The Safety Illusion

Life as a social and political activist has taught me many things.

One thing I have come to believe is that the idea of Security and Safety is just another problem of perception.

You will be protected by brute force as long as you do as you are told, AND are lucky enough to always be in the right place at the right time. If those things do not define you, my advice is to have a plan and get some skills.
Don't wait for something fucked up to happen before you do this.

Adopt a Security Culture

What behavior theatens security? This is something to be aware of personally and interpersonally. We must learn to See the Seeds of Violence, and do not allow them to flower. In the mass protest arena, this is something that is likely to erupt, as facing the violence of the police culture is exactly what you are organizing to do. In the family or community relationship it can be much more difficult to get clear on. Emotion is high, but the stakes are different.

Know what behaviors will compromise security and be responsible for educating anyone who acts in a way that violates or threatens security. When all members of a group understand security and correct mistakes, unsecure behavior becomes unacceptable and will stop. Dealing with infiltrators will be much easier when the collective voice is in harmony.

People who gossip, egotistically rant, project or ask for unnecessary information about activities are a severe danger to temproray autonomous zones and the anarchist ideal of security. If this happens, this person can be taken aside and gently educated in private about what danger their behavior brings.

Be careful not to preach, injure pride, or raise defensiveness, this will likely keep them from being able to accept your well meaning advise. Likewise, if someone comes to you about a behavior you have that was disruptive, disturbing, or offensive, listen to their concerns! Perhaps it's time to check yourself! We are all here to learn from each other. We must be willing to accept others for their best behavior and trust them to do the same for us.

I want to find those people who I know and trust enough to feel safe with.
They are everywhere, everyone.



"When you perceive some distance between you and what you observe, do notice in this distance the lack of love, and know that, without love, however hard you'd try to reformulate the world, to set a new social order, or to talk about progress, you will create only conflicts. All this is between your hands. »
-j. Krishnamurti