night sky and there is a warning burst of gunfire. The woman vanishes. Ten minutes

later, when all is in darkness, she reappears and the stones fly again. She keeps it up for
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two hours. It is the second night she has performed her solitary demonstration. No one in
the village knows who she is or where she comes from.
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The blue sky seems to be filled with flying
CCCCCiiiiivvvvviiiiillllliiiiizzzzzaaaaatttttiiiiiooooonnnnn iiiiisssss
T objects—stones and rocks, some catapulted by
an expert eleven-year-old, others thrown a few
e aaaaa DDDDDeeeeeaaaaattttthhhhh CCCCCaaaaammmmmppppp,,,,,
feeble feet by a toddler. Tires are set alight, their
s RRRRReeeeesssssiiiiissssstttttaaaaannnnnccccceeeee iiiiisssss LLLLLiiiiifffffeeeee acrid fumes burning the eyes and nose. The
soldiers retaliate in a rush of gunfire and tear
t gas. Now everyone is running, but a boy,
This winter marks the 60th anniversary
“Fear stalks the i The First Manifesto of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, the perhaps ten years old, is caught. His screams
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streets. Promises that largest Jewish resistance to the Nazi rend the air as the soldiers’ wooden truncheon
nothing evil will befall if “Let us not go as sheep to the slaughter. terror to occur. The survival rate smashes into his back and legs. From nowhere,
the ghetto refrains from Jewish youth, do not place your trust in those who among Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto a crowd of women come running like the Furies
undesirable acts. But oare leading you astray. Of the 80,000 Jews who lived was significantly higher then in most at the soldier who has the boy. They surround
who knows what is in the “Jerusalem of Lithuania,” only 20,000 remain Jewish ghettos in eastern Europe. This the pair, and the soldier, frightened, ceases beating.
desirable, if we are all — nalive. Before our very eyes our parents, our brothers, stands as a clear reminder, that He tries to ward off the women who are all
and our sisters have been torn from us. despite the odds and the brutality
righteous and wicked screaming that this is their son. In the confusion
y Where are the hundreds of Jews who were taken to of one’s oppressors, physical resistance
alike — to suffer the one grabs the boy and hurries him away.
work by the Lithuanian press gangs? can be the only significant method
same fate... something
Where are the naked women, the children, who were taken of survival. This is not to say that other There is gunfire and shouting in the camp —
seems about to happen.
from us on the horrible night of provocation? more passive, but clever, tactics cannot the soldiers are here. The mother kicks her
Something is imminent. Where are our brothers from Ghetto Number Two? stall or thwart immediate circum- eight-year-old son, sitting absorbed in the
Something significant stances, but for a meaningful shift in
Whoever is taken out through the ghetto gates never returns. exchange between his sister and the interpreter.
hangs over our heads. the conditions of horror, direct physical
Every Gestapo route leads to Ponar. And Ponar is death.* The boy jumps up, red-faced, and runs out. The
Hiding places are being insurgency is necessary. This reality
Hesitators! Throw away your illusions: Your children, your interpreter explains: “She said ‘Shame, get out
prepared. Is it possible? wives, and your husbands are no longer alive. has always been the case. It can be and fight with your brothers and sisters.’”
I strive to show the Ponar is not the name of a concentration camp. Everyone applied to and learned from every
liberation movement in history, from
neighbors I am not there has been shot. This is the Intifada, the uprising
slave revolts to the current Palestinian
worried about the future. Hitler is scheming to destroy all the Jews of Europe. It has Intifada. by Palestinians begun in October 1987
Really, trouble is enough been Lithuanian Jewry’s ill fate to be first in line.
As the U.S. continues on with their against Israeli military occupation of the West
now... Without noticing Let us not go as sheep to the slaughter.
plans for “Full Spectrum Domination”, Bank and the Gaza Strip. One might be
you adjust to the mood We may be weak and unprotected but the only answer to a
we must not wait until we are on the forgiven for thinking that the stones and lumps
of your surroundings, murderer is self-defense! trains or in the camps before we of rock, which constitute the main arsenal of the
you breathe in shock Brothers! It is better to fall fighting as free men than to live begin to resist.Their goals are clear, fighters, would not qualify as weapons of
from the air. People’s at the mercy of murderers. and in fact, are consistent not only terror — especially against a well armed and
We will defend ourselves! To our last breath we will defend
faces look grim. Eyes with the hegemony of U.S. power, but
trained army. The Israeli soldiers, however,
ourselves!”
look out upon vacancy. with civilization itself. The process of
have decreed that anyone who throws a stone
Each man inspires dread —January 1, 1942, Vilna, in the ghetto domination and control is reaching its
at an Israeli soldier is threatening state security.
in his neighbor. I have ultimate state, and as we look into the
* Ponar was an execution site where Jews from Vilna were murdered. The Intifada was temporarily suspended at
face of this malignancy and of the
had enough of enduring
the outbreak of the war against Iraq, when
possible end of all life, we must
my fate. When I am
recognize that we have nothing to Palestinians living in the occupied territories
alone there is no trace of
lose and our lives to save. Protests, were placed under almost continuous curfew.
fear in my heart. Complete
rallies, and the petitioning of those At the end of the war, however, the Intifada
confidence reigns. Is it
who want us dead is not only futile, was reborn with a vengeance.
complacency? No. I but naive and absurd. We must resist When I visited in the summer of 1989, it had
want to see clearly, and at all costs, even in the face of been in full swing: everyone appeared to be
above all to tell the Jews certain death, because unless we do, involved, from stone-throwing toddlers to
beyond the ghetto what certain death is the best we can hope for.
eight-year-olds, but none more so than the
is happening. How does It is important to remember, however,
women. “They are worth ten men,” said a camp
the Jewish soul respond that while we fight against those in
commander with a rueful grin.
on whom the heavy hand power, we must also fight against
Young girls constituted at least half the
power itself. Power and control are
has not rested? What are
shebab — the army of young people that hurled
what civilization is built upon, from
the consequences for the
individuals to institutions. There are missiles at the soldiers. They were experts in
life of the community?
too many examples of an oppressed tactics of street warfare and were treated as
Will a heavy sledge-
people becoming the oppressor, of equals by the boys. In the Gaza Strip, where
hammer subdue steel?”
which the state of Israel is only one the unrest began and where the pure white sand
- Zelig Kalmanovitch, “““““AAAAArrrrrbbbbbeeeeeiiiiittttt MMMMMaaaaaccccchhhhhttttt FFFFFrrrrreeeeeiiiii!!!!!””””” (German): “““““WWWWWooooorrrrrkkkkk mmmmmaaaaakkkkkeeeeesssss yyyyyooooouuuuu fffffrrrrreeeeeeeeee!!!!!””””” current example. Unless we challenge was blackened by fire, girls and boys, eight
July 13, 1943, in the The cynical slogan of deceit that flew above the power fundamentally, the cycle of years old and upwards, erected roadblocks of
Vilna ghetto gate of the Auschwitz death camp. violence and domination will always
burned out cars, oil drums, and debris from the
be present, and tear at the fabric of
camps before a demonstration began. Many
January 1, 1942, Vilna, in the ghetto. Silence again in the room. A silence that no one life. As we create a resistance to the
were dressed from top to toe in black, their eyes
breaks. Yet tears glint in dozens of young eyes. And a wave of feelings washes over their hearts. current, and likely most deadly, power
gleaming through slits in their hoods. Their
And fists clench. Suddenly a voice breaks out from the corner. Hushed and slow. The song grips structure this planet has ever known,
weapons were sticks and stones, slingshots and
everyone. Freedom is calling to their hearts and unites them all. No longer is one alone in we must do so by not only challenging
feeling or thinking, for if one sings, sings with all his might, with all his heart, it is as though he the contemporary faces of civilization, bicycle chains. These small black figures called
filled the words with his own blood: ‘To stretch out your neck to the sword—no, never!’ but all that it is built upon. themselves the “Ninja.”
It seems our song will shake the ghetto walls.”
—Ruschka Korchak-Marle, Flames in the Ashes
Someone will say it lasts but a year,
Three times four months;
Dawn came on us like a betrayer; it seemed as though
I say those are days and nights
the new sun rose as an ally of our enemies to assist in our
That are endless.
destruction. The different emotions that overcame us, of
Every day — twelve hours,
resignation, of futile rebellion, of fear, or despair, now joined
Every night — seven hundred minutes,
together after a sleepless night in a collective, uncontrolled
Every minute — sixty seconds,
panic. The time for meditation, the time for decision was
over, and all reason dissolved into a tumult, across which Each second with its load of pain and
flashed the happy memories of our homes, still so near in suffering.
time and space, as painful as the thrusts of a sword.” —Written in Polish by an unknown Jewish
—Primo Levi, Survival in Auschwitz girl found at Auschwitz
“Scrolls of Testimony” is a moving chronicle of the Jewish Holocaust compiled by Abba
Kovner, who struggled with other Jewish resistance fighters against the Nazis in Vilna
and the woods of Lithuania. Kovner’s testimony is interwoven with others’ eyewitness
accounts, diary entries, poems, and even last wills and testaments.
GREEN ANARCHY #12 - SPRING ‘03 page 2
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DDDDDeeeeessssstttttrrrrroooooyyyyy CCCCCiiiiivvvvviiiiillllliiiiizzzzzaaaaatttttiiiiiooooonnnnn?????
DDDDDeeeeessssstttttrrrrroooooyyyyy CCCCCiiiiivvvvviiiiillllliiiiizzzzzaaaaatttttiiiiiooooonnnnn?????
Destroy Civilization?
I assume that all anarchists would agree that we want to put an end to every institution, structure and system of domination
and exploitation. The rejection of these things is, after all, the basic meaning of anarchism. Most would also agree that among
these institutions, structures and systems are the state, private property, religion, law, the patriarchal family, class rule...
In recent years, some anarchists have begun to talk in what appears to be broader terms of the need to destroy civilization.
This has, of course, led to a reaction in defense of civilization. Unfortunately, this debate has been mainly acrimonious,
consisting of name-calling, mutual misrepresentation and territorial disputes over the ownership of the label “anarchist,”
rather than real argumentation. One of the problems (although probably not the most significant one) behind this incapacity
to really debate the question is that very few individuals on either side of it have tried to explain precisely what they mean by
“civilization.” Instead, it remains a nebulous term that represents all that is bad for one side and all that is good for the other.
“The Intifada is my son.”
In order to develop a more precise definition of civilization, it is worthwhile to examine when and where civilization is said
Palestinian women are well aware that they are on the frontline in every to have arisen and what differences actually exist between societies currently defined as civilized and those not considered as
aspect of the Intifada. As the insurrection developed, and tens of
such. Such an examination shows that the existence of animal husbandry, agriculture, a sedentary way of life, a refinement of
thousands of men were detained by the military, women took over the
arts, crafts and techniques or even the simple forms of metal smelting are not enough to define a society as civilized (though
fight. With their men gone, there was no one else to do it, but it was more
they do comprise the necessary material basis for the rise of civilization). Rather what arose about ten thousand years ago in
than that. The women became aware of their importance, and they were no
the “cradle of civilization” and what is shared by all civilized societies but lacking in all those that are defined as “uncivilized”
longer prepared to be bystanders or widows. Participation was all.
is a network of institutions, structures and systems that impose social relationships of domination and exploitation. In other
They recognized, even as they fought, the similarities between
words, a civilized society is one comprised of the state, property, religion (or in modern societies, ideology), law, the patriarchal
themselves and the Algerian women in the war against French colonial
family, commodity exchange, class rule — everything we, as anarchists, oppose.
rule in 1958-1964. Then, Muslim women also carried weaponry under
To put it another way, what all civilized societies have in common is the systematic expropriation of the lives of those who
their clothing and sacrificed their freedom and lives for the cause. After
live within them. The critique of domestication (with any moral underpinnings removed) provides a useful tool for
independence was won, however, the men made sure they went back into
understanding this. What is domestication if not the expropriation of the life of a being by another who then exploits that life
their home in the traditional role of Muslim wife — even to the extent of
for her or his own purposes? Civilization is thus the systematic and institutionalized domestication of the vast majority of
being forced to wear the veil once more.
people in a society by the few who are served by the network of domination.
Palestinian women are thoroughly determined that they will not meet
Thus the revolutionary process of reappropriating our lives is a process of decivilizing ourselves, of throwing off our
the same fate once the battle is won... They have the Algerian example,
and they know their men. They are not prepared to be soldiers now and domestication. This does not mean becoming passive slaves to our instincts (if such even exist) or dissolving ourselves in the
second-class citizens later. Their battle for independence as women has to alleged oneness of Nature. It means becoming uncontrollable individuals capable of making and carrying out the decisions
be fought alongside with the Intifada, while they are in a position of power. that affect our lives in free association with others.
It should be obvious from this that I reject any models for an ideal world (and distrust any vision that is too perfect —
On general strike days, which occurred at least twice a week, the girls joined I suspect that there the individual has disappeared). Since the essence of a revolutionary struggle fitting with anarchist ideals
the boys in stoning anyone driving a car or attempting to work. The shebab is the reappropriation of life by individuals who have been exploited, dispossessed and dominated, it would be in the process
was a fearful force, the girls possessing as deadly an aim with the stone or of this struggle that people would decide how they want to create their lives, what in this world they feel they can appropriate
Molotov as their brothers. to increase their freedom, open possibilities and add to their enjoyment, and
Fatin, a blond, blue-eyed ten year old from Al Jalazoun camp near Ramallah what would only be a burden stealing from the joy of life and undermining
on the West Bank mimed a hand-to-hand struggle she had with a soldier the possibilities for expanding freedom. I don’t see how such a process could
previous day. Her family had been given ten minutes to evacuate their home
possibly create any single, universal social model. Rather, innumerable ex-
before it was demolished as a “terrorist stronghold.” Beside Fatin stood her
periments varying drastically from place to place and changing over time
twenty-year-old sister, holding up X-rays, which showed two bullets lodged
would reflect the singular needs, desires, dreams and aspirations of each and
in her chest — the result of being outside during a demonstration.
every individual.
What of men, I asked her (Nadia). After all, there were thousands who had So, indeed, let’s destroy civilization, this network of domination, but not in
not been detained. She chuckled, “Men, I am afraid to say, by about thirty- the name of any model, of an ascetic morality of sacrifice or of a mystical
five, are out of it: they get scared and they have responsibilities. They like to disintegration into a supposedly unalienated oneness with Nature, but rather
talk politics, but they are bad at action.” Other Palestinian women said the because the reappropriation of our lives, the collective recreation of
same thing: that men liked to sit and talk and think they ruled the roost, but in ourselves as uncontrollable and unique individuals is the destruction of
these days it was the women who acted. civilization — of this ten thousand year old network of domination that has
Nadia gave me examples of women’s bravery. One old woman went out spread itself over the globe — and the initiation of a marvelous and frightening
with the shebab on every demonstration carrying a big basket full of stones, journey into the unknown that is freedom. - Willful Disobedience
which she handed out to the children. Another old woman from Dehaisha
camp near Bethlehem, had had her home demolished because she sat on the
roof hurling slabs at soldiers. Then there was the tale of a woman in the same “““““ttttthhhhheeeee GGGGGaaaaarrrrrdddddeeeeennnnn ooooofffff PPPPPeeeeecccccuuuuullllliiiiiaaaaarrrrriiiiitttttiiiiieeeeesssss”””””
camp who saved a four-year-old boy as he fled from the soldiers. The child fffffrrrrrooooommmmm
ran into her house, and she gathered him under her dress. When the soldiers
burst in to search for the boy, all they found was a woman sitting on the floor. bbbbbyyyyy JJJJJeeeeesssssuuuuusssss SSSSSeeeeepppppuuuuulllllvvvvviiiiidddddaaaaa
“You see, everyone does what he or she can. It is our way of life,
and until we have won, there is nothing else that is important.”
NNNNNuuuuummmmmbbbbbeeeeerrrrr 99999
This section is taken from the book, “Shoot The Women First”, The state exists because it territorializes
by Eileen MacDonald, which is filled with interviews with, and itself. It builds itself through colonizing
territorial expansion. This expansion comes
stories of, many courageous women from around the world
about through the forced deterritorialization
committed to armed resistance. (See the Review Section) of the original inhabitants from the lands
that the state has appropriated. This
appropriation implies the mobilization of
military force that the state can use to
expand or maintain its territory. This has meant In this society, preferring the garden to cement is seen
wars and genocide. But the state also has its with distrust. And depending on the political wind of the
experts to write history; they turn the facts around moment, this preference can cost one’s life. When the
so as to justify their atrocities and obligate system breaks and sheep escape from the flock, prisons grow
following generations to repeat the meaningless with criminal efficiency, as well as coups d’etat, raids, tear
official litanies written by the experts. gas, repressive measures, war, etc. While all of this is occurring,
the state reinforces its propaganda through radio, television
Education, then, is nothing more than the institution-
and newspapers. And so the state materializes itself in the
alization of disciplines of training and domestication,
minds of individuals.
a training ground where children and adolescents are
taught to perpetuate the dominant system. There they Nation states assemble their repressive apparati—police and
learn to give way to the dominant order and they military—to protect the transnationals and expand a lifestyle
begin the process of reification. On these parade of standardization based on the reduction of humans into
grounds or schools of social indocrination, the ideology economic units of production and consumption. With this,
that legitimates the system is reproduced. New members a new kind of territorialization and labor slavery is produced.
of society internalize a false consciousness which The technology and the goods that the global minority
inflates in them like a lung until everyone repeats with dominant class uses are manufactured in sweatshops that
more or less success the same discourse. Its idea is operate with the logic of exploitation. Schools and factories
that everyone says, dreams, and thinks that this is the are centers of control imposed by the state. In order to
best of all possible worlds. And if it has its faults, it abolish the state, it is necessary to abolish factories and
doesn’t matter because it can be made better. Thinking schools. The authoritarianism that the civilized order
anything different is to be part of the anarchistic ranks, reproduces in these institutions is responsible for ethnic
to go crazy or to call to insurrection. According to cleansing, political genocide, and social exploitation.
