10 Point Summary
1. The failure of current activism: The author argues that despite decades of effort, social and ecological justice movements are losing ground, largely because they rely on ineffective tactics like "moral suasion" and believing that power structures can be educated into stopping atrocities.
2. Dissidence vs. Resistance: A sharp distinction is drawn between "dissidents," who believe society is unjust but only share those beliefs, and "resisters," who materially work to dismantle and disrupt the systems responsible for injustice.
3. The nature of power: The text asserts that corporations and governments are "social machines" that lack empathy; therefore, they cannot be persuaded by moral arguments or polite requests, but only by political, economic, or physical force.
4. Ineffectiveness of mainstream tactics: The author critiques the modern left for limiting itself to electoral politics, "ethical" consumerism, and awareness-raising, noting that these approaches offer little leverage against entrenched power.
5. The Grassy Narrows case study: The text uses the example of the Grassy Narrows Indigenous community to demonstrate that while decades of lobbying failed to stop logging and mercury poisoning, direct action in the form of road blockades successfully halted corporate activity and caused significant economic impact.
6. Colonialism and privilege: Environmental destruction is framed not as a misunderstanding, but as a result of power dynamics where settler populations benefit from the theft and exploitation of Indigenous land, making "education" an insufficient tool for change.
7. The failure of democracy: The author contends that "democratic" institutions have failed because corporations hold more power than the people, a reality that has been recognized by political observers for over a century.
8. Safety in resistance: Contrary to the belief that holding back is safer, the source cites evidence that fighting back can protect communities, noting that Indigenous communities engaging in militant resistance have significantly lower suicide rates than those that do not.
9. The necessity of force: To win, movements must mobilize "force"—defined broadly to include economic disruption (strikes), social pressure, political noncooperation, and physical impediment of injustice—rather than relying on the "goodwill" of oppressors.
10. Historical precedent for escalation: The source highlights that rights such as voting and the eight-hour workday were won through struggle and escalation, citing the Suffragettes who moved from polite requests to arson and property destruction to finally achieve success.