Q. What is the R-word?
A. R is for revolution. Here at The R-Word we unabashedly use the R-word rather than to let it make us overly nervous on the premise that folks will think we are insurrectionaries or that we’re advocating for a violent overthrow of any government. We believe the passionate energy in the R-word is helpful, as the eco-cultural crisis we are in requires a rapid and dramatic shift in culture which, we believe, will not likely occur at the voting booth or in the halls of government/s. We call it the R-word because, like the F-word, using it can get one into some trouble. We aim to make it less troublesome to those who love people and the planet (biosphere, ecosystems, species…).
Q. What is “eco-culture”?
A. What the word means here in The R-word will depend somewhat on context, as with most words anywhere. James R. Martin generally uses the word ‘eco-culture’ as a shorthand for “ecologically wise culture,” which phrase he will soon elaborate on in an article for The R-Word. But sometimes one will hear or read of an “eco-cultural crisis” (or even emergency). In which case the author is probably simply trying to use a shorthand for saying that the crisis is simultaneously a cultural and an ecological crisis (or emergency).
Q. What is an eco-cultural revolution?
A. An eco-cultural revolution is a revolutionary movement which seeks to replace an ecologically unwise culture with an ecologically wise one. An ecologically unwise culture is a culture whose economy, means of livelihood and material culture result in the degradation of the biosphere and ecosystems and has a trajectory which leads toward ecological collapse. An ecologically wise culture is one which protects, nurtures, heals and cares for ecosystems and the biosphere, as well as all species of life. An ecologically wise culture in the present world context has a regenerative relationship to land, water, ecosystems and the biosphere as a whole.
Q. What is revolution?
A. The answer to this question will depend on who you are asking. The editors and authors at The R-Word adhere to the view that revolutions need not be, and ought not be, violent or insurrectionary. But, historically, political revolutions have been thought to depend upon violence and insurrection. So the whole point of The R-Word is to reveal a whole new way of understanding what a political revolution might be. Indeed, we’re wishing to reveal entirely new ways of understanding what politics is or may be. You will notice that we don’t have a sense of the word ‘politics’ which directs itself toward ‘the state’, governments, capitals, voting booths, political parties, legislatures, legislation, government policies…. Here at the R-Word, we’re imagining a mode and expression of revolution which largely (generally, overwhelmingly) bypasses government and governments because we see these as fused with Big Money, corporate power, the interests of billionaires, etc. We are here trying to imagine and express a new imagination of revolution and politics, one which empowers everyone to directly create the sort of world we would like to live in — an eco-culture, a culture of loving-kindness, care, dignity, respect, joy, freedom and peace.
Q. Will there be many authors publishing at The R-Word?
A. We certainly hope so! We hope to receive submissions of essays, articles, poems, songs, interviews and conversations. You can send your submissions to James at jrivermartin at gmail dot com . Please put the words “R-word submission” in the subject line of your email. And, no, we cannot pay for the articles we publish in The R-word. Sorry.
Q. Will this FAQ space be expanded upon soon, and ongoingly?
A. Yes, and it won’t be a long wait!
Who's the "we" at R-word? Who's all on the editorial team? Do you have any organizational affiliations? Any links to socials?