Machine-generated humans standing on the barricades

1. SABOTAGE

We never called it sabotage. It was more a matter of liberation. Nor did we really put up much resistance. A few wires. A couple of rails. A little salt in the machine's tank. We dug up a dam and let the water out. We disarmed some logging machines. We poured a few buckets of water crystals into the tank. We threw some paint on the ancient stones. We glued ourselves to the highway. We painted new patterns on old paintings. We stood in the way when the dictator was coming for a state visit. It was enough. The movement grew. The old men and women in the cottages understood that we were doing the right thing, even though they lost a lot of money. All over the earth, the machines began to break down. We never belonged to Les Soulèvements de la Terre. We were never ELFs. We just did what we needed to do. We disarmed their ideas. We destroyed their images. We broke down their preconceptions. We never had time to read 'How to Blow Up a Pipeline' by Andreas Malm, because we had already started sawing. We could not stand it for long. We saw how they destroyed what belonged to all of us. Therefore, we also simply just started digging where we stood. The rest is history. It started with those who were already on our side. But then the others also realized that there was no longer any economic sense in investing in what would break down anyway. After that, they built no more factories. The oil was left in the ground. The forest was allowed to stand. The water was allowed to flow freely. Sure, they sent police and military after us. They beat us. They imprisoned us. But we were like mushrooms. We popped up everywhere. It could not be stopped. We could not be silenced. We spread underground. We popped up everywhere. A single individual can cause big problems. Their systems are weak, cowardly, and fragile. They invest some in security. That is true. But we had nothing to lose. Furthermore, we had many adults on our side. They supported us in silence. Paid our fines. Bought new pliers. Shuttled us to the trains. Occasionally, someone tag along. They rarely came back. But they understood that what we did was important. We were probably partly inspired by all those organizations that stood up for the environment and the climate, Fridays for Future, Extinction Rebellion, Sunrise Movement, Earth Liberation Front, Scientists Rebellion, Last Generation, Greenpeace, 350dotorg, Friends of the Earth International, Rainforest Action Network, Sierra Club, Climate Justice Alliance, Ocean Conservancy, Just Stop Oil, Deep Green Resistance, Earth First!, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Amazon Watch, African Climate Alliance, A Seed Japan, Asia Pacific Adaptation Network, Act for Goa, Alternatiba, Aliança da Terra, Indigenous Environmental Network, WWF Climate Program, and Global Witness. But we had neither the time nor the desire to organize ourselves. Instead, we packed what we had into our backpacks and left.

2. DO NOT RUN

It is not possible to change the system from within. But it is possible to change systems. It was not as difficult as we thought. It was not as complicated as they said. We just stopped. And in the blink of an eye, everything was changed. But in a completely different way than we expected. Sure, we got away from a political system that was corrupt and racist. Sure, we left a system that was based on the power of the rich and governed by bought politicians. But what was established after that was something completely different from what we imagined. We got a new and better society where the political process is based on consensus, conversation, and mutual understanding. And the whole process was much simpler than we had imagined. It was just a matter of thinking a new thought. You cannot change the system from within. You cannot gain power within a system without becoming corrupt. You cannot defeat those who represent the system. You cannot persuade them without becoming like them. You cannot adapt to the system you are trying to change without being changed yourself. You have to do something new. The step was simple. Really. But on the surface, perhaps also difficult. We became refugees. We lost our position. We no longer had a nation, no place, no home. But the system we lived in was not ours anyway. It was not our state, not our country, not our laws. We held on to our principles. We ignored their rules and laws. We ignored their illusory borders, their small-minded structures, their misguided laws. We did not care about their system. In the end, they were forgotten. Now we make all political decisions together. We need no borders. The earth is our country. Everyone is free to join us. We run like wild horses. Our political system is based on consensus and infinite conversation. We talk until everyone agrees, even if it takes two generations. It has now worked for over ten, and it goes faster and faster to reach an agreement the longer we keep at it. The problems become more numerous. Or at least more nuanced. The criticism becomes clearer. The problems become more distinct. But we listen to each other and therefore we can also understand each other. It is not about compromising. It is about leaving the battle. It is about taking the step we wanted to take all along, but did not dare to.

3. LISTEN TO THE FLOWERS

We believe in communication between species. We believe that all animals and all plants can communicate and that we, if we try, can understand what they have to say. We have so far just been lazy. We long for the day when we can understand the dolphins' lullabies and the elephants' stories. We know that our role in these stories will not be particularly beautiful. But we also understand that the only way to learn is to learn from our mistakes. We lie down in the grass and listen to the trees. They speak of the future. They speak of possibilities that lie beyond our imagination. We see the pictures they paint. We listen and grow.

