Here is the NIGHT 8 thing I wrote for Chanukah this year (don’t worry, I know Chanukah is technically over, mostly because on NIGHT 1 I wrote on the topic ‘When is Chanukah?’). This just took me longer to edit. Yes, this one is a story about stories. Of course, as soon as I finished, I had something like 8 more great concepts pop into my head, like a pop-punk styled Macabee persona lyric or a Rock My Ages Chanukkah love song, but those can stay seeds to sow for next year.
NIGHT 8: 8 Solarpunk Chanukah Stories
People see Many different things In Chanukah Where some see Just a fancy candelabra Others get more out of the phenomena With the scent of melted wax and fried food for a dedication And yet others celebrate in some other incarnation Me? I see something different I see the future ever nearer I’ll share with you Show you what I see here-er If you stare at a menorah on the last night with eight candles lit And tilt your head with the Menorah longways with a smile and squint With all of the tips of the flames aligned, like through a barrel you’ll see it Between the burning blues and flickering fringe-whites, bright and kaleidoscopic You can make out each orangish glow as eight mini-sunlights As a series of bold solar flares luminating bright And in those each, deeper, a mosaic of allegories I see heroes in a series of solarpunk Chanukah stories They come together at chunks Go a different way at others But first I should explain, what's Solarpunk? It's a genre of story about the future An entire world of worlds where the world saves the world How the future might look if we faced challenges facing the whole earth Actually facing and solving for equity, sustainability, climate, and pollution A genre Indigenous Future-, Afrofuturism- Hopeful Sci-Fi- influenced Because the original story of Hanukah is one of overcoming an oppressor You'll see that's a part of my stories that ties them all together “Antiochus, King of Syria” rhymes with “Antagonist, King of Assimilation” - our villain And so it's here we begin:
Not far away in the future, on an earth not unlike ours, there stands a Great Community that connects all communities. Outside of that future, is the wicked force named Antagonist, King of Assimilation who does not like anyone who lives in ways that don't serve his present, so he goes around the world forcing self-serving systems on places he claims.
When Antagonist and his army invade a community to claim it for himself, he decrees only his future can be followed. He makes everyone give up their personal customs and cultures and follow his dark path instead. He also commands that all the living things under the sun have their old centers of community, their spiritual, nurturing, communal, sustaining energy centers, be converted or destroyed, including the Great Community that connects all communities. And those who refuse to follow King Antagonist's commands are severely punished.
Some pollinators lose their lives and livelihoods from King Antagonist’s forces' storming attacks, but others are not only lucky enough but also brave enough to resist and fight back. Judy MacaBee is one such bee. Judy and her siblings are strong bumbles who form a squad of their own to fight Antagonist and their forces
Some grid transformers lose their lives and livelihoods trying to transition the grid to sustainable sources against King Antagonist’s sustained attacks, but others are not only lucky but also brave enough to resist and fight back. Justus MacaGreen is one such grid-coordinator. Justus and their colleagues are strong engineers who form a project team to fight Antagonist and his forces.
Some trees lose their lives and livelihoods against King Antagonist the intense heat he puts on them from his invading armies, but others are not only lucky enough but also brave enough to resist and fight back. Jud MacaTree is one such tree. Jud and their leafy friends use their strong and deep rooted connections forming a forest of their own to fight Antagonist and their forces.
Some solar installers lose their lives and livelihoods abandoning projects interconnecting solar to the grid against King Antagonist attacks, but others are not only lucky enough but brave enough to resist and fight back. Joule MacaLeaf is one such installer. Joule and their developer partners are strong developers who form an interconnection team to fight Antagonist and his forces.
Some coral reefs lose their lives and livelihoods bleaching bone-white in the face of King Antagonist’s trauma structures spreading, but others are not only lucky enough but also brave enough to resist and fight back. Julia MacaReef is one such coral. Julia and her coral comrades are strong creatures who form a diverse superstructure reef team to fight Antagonist and his forces.
Some wind turbine technicians lose their lives and livelihoods and permits and in the face of King Antagonist’s evil fueling, but others are not only lucky enough but also brave enough to resist and fight back. Jude MacaBreeze is one such technician. Jude and her planning group are strong strategists who form a cross-vertical unit to fight Antagonist and his forces.
Some composters lose their lives and livelihoods malfunctioning in the waves of unchecked consumption King Antagonist pushes, but others are not only lucky enough but also brave enough to resist and fight back. Julius MacaBean is one such composter. Julius and their upcyclers are strong restorationists who form a contingent to fight Antagonist and his forces.
Some safe-transit crews lose their lives and livelihoods along paths in the driving way King Antagonist tries to take us back, but others are not only lucky enough but also brave enough to resist and fight back. Judas MacEV is one such transitioner. Judas and his electric transit team are strong sustainable travelers who form a mobilization to fight Antagonist and his forces.