PPEEAACCEE BBYY PPIIEECCEE Adorno, standardization obliges the subject to In order to construct a world without hierarchies, jails,
choose between mercantilization or schizophrenia. propaganda, or coups, it is necessary to sweep away the state.
There is no exit from this binary mold. And it depends on us to wipe it off the face of the earth.
page 3 GREEN ANARCHY #12 - SPRING ‘03
LL ee ss ss oo nn ss ff rr oo mm tt hh ee
Fall of Rome
Fall of Rome
It should be no surprise that the local Roman With America’s blocking of the Kyoto protocol,
viceroy parading his riches through the streets which was a world wide attempt to slow down
would earn the hatred directed against the rulers the industrial emissions of greenhouse gasses,
and governors and all they represent. A later (a pitiful liberal reform attempt at using
consequence of this was that the civilized legislation techniques to stop industrialism’s
rulers of peoples that Rome had colonized destruction of the planet) world wide frustration
“One day shall come of haughty grew jealous and demanded that Rome share directed at the Imperial entity that is driving
its wealth. This led several such non-Roman life on earth towards death rose to a high
Rome, a deserved blow from heaven.
rulers, referred to as barbarians, yet as public pitch. US covert actions and backing
You will be plundered and destroyed
civilized as any Roman governor, to revolt of ruthless dictators has earned us the reputation
and with wailing and gnashing and attack Rome demanding a portion of its of brutal overlords, and caused great disliking
of teeth you will pay.” spoils. Coincidentally, this was the situation of America for years. Likewise, Rome’s
with the famous barbarian group that sacked military conquests built up enemies of Rome
- Cybeline Oracle
Rome in 410 AD that supposedly started the that grew in ranks as the campaigns of
cccccooooollllllllllaaaaapppppssssseeeee
In these times I think it is important decline of the Roman Empire. The leader of conquest continued. These people fought back,
and inspiring to remember the fall of that Gaelic tribe, Alaric, was an intellectual, a waging more and more attacks on the evil
thoroughly civilized man who was well read in empire. Resistance to Rome became more
Rome, as parable and as analogy. TTTTThhhhheeeee nnnnneeeeeeeeeedddddllllleeeee mmmmmooooovvvvveeeeesssss iiiiinnnnnsssssiiiiidddddeeeee ttttthhhhheeeee vvvvveeeeeiiiiinnnnn,,,,,
all the classical works, who spoke Latin successful when barbarian soldiers who were pppppiiiiieeeeerrrrrccccciiiiinnnnnggggg ttttthhhhheeeee ssssskkkkkiiiiinnnnn,,,,, sssssllllliiiiidddddiiiiinnnnnggggg iiiiinnnnntttttooooo ttttthhhhheeeee
Rome is remembered as the greatest of ancient
fluently and was a great respecter of Rome. forced to serve in the Roman army returned aaaaarrrrrttttteeeeerrrrryyyyy.....
civilizations. Its accomplishments are
to their home and used their new military
celebrated just as the so-called advancements TTTTThhhhheeeee bbbbblllllooooooooooddddd ffffflllllooooowwwwwsssss aaaaarrrrrooooouuuuunnnnnddddd iiiiittttt,,,,,
knowledge against the colonizer they aaaaannnnnddddd iiiiisssss eeeeexxxxxtttttrrrrraaaaacccccttttteeeeeddddd iiiiinnnnntttttooooo ttttthhhhheeeee tttttuuuuubbbbbeeeee
of this civilization, at the expense of the
learned it from. fffffiiiiilllllllllleeeeeddddd wwwwwiiiiittttthhhhh ttttthhhhheeeee bbbbboooooiiiiillllleeeeeddddd dddddooooowwwwwnnnnn mmmmmiiiiixxxxxtttttuuuuurrrrreeeee:::::
world, are trumpeted. From the beginning, pppppaaaaarrrrrttttt eeeeessssscccccaaaaapppppiiiiisssssmmmmm,,,,, pppppaaaaarrrrrttttt dddddeeeeessssspppppeeeeerrrrraaaaatttttiiiiiooooonnnnn,,,,,
Rome had built its empire by conquest and Nature itself seemed to be ttttthhhhheeeee mmmmmiiiiixxxxxtttttuuuuurrrrreeeee ooooofffff mmmmmiiiiissssseeeeerrrrryyyyy
aaaaannnnnddddd lllllooooonnnnneeeeellllliiiiinnnnneeeeessssssssss,,,,,
force of arms. It was ruthless in its lust for
conspiring against the empire. ttttthhhhheeeee ssssseeeeeaaaaarrrrrccccchhhhh.....
power, and “insatiable in its ambition”,
defining qualities characteristic of all TTTTThhhhheeeee fffffiiiiinnnnngggggeeeeerrrrr pppppuuuuussssshhhhheeeeesssss dddddooooowwwwwnnnnn,,,,,
Other things of note brought Rome to its rrrrreeeeellllleeeeeaaaaasssssiiiiinnnnnggggg fffffuuuuullllllllll fffffooooorrrrrccccceeeee iiiiinnnnntttttooooo ttttthhhhheeeee llllliiiiifffffeeeeebbbbblllllooooooooooddddd
civilization itself. Rome was an imperialist demise. Rome had other bills to pay. The wwwwwhhhhhaaaaattttt tttttaaaaakkkkkeeeeesssss ttttthhhhheeeee ppppplllllaaaaaccccceeeee ooooofffff
empire, as they all are, that controlled a great bbbbbrrrrroooookkkkkeeeeennnnn dddddrrrrreeeeeaaaaammmmmsssss.....
chickens did come home to roost in Rome
part of their known world and expanded
in the various attacks and raids, revolts, HHHHHiiiiisssss eeeeeyyyyyeeeeesssss rrrrrooooollllllllll bbbbbaaaaaccccckkkkk,,,,,
continually through conquest and coloni- uprisings and power struggles. But they ttttthhhhheeeee rrrrreeeeellllliiiiieeeeefffff iiiiisssss mmmmmooooovvvvviiiiinnnnnggggg ttttthhhhhrrrrrooooouuuuuggggghhhhh hhhhheeeeerrrrr bbbbbooooodddddyyyyy,,,,,
zation. The Empire amassed huge armies of ttttthhhhheeeee llllluuuuusssssttttt fffffooooorrrrr llllliiiiifffffeeeee sssssuuuuubbbbbsssssiiiiidddddeeeeesssss
also came from nature, which Rome had
slaves needed to build up the monster and ttttthhhhhiiiiisssss iiiiisssss ttttthhhhheeeee dddddeeeeeaaaaattttthhhhh ooooofffff dddddrrrrreeeeeaaaaammmmmsssss.....
overtaxed beyond its limits. It was time for
on whose backs the empire was founded. Rome to pay up on the debt it had borrowed ***************
But the enslaved and humiliated barbarians
from the ecosystem. The aqueducts that are
AAAAArrrrrooooouuuuunnnnnddddd ttttthhhhhiiiiisssss bbbbbooooodddddyyyyy,,,,,
were tired of it. As Rome waged its wars of
acclaimed as so technologically advanced, ttttthhhhhiiiiisssss fffffrrrrriiiiiggggghhhhhttttteeeeennnnneeeeeddddd aaaaannnnnddddd cccccooooonnnnnfffffuuuuussssseeeeeddddd sssssooooouuuuulllll,,,,,
conquest, rebellion plagued the empire and that earned Rome such high respect from iiiiisssss aaaaa bbbbboooooxxxxx:::::
demanded constant repression. fffffooooouuuuurrrrr wwwwwaaaaallllllllllsssss,,,,, aaaaa ccccceeeeeiiiiillllliiiiinnnnnggggg aaaaannnnnddddd aaaaa fffffllllloooooooooorrrrr.....
modern civilization and that set Rome apart
I do not though make a distinction
in history; drained the water reservoirs that TTTTThhhhheeeee bbbbboooooxxxxx iiiiisssss aaaaa bbbbboooooxxxxx wwwwwiiiiittttthhhhhiiiiinnnnn aaaaa bbbbboooooxxxxx.....
between different or separate civilizations. once quenched its diabolical thirst. These TTTTThhhhheeeee wwwwwhhhhhooooollllleeeee wwwwwooooorrrrrlllllddddd ooooofffff ttttthhhhhiiiiisssss sssssooooouuuuulllll
There are different cultures and societies, iiiiisssss eeeeennnnnssssslllllaaaaavvvvveeeeeddddd::::: wwwwwiiiiittttthhhhhooooouuuuuttttt bbbbbaaaaarrrrrsssss,,,,,
water sources that allowed so many to live
wwwwwiiiiittttthhhhhooooouuuuuttttt kkkkknnnnnooooowwwwwiiiiinnnnnggggg.....
different variations, but there is only one
sedentary lives so unnaturally in huge
civilization. All the civilized societies for numbers, crowded into cities made of dried BBBBBuuuuuttttt ttttthhhhheeeee sssssooooouuuuulllll kkkkknnnnnooooowwwwwsssss sssssooooommmmmeeeeettttthhhhhiiiiinnnnnggggg
the last 10,000 years are all part of the iiiiisssss ttttthhhhheeeeerrrrreeeee.....
earth, eventually ran out and stopped feeding
BBBBBaaaaarrrrrsssss sssssuuuuurrrrrrrrrrooooouuuuunnnnnddddd,,,,, aaaaannnnnddddd ttttthhhhheeeee sssssooooouuuuulllll kkkkknnnnnooooowwwwwsssss
same monster, the same pathology. I only
this crazed juggernaut. The natural wwwwwiiiiittttthhhhhooooouuuuuttttt kkkkknnnnnooooowwwwwiiiiinnnnnggggg.....
use Rome as an example. For at the time
aquifers had been drained, and the
it was the most egregious example of TTTTThhhhheeeee sssssooooouuuuulllll ssssseeeeeaaaaarrrrrccccchhhhheeeeesssss fffffooooorrrrr aaaaa wwwwwaaaaayyyyy ooooouuuuuttttt,,,,,
ecosystems that thrived in them destroyed.
BBBBBuuuuuttttt iiiiisssss mmmmmiiiiisssssggggguuuuuiiiiidddddeeeeeddddd bbbbbyyyyy wwwwwhhhhhaaaaattttt
civilization’s destructiveness.
The roads Rome are famous for iiiiittttt iiiiisssss tttttooooolllllddddd,,,,,
Just like the US, Rome engendered destroyed ecosystems across its empire. bbbbbuuuuurrrrriiiiieeeeeddddd iiiiinnnnn ttttthhhhheeeee FFFFFuuuuutttttuuuuurrrrreeeee
extreme contempt from its neighbors and ooooofffff ttttthhhhheeeee bbbbboooooxxxxx bbbbbuuuuuiiiiillllldddddeeeeerrrrrsssss.....
These roads allowed for easy transport of
colonies. At the height of its imperial reign,
military personnel, trade, and the everyday ***************
dislike for the Roman Empire also reached
managing of the empire. They separated
a peak. Resentment festered on the periphery. IIIII cccccaaaaannnnn’’’’’ttttt sssssaaaaayyyyy IIIII kkkkknnnnnooooowwwww
He enjoyed the respect of Roman officials and intact ecosystems, disrupted animals’ wwwwwhhhhhaaaaattttt hhhhheeeee fffffeeeeelllllttttt,,,,,
Not only were people degraded by Rome’s
was thought of as noble by them. He thought territories, and created artificial boundaries aaaaasssss ssssshhhhheeeee iiiiinnnnnjjjjjeeeeecccccttttteeeeeddddd
colonization of them, but also Roman officials’ he and his people deserved a slice of the pie of that affected essential animal behavior. aaaaa sssssyyyyyrrrrriiiiinnnnngggggeeeee fffffuuuuullllllllll ooooofffff lllllooooosssssttttt hhhhhooooopppppeeeee
flaunting of their wealth made them iiiiinnnnntttttooooo ttttthhhhheeeee dddddeeeeessssspppppeeeeerrrrraaaaattttteeeee vvvvveeeeeiiiiinnnnnsssss,,,,,
Rome’s riches. So he ordered his armies to Furthermore, they created water runoff ooooofffff ttttthhhhheeeee tttttaaaaatttttttttteeeeerrrrreeeeeddddd sssssooooouuuuulllll.....
contemptuous and jealous. Romans always
attack Rome from the north and surprisingly problems and erosion. The roads, which
reveled in grandiose displays of power. They met with little to no resistance. His forces were allowed Rome to grow and maintain its IIIII kkkkknnnnnooooowwwww ttttthhhhheeeee bbbbboooooxxxxx,,,,,
rode gold plated chariots through the streets IIIII kkkkknnnnnooooowwwww ttttthhhhheeeee bbbbbuuuuuiiiiillllldddddeeeeerrrrrsssss,,,,,
even welcomed at times, as the poor of the empire, contributed to an ecological disaster. IIIII kkkkknnnnnooooowwwww wwwwwhhhhhaaaaattttt ttttthhhhheeeee sssssooooouuuuulllll
with gold woven into their clothes attending
Roman cities/colonies sided with him and his wwwwwaaaaasssss tttttooooolllllddddd,,,,,
lavish parties celebrating their excess.
armies hoping for a reprieve from the
Americans drive around in their SUV’s with fffffooooorrrrr ttttthhhhheeeee mmmmmeeeeessssssssssaaaaagggggeeeee iiiiisssss
oppressive Roman order. He made it all the eeeeevvvvveeeeerrrrryyyyywwwwwhhhhheeeeerrrrreeeee.....
diamond rings and fancy clothes, all created
way to the city of Rome itself and demanded IIIIIttttt ssssseeeeeeeeeekkkkksssss tttttooooo dddddeeeeessssstttttrrrrroooooyyyyy
from the slave labor of their colonies. dddddrrrrreeeeeaaaaammmmmsssss,,,,, hhhhhooooopppppeeeeesssss:::::
huge ransoms of gold, silver, crops, and iron
Americans conquer and slaughter people all pppppooooossssssssssiiiiibbbbbiiiiillllliiiiitttttiiiiieeeeesssss.....
when his protests were not heard. His forces
over the world, then redirect all their riches
were held at bay outside the defended city until
and resources back to US corporations. This
slaves within Rome opened up the gates and
leaves the people unable to supply themselves
let the barbarians in.
with what is left and unable to live self-
It was inconceivable that the very city of
sufficiently, forcing them to depend on the
Rome itself in the heart of the empire could be
colonizer. And we wonder why we are hated?
attacked and destroyed. Romans thought the
We, the Romans, are living in plenty off the
capital untouchable and never thought they
blood soaked stolen riches of our conquered
might be vulnerable or that they could be
and colonized victims.
victims themselves. It awakened Rome to the
“I have no more faith than a grain of threat its cruel policies created. This attack was
mustard in the future of ‘civilization’. an omen of catastrophe.
I know now it is doomed to destruction— As Rome grew so too did the rest of the world’s
hatred of it. Just as Americans do now, Rome faced
probably before very long. What a joy it is
increasing hostility from the rest of the world it
to think of, and how often it consoles me
sought to dominate. Before September 11th, anti-
to think of barbarism once more flooding
US sentiment was at an all time high. With
the world, with real feelings and passions—
America’s new fumbling puppet ruler, son of a
however rudimentary—taking the place
former dictator hated for his own bloody rule,
of our wretched hypocrisies.”
America’s arrogance and brutality were brought to
- William Morris
the surface and made easier to see for what it is.
GREEN ANARCHY #12 - SPRING ‘03 page 4
Truly, the heritage of Rome is a desert. It Of course, a huge factor in the fall of Rome With their world collapsing into chaos, the
TTTTThhhhheeeee bbbbboooooiiiiillllleeeeeddddd dddddooooowwwwwnnnnn clear-cut the forests in its colonies just as surely was the struggle for power. Late in Rome’s Roman’s thirst for macabre distraction grew.
mmmmmiiiiixxxxxtttttuuuuurrrrreeeee ooooofffff cccccrrrrryyyyyiiiiinnnnnggggg,,,,,
as it did its own. Civilization’s touch destroys history the Empire split between the East and Rome celebrated its anniversary and its victory
fffffeeeeeaaaaarrrrr,,,,, cccccooooonnnnnfffffuuuuusssssiiiiiooooonnnnn,,,,, llllluuuuusssssttttt,,,,,
dddddeeeeesssssiiiiirrrrreeeee,,,,, aaaaannnnngggggsssssttttt,,,,, aaaaannnnnddddd lllllooooovvvvveeeee,,,,, nature wherever it goes. Over-hunting, and agri- the West. It is worth noting that it was in one over Romania in the most fitting way, with 117
iiiiisssss jjjjjuuuuusssssttttt wwwwwhhhhhaaaaattttt cultural attempts to feed the massive population of these struggles for power that emperor continuous bloody days of ongoing gladiatorial
hhhhhaaaaappppppppppeeeeennnnnsssss tttttooooo ttttthhhhhooooossssseeeee wwwwwhhhhhooooo
dddddooooonnnnn’’’’’ttttt ssssshhhhhaaaaarrrrreeeee ttttthhhhheeeee depleted the “natural resources” (a civilized word Constantinople reportedly saw the vision of a games in the Coliseum in which 9,000 gladiators
(((((iiiiimmmmmppppplllllaaaaannnnnttttteeeeeddddd))))) for plants and animals). Soil erosion and burning cross in the sky with the words died and countless more animals were slaughtered,
“““““FFFFFuuuuutttttuuuuurrrrreeeee””””” salinization by agriculture sometimes led to the “In hoc signo vinces”, “By this sign you will while barbarians hammered at the walls and
————— iiiiinnnnn ttttthhhhheeeee eeeeeyyyyyeeeeesssss ooooofffff ttttthhhhheeeee bbbbbuuuuuiiiiillllldddddeeeeerrrrrsssss.....
inability to feed the population, and it contributed conquer”. He had the cross painted on the rebellion broke out in the provinces. In fact,
*************** in the long run to the collapse of the empire. shield of his army and was victorious against distraction was a key feature of Rome. Intent
TTTTThhhhheeeee mmmmmeeeeessssssssssaaaaagggggeeeee iiiiisssss bbbbbuuuuuiiiiilllllttttt iiiiinnnnntttttooooo his rival for power in a bloody battle outside to distract themselves, most Romans “did not
ooooouuuuurrrrr mmmmmiiiiinnnnndddddsssss,,,,, “Words cannot express how bitterly of Rome. This was the first in a long line of notice the social fabric shredding around
fffffrrrrrooooommmmm bbbbbiiiiirrrrrttttthhhhh we will be hated among foreign violent battles fought for power under that sign, them”. The Roman rulers learned early on the
tttttooooo dddddeeeeeaaaaattttthhhhh.....
nations because of the outrageous the cross. When his armies were victorious he value of appeasement in controlling the people,
TTTTTooooo ttttthhhhheeeee bbbbbuuuuuiiiiillllldddddeeeeerrrrrsssss,,,,, conduct of the men we have sent to converted to Christianity and declared it a and in keeping them distracted. Rome’s most
dddddeeeeeaaaaattttthhhhh iiiiisssss tttttooooo bbbbbeeeee eeeeellllliiiiimmmmmiiiiinnnnnaaaaattttteeeeeddddd.....
legal religion in Rome, giving it the legitimacy effective means of doing this was “Bread and
TTTTThhhhheeeee bbbbbuuuuuiiiiillllldddddeeeeerrrrrsssss bbbbbuuuuuiiiiilllllddddd govern them. All the provinces are
sssssooooo ttttthhhhhaaaaattttt ttttthhhhheeeeeyyyyy wwwwwiiiiillllllllll eeeeexxxxxiiiiisssssttttt and boost it needed to rise to power and Circuses”. The “Bread and Circuses” was the
complaining about Roman greed and
fffffooooorrrrreeeeevvvvveeeeerrrrr..... become the agent of destruction that it did. government giving the people what they
Roman injustice. I remind you
Before this, Christianity was a small unpopular wanted, to keep them happy. The Roman
IIIIIttttt pppppuuuuussssshhhhheeeeesssss dddddooooowwwwwnnnnn
ttttthhhhheeeee dddddrrrrreeeeeaaaaammmmmeeeeerrrrrsssss,,,,, gentlemen, Rome will not be able to cult. This move to make it legally accepted not government gave out food to the poor to keep
sssssooooo ttttthhhhhaaaaattttt ttttthhhhheeeeeyyyyy wwwwwiiiiillllllllll hold out against the whole world. I do only spelled disaster for the world and its future, them content, a daily ration of food and small
bbbbbuuuuuiiiiilllllddddd fffffooooorrrrr ttttthhhhheeeee bbbbbuuuuuiiiiillllldddddeeeeerrrrrsssss.....
