 Chicago’s
Allium Collective is a group of five named after the family of plants
containing garlic, onions, and shallots. The collective members choose
this name because, as one member said, referring to both the plants and
the collective – while the others groaned– that, “they
are stinky, and good for you!” In 2006 and 2007 the crew held month-long
electricity fasts from mid-March to mid-April. They completely stopped
using electricity in their home for the duration of the fast. Their first
electricity fast was marked as a protest against the Iraq war. Members
stopped using electricity in their home for one month in solidarity with
Iraqi civilians who were experiencing forced energy blackouts. Members
stood in front of the Water Tower Place, a high-end shopping mall, handing
out information about US sanctions against Iraq and the war every day
of the month long fast. This year the city of Chicago sponsored the fast;
members of the collective had taken a course in environmental stewardship
offered by the Chicago Conservation Corps. This class requires graduates
to perform a public service project around environmental issues. For their
public service project, they chose to repeat their fast, still with an
anti-war sentiment, but now with the added element of energy conservation.
The group created a fact sheet about Illinois energy production, consumption,
and a pledge asking those who signed it to commit to using less electricity.
Members then canvassed the city talking to people about the fast and the
environmental issues related to the over-consumption of energy. They received
energy-efficient light bulbs from the city of Chicago, which they gave
to those who pledged to reduce their electricity consumption. The group
makes sure you know where your electrical power is coming from before
you walk away, which in Chicago is either from coal or nuclear power.
Having done the fast for two years, collective members find that taking
one month off from electricity carries over into the rest of the year.
In an interview at the collective house, all commented on how they no
longer automatically reach for the light switch when they walk into a
room. Year round there is a timer on their refrigerator turning it off
from the late evening until the morning. They also commented on how relaxing
it was to have the day end when the sun went down and not artificially
extended by electrical lights and entertainment. The collective hopes
to activate the larger network of political, environmental, social, and
ethical activities, bringing together concerns that are often kept separate
in activist communities. They see potential for greater change in the
world with collective support for each other and from these different
communities. More information:
www.alliumcollective.org |
