Ep 19: Transforming Solidarity

This episode explores our current global moment including the
Black Lives Matter movement, and the topic of solidarity,
relationality, and transformation. How can messy solidarities
recalibrate towards more meaningful relations? I reflect on how
dilemmas of 'not being heard' can hinder the potential for
creating better relationships. I explore alternative ways of
thinking about connection and similarity that does not undermine
the importance of difference. Exploring the possibilities of
holding complex understandings at the same time, what is the
transformational possibility of this moment? I conclude by
offering a lens to understand individual, communal, and societal
transformation through Mayan and Tongan concepts of Zero.


Topics: Solidarity, Relationality, Racism, Black Lives Matter,
Tongan Noa and Mayan Waix (Zero). 


Terms: Racism (System of power that produces inequity across
racialised constructions of groups of people, which is supported
by ideas that assume behaviours or characteristics of people can
be determined by arbitrary phenotypically visible differences
such as skin colour, hair texture, or eye shape), Mana
(potency/honour), Tapu (protections), Noa
(balance/neutralization), Waix/Taj (equilibrium/zero).