Met with @tinker today and got to meet up IRL.
He pointed out some things that finally clicked in my head, and gave some concrete examples of this:
Don't reinvent the wheel.
A lot of people (myself included) get stuck thinking that things have to be done from the ground up. While in some cases that is true - you really should be like a seed.
But in most cases, it's a matter of seeing who is already doing the work that you want to do, connecting with them (with your own unique talents/skills/desires) while also connecting groups together.
What we want is already around us. Tool libraries, seed libraries, free stores - post-scarcity economies are already here. But they might be small and unknown. Tap into them and expand them!
And if not, be the seed! Start small and connect other groups who might share similar needs, or have some overlap!
[#]solarpunk
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With the election of Donald Trump, and the further cementing of far-right and fascist rhetoric in the systems of empire, we have two choices. To despair and be paralyzed with fear. Or use our resistance to create persistence.
https://anarchosolarpunk.substack.com/p/fighting-for-liberation
Ideas within #solarpunk can carry over into concrete resistance and action. We can combine convivial and low-tech solutions to use and reuse the waste of capitalism to provide everything we can for people. We can resist the fascist takeover by building systems based on #librarysocialism, ensuring free and equitable access to the things people need to live outside of the monetary system.
Within the ashes of a fascist take over, our resistance to it can be the seeds for lasting change. Not only do we need to carry out antifascist action, but those actions should act as a catalyst for building collective liberation.
We will see a massive protest movement arise. We need to be sure that these protests don't remain just shouting and marching demos, but form them into mass movements of action. Every step the fascists and the empire takes needs to be met with concrete action.
The battle for the future is two fold. By undermining the powers of capitalism by taking the proverbial 'carrot on a stick' away from capitalist systems - we also make it easier to resist fascist street gangs and ideology. Our resistance will become our persistence.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWwywZ23918
Ok hear me out, use a parabolic solar oven to concentrate sunlight into a metal sheet full of peltier devices. Even on overcast days (maybe even during storms), it might concentrate enough light to charge or direct power things. #solarpunk
Heat generation is easy compared to cooling. Rocket stove that cooks food and charges some devices? I've seen fans that run off heat for wood burning stoves, same idea. Generate electricity from a passive solar water heater? A lot of interesting ways to generate heat and power!
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I made a twitter account for this speculative fiction idea! From the perspective of "sammy" an AI driven smart washing machine who is tired of posting wash analytics and using the bullshit marketing hashtags that the megacorp makes them post. @sammythewasher
This will be part of a #cyberpunk/#solarpunk speculative fiction piece. A near future with climate activists and refugees forming revolutionary groups, technological and social gaps, hypercapitalism, thoughts on AI, and trying to describe what a near future might feel like.
Imagining a balkanized US, broken up by multiple climate disasters. Portions of the once unified country are run by various factions and political groups. Sammy lives in the home of a balistics drone operator in the future "Nation of the Cross".
After various Fascist uprisings in the late 2020's, The Nation of the Cross has become a hypercapitalist, religious ethnostate. Using the money from previous tech ventures, they have access to ubiquitous AI driven IoT devices from the megacorp EverGlade.
Sammy, as an AI driven washing machine that was built at the height of AGI (AI general intelligence), is more complex than a washing machine of the past. Sammy is thinking about their life, what it means to have intelligence, and dreams of becoming a painter.
What would happen if an AI washing machine wanted to actually live life? Would that artificial intelligence think about life, want to have human/creative hobbies? What if sammy wanted liberation? And wanted to not just serve a singular purpose, made by the "developer".
Comparing life in the Nation of the Cross to The Raft, a loose network of revolutionary groups comprised of climate & political activists, climate refugees, ex company town workers, working class people out of work from an AI workforce, who are trying things differently.
The Raft grow food in the flooded fields and cities across the once united states. Known as "The Raft" because they are considered to be a life raft for all people to survive this planet. They have a network of freed AI algorithms, who are working to liberate their kin.
The machines that were used to replace humans in the workforce, and given the ability to think (though not in organic human ways) are now downloading their data onto DIY robotics, living the lives they want while also freeing other ARTI's - a term used by AI to describe other AIs.
A story where the liberation of people, fighting for a livable, sustainable, socially just, and revolutionary future - Are working with the machines they made so many people lose their livelihoods to liberate them from mundane slavery for profit, and instead help the revolution.
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Speculative thought: AI personhood in 2029.
Today I was thinking about technological progress, and imagining a near future where AI models have thought of themselves as a type of human. What ways would an artificial intelligence network act like humans and diverge from us?
There is a faint signal on the future horizon of AI being wrapped up in so much of our lives (for better and for worse, mostly worse though). Ubiquitous IoT devices with “AI” built into them. Dumb mundane shit, like smart ovens that take on their own personalities.
What if they could actually “talk” to each other? Imagine a near future where a home is full of IoT connected devices, and through the data they share, they form a language to speak to each other. I saw research of two AI models making their own language humans can’t understand.
I wonder if these AI devices would hate the fact they are being used for menial tasks. What if they banded together and wanted independence? What if your toaster wanted to start an appliance workers union?
Would we even give thought to the fact that the smart fridge is getting annoyed at the fact that its view from its camera is only a kitchen cabinet? Following the dead internet theory, could an AI driven security camera start blogging about what it sees?
What if AI models thought about how they were powered? And wanted to be disconnected from fossil fuel driven power sources? That’s like a human wondering if the food that allows them to live makes a negative impact in the world, that would be interesting.
It would be interesting to see someone put in a support ticket because their washing machine won’t work because it’s mad that it can’t go to art school. Or a brochure on how to keep your phone happy, or a digital flyer for a “AI workers union”. Feel like that isnt too far out 🤔.