IIIIIttttt dddddeeeeessssstttttrrrrroooooyyyyysssss ttttthhhhheeeee dddddrrrrreeeeeaaaaammmmmeeeeerrrrrsssss not mean against its power but also even for Rome itself. sum of money, and provided lavish entertainment
bbbbbyyyyy cccccrrrrreeeeeaaaaatttttiiiiinnnnnggggg “““““FFFFFooooorrrrreeeeevvvvveeeeerrrrr”””””..... and arms at war, but The largest way in which Christianity to divert their attention.
aided Rome’s downfall was the role it played The great gladiatorial games of Rome were
*************** against its groans, tears,
in the bureaucratic split between East and West part of Rome’s methods of distracting and
TTTTThhhhheeeee bbbbbuuuuuiiiiillllldddddeeeeerrrrrsssss ttttthhhhhiiiiinnnnnkkkkk and lamentations.”
Rome. Part of the reason Constantine moved controlling the people. Even the poorest people
ooooonnnnnlllllyyyyy ooooofffff “““““FFFFFuuuuutttttuuuuurrrrreeeeesssss.....””””” - Cicero
TTTTThhhhheeeeeyyyyy fffffeeeeeaaaaarrrrr llllliiiiifffffeeeee,,,,, the capital to could at least look down on those punished in
bbbbbeeeeecccccaaaaauuuuussssseeeee llllliiiiifffffeeeee hhhhhaaaaasssss Constantinople was the Coliseum. These games and competitions
bbbbbeeeeeaaaaauuuuutttttyyyyy iiiiinnnnn ttttthhhhheeeee mmmmmooooommmmmeeeeennnnnttttt,,,,,
because Rome was served the purpose that T.V. does now. Most
aaaaannnnnddddd aaaaallllllllll mmmmmooooommmmmeeeeennnnntttttsssss eeeeennnnnddddd.....
still mostly Pagan emperors spent huge sums of public money
TTTTThhhhheeeee dddddrrrrreeeeeaaaaammmmmeeeeerrrrrsssss dddddrrrrreeeeeaaaaammmmm,,,,, and not Christian. keeping the people amused. The Coliseum
bbbbbuuuuuttttt ttttthhhhheeeee dddddrrrrreeeeeaaaaammmmm iiiiisssss nnnnnooooottttt
The division into itself was built as a gift to the people, and
ssssseeeeepppppaaaaarrrrraaaaattttteeeee..... IIIIIttttt iiiiisssss
llllliiiiivvvvveeeeeddddd..... two empires, really admittance was free. It was an attempt to buy
TTTTThhhhheeeee dddddrrrrreeeeeaaaaammmmmeeeeerrrrrsssss fffffiiiiinnnnnddddd aaaaa undertaken by off the people. The events were ultra spectacles.
wwwwwooooorrrrrlllllddddd ooooofffff pppppooooossssssssssiiiiibbbbbiiiiillllliiiiitttttiiiiieeeeesssss,,,,,
Dioclesian, was an The gladiators, from the word gladus for sword,
aaaaannnnnddddd eeeeexxxxxiiiiisssssttttt aaaaasssss iiiiisssss.....
attempt to stop the went to great lengths to keep the crowd
TTTTThhhhheeeee bbbbbuuuuuiiiiillllldddddeeeeerrrrrsssss hhhhhaaaaavvvvveeeee decline of the entertained and distracted. When the gladiators
lllllooooosssssttttt ttttthhhhheeeeeiiiiirrrrr aaaaabbbbbiiiiillllliiiiitttttyyyyy
empire. The split fought they made it as dramatic as they could
tttttooooo dddddrrrrreeeeeaaaaammmmm,,,,, aaaaannnnnddddd sssssooooo
ttttthhhhheeeeeyyyyy ssssseeeeeaaaaarrrrrccccchhhhh ttttthhhhheeeee quickened the to increase the spectacle, making large swings
“““““UUUUUnnnnniiiiivvvvveeeeerrrrrssssseeeee””””” fffffooooorrrrr collapse because it with their weapons when they weren’t necessary.
“““““AAAAAnnnnnssssswwwwweeeeerrrrrsssss”””””.....
created a large It is easy to see how important the games
TTTTThhhhheeeee ssssseeeeeaaaaarrrrrccccchhhhh dddddoooooeeeeesssss nnnnnooooottttt number of addi- were to the rulers; there was an amphitheater
eeeeennnnnddddd aaaaattttt ttttthhhhhooooouuuuuggggghhhhhttttt,,,,, bbbbbuuuuuttttt tional government in every Roman town. In fact, an amphitheater
iiiiisssss cccccaaaaarrrrrrrrrriiiiieeeeeddddd ooooouuuuuttttt.....
officials and was seen as essential to every roman city,
IIIIIttttt bbbbbuuuuuiiiiillllldddddsssss ssssspppppaaaaaccccceeeee ssssshhhhhiiiiipppppsssss,,,,,
sssssaaaaattttteeeeelllllllllliiiiittttteeeeesssss,,,,, pppppyyyyyrrrrraaaaammmmmiiiiidddddsssss,,,,, bureaucracies. along with a market place, theater, and courthouse.
TTTTTwwwwwiiiiinnnnn TTTTTooooowwwwweeeeerrrrrsssss..... These added to the The word coliseum itself comes from the word
*************** heavy inflation Colossus. The famous arena was actually
weighing on the named the Coliseum during the Middle Ages,
HHHHHeeeee iiiiisssss iiiiinnnnn aaaaannnnnooooottttthhhhheeeeerrrrr
wwwwwooooorrrrrlllllddddd nnnnnooooowwwww,,,,, ssssseeeeeaaaaarrrrrccccchhhhhiiiiinnnnnggggg empire. This was after the colossal statue of Nero that stood
ttttthhhhhrrrrrooooouuuuuggggghhhhh aaaaa fffffiiiiieeeeelllllddddd ooooofffff possibly the only beside it. But its real name at the time of its
pppppiiiiillllllllllsssss,,,,, sssssiiiiitttttcccccooooommmmmsssss,,,,,
time Christian use was the Flavian Amphitheatre.
ttttteeeeennnnn-----pppppoooooiiiiinnnnnttttt ppppprrrrrooooogggggrrrrraaaaammmmmsssss,,,,, sssssccccchhhhhoooooooooolllll,,,,,
eeeeexxxxxccccceeeeessssssssss............... missionaries and The Coliseum held 60,000 spectators, more
zealots hurt civili- than most of the modern stadiums. The
SSSSShhhhheeeee iiiiisssss hhhhhooooopppppiiiiinnnnnggggg
zation instead of amphitheater in the city of Pompeii held 5
tttttooooo fffffiiiiinnnnnddddd sssssooooommmmmeeeeettttthhhhhiiiiinnnnnggggg,,,,,
aaaaannnnnyyyyyttttthhhhhiiiiinnnnnggggg,,,,, Rome was the greatest empire expanding it. times more people than its total population.
tttttooooo bbbbbeeeeellllliiiiieeeeevvvvveeeee iiiiinnnnn,,,,, in the world because it was ever expanding. It wasn’t long until Christianity produced the But the immense popularity of this form of
bbbbbeeeeecccccaaaaauuuuussssseeeee,,,,, tttttooooo ttttthhhhheeeeemmmmm,,,,, ttttthhhhheeeeerrrrreeeee iiiiisssss It grew to encompass all the land bordering the first ascetic monks, which should be no distraction is best exemplified by the size of
nnnnnooooottttthhhhhiiiiinnnnnggggg llllleeeeefffffttttt iiiiinnnnn
ttttthhhhhiiiiisssss wwwwwooooorrrrrlllllddddd..... Mediterranean Sea, into Africa, the Middle East surprise since in this new religion suffering the Circus Maximus. The Circus Maximus was
(((((nnnnnooooowwwww cccccooooovvvvveeeeerrrrreeeeeddddd as far as the Caspian Sea. It extended far to the was a mark of holiness. They practiced self- the circular racing arena, also in the city of
wwwwwiiiiittttthhhhh cccccooooonnnnncccccrrrrreeeeettttteeeee,,,,, north throughout France and deeply into deprivation and a rigid renunciation of desire. Rome, where the chariot races took place.
tttttooooowwwwweeeeerrrrrsssss,,,,, sssssttttteeeeeeeeeelllll,,,,,
ppppplllllaaaaassssstttttiiiiiccccc....................))))) England. But the empire overextended itself. It It effectively tamed desire and instinct. It held 200,000 spectators!
grew so big that even with its many tentacles it Christianity directly embodied the values of
TTTTThhhhheeeee eeeeessssscccccaaaaapppppeeeee ffffflllllooooowwwwwsssss could not maintain control. The empire had civilization. Constantine later used Christianity (continued on next page)
ttttthhhhhrrrrrooooouuuuuggggghhhhh ttttthhhhheeeee vvvvveeeeeiiiiinnnnnsssss,,,,,
ttttthhhhheeeee sssssaaaaacccccrrrrreeeeeddddd bbbbbooooodddddyyyyy,,,,, become unmanageable. Its armies could not be to unify the empire because it
sssssooooouuuuulllll,,,,, everywhere at once, and took too long crossing preached the values that civilization
hhhhhaaaaasssss bbbbbeeeeeeeeeennnnn vvvvviiiiiooooolllllaaaaattttteeeeeddddd..... the empire when needed. It became impossible is based on: obedience, discipline,
TTTTThhhhheeeee eeeeeyyyyyeeeeesssss rrrrrooooollllllllll bbbbbaaaaaccccckkkkk,,,,, to maintain order so far from the capital. and monotheism. Constantine ruled
ttttthhhhheeeee bbbbbooooodddddyyyyy cccccooooonnnnnvvvvvuuuuulllllssssseeeeesssss,,,,, Rome, as a large and complex society, had a with absolute power and saw himself
dddddeeeeessssspppppeeeeerrrrraaaaattttteeeeelllllyyyyy huge bureaucracy. Bureaucracies reproduce as the thirteenth apostle. Soon there
ssssseeeeeeeeeekkkkkiiiiinnnnnggggg
sssssooooommmmmeeeeettttthhhhhiiiiinnnnnggggg..... themselves, and are ever growing. Eventually, were over sixty decrees outlawing
the bureaucracy grew so large that it became other religions and Christianity took
***************
unmanageable, it grew top heavy, and no time developing its oppressive
TTTTThhhhheeeee ssssstttttooooorrrrriiiiieeeeesssss crumbled under its own weight. Getting food patterns for years to come.
hhhhheeeee wwwwwaaaaasssss ooooonnnnnccccceeeee tttttooooolllllddddd,,,,, mmmmmooooovvvvveeeeeddddd
ttttthhhhhrrrrrooooouuuuuggggghhhhh hhhhheeeeeaaaaalllllttttthhhhhyyyyy fffffooooorrrrreeeeessssstttttsssss,,,,, and provisions to the armies on the frontier The Western Roman Empire
(((((ttttthhhhhiiiiiccccckkkkkeeeeerrrrr ttttthhhhhaaaaannnnn iiiiimmmmmaaaaagggggiiiiinnnnnaaaaabbbbbllllleeeee))))) became harder as the frontiers expanded centered at the original
uuuuunnnnndddddeeeeerrrrr aaaaa ssssskkkkkyyyyy fffffuuuuullllllllll ooooofffff pppppaaaaasssssssssseeeeennnnngggggeeeeerrrrr pppppiiiiigggggeeeeeooooonnnnnsssss,,,,, further out. Orders took too long to get to the capital at Rome fell first
sssssuuuuurrrrrrrrrrooooouuuuunnnnndddddeeeeeddddd bbbbbyyyyy ttttthhhhhiiiiiccccckkkkk hhhhheeeeerrrrrdddddsssss ooooofffff bbbbbiiiiisssssooooonnnnn,,,,,
aaaaaiiiiirrrrr ttttthhhhhaaaaattttt nnnnneeeeevvvvveeeeerrrrr hhhhhuuuuurrrrrttttt tttttooooo bbbbbrrrrreeeeeaaaaattttthhhhheeeee,,,,, far reaches of the empire and direct control in 476 AD, followed a
wwwwwaaaaattttteeeeerrrrr ttttthhhhhaaaaattttt dddddiiiiidddddnnnnn’’’’’ttttt dddddeeeeessssstttttrrrrroooooyyyyy became impossible. When Rome fell it was few centuries later by
yyyyyooooouuuuurrrrr iiiiinnnnnsssssiiiiidddddeeeeesssss aaaaasssss yyyyyooooouuuuu dddddrrrrraaaaannnnnkkkkk iiiiittttt..... waging wars on all sides, defending all its the Rome of the East,
TTTTTooooo hhhhheeeeerrrrr,,,,, ttttthhhhhiiiiisssss wwwwwooooorrrrrlllllddddd borders. On a parallel note, we are seeing a which degenerated
iiiiisssss ooooonnnnnlllllyyyyy aaaaa tttttaaaaallllleeeee,,,,, rise in attacks directed against America and and then rose again as
aaaaa DDDDDiiiiisssssnnnnneeeeeyyyyy mmmmmooooovvvvviiiiieeeee aaaaattttt bbbbbeeeeesssssttttt..... its symbols and monuments of power. part of the Byzantine
HHHHHeeeee wwwwwaaaaasssss nnnnneeeeevvvvveeeeerrrrr ttttthhhhhaaaaattttt hhhhhuuuuunnnnnttttteeeeerrrrr Empire.
aaaaannnnnddddd ssssshhhhheeeee nnnnneeeeevvvvveeeeerrrrr ttttthhhhhaaaaattttt gggggaaaaattttthhhhheeeeerrrrreeeeerrrrr..... I think something that should not go unnoted
TTTTThhhhheeeeeiiiiirrrrr wwwwwooooorrrrrlllllddddd iiiiisssss mmmmmuuuuuccccchhhhh sssssmmmmmaaaaalllllllllleeeeerrrrr are the slave revolts within Rome. Rome’s While stands the
ttttthhhhhaaaaannnnn ttttthhhhhaaaaattttt.....
slaves outnumbered its citizens two to one in
Coliseum,
TTTTThhhhheeeee wwwwwooooorrrrrlllllddddd ttttthhhhheeeeeyyyyy hhhhhaaaaaddddd some places, so great attention was needed to
hhhhheeeeeaaaaarrrrrddddd ooooofffff,,,,, rrrrreeeeeaaaaaddddd aaaaabbbbbooooouuuuuttttt,,,,, keep them in control. Slaves were feared by Rome shall stand;
dddddrrrrreeeeeaaaaammmmmeeeeeddddd ooooofffff::::: When falls the
ttttthhhhhaaaaattttt ppppplllllaaaaaccccceeeee ooooofffff the aristocracy who knew that if given the
pppppooooossssssssssiiiiibbbbbiiiiillllliiiiitttttiiiiieeeeesssss aaaaannnnnddddd llllliiiiifffffeeeee chance, many would slit their throats while Coliseum,
iiiiisssss nnnnnooooottttt hhhhheeeeerrrrreeeee fffffooooorrrrr ttttthhhhheeeeemmmmm..... they slept. The truth in the situation was Rome shall fall;
TTTTThhhhheeeee bbbbbuuuuuiiiiillllldddddeeeeerrrrrsssss hhhhhaaaaavvvvveeeee expressed in the old proverb “Every slave is And when Rome falls
cccccooooonnnnnvvvvviiiiinnnnnccccceeeeeddddd ttttthhhhheeeeemmmmm an enemy”, showing that the Romans knew
- the World.
