Trump has been in power here in the US for a little more than a month, bringing disruption, fear, arrogance, unemployment, and insecurity. Shock and awe has a paralyzing effect, meant to incapacitate “the enemy from within”. My job is to promote beautiful handmade products made by our members. How do I find the appropriate messaging for such a time? Who wants a scarf, a vase or an art quilt when we are held captive, not knowing what gut punch will hit us in the next hours or days?
Within that fear, we also have the power of the purse. Every single web service I use is compromised. They have all stepped into the Trump circle: Google, Facebook, PayPal, Amazon, Airbnb and many others. All of them started out with amazing ideas and creative talent. They thrived and enriched themselves because of us. We love their products! We gave them the power of the purse!
“The power of the purse is the ability of one group to control the actions of another group by withholding funding, or putting stipulations on the use of funds.” (Google)
Latin for “in danger”, I think about all that is in danger around the world. The Trump Administration has made it clear that they are out to “drill, baby, drill”, to destroy our National Parks, to make it difficult for any green organization or effort to thrive. They are going the opposite direction of where we need to head if we want to have any chance of dealing with Climate Change effectively.
Many of our members are living in countries that have already broken down, where violence has taken over. Three examples I’d like to share: Ukraine, Haiti and Guatemala
ukraine
Throughout the year (2023), Russian and Russian-affiliated forces committed numerous grave abuses against civilians in occupied parts of Zaporizka, Khersonska, Donetska, and Luhanska regions. They carried out enforced disappearances, summary executions of civilians, and unlawful detention and torture, especially targeting civil servants, pro-Ukraine activists and journalists, and other civilians presumed to oppose the occupation.
They also perpetrated sexual violence, forced transfers of Ukrainian adults and children, and looting of cultural artifacts.World Report 2024
I could post images and videos of all of the horrors that have been happening in Ukraine. Instead, here is Kalush Orchestra, Ukrainian winners of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2022 with Stefania :
“
“This song is a musical manifesto celebrating the uniqueness of every girl and the search for the one who can set the heart ablaze. “Divchata” tells a story of diverse feminine beauty, character, and soul, capturing the bittersweet journey of love and the challenges of finding a true connection.”
They have continued to write and perform their music.
Since the end of January, a wave of extreme brutality has led to widespread loss of life and the displacement of over 6,000 people in the capital, Port-au-Prince.
“We are deeply alarmed and appalled by the unacceptable and inhumane intensity of violence in Haiti,” the Haiti Humanitarian Country Team, which is made up of UN agencies, national and international NGOs and donors, said in a statement.
Entire families were killed in their homes, while others, including children and babies, were shot dead as they tried to escape.
The killings follow a massacre last December, when an outbreak of violence in the commune of Cité Soleil in Port-au-Prince led to the execution of more than 200 people by the Wharf Jérémie gang.
Haiti’s story is one of bad luck. Bad leaders, bad natural disasters, and now, unnecessary violence. It is also one of incredible resilience with art as a central anchor, steadying its people through music, painting, beadwork, metalwork and so much more. In the words of Paul Farmer:
“It is with this surety that we must stand with Haiti, a country whose spirit and people will never be broken, and work in solidarity toward the future the Haitian people deserve.”
Casey Riddell of It’s Cactus has been working with talented metal artists for over 20 years. She has been able to help her artists with the sale of their work, but things have become so dangerous for them that it is a constant fear for them that keeps her up at night.
Abuses against human rights defenders and social leaders increased. In 2022, the non-profit Unidad de Protección a Defensoras y Defensores de Derechos Humanos de Guatemala (UDEFEGUA) documented 3,574 instances of aggression—including criminalization, harassment, intimidation, threats, and violence against women—against individuals, organizations, and communities that defend human rights, which is the highest recorded number in 22 years. Human Rights Watch 2024
The report above lists a long detailing of the challenges Guatemalans face with corruption and aggression. So sad for such a peace loving people!
