Direct Action

AS AN ANARCHIST, I try to live my life as close as I can to how I would in an anarchist community. This is made very difficult at times by the rules inflicted upon me by this society, and by the misconceptions I gained in childhood. Being brought up in a racist, sexist, meat-eating atmosphere, it is very hard to judge all people and creatures as equal, especially as I am often ridiculed for doing so.

The only way to create the society we want is to decide how we would live our lives in this society and actually try to live our lives that way NOW. It is no good just hoping for change, we must make the change, firstly in ourselves and then by spreading the message to others. Anarchy is a personal philosophy as well as a social structure. This is the idea of direct action. If we don’t like something we should act to change it, not moan to someone else (A policeman for example) about it — we all know how far that’s got us. I try to take responsibility for my actions, not rely on others to tell me what to do. If I make a mistake, as we all do, I realise it is my fault, and try to change myself so it does not happen again.

Direct action means acting positively against what we don’t like. If we take direct action and it fails to change things, then at least we have tried. If we don’t try, then we are accepting things as they are, and we become part of the problem. Direct action can and does change things. Vegetarianism/Veganism is direct action — we do not like animals being killed for food so we refuse to eat them, and hence less animals are killed. Not only that, but people see we are vegetarian and ask us why. Some, once they understand our point of view, go vegetarian themselves. It is not enough to say we disagree with the killing of animals and still eat them (even only occasionally), we must refuse to take part in the process and encourage alternatives.

Sometimes we must break the laws of the state when we carry out direct action. For example, I am willing to go out hunt sabbing in order to save animals’ lives, even though I know I run a high risk of getting arrested. I am prepared to risk my freedom for the lives of my fellow creatures. We must plan action carefully, however, and try to ensure our actions are seen and understood by the public in general. Acts of violence against people, no matter how evil we believe they are, are pointless as they do nothing to our long-term cause and give us a worse name than we have already. ‘Propaganda by the deed’, killing people who are figureheads of the state, has led people to believe, not surprisingly, that all anarchists are nihilistic, bomb-making, chaotic terrorists. We must take positive action where possible, and try to show people our love of the world and the trust we have in human nature that brings us together to work for a society without oppression or authority. I am only prepared to hurt another creature, human or animal, in defence of myself or others being attacked.

Acts of violence against property are, I believe, necessary where the property has been gained through exploitation or, more importantly, where the property is being used for exploitation. If you don’t like the sight of rotting flesh in the butcher’s window,’ do something about it.

Being anarchists, and totally responsible for our actions, is not easy. Exploitation is easy. War is easy. It is so easy to see the pictures of Ethiopia and blame someone else. It is so easy for people to sit in their armchairs, slowly destroying the world, and not try to do anything about it. As anarchists we are doing something now, not just hoping. We can and will win if we work and act together. We may sometimes feel disheartened when people let us down, but we mustn’t give in, because time is running out for this planet and we are the ones who can save it.

LET’S ACT NOW.

Colin.