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Friends,
We’re beyond resistance, aren’t we?
We need ideas which are not just radical or “revolutionary.” We need ideas, feelings, and actions that work on many levels; that are systemic; that have multiple potentials for realization, and have enough points of articulation that they can touch on their own fabric and maneuver to witness themselves.

And what better place to start then the ground beneath your feet: where you live?

After all, you see the place you live every day. It’s entered you as a daily language of patterns. It’s become a set of expectations for your feet as you move through the morning. It lives in your lungs and gives your eyes nourishment. And I’m sure it also frustrates you sometimes, makes you feel blocked and angry. You might feel threatened there or bored. But I hope you also find joy, surprise, and feel held by where you live, greeted by each of its days.

When my friend and collaborator – the artist, organizer, and journalist UNA MULLALLY -released her new 10-part podcast series SAVING THE CITY , I found in it a perfect representation of that transformative ideal we need. Through interviews, recording in multiple locations across Dublin, reflections, and suggestions for exercises, she covers everything from beautification of cities to crime; housing crises to how trees and animals fit into cites; pubic spaces to water ways, and more.

Una and her interviewees identify problems yes, but their real direction, and the real indication of the show is towards effort: effort to stimulate and nourish the good, and even, when we can, to create it.

I also knew that Una and I had different ideas of what we wanted from cities. I like cars, I have trouble with a lot of bigger cities that Una loves. I even like an area of Dublin that Una has… let’s say, different feelings about. But this is exactly right for transformation of a place- discussing with your neighbors what you want, what your concerns are, but most importantly what would bring you joy, piece of mind, excitement, potential, opportunity in the city

This is a long episode, and like a city, it encourages a sort of wandering. Stop along the way any time you want, think about how it will apply to where you live.

Even if it’s not a city – or if you don’t ever want to live in a city – think about what it isthat you like about living where you live, and how you’ll be able to connect with your neighbors to improve it with them for you, for them, for everyone.

And be sure to listen to Una’s show. At the end of every episode of Saving the City, she offers five big ideas to mull over.

So this episode and her show give springboard after springboard for you to think about where you live, what you want, and how to meet the others.

I’m so excited to offer this long episode and its alleys, avenues, and surprises.

SHOW NOTES

The last time Una was on the show was AEWCH 258 – a recording of out live event – THE BEGINNING IS NEAR – with other two other frequent AEWCH guests: philosopher and activist SREĆKO HORVAT, and cultural critic and writer MARK O’CONNELL.

A few supplemental books for this episode:

• A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction by Christopher Alexander
• Times Square Red, Times Square Blueby Samuel Delaney
• Infrastructure: A Guide to the Industrial Landscapeby Brian Hayes
• The Death and Life of Great American Citiesby Jane Jacobs
• And if you can find it, Policing Public Sex: Queer Politics and the Future of AIDS Activism edited by Dangerous Bedfellows