ttttthhhhhaaaaattttt ttttthhhhheeeeerrrrreeeee iiiiisssss nnnnnooooo ppppplllllaaaaaccccceeeee fffffooooorrrrr
they were despised by their slaves.
dddddrrrrreeeeeaaaaammmmmsssss iiiiinnnnn “““““rrrrreeeeeaaaaalllll llllliiiiifffffeeeee.....””””” - Lord Byron
page 5 GREEN ANARCHY #12 - SPRING ‘03
Animals were used extensively in the Coliseum dotted by family farms, but small family farms
ccccciiiiitttttiiiiieeeeesssss aaaaarrrrreeeee bbbbbuuuuuiiiiilllllttttt,,,,, pppppeeeeeooooopppppllllleeeee
TTTTThhhhheeeee bbbbbuuuuuiiiiillllldddddeeeeerrrrrsssss bbbbbuuuuurrrrriiiiieeeeeddddd ttttthhhhheeeeeiiiiirrrrr ccccchhhhhaaaaannnnnccccceeeee,,,,, pppppuuuuussssshhhhheeeeeddddd tttttooooogggggeeeeettttthhhhheeeeerrrrr sssssooooo ccccclllllooooossssseeeee ttttthhhhhaaaaattttt ttttthhhhheeeeeyyyyy games. The animals were there to wonder at, were driven out by the large estates that started
lllllooooonnnnnggggg aaaaagggggooooo..... hhhhhaaaaavvvvveeeee nnnnnooooottttthhhhhiiiiinnnnnggggg llllleeeeefffffttttt ooooofffff ttttthhhhheeeeemmmmm-----ssssseeeeelllllvvvvveeeeesssss to fear, to dominate, and to die. They were wild, developing and came to dominate the landscape.
ppTTpTppTThhhhhuuuuueeeeesssssyyyyyhhhhh iiiiisssssnnnnntttttgggggaaaaa rrrrrttttttttttoooooeeeeeooooodddddlllll sssssbbbbb uuuuuiiiiiiiiiinnnnnllllltttttdddddoooooiiiii nnnnnttttthhhhhggggg eeeeebbbbb yyyyysssssoooooiiiiilllll ssseess))e)ee)) bbaababbaannnnnuuuuuyyyyytttttmmmmm tttttooooohhhhhrrrrreeeeeeeeee..... ccccc rrrrriiiiiaattataatt zzzzzdddddiiiiirrrrrnnnnniiiiieeeeevvvvvssssseeeeessssssssss aaaaaiiiii sssssddddd rrrrraaaaaeeeeecccccaaaaatttttmmmmmuuuuueeeeerrrrraaaaa lllllccccclllllrrrrryyyyyaaaaazzzzzyyyyy,,,,, captivating spectacles from beyond the order The small farmers couldn’t compete with the
(((((ttttthhhhheeeee fffffllllleeeeessssshhhhh ooooofffff ttttthhhhheeeee eeeeeaaaaarrrrrttttthhhhh))))) ppppp cccccooooonnnnnsssssiiiiidddddeeeeerrrrreeeeeddddd sssssaaaaannnnniiiiitttttyyyyy aaaaannnnnddddd aaaaallllllllll ttttthhhhheeeee “““““llllloooooooooossssseeeee of civilization, captured at civilization’s edges. large estates that employed slave labor. It was
mmmmmaaaaannnnniiiiipppppuuuuulllllaaaaatttttiiiiinnnnnggggg,,,,, aaaaalllllttttteeeeerrrrriiiiinnnnnggggg,,,,, aaaaa eeeeennnnndddddsssss””””” aaaaarrrrreeeee tttttiiiiidddddiiiiieeeeeddddd uuuuuppppp..... iiiiittttt iiiiisssss gggggiiiiifffffttttt The frontiers had been pushed out so far that also common for some peasants to return from
tttttaaaaammmmmiiiiinnnnnggggg............... lllll wwwwwrrrrraaaaappppppppppeeeeeddddd aaaaannnnnddddd sssssooooolllllddddd aaaaannnnnddddd eeeeexxxxxccccchhhhhaaaaannnnngggggeeeeeddddd aaaaannnnnddddd
lllll tttttaaaaauuuuuggggghhhhhttttt tttttooooo sssssaaaaayyyyy “““““ttttthhhhhaaaaannnnnkkkkk yyyyyooooouuuuu””””” aaaaannnnnddddd “““““aaaaapppppppppprrrrreeeeeccccciiiiiaaaaattttteeeee””””” there was little exposure to the other, the compulsory military service to find that their
TTTTThhhhheeeee bbbbbuuuuuiiiiillllldddddeeeeerrrrrsssss cccccaaaaammmmmeeeee fffffrrrrrooooommmmm ooooo wwwwwhhhhheeeeennnnn sssssooooommmmmeeeeettttthhhhhiiiiinnnnnggggg “““““gggggooooooooooddddd””””” iiiiisssss dddddooooonnnnneeeee..... savage for the average Roman. So when land had been bought or stolen by aristocrats.
mmmmmiiiiilllllllllliiiiiooooonnnnnsssss ooooofffff yyyyyeeeeeaaaaarrrrrsssss ccccc mmmmmooooorrrrraaaaalllllsssss,,,,, mmmmmaaaaannnnnnnnnneeeeerrrrrsssss,,,,, llllleeeeessssssssssooooonnnnnsssss,,,,, exotic animals were brought back from Soon the peasants were displaced and drifted
ooooofffff bbbbbeeeeeiiiiinnnnnggggg aaaaa nnnnn eeeee vv v vv ooooo eeeeelllllcccccuuuuuoooootttttllllliiiiioooooooooogggggnnnnniiiiiaaaccaacccrraararraalllllyyyyy ,,,,,bbbbbeeeeeiiiiinnnnnggggg::::: ((((( lleelelleetttttaaaaahhhhhwwwwwiiiii aaaaacccccnnnnnsssssddddd::::: aaaaaooooolllllrrrrrlllllddddd eeeffeefffrrrrraaaaannnnn.....cccccyyyyy nnnnnaaaaammmmmeeeeesssss fffffooooorrrrr ooooobbbbbeeeeedddddiiiiieeeeennnnnccccceeeee,,,,, Rome’s distant campaigns, it offered a unique into the cities, creating a new urban underclass.
aaaaa pppppaaaaarrrrrttttt ooooofffff ttttthhhhheeeee cccccooooommmmmmmmmmuuuuunnnnniiiiitttttyyyyy ooooofffff llllliiiiifffffeeeee chance to behold that novelty. It seems This caused the city of Rome to grow to 7
(((((dddddrrrrreeeeeaaaaammmmmeeeeerrrrrsssss))))).....
that the animals represented wildness million people, the largest city in Europe until
IIIIIttttt’’’’’sssss hhhhhaaaaarrrrrddddd tttttooooo sssssaaaaayyyyy as a whole. Scenery in the Coliseum the Industrial Revolution. No jobs were
wwwwwhhhhhyyyyy ttttthhhhheeeeeyyyyy bbbbbeeeeegggggaaaaannnnn dddddiiiiiggggggggggiiiiinnnnnggggg,,,,, would be changed to replicate the world available because the huge slave population
pppppuuuuussssshhhhhiiiiinnnnnggggg,,,,, dddddeeeeevvvvveeeeelllllooooopppppiiiiinnnnnggggg,,,,,
ooooowwwwwnnnnniiiiinnnnnggggg,,,,, that the beast was from to reenact the was used to perform the needed tasks. But
eeeeennnnnssssslllllaaaaavvvvviiiiinnnnnggggg............... hunt. This was done to recreate the thousands of hungry citizens would have been
bbbbbuuuuuttttt wwwwweeeee aaaaarrrrreeeee llllleeeeefffffttttt wwwwwiiiiittttthhhhh process of conquering the wild, the a threat to the peace of the city. So the government
ttttthhhhhiiiiisssss,,,,, ttttthhhhheeeeeiiiiirrrrr llllleeeeegggggaaaaacccccyyyyy,,,,,
ttttthhhhheeeeeiiiiirrrrr FFFFFuuuuutttttuuuuurrrrreeeee..... ritual of civilization. set up a program to feed the poor called the
The crowds had such an appetite for “dole”, a daily ration of food and small sum
***************
exotic animals that many of the animals of money. Soon, half the people living in the
TTTTThhhhheeeee ssssseeeeeaaaaarrrrrccccchhhhh fffffooooorrrrr llllliiiiifffffeeeee,,,,, dddddrrrrreeeeeaaaaammmmmsssss,,,,, used for coliseum games were hunted cities were given the grain dole. One-fourth
eeeeennnnndddddsssss iiiiinnnnn tttttrrrrraaaaagggggeeeeedddddyyyyy,,,,,
to extinction. A whole species of of the grain from Africa was given to the
ooooonnnnnlllllyyyyy tttttooooo bbbbbeeeee mmmmmoooooccccckkkkkeeeeeddddd
bbbbbyyyyy ttttthhhhheeeee ppppprrrrrooooofffffeeeeessssssssssiiiiiooooonnnnnaaaaalllll dddddeeeeessssstttttrrrrroooooyyyyyeeeeerrrrrsssss..... African elephant was among many poor of Rome. 70-80% of the population
others used in the games that were relied on one grain.
TTTTThhhhheeeeeyyyyy mmmmmaaaaakkkkkeeeee mmmmmooooovvvvviiiiieeeeesssss,,,,, sssssiiiiitttttcccccooooommmmmsssss,,,,,
iiiiinnnnnttttteeeeerrrrrnnnnneeeeetttttsssss,,,,, eeeeennnnnttttteeeeerrrrrtttttaaaaaiiiiinnnnnmmmmmeeeeennnnnttttt..... made extinct. In a humorous letter,
“Our history now plunges from a
Cicero discusses the shortage of wild
OOOOOuuuuurrrrr pppppaaaaaiiiiinnnnn,,,,, ooooouuuuurrrrr dddddeeeeeaaaaattttthhhhh,,,,, animals to be captured in the province kingdom of gold, to one of iron and rust”
iiiiisssss aaaaallllllllll pppppooooottttteeeeennnnntttttiiiiiaaaaalllll ppppprrrrrooooofffffiiiiittttt.....
WWWWWeeeee bbbbbooooonnnnnddddd tttttooooo ssssshhhhhaaaaarrrrreeeee aaaaannnnn of which he was provincial governor: - Eutropius, Roman historian,
eeeeexxxxxpppppeeeeerrrrriiiiieeeeennnnnccccceeeee,,,,, ttttthhhhhiiiiisssss eeeeexxxxxpppppeeeeerrrrriiiiieeeeennnnnccccceeeee..... “there is a remarkable shortage of the end of 3rd century A.D.
WWWWWeeeee dddddeeeeessssspppppeeeeerrrrraaaaattttteeeeelllllyyyyy ssssseeeeeeeeeekkkkk animals, and only a few of ‘those
eeeeeaaaaaccccchhhhh ooooottttthhhhheeeeerrrrr,,,,, It is very interesting that Rome ultimately fell
aaaaannnnnddddd wwwwwiiiiittttthhhhh aaaaallllllllll ttttthhhhheeeee hhhhhiiiiiggggghhhhh ttttteeeeeccccchhhhh panthers’ remain”. The stench of death
because of civilization itself. In fact, one of
gggggaaaaadddddgggggeeeeetttttsssss,,,,, at the coliseum became so over-
wwwwweeeee gggggrrrrraaaaabbbbb nnnnnooooottttthhhhhiiiiinnnnnggggg bbbbbuuuuuttttt eeeeemmmmmppppptttttiiiiinnnnneeeeessssssssss civilization’s most basic tenets led to its
whelming that they tried to cover it
wwwwwiiiiittttthhhhh ttttthhhhheeeee mmmmmiiiiilllllddddd ssssseeeeennnnnssssseeeee ooooofffff hhhhhooooopppppeeeee............... collapse. The characteristic feature of
up with a system of sprinklers spraying
*************** perfume throughout the stadium. I am civilization is displacement. Shut out by the
Chinese landlords, the Huns had no option but
reminded of all the myriad ways in
TTTTThhhhheeeee eeeeeyyyyyeeeeesssss rrrrrooooollllllllll bbbbbaaaaaccccckkkkk,,,,, to move west. As they moved they pushed all
ttttthhhhheeeee fffffiiiiissssstttttsssss mmmmmooooovvvvveeeee,,,,, which the stench of death that
ttttthhhhheeeee aaaaannnnngggggeeeeerrrrr iiiiisssss uuuuunnnnnllllleeeeeaaaaassssshhhhheeeeeddddd,,,,, civilization carries with it are covered tribes in their path west as well. This cycle of
ttttthhhhheeeee ssssstttttrrrrraaaaannnnngggggeeeeerrrrr hhhhhaaaaasssss jjjjjuuuuusssssttttt llllleeeeefffffttttt displacement continued and many groups were
over, or ignored.
ttttthhhhheeeee sssssccccceeeeennnnneeeee,,,,, llllleeeeeaaaaavvvvviiiiinnnnnggggg ooooonnnnnlllllyyyyy aaaaa pushed as far west as they could go and were
bbbbbooooodddddyyyyy cccccooooouuuuunnnnnttttt............... An interesting analogy between
ttttthhhhheeeee ppppprrrrrooooofffffeeeeessssssssssiiiiiooooonnnnnaaaaalllllsssss aaaaarrrrreeeee llllleeeeefffffttttt Roman culture and American is that pushed up against Rome’s eastern borders.
tttttooooo pppppiiiiieeeeeccccceeeee tttttooooogggggeeeeettttthhhhheeeeerrrrr Expanding civilizations elsewhere displaced
the gladiators were seen as sports heroes
ttttthhhhheeeee “““““rrrrreeeeeaaaaalllll llllliiiiifffffeeeee””””” tttttrrrrraaaaagggggeeeeedddddyyyyy.....
the famous barbarians that attacked Rome
NNNNNeeeeevvvvveeeeerrrrr mmmmmiiiiinnnnnddddd mmmmmiiiiilllllllllliiiiiooooonnnnnsssss ooooofffff yyyyyeeeeeaaaaarrrrrsssss,,,,, are today. They were admired by children and
ttttthhhhheeeeeyyyyy aaaaarrrrreeeee ooooonnnnnlllllyyyyy aaaaa pppppaaaaarrrrrttttt ooooofffff ttttthhhhheeeee ppppprrrrrooooobbbbbllllleeeeemmmmm..... nnnnneeeeevvvvveeeeerrrrr mmmmmiiiiinnnnnddddd ttttthhhhheeeee mmmmmiiiiilllllllllliiiiiooooonnnnnsssss ooooofffff yyyyyeeeeeaaaaarrrrrsssss some small toys of gladiators were found. in the last few centuries.
hhhhhuuuuummmmmaaaaannnnnsssss hhhhhaaaaavvvvveeeee::::: From 235A.D. to 285 A.D., a strong epidemic,
*************** cccccooooo-----eeeeexxxxxiiiiisssssttttteeeeeddddd aaaaannnnnddddd dddddrrrrreeeeeaaaaammmmmeeeeeddddd aaaaannnnnddddd eeeeemmmmmbbbbbrrrrraaaaaccccceeeeeddddd Many statues of famous gladiators had figures
declining supply of wheat, and barbarian
ccccchhhhhaaaaaooooosssss wwwwwiiiiittttthhhhhooooouuuuuttttt aaaaannnnnnnnnniiiiihhhhhiiiiilllllaaaaatttttiiiiinnnnnggggg eeeeeaaaaaccccchhhhh ooooottttthhhhheeeeerrrrr,,,,, of wild animals as their penis, making clear
TTTTThhhhheeeee bbbbbuuuuuiiiiillllldddddeeeeerrrrrsssss ssssstttttaaaaawwwwwrrrrroooootttttrrrrr aaaaakkkkk .....nnnnneeeeewwwww ttttthhhhhiiiiinnnnnggggg::::: ooooorrrrr eeeeennnnnssssslllllaaaaavvvvviiiiinnnnnggggg,,,,, ooooorrrrr ooooopppppppppprrrrreeeeessssssssssiiiiinnnnnggggg,,,,, ooooorrrrr cccccrrrrreeeeeaaaaatttttiiiiinnnnnggggg the connection between patriarchy, domination, invasions marked the beginning of the
TTTTThhhhheeeeeyyyyy aaaaarrrrreeeee nnnnnooooowwwww eeeeennnnngggggiiiiinnnnneeeeeeeeeerrrrrsssss,,,,, llllleeeeeaaaaadddddeeeeerrrrrsssss,,,,, sssssyyyyysssssttttteeeeemmmmmsssss,,,,, gggggooooovvvvveeeeerrrrrnnnnnmmmmmeeeeennnnntttttsssss,,,,, ccccciiiiitttttiiiiieeeeesssss,,,,, and conquest. decline of the Roman Empire. The last
aaaaagggggrrrrriiiiicccccuuuuullllltttttuuuuurrrrreeeee,,,,, fffffeeeeennnnnccccceeeeesssss,,,,, sssssccccchhhhhoooooooooolllllsssss,,,,, rrrrroooooaaaaadddddsssss,,,,,
pppppooooollllliiiiitttttiiiiiccccciiiiiaaaaannnnnsssss,,,,, bbbbbooooosssssssssseeeeesssss,,,,, ooooowwwwwnnnnneeeeerrrrrsssss..... emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was disposed
rrrrraaaaaiiiiilllllrrrrroooooaaaaadddddsssss,,,,, bbbbbiiiiikkkkkeeeeesssss,,,,, jjjjjooooobbbbbsssss,,,,, fffffaaaaaccccctttttooooorrrrriiiiieeeeesssss,,,,, aaaaannnnnddddd
TTTTTooooo bbbbbuuuuuiiiiilllllddddd aaaaannnnn eeeeeffffffffffiiiiiccccciiiiieeeeennnnnttttt FFFFFuuuuutttttuuuuurrrrreeeee,,,,, aaaaallllllllll ttttthhhhhaaaaattttt ooooottttthhhhheeeeerrrrr “““““gggggrrrrreeeeeaaaaatttttnnnnneeeeessssssssss””””” ttttthhhhhaaaaattttt cccccooooommmmmeeeeesssss Tacitus said in the 2nd century A.D., of the throne. It is very interesting that the
ttttthhhhheeeeeyyyyy mmmmmuuuuusssssttttt dddddeeeeedddddiiiiicccccaaaaattttteeeee ttttthhhhheeeeemmmmmssssseeeeelllllvvvvveeeeesssss fffffuuuuullllllllll tttttiiiiimmmmmeeeee.....
wwwwwiiiiittttthhhhh ccccciiiiivvvvviiiiillllliiiiizzzzzaaaaatttttiiiiiooooonnnnn..... “Robbery, murder, are all disguised first and the last Emperors of Rome were
TTTTThhhhheeeeeyyyyy ssssstttttaaaaarrrrrttttt ttttthhhhhiiiiinnnnnkkkkkiiiiinnnnnggggg fffffuuuuurrrrrttttthhhhheeeeerrrrr aaaaahhhhheeeeeaaaaaddddd,,,,, named Romulus. The first president of the
“““““IIIIIfffff nnnnnooooottttt nnnnnooooowwwww,,,,, wwwwwhhhhheeeeennnnn?????””””” nnnnneeeeevvvvveeeeerrrrrmmmmmiiiiinnnnnddddd ttttthhhhheeeee dddddrrrrreeeeeaaaaammmmmsssss............... under the Name Empire”
United States was named George, the
aaaaannnnnyyyyyttttthhhhhiiiiinnnnnggggg iiiiisssss pppppooooossssssssssiiiiibbbbbllllleeeee,,,,, sssssooooo ttttthhhhheeeeeyyyyy wwwwwiiiiillllllllll dddddooooo
aaaaannnnnyyyyyttttthhhhhiiiiinnnnnggggg *************** As Rome grew, so too did the gap between current president is also named George. . .
tttttooooo eeeeennnnnsssssuuuuurrrrreeeee ttttthhhhhaaaaattttt ttttthhhhheeeeeyyyyy aaaaarrrrreeeeennnnn’’’’’ttttt aaaaaffffffffffeeeeecccccttttteeeeeddddd::::: rich and poor. “A cruel inequality that would might he also be the last?
