When environmental thinker and activist Vandana Shiva visits a small town in Sweden, filmmaker Mattias Olsson records a conversation with her about forests, biodiversity and the meaning of activism. He then sends the interview to Maria Westerberg – a Swedish artist, poet and forest restorer.
Separated by worlds, the two women are drawn together by a shared understanding: that activism need not begin with confronting everything that is wrong. It can begin where we are, with what we love, and with the simple question of what is ours to do.
Yes, love has to be part of activism. It always is, we just need to be aware of what it is we love and bring that consciously into what we do. That gives our work direction and sustains and nourishes it over time.
As Joanna Macy said, there are three forms of actions in this context: (a) Stopping actions, stopping harm. (b) Creating and living alternatives, finding a more life-centered way of life. (c) Examining our current worldview and it’s shadow sides, and developing and living from more life-centered and integral worldviews.
All of these come from love. For me, I choose (b) and (c) although I have a great deal of appreciation and respect for those who chose (a) – that too is essential, especially in our times.