- Ecosystems are collapsing from burning fossil fuels. Climate destruction is getting worse, causing worsening wildfires, droughts, storms, and mass extinction.
- We live in a world of endless wars. Competition for power and control of resources drives war. Regional conflicts lead to genocides, famines, and humanitarian catastrophes that impact millions around the globe. Meanwhile, the likelihood of another world war grows—this time with far stronger nuclear weapons.
- The stress of living in this society has generated a mental health crisis, plagued by isolation, anxiety, suicide, addiction, and homicide. The violence of poverty and precarity spreads the violence of domestic abuse, armed robberies, and hate crimes.
- School is expensive. Students are saddled with debt. With the rise of AI and automation of jobs, our education does not guarantee us the careers we want.
- It is becoming harder to get by. Necessities like groceries and rent are unaffordable, putting more financial stress and debt on us. Wages do not increase to keep up.
- Unemployment, poverty, debt, hunger, and houselessness is rising. The solutions by people in power are more prisons, police violence, and criminalizing houseless and poor people.
- Our healthcare system is a disaster. Unaffordability, inaccessibility, and short staffing mean people can’t get the healthcare we need. Necessary healthcare, like abortion and birth control, is under attack.
- Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is increasing, attacking people’s right to exist. Book bans are on the rise, and our education system is under attack. Hate crimes against oppressed groups are rising.
- Refugees from environmental disasters and wars are increasing. Billions live without clean water or adequate food, and without even basic amenities that we have in the center of an empire like the United States.
- Is this the world we want to live in? With all of the crises around us, what future will we have?
Rule of the Wealthy or of the Majority?
- The war, poverty, and environmental destruction we live with are the products of a world dominated by a system structured for one goal: production for profit. It has no regard for the well-being of humanity and the planet.
- Less than one percent of the world’s population—those who own the large banks and corporations—control the wealth and resources of society. They destroy our lives and futures so they can grow their power and wealth.
- Their system is capitalism: a system of exploitation of the majority for the profits of a few. Their control of the world’s wealth and resources is the major bottleneck preventing us from solving the problems we live with.
- Fossil fuel companies will never choose to give up an economy reliant upon fossil fuels. They reap billions in profits every year, and have trillions more invested in their extraction.
- The wars fought for control of resources and markets are a necessity of a system based on private control of wealth. The destruction of human life means nothing to them in comparison to their gains of power and profits.
- Education today is structured to raise young people to adapt to a world of capitalism: to accept to pay for an education so that we can sell ourselves to the highest bidder. Meanwhile, the vast majority of people are left without any quality education at all.
- We know the future they are creating for us: worsening wars and environmental destruction, and attacks on our rights and well-being to ensure their dominance. There is no relief in sight, trapped within this system.
What if We Refuse to Accept Their System?
- Their system and their wealth depend on the labor of working people. A capitalist has no profits without our work. They need young people to continue to believe we can grow up and reform the system for the better and give up fighting for the world we deserve. We have tremendous power, if we choose to organize ourselves.
- What’s certain is that our future absolutely depends on ending the domination of capital over the needs of the majority.
- What if we refused to accept their system, and their plans for our future? What if we believed the vast majority can run the world in our interests? What if we took action to fight for a world we all deserve?
What if…
… we put all of society’s efforts into stopping the climate crisis.
What if environmental experts and those most impacted by climate change decided how we respond to this crisis? What solutions would we adopt? If our economy were organized to meet our needs, why would we continue churning out disposable products and harmful chemicals? If working and oppressed people were in charge of how we use the Earth’s resources, we would have the opportunity to repair the planet’s ecosystems and prevent detrimental pollution.
… we lived in a world without war.
If the resources of the world were equitably distributed, why would we wage wars or construct border walls? If we organized production and trade to meet our needs, why would we waste materials and time manufacturing bombs? In a society run by the majority, we would be able to share our resources and knowledge to benefit the lives of everyone.
… education and jobs were guaranteed to all.
What if we could all study what we wanted? We would make quality education accessible to all, and we would all be better off for it. If our society was structured to benefit humanity, how would we organize education? We would all peruse our interests, with time to socialize and rest. We would follow our passions and share them with others. We would expand scientific collaboration, and develop solutions where we have none. In a society run by those who do the work, there would be a role for everyone to play.
… everyone had safe housing, clean water, healthy food, and healthcare.
No one would be limited by the inhumane conditions of poverty and deprivation. Suicide, addiction, and crime would be reduced if everyone had what they needed to live a healthy, fulfilling life. We would be freed from the stress of surviving to focus on enjoying life and making contributions to society. We would all be safer, healthier, and saner with our basic needs met.
… we were not divided by prejudice.
What if we were no longer divided by oppression based on race, gender, sexual orientation, or nationality? How would this change our relationships and enrich our lives? If our society was not based on oppression and inequality, we could all have a sense of belonging. We would be able to connect and learn from one another without the harmful prejudices.
What if we decided to fight for this world?
For each of us, this is the question: will we agree to a world of unnecessary climate destruction, war, and poverty? Or will we fight for a future worth living? If we don’t act, we know that things will only get worse. If we do act, a better future, on the terms of the global majority, is possible. The actions of a few individuals today can have a big impact on what’s possible tomorrow.