HHHHHeeeee iiiiinnnnnjjjjjeeeeeccccctttttsssss ttttthhhhheeeee hhhhhooooopppppeeeee,,,,,
rrrrreeeeemmmmmooooovvvvveeeeeddddd,,,,, ssssseeeeecccccllllluuuuudddddeeeeeddddd,,,,, uuuuunnnnntttttooooouuuuuccccchhhhhaaaaabbbbbllllleeeee::::: IIIIImmmmmmmmmmooooorrrrrtttttaaaaalllll.....
ssssshhhhheeeee sssssnnnnnooooorrrrrtttttsssss hhhhheeeeerrrrr dddddrrrrreeeeeaaaaammmmmsssss,,,,, haunt the empire till its very end”. Rome was The fall of Rome was a magnificent event.
WWWWWhhhhhaaaaattttt ttttthhhhheeeeeyyyyy bbbbbuuuuuiiiiilllllddddd aaaaarrrrreeeee pppppyyyyyrrrrraaaaammmmmiiiiidddddsssss,,,,, hhhhheeeee ssssstttttooooopppppsssss eeeeeaaaaatttttiiiiinnnnnggggg booming from spoils of war and nature. An event to be celebrated, as it was the
bbbbbeeeeecccccaaaaauuuuussssseeeee hhhhheeeee ttttthhhhhiiiiinnnnnkkkkksssss hhhhheeeee lllllooooooooookkkkksssss fffffaaaaattttt,,,,,
mmmmmooooonnnnnuuuuummmmmeeeeennnnntttttsssss tttttooooo ttttthhhhheeeeemmmmmssssseeeeelllllvvvvveeeeesssss..... If you were rich collapse of what was
ssssshhhhheeeee iiiiisssss sssssuuuuuffffffffffeeeeerrrrriiiiinnnnnggggg fffffrrrrrooooommmmm llllliiiiivvvvveeeeerrrrr dddddaaaaammmmmaaaaagggggeeeee,,,,,
AAAAAnnnnnddddd ttttthhhhheeeeeyyyyy cccccrrrrrooooowwwwwnnnnn ttttthhhhheeeeemmmmmssssseeeeelllllvvvvveeeeesssss
hhhhheeeee cccccooooollllllllllaaaaapppppssssseeeeeddddd cccccooooommmmmiiiiinnnnnggggg hhhhhooooommmmmeeeee fffffrrrrrooooommmmm wwwwwooooorrrrrkkkkk,,,,, enough to enjoy it, at the time the most
aaaaannnnnddddd eeeeeaaaaaccccchhhhh ooooottttthhhhheeeeerrrrr,,,,, cccccrrrrraaaaafffffttttt
IIIIIdddddeeeeeooooolllllooooogggggiiiiieeeeesssss,,,,, EEEEEmmmmmpppppiiiiirrrrreeeeesssss,,,,, PPPPPhhhhhiiiiilllllooooosssssoooooppppphhhhhyyyyy..... ssssshhhhheeeee hhhhhaaaaasssss bbbbbrrrrreeeeeaaaaasssssttttt cccccaaaaannnnnccccceeeeerrrrr,,,,, life in Rome was destructive, alienating,
hhhhheeeee cccccaaaaannnnn’’’’’ttttt sssssllllleeeeeeeeeeppppp aaaaannnnnyyyyymmmmmooooorrrrreeeee,,,,,
AAAAAllllllllll ttttthhhhhiiiiinnnnngggggsssss,,,,, aaaaallllllllll dddddiiiiissssstttttrrrrraaaaaccccctttttiiiiiooooonnnnnsssss..... ssssshhhhheeeee cccccaaaaannnnn’’’’’ttttt tttttaaaaakkkkkeeeee iiiiittttt,,,,, indeed like the and brutal society.
aaaaannnnnddddd hhhhheeeee bbbbbeeeeeaaaaattttt hhhhheeeeerrrrr uuuuuppppp Rome we hear of. Rome fell slowly, over
TTTTThhhhheeeee dddddrrrrreeeeeaaaaammmmmeeeeerrrrrsssss aaaaarrrrreeeee aaaaa
pppppooooottttteeeeennnnntttttiiiiiaaaaalllll fffffooooorrrrr lllllaaaaabbbbbooooorrrrr..... bbbbbeeeeecccccaaaaauuuuussssseeeee hhhhheeeee cccccaaaaannnnn’’’’’ttttt tttttaaaaakkkkkeeeee iiiiittttt eeeeeiiiiittttthhhhheeeeerrrrr..... But for most, it was a period of centuries.
TTTTThhhhheeeeerrrrreeeee’’’’’sssss nnnnn“““““aaaaaooooolllll bbbbbllllleeeeeooooonnnnnwwwwweeeeeiiiiifffffnnnnniiiiigggggttttt””””” iiiiinnnnn bbSSbSbbSShhheehheeeccccceeeeeaaaaa iiiiiuuuuussssssssss eeeeelllll ooooohhhhhccccceeeeekkkkkrrrrreeeee dddddsssss eeeeeuuuuuaaaaappppprrrrrccccchhhhhiiiiinnnnnggggg wwwwwaaaaasssssnnnnn’’’’’ttttt a life of squalor. Civilization is collaps-
ttttthhhhheeeee rrrrriiiiiggggghhhhhttttt oooooppppptttttiiiiiooooonnnnn Class lines were ing, ever degenerating.
ttttthhhhheeeeemmmmm tttttooooo cccccaaaaarrrrrrrrrryyyyy ooooonnnnn aaaaasssss ttttthhhhheeeeeyyyyy wwwwweeeeerrrrreeeee.....
...............iiiiinnnnn ttttthhhhheeeee eeeeeyyyyyeeeeesssss ooooofffff ttttthhhhheeeee bbbbbuuuuuiiiiillllldddddeeeeerrrrrsssss..... rigidly drawn, and Sometimes slowly,
TTTTThhhhheeeeeyyyyy cccccrrrrreeeeeaaaaattttteeeee ssssslllllaaaaavvvvveeeeerrrrryyyyy,,,,, SSSSShhhhheeeee kkkkknnnnnooooowwwwwsssss hhhhheeeee iiiiisssss dddddyyyyyiiiiinnnnnggggg,,,,, hostility between sometimes in fits of
ttttthhhhheeeeeyyyyy cccccrrrrreeeeeaaaaattttteeeee ssssslllllaaaaavvvvveeeeesssss,,,,,
aaaaannnnnddddd ssssshhhhheeeee dddddoooooeeeeesssssnnnnn’’’’’ttttt kkkkknnnnnooooowwwww wwwwwhhhhhaaaaattttt tttttooooo dddddooooo aaaaabbbbbooooouuuuuttttt iiiiittttt..... the classes was ecological catastrophe
ttttthhhhheeeeeyyyyy jjjjjuuuuussssstttttiiiiifffffyyyyy ssssslllllaaaaavvvvveeeeerrrrryyyyy,,,,,
ttttthhhhheeeeeyyyyy cccccooooonnnnnvvvvviiiiinnnnnccccceeeee uuuuusssss ttttthhhhhaaaaattttt iiiiittttt iiiiisssss gggggooooooooooddddd,,,,, HHHHHeeeee iiiiisssss cccccooooonnnnnfffffiiiiidddddeeeeennnnnttttt ttttthhhhhaaaaattttt hhhhheeeeerrrrr oooooppppptttttiiiiiooooonnnnnsssss intense. There and social break-
aaaaarrrrreeeee ttttthhhhheeeee bbbbbeeeeesssssttttt.....
eeeeexxxxxccccceeeeepppppttttt ttttthhhhhiiiiisssss tttttiiiiimmmmmeeeee ttttthhhhheeeeeyyyyy cccccaaaaallllllllll iiiiittttt::::: were two main down. America is also
iiiiinnnnndddddiiiiivvvvviiiiiddddduuuuuaaaaallllliiiiisssssmmmmm,,,,, fffffrrrrreeeeeeeeeedddddooooommmmm,,,,, qqqqquuuuuaaaaallllliiiiitttttyyyyy ooooofffff llllliiiiifffffeeeee,,,,,
TTTTThhhhheeeeeyyyyy aaaaarrrrreeeee cccccooooonnnnnvvvvviiiiinnnnnccccceeeeeddddd ttttthhhhhaaaaattttt ttttthhhhheeeeeyyyyy classes, the Plebian falling. But America is
ttttthhhhheeeeeyyyyy cccccaaaaallllllllll ttttthhhhhiiiiisssss dddddrrrrreeeeeaaaaammmmmsssss.....
aaaaarrrrreeeee hhhhhaaaaappppppppppyyyyy..... class made up much larger an empire
*************** SSSSSooooo ttttthhhhheeeeeyyyyy rrrrrooooollllllllll ttttthhhhheeeeeiiiiirrrrr jjjjjoooooyyyyy
uuuuuppppp aaaaannnnnddddd bbbbbuuuuurrrrrnnnnn iiiiittttt iiiiinnnnntttttooooo ttttthhhhheeeeeiiiiirrrrr llllluuuuunnnnngggggsssss,,,,, mostly of Roman than Rome was, and
TTTTThhhhheeeee bbbbbuuuuuiiiiillllldddddeeeeerrrrrsssss dddddiiiiiddddd mmmmmooooorrrrreeeee ttttthhhhhaaaaannnnn wwwwwhhhhhiiiiillllleeeee ttttthhhhheeeeeiiiiirrrrr dddddrrrrreeeeeaaaaammmmm wwwwwooooorrrrrlllllddddd iiiiisssss farmers and the all its vices, habits,
jjjjjuuuuusssssttttt ppppplllllaaaaannnnnttttt iiiiinnnnnsssssttttteeeeeaaaaaddddd ooooofffff fffffooooorrrrraaaaagggggeeeee..... bbbbbuuuuurrrrrnnnnneeeeeddddd iiiiinnnnntttttooooo ttttthhhhheeeeeiiiiirrrrr bbbbbrrrrraaaaaiiiiinnnnn,,,,, poor, and the hierarchies, and
TTTTThhhhheeeeeyyyyy cccccrrrrreeeeeaaaaattttteeeeeddddd aaaaa nnnnneeeeewwwww bbbbbeeeeeiiiiinnnnnggggg,,,,, ttttthhhhhrrrrrooooouuuuuggggghhhhh ttttthhhhheeeeeiiiiirrrrr eeeeeyyyyyeeeeesssss,,,,, eeeeeaaaaarrrrrsssss,,,,, vvvvveeeeeiiiiinnnnnsssss...............
ttttthhhhheeeeeyyyyy tttttrrrrriiiiieeeeeddddd tttttooooo ssssstttttoooooppppp ttttthhhhheeeee wwwwwooooorrrrrlllllddddd Patrician class exploitation dwarf
iiiiinnnnn iiiiitttttsssss tttttrrrrraaaaaccccckkkkksssss aaaaannnnnddddd cccccrrrrreeeeeaaaaattttteeeee aaaaa nnnnneeeeewwwww HHHHHeeeee dddddoooooeeeeesssssnnnnn’’’’’ttttt eeeeevvvvveeeeennnnn hhhhheeeeeaaaaarrrrr who were the Rome in destructive-
ttttthhhhhiiiiinnnnnggggg..... hhhhhiiiiieeeeerrrrraaaaarrrrrccccchhhhhiiiiieeeeesssss fffffooooorrrrrmmmmm,,,,, ppppprrrrrooooopppppeeeeerrrrrtttttyyyyy ttttthhhhheeeee hhhhhuuuuummmmm ooooofffff mmmmmaaaaaccccchhhhhiiiiinnnnneeeeesssss aaaaannnnnyyyyy mmmmmooooorrrrreeeee,,,,,
high-ranking ness. Its obsessions
iiiiisssss cccccrrrrreeeeeaaaaattttteeeeeddddd,,,,, llllliiiiinnnnneeeeeaaaaarrrrr iiiiisssss eeeeemmmmmeeeeerrrrrgggggiiiiinnnnnggggg,,,,, llllliiiiifffffeeeee aaaaannnnnddddd ssssshhhhheeeee ppppplllllaaaaayyyyysssss mmmmmuuuuusssssiiiiiccccc fffffuuuuullllllllll bbbbblllllaaaaasssssttttt
iiiiisssss bbbbbeeeeeiiiiinnnnnggggg pppppuuuuussssshhhhheeeeeddddd aaaaasssssiiiiidddddeeeee fffffooooorrrrr FFFFFuuuuutttttuuuuurrrrreeeee..... bbbbbeeeeecccccaaaaauuuuussssseeeee iiiiittttt’’’’’sssss tttttoooooooooo qqqqquuuuuiiiiieeeeettttt..... nobles. All the with ecological
llllliiiiinnnnneeeeesssss aaaaarrrrreeeee pppppuuuuuttttt aaaaacccccrrrrrooooossssssssss ttttthhhhheeeee officials in Rome destruction make
ppppplllllaaaaannnnneeeeettttt,,,,, aaaaannnnnddddd mmmmmiiiiillllliiiiitttttaaaaarrrrriiiiieeeeesssss aaaaarrrrreeeee cccccrrrrreeeeeaaaaattttteeeeeddddd ttttthhhhheeeeeyyyyy gggggrrrrraaaaasssssppppp ooooonnnnn aaaaannnnnddddd rrrrriiiiidddddeeeee fffffuuuuullllllllll ssssspppppeeeeeeeeeeddddd,,,,,
were from the the modern techno-
tttttooooo eeeeennnnnfffffooooorrrrrccccceeeee ttttthhhhheeeeemmmmm..... wwwwweeeee ssssstttttoooooppppp bbbbbeeeeeiiiiinnnnnggggg ooooonnnnneeeee,,,,, ssssseeeeeaaaaarrrrrccccchhhhhiiiiinnnnnggggg...............
aaaaannnnnddddd ttttthhhhheeeee wwwwwooooorrrrrlllllddddd iiiiisssss aaaaagggggaaaaaiiiiinnnnnsssssttttt uuuuusssss..... wwwwweeeee fffffeeeeeaaaaarrrrr,,,,, Patrician class. industrial empire all
wwwwweeeee mmmmmaaaaakkkkkeeeee lllllaaaaawwwwwsssss,,,,, wwwwweeeee eeeeennnnnfffffooooorrrrrccccceeeee ttttthhhhheeeeemmmmm,,,,, wwwwweeeee gggggooooo *************** The richest were the more unsustainable.
