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The following pages are defunct, having been replaced by the general blog below.

Principles

Which things are important, generally speaking

Considerations

Commentary on specific issues

Actions

Things you can do right now

Six Steps to Save the World

If it seems overly simple, that’s because it is. Billions of dollars of ads and social media manipulations are hellbent on keeping you from trying it. And yes, following these steps will sometimes hurt. Do what you can. This is a group effort.

1. Help People

• Everyone you meet is hurting. There’s no need to add to that hurt except in self-defense.
• Even a small gesture of kindness or goodwill is better than nothing.
• If you have an excess of anything, be it money, things or time, see if there’s someone lacking that you can share with.

2. Practice Relentless Positivity

• Be kind to strangers unless you know they mean you harm. If they mean you harm, conversing with them serves no purpose.
• Even if someone is engaging in harmful behaviors, they probably think they are doing the right thing. Simply telling them otherwise will hurt, while sympathizing with their objectives can help.
• Consider using the Socratic method. Ask someone why they feel the way they do, or why they think that something important they oppose is wrong, or why they think the harmful thing they are doing is right. Continue to ask clarifying questions, but try to do so in a friendly way.
• Move away from angry venting toward positive action. Instead of complaining, suggest solutions. It is better to try and fail than do nothing.

3. Don’t Assist the Wicked

• Avoid corporations when possible. Small companies are not only more capable of serving you in the right conditions, but are capable of less harm in the wrong conditions. There is such a thing as ethical consumption, but it takes more work.
• If you appreciate someone’s products, give to them directly instead of through a third party.
• Learn anything you can about a company you give money to, especially if you expect to deal with them regularly.
• If a spokesperson for a company you deal with says or does something inappropriate, send a message directly to the company explaining your dissatisfaction in plain and neutral terms. Avoid dealing with the company to whatever extent you can until the issue is resolved.
• Do not promote the idea that wealthy individuals are deserving of their circumstances. A company’s success is the result of the efforts of many people, of which a CEO or owner is only a small part.

4. Treat Public Servants Appropriately

• Do not offer assistance to police or government officials. Obey them to the minimum extent that the law or their own belligerence allows.
• You and everyone else have the right to privacy, and to not incriminate yourself. Do not share personal information of any kind without the explicit permission of everyone involved.
• The role of politicians is to listen, not to speak. Speeches and opinions from government officials are irrelevant; only their actions matter.

5. Question Sources.

• Do not repeat news articles from sources you don’t recognize. The source is the writer or publisher of the article, not the person posting it to you.
• All commercial news networks (such as those airing on TV) are lying to you, or at least withholding information. Their funded purpose is to push ads, not inform the public.

6. Don’t Burn Things

• Avoid the use of combustion engines and other sources of heat for frivolous purposes.
• Research the ecological practices of companies, public services, or utilities in your area, and send them messages stating that you expect them to do better in the future.
• When possible, spend more for products that will last longer. Tell the companies you purchase from that you expect them to accommodate more long-term manufacturing practices.