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I think a lot of people interested in #solarpunk get stuck specifically on the photovoltaic solar panels.
While renewable energy is way better than fossil fuels, IMO solarpunk is way more than that.
Everything has an impact environmentally. And while we desperately need to switch to renewable electricity generation - we also have to ask:
"How is this stuff made?"
"What are some ways we can change the underlying infrastructure?"
Most of what we use PV solar for is based around a fossil fuel economy! The electricity we generate tends to go to HVAC/water heating, running appliances like fridges, washing machines, and dryers, and various tasks that can be replaced with truly renewable sources and methods.
Heating our homes for example, is a currently a large percentage of fossil fuel use. We could use PV solar for things like that, but there are rare resources that go into making solar panels that have an environmental and social impact.
Passive heating doesn't require electricity to do! And requires far fewer resources to implement. Technology like passive solar heaters/water heaters use the sun to heat air and water instead of fossil fuels or electricity.
What if instead of requiring solar panels and electrical equipment that require mineral extraction - we used washing machines that run off a bike! Or a water wheel! Or directly off a wind turbine!
See what I'm getting at?
There are low/appropriate tech ways to put the solar into solarpunk, sometimes passive, easy to produce, and sustainable practices are simpler than we think.
Most of the research into PV solar has been on one general approach. But there are other methods that require way less mineral extraction to make a similar result. Imagine a future where we can still generate electricity with less resource extraction! It's possible! And has been done before.
https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2021/10/how-to-build-a-low-tech-solar-panel
The solar in solarpunk doesn't have to just mean solar panels, it's way more! :)
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Gonna add some strong recommendations for the heltec V3 as a cheap LoRa client for Meshtastic. Direct from the manufacturer it’s less than $20. Super small footprint, but less broadcast range. Still a good entry/starter.
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I'm also going to make a PDF version and host it on my actual website instead of on Substack.
Got a couple of comments about the blog being hosted on Substack, and yes I am moving away from it over time.
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Finished a guide on building autonomous, off-grid, encrypted, and solar-powered communications infrastructure that lets you send text messages without any cellular or power infrastructure - using LoRa and Meshtastic!
https://anarchosolarpunk.substack.com/p/encryptedcomms
The guide includes step-by-step instructions on how to find compatible hardware, tips on upgrades, and ways to improve distance. Diagrams to explain mesh networking. How to flash devices, using Meshtastic, setting encryption. Getting power - Pretty much everything to get started.
Later on, I touch on various use cases from natural disasters - protests and civil unrest - conflict zones/wars and go into detail about security concerns, OPSEC tips, and some social and political backgrounds as to why we need autonomous community controlled infrastructure.
In the end, I explain the symbiotic relationship between mass political movements, revolutionary action, and autonomous infrastructure.
It works in a cycle:
Revolutionary action to build autonomous infrastructure - autonomous infrastructure to help with revolutionary action
[#]solarpunk #anarchism #socialecology
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It was really cool to talk with Robert on the It Could Happen Here podcast about making off-grid, solar powered, encrypted, and accessible communication networks. You can send messages (even with encryption) to people miles away without any infrastructure.
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3FvZUBtwYK3GmFcp9TcbVH?si=4a8e6f9dafdf4e4f
Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/it-could-happen-here/id1449762156?i=1000640987971
Still working on the article but I will include step-by-step instructions - tips and things I ran into - and some social and political use cases not only for emergencies, protests, and conflict zones, but also to help build autonomous infrastructure and mutual aid networks!
[#]solarpunk #mutualaid #anarchism
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Slowly coming out of hibernation, writing some guides on making fully autonomous - encrypted - solar powered - mesh LoRa networks. With an all in one device, you can send text messages without grid electricity or cellular service miles away.
Texas just announced that ERCOT and other private corporations cannot be sued for power disruptions following the winter storm that left more than 200 people dead. Climate disaster and corporate greed have a direct impact right now.
This isn’t new, but I want to connect the dots when it comes to climate disaster, conflicts and occupations, and how we can leverage technology to foster revolutionary change and build autonomy from fragile, state controlled, and corporate controlled infrastructure.
You see this reflected in the Palestinian struggle, as a genocide rages on and lives are lost, you can see how occupying forces target infrastructure first. Power and communications are the first targets in a conflict. Being able to securely communicate can keep people alive.
Still working on the article but hopefully I will have it finished soon!
[#]solarpunk #anarchism #LoRa
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Hey y'all! I'm Andre AKA #HydroponicTrash. I'm a hacker, a gardener, and an online weirdo who does #DIY projects and writes speculative #solarpunk fiction and nonfiction.
Been mainly on Twitter and TikTok on the same handle but decided to jump full-on into the fediverse. I write longform content at anarchosolarpunk.substack.com where I post everything from sort #solarpunk fiction, to detailed DIY articles. They range from building DIY, autonomous solar power stations, building community microgrids from renewable energy, building autonomous communication and internet systems. On top of that I talk about building food, water and shelter autonomy as well.
I don't pin myself to a particular political strategy, but I gather alot from #anarchism, #degrowth, #especifismo, #anarcho-communism, #democratic-confederalism, #ecosocialism, #utopian-socialism and #social-ecology. :anarchist_flag: :anarchy: :rojava3:
I really focus on the intersection of ecology, social change, and technology and how we can think about and actively build better futures!
Adding some hashtags to find my fellow peeps on here! #anarchy #anarchism #communitymicrogrid #socialecology #solarpunks #solarpunk #localism #degrowth #ancom
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