4. THE STONE ARCHES

We built them by hand. The first stones were the heaviest. Everyone needed to help. The stone arches became a symbol of our ability to help each other. Now they rise proudly over spruce forests, forest roads, and mountains. They are symbols of leadership without leaders. The work was very well organized. But there were no bosses and no leaders. Yet the system worked perfectly. We sing the songs that made us dare: Do not be professional. Be kind. Do not be a boss. Be a friend. Follow no leaders. Do not become a leader. It leads nowhere. I believe in the connectedness with my surroundings and with the physical world. I remember when they erected the stone arches, or just the arches as we call them. Or at least I remember my parents telling me that we were there. Now they stand there, towering. Made of natural stone, lime, and our collective strength. They must be over 200 meters high. They are symbols of the self-organization of work. They are symbols of our refusal to obey orders. They are symbols of our ability to listen to the one standing next to us. It is really not that difficult. All flocks do it, all herds, all swarms, all schools, all bands, all packs, all crowds, all colonies, all clusters, all leashes, all gangs, all states, all arrays, all cliques.

5. THE ORCA BATTLE

We swam together. We swam with each other and with the whales. Then came the hostile boats, with nets and harpoons. We knew, of course, that they would come. That was why we were there. We defended the sea with our lives. The battles became more numerous than we had anticipated. Their nets were aggressive and tough. We did not have time to organize ourselves. We never became part of those who call themselves Sea Shepherds. They were our heroes. But we did not have time to make contact. We could not afford tanks and hoses. We had no wetsuits or protection. The currents were too strong. Our breaths were too shallow. We managed to put on our masks. We dived. We saw their weak point. We destroyed their boats. We cut up their trawlers and nets. We released the catch back into the sea. The fish and all the other animals swam around in fear and joy. It was romantic and beautiful. But ill-considered and deadly. The endless depths. The blue weight of the ocean. Foam and mouths. The promises of the pillared halls. The song of the Nereids. The sun glistening on the surface. But in the heat of the moment, it was more about blood and the future. We stood eye to eye. We had long since chosen a side. They did not stand a chance. They were only out for money. It was not even about prestige. They were not chasing the white whale. They were not out for revenge. They just had to stand there on their well-equipped ships to survive. Our bare skin resisted. The songs of the whales drowned out their engines. The rain fell. The storm subsided. They finally understood that we were on the same side. The boats sank. We rode the dolphins. Poseidon rose in all his power. We saw how all the animals of the sea directed their strength in the same direction. A myriad of life entered our souls. All memories. All experiences. Our dormant DNA awoke. We laughed at the myth of the aquatic ape. The octopuses understood. The waves crashed against the cliffs. It was not a matter of political decisions. It was a matter of life or death.

6. THE COMPETITION

We cooperate. We do everything together. Not at the same time. Not in the same way. Not synchronized. Not well-timed or elegant. But well. That is enough. I no longer compete. But I remember. I remember all the competitions. School, work, politics. Most people thought there were no alternatives. But there are alternatives. We do not need to compete. You do not need to be afraid of me. I do not want you to lose. I do not want to use my assets to deprive you of yours. I do not want to exploit your weaknesses. I want us to share fairly. We can, of course, disagree, but I will never be your enemy. The thing is, when you lose, I lose too. We belong together. We have the same origin and we have the same goal. All of us. The people, the animals, the plants, the minerals, the rivers, the mountains, the seas, the clouds, the currents, and the vast weather systems.

7. THE ENDLESS CONVERSATION

We talked all night. We were many. Groups within groups. Thousand upon thousand voices. Yet it was simple. Everyone wanted it to work. We managed to look each other in the eye. The mood was calm. There was plenty of time. The atmosphere was charged. Everyone listened. Everyone spoke. We gave our consent. It took many nights. The conversations were not easy. We cried and laughed. But we never pretended. In the beginning, it was stiff and felt hopeless. But we slowly learned to listen. Now we agree. We do not believe in public elections. We do not believe in the competition of parties. We do not trust that they can stick to the truth. We believe in the endless conversation.

8. TAKEN INTO THE MOUNTAIN

We took the bad leaders into the mountain. No one would miss them anyway. We kidnapped them at night. They were allowed to get dressed. Most had expensive suits and exclusive ties. We only had our usual worn-out clothes. The point was not to steal their souls. Although that might have been what the trolls did. We were only after their power. Inside the mountain, they no longer have any power. The power they had no longer corrupts them. Inside the mountain, they are free. They are free from their tasks and their responsibility. They no longer represent anyone. They no longer defend anything. They are just themselves. The principles that made us think these actions were legitimate were crystal clear. We have the right of interpretation. It is our world we are talking about. It is not about influence. It is about self-defense. We cannot allow them to occupy our public institutions. We cannot allow them to abuse our public funds. Therefore, we do as the trolls. We take them into the mountain. It has worked every time. When we then release them, they have been transformed. The magic has done its work. They no longer grab for themselves. They see geometry and justice. They no longer enrich themselves at the expense of others. They work for the common good. There is something about the minerals and crystals that works. It is a strange approach. It must be admitted. But it works and it is incredibly effective.