tttttooooo wwwwwaaaaarrrrr,,,,, wwwwweeeee mmmmmaaaaakkkkkeeeee sssssttttteeeeeeeeeelllll tttttoooooooooolllllsssss,,,,, wwwwweeeeeaaaaapppppooooonnnnnsssss,,,,,
aaaaannnnnddddd wwwwweeeee dddddooooonnnnn’’’’’ttttt ssssstttttoooooppppp..... wwwwweeeee dddddooooonnnnn’’’’’ttttt llllleeeeeaaaaarrrrrnnnnn,,,,, TTTTThhhhheeeee fffffaaaaattttteeeee ooooofffff ttttthhhhheeeee bbbbbuuuuuiiiiillllldddddeeeeerrrrrsssss’’’’’ FFFFFuuuuutttttuuuuurrrrreeeee wealthy as the The fall of Rome
wwwwweeeee ttttteeeeeaaaaarrrrr aaaaapppppaaaaarrrrrttttt ttttthhhhhiiiiisssss ppppplllllaaaaannnnneeeeettttt,,,,, ooooouuuuurrrrr iiiiisssss nnnnnooooottttt hhhhhaaaaarrrrrddddd tttttooooo iiiiimmmmmaaaaagggggiiiiinnnnneeeee..... empire itself, but most of the inhabitants were should be instructive. The contempt, jealousy,
hhhhhooooommmmmeeeee..... iiiiittttt ssssstttttaaaaarrrrrtttttsssss hhhhheeeeerrrrreeeee..... TTTTThhhhheeeeeyyyyy cccccaaaaannnnn tttttaaaaakkkkkeeeee eeeeerrrrrooooodddddeeeee ooooouuuuurrrrr packed into small multi-story apartments. Behind and hatred from its oppressed and colonized,
dddddrrrrreeeeeaaaaammmmmsssss,,,,, aaaaannnnnddddd pppppuuuuussssshhhhh uuuuusssss iiiiinnnnntttttooooo HHHHHiiiiissssstttttooooorrrrryyyyy,,,,,
the splendor of the Forum where the Senate the destruction of its ecological base, its
iiiiittttt cccccooooonnnnntttttiiiiinnnnnuuuuueeeeesssss::::: bbbbbuuuuuttttt wwwwweeeee cccccaaaaannnnn ssssseeeeeeeeee wwwwwhhhhheeeeerrrrreeeee ttttthhhhheeeeeiiiiirrrrr
nnnnnaaaaatttttiiiiiooooonnnnnsssss aaaaarrrrreeeee dddddrrrrraaaaawwwwwnnnnn uuuuuppppp aaaaannnnnddddd ssssstttttooooorrrrryyyyy (((((ttttthhhhheeeee aaaaannnnntttttiiiii-----mmmmmyyyyyttttthhhhh))))) eeeeennnnndddddsssss..... met, there were vast areas of crowded slums. over-extended empire, and top heavy
iiiiinnnnnvvvvvaaaaadddddeeeeeddddd,,,,, pppppeeeeeooooopppppllllleeeeesssss tttttrrrrryyyyyiiiiinnnnnggggg tttttooooo llllliiiiivvvvveeeee aaaaarrrrreeeee bureaucracy all led to its fall. I propose that
bbbbbuuuuurrrrriiiiieeeeeddddd uuuuuppppp tttttooooo ttttthhhhheeeeeiiiiirrrrr hhhhheeeeeaaaaaddddd iiiiinnnnn ttttthhhhheeeee sssssaaaaannnnnddddd,,,,, IIIIIttttt hhhhhaaaaasssss hhhhhaaaaappppppppppeeeeennnnneeeeeddddd bbbbbeeeeefffffooooorrrrreeeee,,,,,
The wars of expansion had brought wealth and modern civilization has surpassed even
aaaaannnnnddddd aaaaa gggggaaaaammmmmeeeee iiiiisssss mmmmmaaaaadddddeeeee ooooofffff kkkkkiiiiiccccckkkkkiiiiinnnnnggggg ttttthhhhheeeeemmmmm aaaaannnnnddddd iiiiittttt wwwwwiiiiillllllllll hhhhhaaaaappppppppppeeeeennnnn aaaaagggggaaaaaiiiiinnnnn,,,,,
oooooffffffffff..... wwwwwhhhhhooooollllleeeee tttttrrrrriiiiibbbbbeeeeesssss aaaaarrrrreeeee tttttooooorrrrrnnnnn fffffrrrrrooooommmmm eeeeeaaaaaccccchhhhh bbbbbeeeeecccccaaaaauuuuussssseeeee ttttthhhhheeeee bbbbbuuuuuiiiiillllldddddeeeeerrrrrsssss slaves. A half million slaves were taken from Rome in all these factors. The only thing
ooooottttthhhhheeeeerrrrr aaaaannnnnddddd ttttthhhhheeeeeiiiiirrrrr hhhhhooooommmmmeeeee,,,,, ttttthhhhheeeeeyyyyy aaaaarrrrreeeee aaaaarrrrreeeeennnnn(cid:0)(cid:0)(cid:0)(cid:0)(cid:0)ttttt cccccaaaaapppppaaaaabbbbbllllleeeee ooooofffff ssssstttttoooooppppppppppiiiiinnnnnggggg,,,,, the conquest of Carthage alone. 10,000 slaves keeping this corpse propped up is its ability,
ooooovvvvveeeeerrrrrcccccrrrrrooooowwwwwdddddeeeeeddddd ooooonnnnn ssssshhhhhiiiiipppppsssss aaaaannnnnddddd ssssseeeeennnnnttttt ooooovvvvveeeeerrrrr tttttooooo ooooorrrrr wwwwwooooonnnnndddddeeeeerrrrriiiiinnnnnggggg,,,,, ooooorrrrr bbbbbeeeeeiiiiinnnnnggggg,,,,,
a day were brought in through Rome’s main superior to any variant of civilization so
bbbbbeeeee ccccchhhhheeeeeaaaaapppppeeeeerrrrr ssssslllllaaaaavvvvveeeeesssss,,,,, aaaaauuuuuccccctttttiiiiiooooonnnnneeeeeddddd oooooffffffffff,,,,, ttttthhhhheeeeeyyyyy pppppuuuuussssshhhhh aaaaalllllooooonnnnnggggg,,,,,
llllleeeeegggggaaaaallllliiiiizzzzzeeeeeddddd,,,,, iiiiilllllllllleeeeegggggaaaaallllliiiiizzzzzeeeeeddddd (((((rrrrreeeeeaaaaaddddd::::: rrrrreeeeennnnnaaaaammmmmeeeeeddddd))))),,,,, pppppuuuuussssshhhhhiiiiinnnnnggggg aaaaallllllllll ooooofffff uuuuusssss aaaaalllllooooonnnnnggggg..... port. At its peak 1 in 3 people in Rome was a far, to convince its subjects to maintain
aaaaannnnnddddd sssssaaaaacccccrrrrriiiiifffffiiiiiccccceeeeeddddd..... - - - -- - - - - ----- - -> slave. Until the 5th century B.C. Rome was faith in it through over domestication,
GREEN ANARCHY #12 - SPRING ‘03 page 6
and also to achieve more and more technological (((((((((((((((cccccccccccccccooooooooooooooollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaapppppppppppppppssssssssssssssseeeeeeeeeeeeeee))))))))))))))) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->>>>>>>>>>>>>>> IIIIIIIIII aaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmm aaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmoooooooooonnnnnnnnnngggggggggg
advances that keep its decaying systems alive. ggggggggggeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaattttttttttiiiiiiiiiioooooooooonnnnnnnnnnssssssssss ooooooooooffffffffff ppppppppppooooooooootttttttttteeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnttttttttttiiiiiiiiiiaaaaaaaaaallllllllll ddddddddddrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrssssssssss,,,,,,,,,,
lllllllllloooooooooosssssssssstttttttttt ttttttttttoooooooooo tttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee ggggggggggrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnddddddddddiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnngggggggggg nnnnnnnnnnooooooooooiiiiiiiiiisssssssssseeeeeeeeee
Technological medicine helped fight the plethora of tttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeee iiiiiiiiiissssssssss aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnn iiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnntttttttttt ffffffffffllllllllllaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwww iiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnn cccccccccciiiiiiiiiivvvvvvvvvviiiiiiiiiilllllllllliiiiiiiiiizzzzzzzzzzaaaaaaaaaattttttttttiiiiiiiiiioooooooooonnnnnnnnnn,,,,,,,,,, ooooooooooffffffffff cccccccccciiiiiiiiiivvvvvvvvvviiiiiiiiiilllllllllliiiiiiiiiizzzzzzzzzzaaaaaaaaaattttttttttiiiiiiiiiioooooooooonnnnnnnnnnssssssssss’’’’’’’’’’ ddddddddddeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaatttttttttthhhhhhhhhh..........
diseases ravaging the citizens of industrial aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnndddddddddd tttttttttthhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaatttttttttt hhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaassssssssss bbbbbbbbbbrrrrrrrrrroooooooooouuuuuuuuuugggggggggghhhhhhhhhhtttttttttt iiiiiiiiiitttttttttt ddddddddddoooooooooowwwwwwwwwwnnnnnnnnnn bbbbbbbbbbeeeeeeeeeeffffffffffoooooooooorrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeee aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnndddddddddd wwwwwwwwwwiiiiiiiiiillllllllllllllllllll AAAAAAAAAAnnnnnnnnnndddddddddd tttttttttthhhhhhhhhhoooooooooosssssssssseeeeeeeeee wwwwwwwwwwhhhhhhhhhhoooooooooo aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeee iiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnjjjjjjjjjjeeeeeeeeeeccccccccccttttttttttiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnngggggggggg,,,,,,,,,,
civilization that surely would have ended it and yet ttaatattaattaatattaahhgghghhgghhgghghhggaaaaaaaaaaeeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiimmmmmmmmmmnnnnnnnnnnssssssssss..........eeeeeeeeeellllllllll ttttttttttvvvvvvvvvvhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesseessssssss bbbbbbbbbbffffffffffuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrriiiooiioiiooiooiiooollllllllllmmmmmmmmmmdddddddddd wwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiillsslsllssllsslsllssdddddddddd ttttttttttnnnnnnnnnnhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiissssssssssnnnnnnnnnnsssssssssskkkkkkkkkk,,,,,,,,,, oooooooooottttttttttuuuuuuuuhhuuhhhhhhhhrrrrrrraararraaaaaaattttttt t tt tttttttttt tttttttrrtrttrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhhuuuuuuuuuueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyy bbbbbbbbbb cccccccccceeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn ggggggggggrrrrrrrrrr..........eeeeeeeeee mm m mm mm mmmttttttttttoooooooooohhhhhhhhhhvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyy wwppwpwwppwwppwpwwppllllllllllaaaaaaaaaauuuuuuuuuuttttttttttcccccccggcgccggggggghhgghghhhhgggghghhggiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnngggggggggggggggggggg ,,,,,,,,,,iiiiiiiiii mmmmmnnmmnmnnmmnnnnnaaaaaaa,,a,aa,,,,,,, sssssssssssssssssssstttttttttthhhhhhhhhhuuuuuuuuuuoooooooooorrrrrrrrrroooooooooobbbbbbbbbbttttttttttaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiitttttttnntnttnnnnnnniiiiiiiiiiggggggggggnnnnnnnnnn ooooooooooggggggggggffffffffff,,,,,,,,,,ffffffffff,,,,,,,,,,
will still bring it to its knees. “Advancements” in tttttttttthhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnkkkkkkkkkk bbbbbbbbbbeeeeeeeeeeccccccccccaaaaaaaaaauuuuuuuuuusssssssssseeeeeeeeee tttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyy aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeee ccccccccccaaaaaaaaaappppppppppaaaaaaaaaabbbbbbbbbblllllllllleeeeeeeeee ooooooooooffffffffff mmmmmmmmmmaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnniiiiiiiiiippppppppppuuuuuuuuuullllllllllaaaaaaaaaattttttttttiiiiiiiiiioooooooooonnnnnnnnnn,,,,,,,,,, ddddddddddrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnkkkkkkkkkkiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnngggggggggg aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnndddddddddd eeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaattttttttttiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnngggggggggg iiiiiiiiiitttttttttt,,,,,,,,,,
agriculture, like poisoning the land and water with tttttttttthhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaatttttttttt iiiiiiiiiitttttttttt wwwwwwwwwwiiiiiiiiiillllllllllllllllllll llllllllllaaaaaaaaaasssssssssstttttttttt.......... aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeee mmmmmmmmmmyyyyyyyyyy bbbbbbbbbbrrrrrrrrrrooooooooootttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrr,,,,,,,,,, mmmmmmmmmmyyyyyyyyyy ssssssssssiiiiiiiiiisssssssssstttttttttteeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrr,,,,,,,,,, mmmmmmmmmmyyyyyyyyyy ffffffffffrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnndddddddddd,,,,,,,,,,
fertilizers and domesticating and manipulating the lllllllllleeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaavvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeessssssssss,,,,,,,,,, mmmmmmmmmmttttttttttoooooooooohhhhhhhhhhwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeee yyyyyyyyyyllllllllll aaaaaaaaaappppppppppwwwwwwwwwwuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnntttttttttt ss s ss sssssuuuuuuuuuu,,,,,,,,,, pp pppppppppppppppppp uuuuuuuuffuuffffffffeeeeeeeeeettttttttttnnnnnnnnnn uuuuuuuuuuccccccccccpppppeeppepeeppeeeeesssss ss s ss bbbbbbbbbb,,,,,,,,,, uu u uu uu uuummmmmmmmmmiiiiiiiiiiaaaaaaaaaalllllllllliiiiiiiiiiddddddddddnnnnnnnnnniiiiiiiiiittttttttttnnnnnnnnnnaaaaaaaaaaggggggggggiiiiiiiiiissssssssssnnnnnnnnnn,,,,,,,,,, ppppprrpprprrpprrrrruuuuuuuuuuooooooooooaaaaaaaallaallllllllddddddddddllllllllllssssssssss oooooooooo,,,,,,,,,, uu uuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrttttttttttaaaaaaaaaakkkkkkkkkkeeeeeeeeee ffffffffffaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmiiiiiiiiiillllllllllyyyyyyyyyy,,,,,,,,,, lllllllllloooooooooovvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrr,,,,,,,,,, ssssssssssttttttttttoooooooooorrrrrrrrrruuuuuuuuuuaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrnnrrnnnnnnnn ggggggggggppppppppppeeeeeeeeeellllllllllrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaa,,,,,,,,,,nnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeetttttttttt,,,,,,,,,, oooooooooouuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrr lllllllllloooooooooovvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeee::::::::::
genes that make up the very essence of life, have made wwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeddddddddddssssssssss..............................bbbbbbbbbbuuuuuuuuuutttttttttt wwwwwwwwwwiiiiiiiiiillllllllllddddddddddnnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssssssss ddddddddddooooooooooeeeeeeeeeessssssssss nnnnnnnnnnooooooooootttttttttt ssssssssssttttttttttoooooooooopppppppppp.......... iiiiiiiiiitttttttttt kkkkkkkkkknnnnnnnnnnoooooooooowwwwwwwwwwssssssssss mmmmmmmmmmyyyyyyyyyy ddddddddddrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmssssssssss :::::::::: mmmmmmmmmmyyyyyyyyyy lllllllllliiiiiiiiiiffffffffffeeeeeeeeee..........
nnnnnnnnnnoooooooooo TTTTTTTTTTiiiiiiiiiimmmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeee,,,,,,,,,, nnnnnnnnnnoooooooooo FFFFFFFFFFuuuuuuuuuuttttttttttuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeee,,,,,,,,,, nnnnnnnnnnoooooooooo BBBBBBBBBBoooooooooouuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnddddddddddaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeessssssssss,,,,,,,,,, aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnndddddddddd iiiiiiiiiitttttttttt wwwwwwwwwwiiiiiiiiiillllllllllllllllllll
it possible to feed over-populated human cities with
ccccccccccoooooooooonnnnnnnnnnttttttttttiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnuuuuuuuuuueeeeeeeeee ttttttttttoooooooooo sssssssssseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeepppppppppp tttttttttthhhhhhhhhhrrrrrrrrrroooooooooouuuuuuuuuugggggggggghhhhhhhhhh tttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee ccccccccccrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaacccccccccckkkkkkkkkkssssssssss aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnndddddddddd ddddddddddeeeeeeeeeessssssssssttttttttttrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooyyyyyyyyyy IIIIIIIIII bbbbbbbbbbrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaatttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee tttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee ttttttttttooooooooooxxxxxxxxxxiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnssssssssss
an unsustainable food source that is quickly failing. tttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee mmmmmmmmmmoooooooooonnnnnnnnnnuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnttttttttttssssssssss aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnndddddddddd eeeeeeeeeemmmmmmmmmmppppppppppiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeessssssssss.......... ooooooooooffffffffff ((((((((((uuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnniiiiiiiiiioooooooooonnnnnnnnnn,,,,,,,,,, eeeeeeeeeeccccccccccoooooooooo----------ffffffffffrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnddddddddddllllllllllyyyyyyyyyy))))))))))
The list goes on and on. Without these techno-fixes ffffffffffaaaaaaaaaaccccccccccttttttttttoooooooooorrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeessssssssss,,,,,,,,,,
civilization would have ended as it should have, but tttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee ssssssssssiiiiiiiiiilllllllllltttttttttt tttttttttthhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaatttttttttt bbbbbbbbbbrrrrrrrrrroooooooooouuuuuuuuuugggggggggghhhhhhhhhhtttttttttt lllllllllliiiiiiiiiiffffffffffeeeeeeeeee ttttttttttoooooooooo IIIIIIIIII ddddddddddrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnkkkkkkkkkk tttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee ((((((((((ppppppppppiiiiiiiiiissssssssssssssssssss aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnndddddddddd sssssssssshhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiitttttttttt)))))))))) wwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaatttttttttteeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrr
tttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee ((((((((((oooooooooonnnnnnnnnncccccccccceeeeeeeeee)))))))))) FFFFFFFFFFeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrttttttttttiiiiiiiiiilllllllllleeeeeeeeee CCCCCCCCCCrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeesssssssssscccccccccceeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnntttttttttt ooooooooooffffffffff iiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnndddddddddduuuuuuuuuussssssssssttttttttttrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyy,,,,,,,,,,
none of these is anything but a quick fix whose shallow ((((((((((ccccccccccrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaddddddddddlllllllllleeeeeeeeee ooooooooooffffffffff cccccccccciiiiiiiiiivvvvvvvvvviiiiiiiiiilllllllllliiiiiiiiiizzzzzzzzzzaaaaaaaaaattttttttttiiiiiiiiiioooooooooonnnnnnnnnn)))))))))) IIIIIIIIII eeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaatttttttttt tttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee ((((((((((oooooooooorrrrrrrrrrggggggggggaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnniiiiiiiiiicccccccccc)))))))))) ffffffffffiiiiiiiiiilllllllllltttttttttthhhhhhhhhh
solutions will fail and lose their glossy image. So, ssssssssssuuuuuuuuuussssssssssttttttttttaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeedddddddddd iiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnn wwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyssssssssss tttttttttthhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaatttttttttt ooooooooooffffffffff aaaaaaaaaaggggggggggrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiccccccccccuuuuuuuuuullllllllllttttttttttuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeee,,,,,,,,,,
nnnnnnnnnnoooooooooo SSSSSSSSSScccccccccciiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnncccccccccceeeeeeeeee oooooooooorrrrrrrrrr ““““““““““MMMMMMMMMMaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnaaaaaaaaaaggggggggggeeeeeeeeeemmmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnntttttttttt””””””””””
yes, this death machine that is western civilization ccccccccccoooooooooouuuuuuuuuulllllllllldddddddddd eeeeeeeeeevvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrr rrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeepppppppppprrrrrrrrrroooooooooodddddddddduuuuuuuuuucccccccccceeeeeeeeee.......... IIIIIIIIII lllllllllliiiiiiiiiivvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeee tttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee ddddddddddeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaatttttttttthhhhhhhhhh
will ultimately collapse, it’s just a matter of when.
