Upstream

Saio Gradin, a Politics teacher and community organizer, and Nicole Wires, an organizer at the Nonprofit Democracy Network, delve into the fascinating realm of prefigurative politics and workplace democracy. They discuss how embodying revolutionary ideals can transform current systems, focusing on worker self-direction and cooperatives. Gradin shares insights from his activism, while Wires emphasizes the challenges of fostering democracy in nonprofit settings. Together, they highlight the critical importance of collective governance and grassroots organizing for a more equitable future.

“This is the most important election of our lifetimes.” “Voting for a third-party candidate? Might as well throw away your vote!” “You may not like her, but you’ve just got to hold your nose and vote for her — otherwise, Trump might win.”  We're sure you’ve heard each of these lines many times — we know that we have. But, at some point you have to ask: how can every election be the most important one? Am I really throwing away my vote by voting for a candidate whose policies I agree with? Can we ever actually affect change if we’re always voting for the "lesser evil" candidate or party? Isn’t that just a race to the bottom — or, as we're seeing currently, a race towards genocide? Well, in this conversation, we’re going to tackle all of those questions — and much more — with our guest, August Nimtz, Professor of political science and African American and African studies in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota. Professor Nimtz is the author of The Ballot, The Streets, Or Both? published by Haymarket Books. In this conversation, Professor Nimtz explores the question of electoralism as it relates to revolutionary left politics through a deep dive into the history of the Russian Revolution — examining how Marx, Engels, and Lenin approached electoralism and then applying their analyses and viewpoints to today’s situation.  What is the role of elections for the revolutionary left? How can we engage with electoralism without falling into what Professor Nimtz refers to as “electoral fetishism”? What about the "lesser evil" or "spoiler" phenomenon? How can we build a party for the working and oppressed classes without falling prey to opportunism or bourgeois distraction? What can we learn from the European Revolutions of 1848, the Paris Commune, the Russian Revolution, and other historic attempts at revolution — both successful and unsuccessful? These are just some of the questions and themes we explore in this episode with Professor Nimtz. Thank you to Bethan Mure for this episode’s cover art and to Noname for the intermission music. Upstream theme music was composed by Robert Raymond. Further resources: The Ballot, The Streets, or Both? by August Nimtz Related episodes: [UNLOCKED] Voting for Socialism w/ Claudia De La Cruz & Karina Garcia Battling the Duopoly w/ Jill Stein Righteous Indignation, Love, and Running for President w/ Dr. Cornel West Upstream: What Is To Be Done? with Breht O'Shea and Alyson Escalante Socialism Betrayed w/ Roger Keeran and Joe Jamison Upstream is a labor of love—we couldn't keep this project going without the generosity of our listeners and fans. Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/upstreampodcast or please consider chipping in a one-time or recurring donation at www.upstreampodcast.org/support If your organization wants to sponsor one of our upcoming documentaries, we have a number of sponsorship packages available. Find out more at  upstreampodcast.org/sponsorship For more from Upstream, visit www.upstreampodcast.org and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky.    

This is a free preview of the episode "Disabled Ecologies w/ Sunaura Taylor." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast As a Patreon subscriber you'll get access to at least one bonus episode a month (usually two or three), our entire back catalog of Patreon episodes, early access to certain episodes, and other benefits like stickers and bumper stickers—depending on which tier you subscribe to. You’ll also be helping to keep Upstream sustainable and allowing us to keep this project going. Find out more at Patreon.com/upstreampodcast or at upstreampodcast.org/support. Thank you. Disability is a state, or an idea, or a process even that is often associated with human beings—somebody becomes “disabled” or is experiencing “disability.” We don’t typically attach this state of being or this process to things other than human beings, much less to, say, geological formations. When is the last time you heard somebody refer to a contaminated body of water as “being disabled?” But utilizing the language and framing of disability when thinking about the impacts of capitalism and imperialism on our bodies and our biosphere is not just a useful exercise—it’s a profound and crucial analysis.  The story that we tell in this episode is one of disabled ecologies and has its origins deep beneath the ground in Tucson, Arizona—but it stretches all across the globe, from Gaza to Yemen to Korea—from the cells in our bodies to the water that lives in aquifers many feet below the ground. And really, the story doesn’t actually originate in Arizona—it begins somewhere in Europe sometime between the 12th to 16th centuries, during the dawn of capitalism. But that’s a different story for a different time.  To tell the story and concept of disabled ecologies—a story of the web of interconnection between humans and the more-than-human world—we’ve brought on Sunaura Taylor. Sunaura is an Assistant Professor at UC Berkeley in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, a critical disability scholar and activist, an artist, and the author of two books: Beasts of Burden: Animal and Disability Liberation, published by The New Press, and, most recently, Disabled Ecologies: Lessons from a Wounded Desert, published by University of California Press.   In this episode we tell the story of Tucson, Arizona’s aquifer and how it came to be contaminated by the US military. We trace the contours of death and destruction from the water beneath Tucson’s Southside neighborhood to the bodies living above it, from the chemicals that disabled ecosystems in Arizona and to the bombs drenched in those chemicals that were dropped on people across the Global South. We explore disability politics, environmental racism, classism, and the importance of organizing. And we celebrate the wins and the successes—not yet complete—of those in Tucson, Arizona who are taking on the capitalist state machinery to fight for justice and personal, community, and ecological healing. Further resources: Disabled Ecologies: Lessons from a Wounded Desert Nature is Disappearing: The Average Size of Wildlife Populations has Fallen by a Staggering 73% Related episodes: Breaking the Chains of Empire w/ Abby Martin (Live Show) Health Communism with Beatrice Adler-Bolton Terra Viva with Vandana Shiva Cover art: Sunaura Taylor Upstream is a labor of love — we couldn't keep this project going without the generosity of our listeners and fans. Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/upstreampodcast or please consider chipping in a one-time or recurring donation at www.upstreampodcast.org/support If your organization wants to sponsor one of our upcoming documentaries, we have a number of sponsorship packages available. Find out more at  upstreampodcast.org/sponsorship For more from Upstream, visit www.upstreampodcast.org and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky. You can also subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