9. NEO-HIPPIES

Now we can finally dance and play. The sun shines on our bodies. We run under the sheltered branches of the trees. We play in the bubbling brooks. We laugh and talk in the grass. Everything is colorful and alive. Now that the struggle is over, we finally have time to listen and sing. Now that the wars are over and the earth is no longer threatened, we can breathe a sigh of relief. We still wear the clothes and symbols that were developed in protest. They remind us of why we did what we had to do. But we have played with them and refined their qualities. Our clothes are now not just symbols. They are alive and have a will of their own. We wear fringes of recycled, self-healing bio-suede. When we walk, the fringes vibrate gently against our thighs. Our vests and pants have raw edges of cultivated leather. We wear necklaces of glass beads made from melted-down war waste. The beads are threaded on hemp cords and hang around ankles and wrists. The hems of our long sweeping pants touch the ground without wearing out because the nanotreads in the fabric repel dirt. We have heavy rings of biomimetic brass with encapsulated living algae that shift in neon green. We smell of sun-warmed pine needles and incense. Water vapor evaporates from our heavy cloaks of crushed fiber velvet. We have microscopic solar cells, in geometric patterns, on the back of our old protective jackets. We have thin blouses of cellulose and spider silk that are so sheer they merge with our skin. We have braided headbands of algae and metal with integrated biosensors. They flash and play at night when we dance. We have bracelets of bioluminescent seashells that pulse slowly as we breathe. Pieces of chromatic fiber optics are tied around our thighs. They change color depending on how we feel. We have medallions of compressed river silt that have engraved coordinates to the restored coral reefs. The light green splashes of color on our knees are living moss that we have planted there to remind us of the cracks in the cities. We have crocheted our own sweaters from mushroom mycelium that grows and adapts to the shapes of our bodies. We have feathers of synthetic and air-purifying keratin tucked into our braids. Some have long coats of regenerated wool with linings that purify the water they are dragged through. Others have rings of braided titanium that remember the shape of the fingers wearing them. Some have necklaces of polished meteorites mixed with seeds that sprout when we drop them on the ground. Many have wide wedges of color-shifting light-fabric sewn into their pant legs. A few have sensors and transmitters at their ankles that can communicate with the small animals in the grass. We wear white tunics with embroideries of glowing mushroom thread and large soft bags of cellulose-leather containing seed bombs and filters. Our shirt collars are made of living lichens. They absorb the carbon dioxide from our exhalation. We make rings that pulse in harmony with the earth's geomagnetic field. We weave coarse shawls from collected marine fishing nets. They still smell of saltwater and seaweed. We give each other buttons made of recycled space junk. They sparkle in the sun on our flowing kaftans. Now that the battle is won, we can sing and dance.

10. THERIANTHROPES

We call ourselves Therians. Scientifically, we are called therianthropes. We have masks, paws, and tails. We make them ourselves, slowly, carefully, whisker by whisker, hair by hair, eyelash by eyelash, claw by claw. We are born as two-legged humans. But sometimes we go down on all fours. It depends on what fits. We shift, as it is called. Then the animal takes over. It can happen at any time: at school, in the playground, at the public bath, at the grocery store, during sports, on the bus, everywhere. We are not adults. Many of us are in elementary and middle school. Being a Therian is not a choice. It is an realization. It comes from within. It is self-understanding. It is an awakening. When they clear-cut our forests, when they dirty our oceans and break apart our mountains, then we feel it. We cannot be the same as them. We must be something else. We are red panda cubs, ferret kits, fennec fox pups, raccoon kits, ermine kits, mouse pups, owlets, wolf pups, puppies, kittens, fox cubs, lynx kittens, bear cubs, otter pups, foals, bunny rabbits, squirrel kits, leverets, badger cubs, seal pups, eaglets, falcon chicks, fawns, moose calves, deer calves, coyote pups, coon pups, beavers, hedgehog hoglets, guinea pig pups, hamster pups, dolphin calves, and all other kinds that walk and crawl on the ground or swim in the oceans or fly in the air. We are not always on good terms. Some of us are natural enemies. But we all have one thing in common. Our experiences are no longer just human. The gaze is no longer a human's gaze. The hearing is no longer a human's hearing. We feel more than human emotions. We smell scents and taste flavors that no human has ever known. We see the world from other perspectives. And we understand what the old rich white men will never, ever understand. They think we are resisting. We are not. It is just that we no longer care about their old stupid delusions. We play and run in the forest. We explore, discover, and investigate. Our gazes meet in the playground. We see a future that they cannot see. We see our future. It is bright and beautiful. We see the forest and the rivers and the mountains. We see reality. We are already there.