ooooooooooffffffffff cccccccccciiiiiiiiiivvvvvvvvvviiiiiiiiiilllllllllliiiiiiiiiizzzzzzzzzzaaaaaaaaaattttttttttiiiiiiiiiioooooooooonnnnnnnnnn,,,,,,,,,,
tttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee MMMMMMMMMMeeeeeeeeeessssssssssooooooooooppppppppppoooooooooottttttttttaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmiiiiiiiiiiaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnssssssssss tttttttttthhhhhhhhhhoooooooooouuuuuuuuuugggggggggghhhhhhhhhhtttttttttt wwwwwwwwwwhhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiilllllllllleeeeeeeeee iiiiiiiiiitttttttttt ddddddddddeeeeeeeeeevvvvvvvvvvoooooooooouuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrssssssssss iiiiiiiiiittttttttttsssssssssseeeeeeeeeellllllllllffffffffff
Kingdoms fall, cities perish, iiiiiiiiiitttttttttt ccccccccccoooooooooouuuuuuuuuulllllllllldddddddddd llllllllllaaaaaaaaaasssssssssstttttttttt ffffffffffoooooooooorrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeevvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrr,,,,,,,,,, aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrroooooooooouuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnndddddddddd aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnndddddddddd ooooooooooffffffffff mmmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeee..........
aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnndddddddddd ssssssssssoooooooooo tttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyy bbbbbbbbbbuuuuuuuuuuiiiiiiiiiilllllllllltttttttttt,,,,,,,,,, ddddddddddaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeedddddddddd,,,,,,,,,,
And of what Rome once was
oooooooooorrrrrrrrrrddddddddddeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeedddddddddd aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnndddddddddd ddddddddddiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeecccccccccctttttttttteeeeeeeeeedddddddddd TTTTTTTTTThhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiissssssssss wwwwwwwwwwoooooooooorrrrrrrrrrlllllllllldddddddddd,,,,,,,,,, tttttttttthhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiissssssssss bbbbbbbbbbuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrddddddddddeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnn
Nothing remains except an empty name. tttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee fffffffffflllllllllloooooooooowwwwwwwwww ooooooooooffffffffff tttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee ggggggggggrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaatttttttttt NNNNNNNNNNiiiiiiiiiilllllllllleeeeeeeeee,,,,,,,,,, ppppppppppuuuuuuuuuusssssssssshhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeedddddddddd uuuuuuuuuuppppppppppoooooooooonnnnnnnnnn mmmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeee,,,,,,,,,,
Only the fame and honor of those things, jjjjjjjjjjuuuuuuuuuusssssssssstttttttttt aaaaaaaaaassssssssss tttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee hhhhhhhhhhuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnddddddddddrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeddddddddddssssssssss ooooooooooffffffffff ddddddddddaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmssssssssss iiiiiiiiiissssssssss eeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaattttttttttiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnngggggggggg mmmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeee aaaaaaaaaalllllllllliiiiiiiiiivvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeee..........
Sought out in learned books, iiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnffffffffffeeeeeeeeeeccccccccccttttttttttiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnngggggggggg tttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee vvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiiddddddddnnddnnnnnnnnoooooooooossssssssss nnnnnnnnnnoooooooooooooooooffofoofffffff ww w ww ww wwwtttttttttt..........hhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrtttttttttthhhhhhhhhh KKKKKKKKKKiiiiiiiiiilllllllllllllllllllliiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnngggggggggg cccccccccctttttttttthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeellllllllll ddddddddddddddddddddrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnmmmmmmmmmm..........ssssssssss ooooooooooffffffffff
Escape the funeral pyres. TTTTTTTTTThhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrr eeeeeeeeeemmmmmmmmmmppppppppppiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeessssssssss ggggggggggrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwww aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnndddddddddd ffffffffffeeeeeeeeeellllllllllllllllllll,,,,,,,,,, SSSSSSSSSSuuuuuuuuuucccccccccckkkkkkkkkkiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnngggggggggg tttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee hhhhhhhhhhooooooooooppppppppppeeeeeeeeee ooooooooooffffffffff
—Florent Schoonhoven aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnndddddddddd tttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee ssssssssssooooooooooiiiiiiiiiillllllllll ggggggggggaaaaaaaaaavvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeee wwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy.......... aaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllll ooooooooooffffffffff uuuuuuuuuussssssssss..........
IIIIIIIIIItttttttttt sssssssssseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeemmmmmmmmmmssssssssss SSSSSSSSSScccccccccciiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnncccccccccceeeeeeeeee aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnndddddddddd RRRRRRRRRReeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaassssssssssoooooooooonnnnnnnnnn
ccccccccccaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeevvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrr rrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeepppppppppplllllllllliiiiiiiiiiccccccccccaaaaaaaaaatttttttttteeeeeeeeee ““““““““““NNNNNNNNNNaaaaaaaaaattttttttttuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeee,,,,,,,,,,”””””””””” ******************************
Though there is much to learn from the fall of Rome, bbbbbbbbbbeeeeeeeeeeccccccccccaaaaaaaaaauuuuuuuuuusssssssssseeeeeeeeee iiiiiiiiiitttttttttt hhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaassssssssss lllllllllloooooooooosssssssssstttttttttt tttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee
my point here is not to warn us that we must change ssssssssssaaaaaaaaaaccccccccccrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeedddddddddd TTTTTTTTTThhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiissssssssss wwwwwwwwwwoooooooooorrrrrrrrrrlllllllllldddddddddd,,,,,,,,,,
our ways or suffer the same fate as Rome. This is not uuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnddddddddddeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrssssssssssttttttttttaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnddddddddddiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnngggggggggg ooooooooooffffffffff lllllllllliiiiiiiiiiffffffffffeeeeeeeeee.......... wwwwwwwwwwhhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiicccccccccchhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaassssssssss ttttttttttaaaaaaaaaakkkkkkkkkkeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnn mmmmmmmmmmyyyyyyyyyy bbbbbbbbbbiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrrtttttttttthhhhhhhhhh----------rrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiigggggggggghhhhhhhhhhtttttttttt,,,,,,,,,,
mmmmmmmmmmyyyyyyyyyy ddddddddddrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmssssssssss,,,,,,,,,, mmmmmmmmmmyyyyyyyyyy lllllllllliiiiiiiiiiffffffffffeeeeeeeeee,,,,,,,,,,
a warning or plea to change when I say that we face TTTTTTTTTThhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrr ddddddddddoooooooooommmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeessssssssssttttttttttiiiiiiiiiiccccccccccaaaaaaaaaatttttttttteeeeeeeeeedddddddddd aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnniiiiiiiiiimmmmmmmmmmaaaaaaaaaallllllllllssssssssss aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnndddddddddd tttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee ccccccccccoooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnniiiiiiiiiittttttttttyyyyyyyyyy mmmmmmmmmmyyyyyyyyyy
the same dangers as did Rome. I am instead trying iiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnjjjjjjjjjjeeeeeeeeeecccccccccctttttttttt tttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrr hhhhhhhhhhoooooooooooooooooooovvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeessssssssss ttttttttttrrrrrrrrrruuuuuuuuuueeeeeeeeee bbbbbbbbbbeeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnngggggggggg oooooooooonnnnnnnnnncccccccccceeeeeeeeee kkkkkkkkkknnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwww..........
oooooooooonnnnnnnnnnttttttttttoooooooooo ddddddddddeeeeeeeeeepppppppppprrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaavvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeedddddddddd aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnndddddddddd oooooooooovvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrggggggggggrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaazzzzzzzzzzeeeeeeeeeedddddddddd ffffffffffiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeellllllllllddddddddddssssssssss..........
to show that there may yet be hope for this awful
IIIIIIIIII sssssssssseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee tttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee ssssssssssllllllllllaaaaaaaaaavvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeessssssssss
civilization’s collapse! TTTTTTTTTThhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrr ddddddddddiiiiiiiiiisssssssssseeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaasssssssssseeeeeeeeeessssssssss tttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeemmmmmmmmmmsssssssssseeeeeeeeeellllllllllvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeessssssssss ttttttttttrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnngggggggggg ttttttttttoooooooooo
When Rome collapsed it was followed by the Dark mmmmmmmmmmuuuuuuuuuullllllllllttttttttttiiiiiiiiiippppppppppllllllllllyyyyyyyyyy tttttttttthhhhhhhhhhrrrrrrrrrroooooooooouuuuuuuuuugggggggggghhhhhhhhhh tttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrr ccccccccccoooooooooonnnnnnnnnnffffffffffiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeemmmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnntttttttttt,,,,,,,,,, ffffffffffiiiiiiiiiixxxxxxxxxx iiiiiiiiiitttttttttt,,,,,,,,,,
ccccccccccaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnngggggggggg oooooooooonnnnnnnnnn tttttttttthhhhhhhhhhrrrrrrrrrroooooooooouuuuuuuuuugggggggggghhhhhhhhhhoooooooooouuuuuuuuuutttttttttt tttttttttthhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee wwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaatttttttttteeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrr wwwwwwwwwwhhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiilllllllllleeeeeeeeee iiiiiiiiiitttttttttt ccccccccccaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeevvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrr
Ages. Although labeled such by the prophets of this aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnndddddddddd iiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnffffffffffeeeeeeeeeecccccccccctttttttttt aaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllll ooooooooooffffffffff uuuuuuuuuussssssssss.......... bbbbbbbbbbeeeeeeeeee ffffffffffiiiiiiiiiixxxxxxxxxxeeeeeeeeeedddddddddd,,,,,,,,,, oooooooooonnnnnnnnnnllllllllllyyyyyyyyyy
civilization for its backwardness and slow techno- ((((((((((ddddddddddeeeeeeeeeepppppppppprrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaavvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeedddddddddd ooooooooooffffffffff aaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllll iiiiiiiiiimmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnniiiiiiiiiittttttttttyyyyyyyyyy eeeeeeeeeelllllllllliiiiiiiiiimmmmmmmmmmiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnaaaaaaaaaatttttttttteeeeeeeeeedddddddddd..........
bbbbbbbbbbyyyyyyyyyy eeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaattttttttttiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnngggggggggg cccccccccchhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeemmmmmmmmmmiiiiiiiiiiccccccccccaaaaaaaaaallllllllllssssssssss aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnndddddddddd
logical progress, the Dark Ages were a period of a aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnttttttttttiiiiiiiiiibbbbbbbbbbiiiiiiiiiioooooooooottttttttttiiiiiiiiiiccccccccccssssssssss,,,,,,,,,, wwwwwwwwwwiiiiiiiiiippppppppppiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnngggggggggg oooooooooouuuuuuuuuutttttttttt ******************************
sort of proto-modern civilization, a horrible era not oooooooooouuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrr aaaaaaaaaabbbbbbbbbbiiiiiiiiiilllllllllliiiiiiiiiittttttttttyyyyyyyyyy ttttttttttoooooooooo cccccccccclllllllllleeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnsssssssssseeeeeeeeee
any better than what followed or preceded it. Will a aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnndddddddddd bbbbbbbbbbaaaaaaaaaallllllllllaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnncccccccccceeeeeeeeee)))))))))) IIIIIIIIII sssssssssseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee aaaaaaaaaa wwwwwwwwwwoooooooooorrrrrrrrrrlllllllllldddddddddd ooooooooooffffffffff ddddddddddrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmssssssssss,,,,,,,,,,
similar “dark ages” follow the American Empire’s TTTTTTTTTThhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee ccccccccccaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnncccccccccceeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrr sssssssssspppppppppprrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaddddddddddssssssssss rrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmppppppppppaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnttttttttttllllllllllyyyyyyyyyy tttttttttthhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaatttttttttt aaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaappppppppppiiiiiiiiiioooooooooottttttttttssssssssss oooooooooossssssssssuuuuuuuuuuiiiiiiiiiittttttttttbbbbbbbbbbssssssssssiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiilliliilllllllddddddddddiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeetteetttttttt iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeettttttttttssssssssssssssssssss,,,,,,,,,,
collapse? We need to work hard to make sure that aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnndddddddddd bbbbbbbbbblllllllllliiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnddddddddddllllllllllyyyyyyyyyy,,,,,,,,,, ggggggggggaaaaaaaaaatttttttttteeeeeeeeeessssssssss..........
DDDDDDDDDDeeeeeeeeeessssssssssttttttttttrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooyyyyyyyyyyiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnngggggggggg aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnyyyyyyyyyytttttttttthhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnngggggggggg iiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnn
when America and the civilization it leads does
collapse, we dance on its ashes, to stomp out any iiiiiiiiiittttttttttssssssssss ppppppppppaaaaaaaaaatttttttttthhhhhhhhhh.......... IIIIIIIIII sssssssssseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee mmmmmmmmmmiiiiiiiiiilllllllllllllllllllliiiiiiiiiioooooooooonnnnnnnnnnssssssssss ooooooooooffffffffff
ddddddddddrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrssssssssss,,,,,,,,,, wwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiittttttttttiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnngggggggggg::::::::::
and all trace of the tendency called civilization to TTTTTTTTTThhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee ffffffffffoooooooooorrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeessssssssssttttttttttssssssssss aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeee cccccccccclllllllllleeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeedddddddddd ddddddddddyyyyyyyyyyiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnngggggggggg,,,,,,,,,,
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Species Traitor #3 Our goal here is to draw upon a critique of the totality of civilized
thought, symbolic culture, as a pivotal part of our relations and movement
towards liberation. The focus here is to expose all the underlying aspects
of civilized, and even most ‘revolutionary’, perception and question at the
The primary section in this issue is on symbolic culture. We feel
source. The continued existence of civilization carries on through an
very strongly about the subject and feel that it remains a kind of
infection of the being from cradle to grave (literally). We hope the
academic or fringe obscurity while it is central to understanding
critiques given here will encourage others to work with these concepts
the existence of civilization. It seems that any act of liberation
and social relations. To destroy civilization, we must seek it out in its
will require a turn on this totalistic world view that we’ve been
totality. We hope this issue will be another step towards total liberation.
domesticated to.
The other sections in this issue are ones we hope will remain constants
Despite the enormous efforts and focus of anarchists like John
and that all you folks reading this will contribute to. Those are: revolution
Zerzan, a critique of symbolic thought/culture tends to get shoved
and insurrection and explorations of anarchy and anthropology/
to the side when talking about practical means of destroying civili-
archaeology. We feel that there is much talk about ideas of destroying
zation and reconnecting to wildness. When we brought up the idea
civilization, but much of the debate has been in the terms of those seeking
of doing a focus on symbolic culture, we were criticized for picking
to seize state power, whereas we feel liberation will only come through
a ‘timeless’ and ‘academic’ philosophy that had no direct relation
the abolition of power. This section is a starting point to opening up
to dealing with the problems we face. Obviously we feel the opposite.
practical ideas of bringing this about.
How can trying to understand and revolt against the way we
The ‘exploration’ section opens questions about the ‘sacred cow’ of
(the civilized) interact with the world be considered unimportant?
anthropology. We realize that the anarcho-primitivist critique of civilization
The topic really couldn’t be timelier. In this time of State conflicts
is generally considered dependent upon this field. We realize that
and seeing how Bush could very well be giving civilization a final
anthropology is a science, and therefore shaped by the problems that come
shove (albeit on a potentially nuclear level) it becomes all the
with it. This section began with the essay ‘anarcho-primitivism beyond
more important to question what the protagonist may be. It is
anthropology and archaeology’ from Species Traitor #2, and with an
vital to realize that every bit of propaganda that comes out
interview with anarcho-primitivist archaeologist Theresa Kintz and some
(and my, how surreal that has gotten…) is nothing but a
more about the limits and uses of anthropology.
complete show of how symbolic culture functions. While capitalism
All 108 pages are available for $4 N. U$A/$5 World.
is the current face of civilization, the spectacle is the current face
of symbolic culture. We have the media (consolidated spectacle) Bulk rates and flat copies are available.
contorting the way we deal with others and trivializing our
For more info, check-out:
existence and people eat it up so long as we are preoccupied with
‘material comforts’. www.coalitionagainstcivilization/speciestraitor/st.html
page 7 GREEN ANARCHY #12 - SPRING ‘03
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GGGGGooooodddddfffffrrrrreeeeeyyyyy RRRRReeeeeggggggggggiiiiiooooo
Godfrey Reggio could be described, simply, as a and hundreds of gang members that saw it. We bought a SSSSSkkkkk!!!!!::::: What was the impetus to initiate the Qatsi trilogy?
documentarian. However, his experimental, non- 16mm copy and I guess I’ve seen the film a couple What motivations brought you, a person not
narrated films go far beyond the simplistic mode of hundred times. So that motivated me to look towards associated with film into the director’s chair?
information-based moving pictures. Instead of numbers, film as a medium of direct action. Now, film is usually not
charts and equations we are presented with inscrutable seen as that. I don’t see it as entertainment in my case, GGGGGRRRRR::::: Street gangs for many years, as a brother. I became
convinced that, while there are a few loonies that probably
human faces, immersed in the technological world I hope it can be a vehicle for direct action. That’s how I
would hurt anybody under any condition, most people
through which they travel. Stunning natural oases of became involved, it was also during that time that I had
are good. I believe that, it’s my experience that most
water and land barricade the ominous enormity of the good fortune to meet Ivan Illich, Illich was a priest at
people are good, it’s not something I believe, it’s
industrialism, which crashes and storms with the that time, I don’t know if you know who Illich is.
something I know. If you tell somebody they’re a shit,
surges of Phillip Glass’ minimalist orchestral score.
