Trump has won. A dark shadow now looms over our collective future. So, what should we do?
First and foremost: resist. We know it might sound old-fashioned, or even strange, but hard times are ahead. Domestically, wherever you live, the extreme right will feel emboldened, and rights we take for granted—the freedom to speak, to be ourselves, to love whom we choose—may diminish. Globally, those who are suffering—Ukrainians, Palestinians, Uyghurs, women in Iran and Afghanistan, and more—may find themselves abandoned or increasingly targeted. Global institutions, like the United Nations, will have even fewer funds to preserve peace and avoid the worst consequences for humanity. But what does resistance mean in practice? We must refuse to accept xenophobia, sexism, racism, or any similar behavior in our daily lives, even from friends and even if disguised as a joke. Avoid supporting, working for, or investing in companies that fuel global oppression—those that continue operations in Russia, that sell arms or goods to Israel, or that exploit labor in countries like China.
Second: break the cycle. It’s time to acknowledge that the world is changing, and to support those who actively work to shape a better future rather than selling a nostalgic vision of a past long gone. We must leave behind stale ideologies: no, the aggressive policies of Russia and China are not supposedely responses to "American imperialism"; they are the standard playbook of brutal dictatorships. And no, the West cannot continue to be hypocritical just because its values are preferable to the opposing bloc; it has no moral future if it permits atrocities, like the deaths of thousands of children under its bombs in Gaza.And finally, don’t fall into the oldest trap—rallying around those who insist you should identify only with people who look and sound like you. "Fortress Europe," "One India," the "Arab League"—enough. For thousands of years, humans have repeated the same cycle, grouping by skin color, geography, or religion, and going on to massacre each other. Instead, support people or groups who uphold real values—those who fight for freedom, justice, openness, and equality, regardless of which group is suffering under unjust policies. Support those who stand up for minorities even when it’s inconvenient, who are willing to sacrifice a bit of their own wealth to help others, who fight for Ukraine and Palestine alike. It’s time for us - people from all over the world, from Kenya to India, from France to Brazil, to work to build a new global alternative, an order built upon the protection and promotion of individual and collective freedoms, basic human values, and equity.
Third: get political. When fascism is at the door, staying silent is the worst choice. History shows this time and again. If you had lived in the early 1930s Germany, would you have been the banker lending money to the Nazis or the student protesting to oppose Hitler’s rise to power? If in the past year, you haven’t spoken out against genocidal abuses, joined a protest, or supported a candidate or cause that upholds basic human values, then you’re likely acting like that German banker. Today can be your wake-up call. No matter who you are or how busy you may be, you can spare 30 minutes a week to advocate for openness, justice, and hope. Yes, it might feel uncomfortable. Yes, it might hurt business at times. And yes, you may lose a friend or two or ten. But think about those at the receiving end of oppression, harassment, or violence because of who they are—and get over yourself. Unlike that student, you are probably not risking much by speaking up. If you are not acting, you are collaborating.
We’re doing our part through our own political organization, but this is not a promotional post. Join other like-minded groups, or build your own. But don’t stay idle—the tide has changed, and now is the time to row together.
Here you can find our statement on social media: Instagram, Linkedin, Facebook, TikTok, Telegram, Whatsapp, X/Twitter
Andrea Venzon (he/him)
Co-Founder
Atlas
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