Vijay Prashad, a prominent journalist and political commentator, takes us on a compelling journey through the Democratic Republic of the Congo's paradox of poverty amid resource wealth. He uncovers the detrimental legacy of colonialism and U.S. imperialism, linking it to ongoing exploitation by multinational corporations. The discussion dives into the historical struggles for sovereignty, the geopolitical tussle between the U.S. and China, and the resilience of grassroots movements advocating for social justice and change in the face of adversity.

Gabriel Rockhill, a philosopher and cultural critic, delves into the intriguing critiques of Western Marxism from Domenico Losurdo's work. They explore the ideological schism between Western and Eastern Marxism, emphasizing the practical versus theoretical approaches in their evolution. Rockhill emphasizes the influence of anti-communist sentiments and the need for redefining anti-imperialism in leftist movements. The discussion highlights how a re-examination of Marxism can reshape contemporary discourse and invigorate political practice.

In this discussion, Matteo Capasso, a Marie Curie Fellow at the University of Venice, analyzes the Al-Aqsa Flood operation and its implications for U.S. imperialism. He dives into the historical context of Palestinian resistance, emphasizing the narratives surrounding Hamas and Hezbollah. The conversation highlights the intricate ties between U.S. support for Israel and global anti-imperialist movements. Capasso argues for solidarity with the Global South, stressing the need for critical engagement with the complexities of the Palestinian struggle and the broader fight against oppression.

Adam Hanieh, a Palestinian professor at the University of Exeter and author, delves into the intricate ties between oil, monopoly capitalism, and imperialism. He reveals how oil not only fuels economies but also drives U.S. imperialism globally. The discussion spans historical shifts from coal to oil, the ecological devastation caused by fossil fuels, and the impact of geopolitical maneuvers in the Middle East. Hanieh critiques misleading climate policies supported by the oil industry and stresses the urgent need for systemic change that intertwines ecological justice with social movements.

Nairuti Shastry, a racial and economic justice researcher, and Zac Chapman, Resource Mobilization Director at the New Economy Coalition, dive into the challenges of funding revolutionary movements. They discuss the contradictions in philanthropic practices and emphasize the need for funding alternatives that truly support anti-capitalist efforts. The conversation also touches on community-led initiatives that promote economic transformation and solidarity, envisioning a future where governance and economic structures are radically reimagined.

Eric Wycoff Rogers, a community organizer and author of the Critical Hedonist Manifesto, joins Zarinah Agnew, a neuroscientist and guerrilla scientist, to delve into the politics of pleasure. They discuss how capitalism manipulates desire, promoting unsustainable consumption. Both guests advocate for critical hedonism as a transformative approach to pleasure that fosters community collaboration. They challenge current economic values and encourage a reimagining of pleasure to enhance well-being, social ties, and collective joy.

In a riveting discussion, investigative journalist Abby Martin highlights the pervasive impact of U.S. imperialism on global issues, from climate change to social justice. She sheds light on her upcoming documentary, 'Earth's Greatest Enemy,' revealing the military's major role in climate degradation. Abby shares her experiences in Jerusalem and challenges media narratives around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The conversation wraps up with a call for grassroots activism against the backdrop of the military-industrial complex's environmental consequences.