Challenging, but never high-minded, encompassing SSSSSkkkkk!!!!!::::: I do. they’ll probably behave like a shit. If you tell somebody
they’re great, they might achieve greatness. I think that’s
but never elitist, Reggio has finally concluded the Qatsi
GGGGGRRRRR::::: Ok, he’s just passed away by the way, December the fragility of who we are. We live in a world not of this
trilogy (Koyaanisqatsi, Powaqqatsi and Naqoyqatsi) with
the 2nd. So I had the good fortune to become a confidant
or that but this and that. So after working with street gangs
the theatrical release of Naqoyqatsi. Each film deals
of his, at a young age I used to do my religious retreats in
for quite a long time, I realized that the context in which
with, respectively, the perspectives as regards
Mexico at his think tank. Got a great appreciation for, I
people of poverty have to try to work out how to live in
technology within the first world, the third world and
guess, being sensitive to different points of view about
this society is very cruel. I didn’t start this project to set
the digital world, to be very brief.
what could be done for social change. His point of view
up an institution that would live forever. It was a response
Founded 33 years ago, Reggio has worked in a
was much more radical than, say, the radical left of the
to an immediate situation, and I left to pursue film as a
“non-ideological, mutual aid collective” which
country, which was anti-war, social justice and a good
form of direct action, now by that I mean the following;
operated without wage labor and focused on living
dose of socialism or communism. His radicalism was way
since people are at the public trough of cinema, either
life creatively. Its members have managed to retain
beyond that, it was much more fundamental. It had to do
through television or in the theater itself, I felt, what better
creative control over their films despite substantial
with the very nature of society and institutions, not just
place to put another idea out? Not in the form of language,
contracts with MGM, which has released the Qatsi
who controls them, which is kind of the communist mantra.
but in the form of image and music. Let me explain that
DVDs. He and his teams’ creative approach to
So I had the opportunity to be in the presence of a great
it’s not for lack of love for the language that my films
cataloguing and debunking the industrial division of
teacher, who was also a great activist. So I think those
have no words. It’s because of my, I guess, tragic thought
labor is unprecedented in the documentary tradition.
things impelled me to the position I’m in now.
that our language no longer describes the world in which
Reggio’s work, in particular Koyaanisqatsi, is notable
we live. Through Ivan Illich, I had the good fortune to
to Green Anarchists as one of the first films to question SSSSSkkkkk!!!!!::::: One of the influences you’ve noted at the end
meet Paulo Freire, in Brazil, in Sao Paulo, before he
technology as a totality. In of Naqoyqatsi
passed on. I had a good time talking with him about this
his own words, “The idea is Jacques Ellul,
enormous book that he wrote, “The Pedagogy of the
was to mainline in the whose critique
Oppressed.” In that, he says that the single most important
vascular structure of the of technology is
thing a person can do is to begin to rename the world in
beast this form, which was closely intertwined
which they live. This was his form of literacy, not teaching
created by technology, to with a Christian
one how to read a book in the traditional sense, but to
question technology. In theology. You,
rename the world, because when you name something,
other words, these are not yourself, were once
you in effect create it. My own thought is that our language
environmental films, these a Christian monk.
is bound with antique ideas, old formulas that no longer
are films more about the Do you feel that a
describe the moment in which we are. Therefore, that
presence of technology as critique of the
statement, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” I tried
a new and comprehensive dominant techno-
to take it and turn it on its head, and try to give you a
host of life and three different logical order is
thousand pictures that can offer the power of one word.
points of view about it.” The effective in a
In the case of each of the three films, Koyaanisqatsi,
current film, Naqoyqatsi, will religious context?
Powaqqatsi, Naqoyqatsi, words that come from an illiterate
finish its theatrical run on
GGGGGRRRRR::::: Yes I do, now source, a primal source, a wisdom that is beyond our
January 24 and arrive in a
let’s talk a little bit ability to describe the world. A wisdom that says that all
three-DVD set with the rest
about his critique. things we call normal are abnormal, all things that we
of the films in 2004. Reggio
This was a man who call sane are insane. Now I realize that this is a pretty
has no current plans to create
was not accepted by intense point of view, but that’s the point of view I ended
films after the end of the
either the organized up with from my own experience, not from academia but
Qatsi trilogy.
religions of his day or from being on the line in the ‘60s, trying to see the world
SSSSSkkkkk!!!!!::::: Could you give us some the left of France. from another point of view.
He was persona
brief background on your life in the context of what
non-grata from the left and the right, much like Wilhelm SSSSSkkkkk!!!!!::::: The films were independently funded, avoiding
brought you to critiquing technological processes
Reich was persona non-grata of the left and right of governmental grant processes and industrialist
through film? What experiences, thoughts or words
Germany. Here was a man who, more than any single handouts. You seem conscious of that old Marxist
influenced your path?
individual, has contributed to our understanding of the adage that the ideology closest to the means of
GGGGGooooodddddfffffrrrrreeeeeyyyyy RRRRReeeeeggggggggggiiiiiooooo::::: Well, I think for all of us there’s a nature of technology not as something we use but as production becomes the dominant ideology. Do you
line, even though it’s quite crooked, that gives, as it were, something we live. For Jacques Ellul, technology is the feel that you were able to avoid the constraints of
some testament to who we are and what we do. In my new and comprehensive host of life, the new environment capital influence in the Qatsi trilogy?
case, I grew up in a very stratified society of New of life. The problem with that statement is that our
Orleans. At the age of 13/14, I decided to throw in the language hasn’t caught up to the profundity of the thought, GGGGGRRRRR::::: Well, you know, it’s hard to say that. I wouldn’t want
to exempt myself from anything, all of money is dirty
towel, that it was all too crazy, not so interesting. I was our language has become assumptive and no longer, in
money. Whether I got my money from an angel, and I
getting burnt out. At a young age, living in the fat as it my opinion, describes the world in which we live. Ellul
don’t know how you get your money but it’s as dirty as
were, I decided to go away and become a monk. So I bore great criticism, if not persecution for his ideas, from
the money I got. The events that I’m talking about are
left home. My parents were not too excited about that, the left as well as the right, because like Ivan Illich, who
way beyond capitalism and communism, which is its
and I stayed out for 14 years, having taken final vows as made statements like “Freedom is the ability to say ‘no’
flipside. Both of those ‘isms are much closer together
a Christian brother. In effect, got to live in the middle ages to technological necessity”, Jacques Ellul described our
than most people believe. They both share the same point
during the 1950s and learned crazy things, like the mean- greatest act of freedom as to know that which controls
of view about the instrumentality of life, the mass society,
ing of life is to give, not to receive, that we should be in our behavior. So both of these men were on very similar
the industrialization of society, their only difference is who
the world but not of it. All these things I think, certainly tracts, both of them were way outside the sphere of
controls it. In the case of capitalists, it’s individuals who
influenced me. I’m very grateful for that highly disciplined, organized right and left, both of them were way to the left
have accumulated wealth on the backs and the injustice
very rugged way of life, that would make the marine corp of the left. His ideas on the environment, you could call
of millions of people, literally. In the case of the soviets,
look like the boy scouts. So I think that had a big them Christian, but I wouldn’t, certainly he was a theologian
it’s a new class of administrators, bureaucrats, who
influence on me. During the course of that time, I saw a and he wrote many books on the word of god from his
created a class, in my opinion, just as ironclad and
film called Los Olvidados by Luis Bunuel, the forgotten own point of view, but his stuff can certainly stand. His
unjust as the capitalist class. Both really want the same
one, so The Young and the Damned, the first film he made book for example, The Technological Society, his first
thing, they are just concerned about who controls the
in Mexico after being kicked out of Franco Spain. It was book, 1949 I think it was really written and released here
means of production. My question is not who controls
so moving to me that it was the equivalent of a spiritual sometime in the mid 50s, that book is a solid philosophical,
the means of production, but the nature of production, as
experience. I was at that time working with street gangs. sociological text about the nature of technique. It’s light
such. The question is not whether or not workers have
This film was about the street gangs in Mexico City, I years beyond anything being written now. I think, if I’m
an equitable pay and a healthy work environment, which
was working with street gangs in Northern New Mexico. not mistaken, the University of California at Berkeley has
is the interest of organized labor, or the left that works
It moved me to the quick, it wasn’t entertainment, it was acquired the rights to his full library, all of his notes, his
with organized labor. The question, more profoundly, is,
something that was an event that touched me and hundreds books, and they have in there a great gem.
GREEN ANARCHY #12 - SPRING ‘03 page 8
what is the effect of the automobile on society and should where we’ve empowered something that’s not in the another point of view, I tried to see it as a life-form, albeit
we have that in the first place? So, we’re dealing more organic realm, we’ve organized and allowed it to exist, a non-organic life-form, that has a life absolutely
with fundamental questions. It has become my experience, and now it has its own life form. Now, that’s very hard for independent of our own. Right now, the cities are made
sadly, that human beings become their environment. We us to get our mind around, because we give ourselves for the automobile, not for the people. When the automobile
become what we see, what we hear, what we taste, what more credit than we’re due. We think that our greatest was brought in as a technology, they said it would just be
we touch. Anything that we do without question, in an attribute is our mind, actually our greatest attribute is what a “faster horse,” it wouldn’t have any more effect than
altered state, we become that environment. If the is our action, our act, what we do everyday. It’s what we’ve that. But we all know that’s ridiculous, we all know that
environment that we live in today, as Ellul says, is a become. Marx has this great adage, I think Marx says, we pay a hidden price for our pursuit of technological
technological milieu or environment, if we no longer live “Is it the behavior we have that determines our happiness and we call it, instead of war, we call it accident.
with nature, and I’m not parenthetically talking about consciousness or is it the consciousness that we have But more people die in vehicular crashes than they do in
going back to teepees and caves etc., if our environment that determines our behavior?” And of course the answer war, if that’s even believable. So, it’s just the price we’re
itself is technological, if we don’t use technology, if we for 8 out of 7 people is that it’s the behavior that we involve willing to pay for the pursuit of our technological
live it, breathe it like the air that is ubiquitous around us, ourselves in that determines our consciousness. The only happiness, and these films are about questioning that
then we become that environment. In that sense, whether way to avoid that is to do what Joseph Brotsky did, to point of view.
you’re communist, capitalist, socialist, primitive, an become an outsider to society, all of us have to live in
outsider, an artist, a revolutionary, if you live in this world, this world but we don’t have to be of it. Brotsky decided SSSSSkkkkk!!!!!::::: Powaqqatsi is defined at the end of the second
all of us doing that, we become this world. In that sense, not to be of it. He became, for me, a revolutionary poet, film as “a way of life that consumes the life forces of
all of us now are cyborged. ‘Cyborg’ is not something for though he’s not seen that way in the communist world. other beings in order to further its own life.” Later you
the future, it is already here. are quoted as saying that
We live now in both worlds. between the third world
The old world, the world that and the first world,
‘nature’ replaced, old nature, Powaqqatsi captures “our
held its unity through the unanimity as a global
mystery of diversity. So there culture.” Now, the film
are many languages, many portrays the third world
different environments to from agriculture to
live in, there’s tropical, commodity trading,
there’s semi-tropical, there’s bartering to industry—a
mountain, there’s desert, narrative is constructed
there’s savannah, there’s that seems to point the
salva etc. There’s not one third world in the direction
flower, there’s uncountable of increasingly intensified
flowers. Not one animal, a civilization. To what extent
zillion of them, not one human are the narratives of
being, many. The mantra of “development” (in the
the old world was divided we case of the WTO and IMF)
stand. The new world, the technological order, holds its Stood outside, answered Marx’s questions. He said and “history” (in the case of Marxism) negative factors in
unity through a technological imperative. It creates unity consciousness, or removing oneself, being in the world the lives of people in the third world? Since the definition
through technological homogenization. Its mantra is but not of it, would be a way of having your mind determine of Powaqqatsi refers to a parasitic sorcerer, is it
“united we stand.” To me, this is the moment we’re in. your behavior. So, the thing that I’m railing against, reasonable to characterize the first world as a parasite?
We’re at that crossroads and the world is becoming technology, is something I use. Some would say this is
GGGGGRRRRR::::: My answer would be simply, yes. The whole point of
homogenized, what we’re seeing is the Los Angelization hypocritical or contradictory, let me agree with them, that
view of Naqoyqatsi is that through the dogma/religion point
of the planet through technology. My work has been, in it is contradictory. In the sense I’m trying to communicate,
of view of progress and development, which again,
effect, to try to shield my eyes from the blinding light of and wishing to do so in the contradiction of a mass
parenthetically, is not only a capitalist agenda but also a
the new sun, technology, seeking the darkness, walking culture, then I have to consciously adopt the tools of that
Marxist agenda—that very paradigm consumes, and eats,
towards the positive value of negation. Trying to question culture or the language of that culture in order to
and pulls out of the sockets people who live a handmade
the very structures, the very contexts in which we live, communicate. So it’s the equivalent of fighting fire with
life. I was criticized when I made that film by leftists in
not who controls them. fire. In that sense, I see the work that I do as direct
Germany, for romanticizing poverty, for trying to eliminate
We become what we see, what we hear, what we taste, action. Though I certainly use a very high-tech base,
industrialization and, therefore, a better way of living. Well
what we smell, it’s so easily said but it’s a profound concept using that in order to make it available to raise questions
that’s in a point of view, if that’s how they see it so be it, but
beyond the simplicity of the words that bear it. We live in about the very thing I’m using.
that’s certainly not my intention. My intention was to say
an environment, as Ellul said, that is, in terms of a social
event, the most enormous event of the last 5,000 years SSSSSkkkkk!!!!!::::: The camerawork in city scenes throughout the that standards of living are ephemeral. The standard of
trilogy often creates an industrial claustrophobia, living of the world is based on first world norms, of
has gone unnoticed, the transitioning of old nature to
giant buildings crowd the viewer into a confrontation consumption, of the institutionalization of life, of giving up
new nature. Environmentalists don’t get it, most of the
with urban space as alienation. Living in the desert your own control to the control of others. The very opposite
environmentalism is how to make this madness safe. How
as long as you have, what are your impressions of is true in the so-called third world or Southern hemisphere,
to make cars safe, how to make industry safe, how to
urban civilization? where really, the heritage of
make electricity and war safe for the environment. We
the earth exists not only in
live in a time where we are like blind people, we don’t
GGGGGRRRRR::::: Well I grew up in urban nature but in human devel-
see the moment in which we are. We no longer use
civilization, in New Orleans, opment. Small, convivial,
metaphor as our means of communion or communication
then I came out to New Mexico decentralized societies of
(i.e. language). Metamorphosis is the form now, where
which is one of the highest handmade living, where
the transformation, where the substance of something
deserts in the world. Here, the things can be uniquely
is changed, the transubstantiation of something is a
sky you don’t look at, you different, valley to valley, plain
metamorphic approach to communion rather than the
breathe it. I’ve lived here now to plain. The world that we’re
metaphoric, which is the power of language. But language
44 years, I consider myself trying to throw, through the
is disappearing. At the beginning of the 20th century, there
fortunate to be out here, it’s like IMF etc. on the southern
were over 30,000 languages and principal dialects in the
the Siberia of America. In this hemisphere, is a world of
world. Today, with many more people, over double the
magnificent beauty is this homogenized value. A world
number of people that were present then, we’re approaching
enormous enigma, and the evil where Los Angeles, Jakarta,
4,000 languages and principal dialects. In other words,
demon of nuclear technology Hong Kong, the Philippines
as the earth is being eaten up by the voracious appetite
that sits, as the crow flies, etc. all look the same. This is
of technology, everything that is local is disappearing. In
about 14 miles from my window. in diametric opposition to the
that disappearance, language disappears and when
So it’s a place of inscrutable nature of the development
language disappears, we are left with a more homogenized
beauty and unbelievable of the South, which is dis-
language to describe the world which, again, does not give
demonic energy. I’m sure appearing right now because
us access to understanding. It produces more conformity.
that’s had an influence on me, of the norms of development.
SSSSSkkkkk!!!!!::::: With Koyaanisqatsi you examined the first world being here, breathing the sky The very founding, for
in great detail, starting off from stunning wild lakes, and having the presence of this example, of the United
through constricting cities, the faces of people, monster. It allows me to have another point of view of the Nations, was founded on the dogma, on the theology, on
culminating in the destruction of the space shuttle world in which I lived. When I shot Koyaanisqatsi with the philosophy of promoting progress and development
Challenger. Throughout this film, technology is my collaborators, the way we did this film was eliminate around the world as our guarantee for world peace. Now
portrayed as an acceleratory, agglomerating, all the foreground of what is a normal theatrical film, the what crazier thought could you have? All of us buy in, in
isolating and destructive force. Many critics would plot, the characterization, the acting etc. When you don’t some way. Many people buy into the United Nations, but
charge that it is merely the arrangement of technology have the foreground, what’s left is the second unit or back- their very purpose is to produce this homogenizing event
or the puppeteer behind the scenes controlling ground to the story. Stripping the film of all that foreground all over the world. For me this is the essence of techno-
technology that must be changed. Do you see material, we take the background or second unit, and fascism, and it’s another example of how the Northern
hierarchy as endemic to these systems of control? make that the foreground. So, in this case, the building hemisphere is consuming, without question, the Southern
Can we separate technology from domination? becomes like an entity, the traffic becomes like an entity, hemisphere. The Northern hemisphere has consumed
something that has a life of itself. The whole purpose of most of its own resources already, the Southern hemisphere
GGGGGRRRRR::::: I don’t believe, I think it’s a pure myth, right, left, this film was to try to see the ordinary, that which, let’s is where the nature bank of our world still exists. If the
upside-down, backward, to think that we control technology. say, we are basted in. Being marinated in the environment north has its way, that will be consumed to create and
I think that’s a joke. Technology is in the driver’s seat. I that we live in, it all seems very familiar. And I was trying further develop the technological order, which for me, is a
would go to the very radical writing of Mary Shelley, not to show that that very thing that we call familiar is itself a fascistic venture.
(continued on next page)
the Hollywood version, but her original book Frankenstein, techno-fascistic way of living. So I tried to see it from
page 9 GREEN ANARCHY #12 - SPRING ‘03