The Five Strand Activism Model
Beyond Single Issue Activism
Wisdom In Nature articulates and draws inspiration from a five strand activism model.
This provides a framework for dialogue, reflection and action. The five strands weave together a range of supporting values into a more coherent whole.
Four of the five strands comprise an intention for two supporting movements:
A movement
away from
and a movement
towards
Our intention, thus, is to facilitate a movement away from states, processes, and paradigms that contribute to degradation of the social and wider ecology;
And move towards ones that are nurturing, wholesome, in alignment with our natural order (fitrah), and that help restore ecological balance (mizan).
The four strands are underpinned by the fifth strand, the concept of Engaged Surrender.
‘The five strand activism model is a holistic framework for co-creating:
Conscious, just, autonomous, regenerative communities;
and
Integrating land, people and economy’
The five strands are summarised in the (provisionally worded) table below.
The Five Strands explained
Earth & Community
Away from corporate domination and consumerism;
Towards simplicity, sharing and a deeper connection to the earth & its diverse communities.
Deep Democracy
Away from concentration of power amongst the rich and privileged;
Towards more equalisation of power that honours diversity, draws out consensus and creativity, and empowers all.
Whole Economics
Away from monetary systems disconnected from real value and embedded in usury;
Towards just economic systems nurturing to life, soul and community.
Climate Justice
Away from dependence on fossil fuels;
Towards non-polluting energy, needs above profit, and socially just solutions.
Engaged Surrender
The above four interconnected strands are underpinned by a nonviolent, process-oriented activism, expressed through a contemplative dimension within the framework of Islam (Surrender to the underlying Unity or Oneness).