MayaMam Weavers has been with us since 2014! Eleven years! We have gone through many changes during that time and so have they. Watching their growth has been such a source of joy for me! They built a building that houses their weaving production and have a separate childcare area. For every sales they make on their website, they plant one tree. They have now planted thousands, helping to restore their area from decades of deforestation.
Yes. We are in danger. All of us. All the time. So, what can my messaging be? I’m giving myself a little lesson in Latin today. How about this for a message?
per aspera ad astra!
This quote means “Through hardships to the stars.”
Whenever there is an economic crisis or instability, the arts are the first to lose support. For many decades, back to the 1940’s, the United States and Europe have been major supporters of handmade crafts, art, music, dance, and all of the creative expressions from around the world. We have had the disposable income. When an economy collapses, there is barely enough for basic survival. But, even in the bleakest of times, the arts help tell the stories, help heal, and help create and maintain communities.
My messaging is this, repeated from above:
“The power of the purse is the ability of one group to control the actions of another group by withholding funding, or putting stipulations on the use of funds.” (Google)
On February 28th we had our first boycott under Trump. I don’t know how it went, but the goal was to stop all funds to the big tech guys, the big box stores and any business who has agreed to get rid of their diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. There are many other boycotts lined up for the next few months. I know that it will be impossible for me to pull out of everything I use that has lined up with Trump, but we can all do our best. Let’s be conscious of the power of our money.
If you have disposable income, support the organizations that are working to keep our civil liberties, shop at Mom and Pop stores, visit local businesses, and know that when you buy art or attend a play or go hear some live music, you are helping our creatives shape our communities into places worth keeping.
follow some young rebels!
I recently learned about Seth Staton Watkins and find his spirit contagious!
Lyrics:
A seat forged from echoes of falsehoods and lies, The law bends and breaks as the ruler decides No throne, yet he’d reign with a scepter and pen, The people subject to the will of one man
Cause nowhere is safe in this world of change, Consent is manufactured through bigotry and rage, So billionaires and fascists can rule without a fight, But their will can be broken if the people unite
An Empire built on the backs of the poor, Centuries of suffering as the profit margins soar Through violent submission and million-dollar bribes Our government sold out to private enterprise
Cause nowhere is safe in this world of change, Consent is manufactured through bigotry and rage, So billionaires and fascists can rule without a fight, But their will can be broken if the people unite
Through christo-fascist fantasies of race and purity They condition the people to scorn humanity We abandon Ukrayina to the Russian advance While we arm the Israelis as they burn the Levant
Cause nowhere is safe in this world of change, Consent is manufactured through bigotry and rage, So billionaires and fascists can rule without a fight, But their will can be broken if the people unite
We need more than hope; we need people to rise, No more denial, or political lies In the wreckage and ruin, the truth starts to show, Our choices have led us to this world of woe
Cause nowhere is safe in this world of change, Consent is manufactured through bigotry and rage, So billionaires and fascists can rule without a fight, But their will can be broken if the people unite
two outcomes for us in the United States
sit back and watch it all fall down
or
participate and lift up your voice
per aspera ad astra!
connect to your local community
meet with friends
laugh, sing, dance, and make art!
spend time outside
volunteer somewhere
always separate governments from their people. There is resistance to injustice everywhere.
This is all stuff we should be doing anyhow, but because so many of us are in shock and feeling helpless and hopeless, we are shrinking into ourselves. Stop reaching for the stars and they win!
Another favorite young rebel, Nick Shoulders:
If you are a creative who believes in supporting diversity, equity and inclusion and also care about the environment, join our sister site, Creative PlaceMakers! Stand up and be seen on our map. Share it with your friends. It’s one way that we can show resistance to what is happening now and we do it through our creative assets, our strengths in building and our joy of sharing this planet with all of its people, creatures and plants.
“At 7:00 PM on 23 August 1989, approximately two million people from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania joined hands, forming a human chain from Tallinn through Riga to Vilnius, spanning 675 kilometres, or 420 miles. It was a peaceful protest against the illegal Soviet occupation and also one of the earliest and longest unbroken human chains in history.
It’s an amazing story about nonviolence and organizing three countries in a simple show of defiance.” Learn more.
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