Thanks for sharing the podcast Calum! I hadn’t come across it before, but I’ll definitely give it a listen this week.
Having worked within the philanthropic sector myself, including for major foundations, I completely agree with so much of what you’re saying. No “good deed” from billionaires or corporations comes without a trail of exploitation, of people or the planet somewhere down the line.
The rebranding efforts of the ultra-wealthy through their passion projects often mask the deeper issue: they’re pulling power and resources further away from the people who actually need them. The tax breaks, the PR spin, and the unchecked influence over public life shouldn’t be applauded, they should be scrutinised.
I’m really looking forward to following along with your work and hearing your thoughts on what a more radical and people-powered response could look like. Bring on the controversial next post it sounds like a conversation worth having.
Thanks for reading Dan! Really appreciate your comments and deffo recommend giving The Announcement a listen as well.
Yeah I agree - personally I often feel a little disempowered by all the chat about change coming from businesses etc. This has not really been the case throughout history - its so often just regular people getting politically organised that has led to the massive social changes we have seen. Thanks for following along and look forward to more discussion!
Thanks for sharing I agree with much of what you say, Holdfast needs much more transparency for example. And on the tax system vs philanthropy topic which The Announcement covered really well. A few things I'd discuss further,
RE "imagine if Patagonia were to do something like for example send out a call to action to their entire email list mobilising people for civil disobedience" - What do you think about Action Works? https://www.patagonia.com/actionworks/about/ (And Catchafire the associated volunteering platform)
I'm pretty sure they do email their entire database about, and has a physical presence in their stores and they put associated paintings on their store fronts which I recall have supported protest movements before. I don't know for sure if it has any lines against more disruptive direct action but it definitely allows sharing of disruptive protest events.
Direct action is not suitable for everyone and is not the first action anyone takes on the environment, as with me and you it's pretty far along an activism ladder (or however you want to picture it). I really don't think people are willing to try it until they've tried quite a few other types of action, as for both of us, or are directly personally threatened as with the more revolutionary ones.
ActionWorks allows everyone to connect with positive actions tangible to them and wherever they're at on their activism journey, to use particular skillsets that they may have (use their strongest power they can bring to the movement as you've also talked about). And, critically as you've asked more of the decisions within it as to what people want to get involved in are in the hands of people rather than Patagonia saying 'OK everyone go and do this type of (direct) action on this particular cause' which is the *opposite* of citizen decision making isn't it?? I do feel that sort of thing could easily look like corporate power being abused too!
There are ways it could be improved and isn't perhaps gaining the cutthrough it'd like given it's barely getting a mention in such discussions, it's possible only organisations they've funded appear(?) which still gives them some content control so could be one place it could improve but what do you reckon of it
Really good Calum, and I've thought a lot of the same things and share a lot of your concerns. I do believe that Patagonia are 'the good guys' and genuinely well-intentioned, but there's deliberate obscurity about Holdfast Collective (no website, no information about grants given, or key staff ). Because they've earned our respect as the leader in brand activism, I think they've become a bit arrogant, and they're not used to being questioned by their own tribe and fans. They're still the best apparel org of their size, but to misuse Monty Python "they're not the Messiah" and real transparency on the Collective is badly needed if they are to retain credibility.
Emailing everyone on their database calling for direct action would do the trick!
But I'd still want to see public information about their M.O. as a minimum.
Thanks for sharing the podcast Calum! I hadn’t come across it before, but I’ll definitely give it a listen this week.
Having worked within the philanthropic sector myself, including for major foundations, I completely agree with so much of what you’re saying. No “good deed” from billionaires or corporations comes without a trail of exploitation, of people or the planet somewhere down the line.
The rebranding efforts of the ultra-wealthy through their passion projects often mask the deeper issue: they’re pulling power and resources further away from the people who actually need them. The tax breaks, the PR spin, and the unchecked influence over public life shouldn’t be applauded, they should be scrutinised.
I’m really looking forward to following along with your work and hearing your thoughts on what a more radical and people-powered response could look like. Bring on the controversial next post it sounds like a conversation worth having.
Thanks for reading Dan! Really appreciate your comments and deffo recommend giving The Announcement a listen as well.
Yeah I agree - personally I often feel a little disempowered by all the chat about change coming from businesses etc. This has not really been the case throughout history - its so often just regular people getting politically organised that has led to the massive social changes we have seen. Thanks for following along and look forward to more discussion!
👏👏👏
Thanks for sharing I agree with much of what you say, Holdfast needs much more transparency for example. And on the tax system vs philanthropy topic which The Announcement covered really well. A few things I'd discuss further,
RE "imagine if Patagonia were to do something like for example send out a call to action to their entire email list mobilising people for civil disobedience" - What do you think about Action Works? https://www.patagonia.com/actionworks/about/ (And Catchafire the associated volunteering platform)
I'm pretty sure they do email their entire database about, and has a physical presence in their stores and they put associated paintings on their store fronts which I recall have supported protest movements before. I don't know for sure if it has any lines against more disruptive direct action but it definitely allows sharing of disruptive protest events.
Direct action is not suitable for everyone and is not the first action anyone takes on the environment, as with me and you it's pretty far along an activism ladder (or however you want to picture it). I really don't think people are willing to try it until they've tried quite a few other types of action, as for both of us, or are directly personally threatened as with the more revolutionary ones.
ActionWorks allows everyone to connect with positive actions tangible to them and wherever they're at on their activism journey, to use particular skillsets that they may have (use their strongest power they can bring to the movement as you've also talked about). And, critically as you've asked more of the decisions within it as to what people want to get involved in are in the hands of people rather than Patagonia saying 'OK everyone go and do this type of (direct) action on this particular cause' which is the *opposite* of citizen decision making isn't it?? I do feel that sort of thing could easily look like corporate power being abused too!
There are ways it could be improved and isn't perhaps gaining the cutthrough it'd like given it's barely getting a mention in such discussions, it's possible only organisations they've funded appear(?) which still gives them some content control so could be one place it could improve but what do you reckon of it
Really good Calum, and I've thought a lot of the same things and share a lot of your concerns. I do believe that Patagonia are 'the good guys' and genuinely well-intentioned, but there's deliberate obscurity about Holdfast Collective (no website, no information about grants given, or key staff ). Because they've earned our respect as the leader in brand activism, I think they've become a bit arrogant, and they're not used to being questioned by their own tribe and fans. They're still the best apparel org of their size, but to misuse Monty Python "they're not the Messiah" and real transparency on the Collective is badly needed if they are to retain credibility.
Emailing everyone on their database calling for direct action would do the trick!
But I'd still want to see public information about their M.O. as a minimum.