Although they’re all greatly outnumbered by King Antagonist and his Assimilating storming forces, the MacaBees / MacaGreens / MacaTrees / MacaLeaves / MacaReefs / MacaBreezes / MacaBeans / MacEVs fight the Antagonist’s Assimilating army with all their might. With a miracle and the strength that only comes from fighting for a future you’re dedicated towards, Judy / Justus / Jud / Joule / Julia / Jude / Julius / Judas defeat Antagonist and his forces and triumphantly reclaim their communities.
However, when the bees re-enter the grand hive for the first time, they’re shocked to see it in shambles from the storming forces. The golden honeycombs are all tarnished, the waxed floors all cracked, and there’s no pollen or honey to be found. They begin cleaning the hive, removing every sign and symbol of the beliefs that had been forced upon them by their invaders. As they work, they find a small container of pollen. They all know the little pollen they have is only enough to direct them to find more for one night, but then a miracle takes place: instead of going away, the energy keeps coming. They dance and dance, they waggle and travel for eight (bee) days and nights until they find more pollen on their flight. And this way the MacaBees know the future is there for them.
However, when the grid transformers re-enter the distributed grid resiliency center for the first time, they’re shocked to see it in shambles from the storming forces. The golden wires are all cut, the kinetic floors all cracked, and there’s no watt of electricity to be found. They begin cleaning the center by light of sun, removing every sign and symbol of the beliefs that had been forced upon them by their invaders. As they work, they find a small still-charged battery. They all know the kiloWatt hours available are only enough to power them for one night, but then a miracle takes place: instead of shutting down after a day, the energy keeps flowing. And this way the MacaGreens know the future is there for them.
However, when the trees re-enter the old growth deep woods for the first time, they’re shocked to see it’s been raized into a clearing. The golden sunlight is faded, the peatbog ground is all caked, and there’s no fertile soil to plant the eight saplings needed to seed the old home anew. They begin cleaning the clearing, removing every sign and symbol of the ways that had been forced upon them by their invaders. As they work, they found a small patch of nutrients. They all know the little nutrient rich soil they had would only be enough for one night, but then a miracle takes place: instead of withering, the saplings keep growing and growing. They grow for eight (tree) days and eight nights. And this way the MacaTrees know the future is there for them.
However, when the solar installers enter the solar corridor for the first time, they’re shocked to see it in shatters. The golden silicon cells are all scratched, the solarized floors all cracked, and there’s no inverter device to be found. They begin cleaning the place, removing every sign and symbol of the beliefs that had been forced upon them by their invaders. As they work, they find a small solar panel. They all know the little panel they have is only enough to light the place for more than one night, but then a miracle takes place: they live efficiently within the supply of solar they receive, until they can ramp towards night and save enough to keep the lights on, for eight whole days and nights. And this way the MacaLeaves know the future is there for them.
However, when the coral re-enter the old reef for the first time, they’re shocked to see it in shambles. The golden symbioses are all unlinked, the seafloors all bleached, and there’s no microorganisms to help rehabitat found. They begin cleaning the reef, removing every sign and symbol of the beliefs that had been forced upon them by their invaders. As they work, they find a small amount of algae. They all know the little algae they have is only enough to thrive for one night, but then a miracle takes place: instead of die-offs ongoing, the coral reef keeps growing for eight (coral) days and nights. And this way the MacaReefs know the future is there for them.
However, when the technicians re-enter the windfarm site for the first time, they’re shocked to see it’s sorry state. The golden switchbox is busted, the underground transmission lines dug out, and there’s no breeze around. They begin cleaning the hive, removing every sign and symbol of the beliefs that had been forced upon them by their invaders. As they work, they catch a small lilt in the air. They all know the little wind they have is only enough to generate energy for one night, but then a miracle takes place: instead of dying down, the wind picks up and blows for eight days and eight nights. And this way the MacaBreeezes know the future is there for them.
However, when the composters re-enter the upcycling library for the first time they’re shocked to see it’s a dump. The golden trash that was actually treasure was trashed, the scores of sorted piles on the floors were all over the floors, and there’s no compost worms to be found. They begin cleaning the library, removing every sign and symbol of the beliefs that had been forced upon them by their invaders. As they work, they find a small container of worms. They all know the little worms they have are only enough to reclaim material for one night, but then a miracle takes place: instead of wiggling away away, the worms keep helping. They aerate organic matter for eight (worms) days and nights. And this way the MacaBeans and the worms know the future is there for them.
However, when the safe-transit crew re-enters the garage for the first time, they’re shocked to find it a wrecked mess. The golden electric chargers are all disconnected, the walking and cycling paths all covered-up, and there’s no backup renewables on grid standby. They begin cleaning the garage, removing every sign and symbol of the beliefs that had been forced upon them by their invaders. As they work, they find a small interconnection port to a nearby microgrid. They all know the little line they have is only enough to share enough renewable energy for one night, but then a miracle takes place: instead, the renewable energy inside flows for eight days and nights. And this way the MacEVs know the future is there for them.'
So now you see what I see Many heroes and communities Of many intersecting identities In just eight simple facsimiles Aligned in light and shadow twisting together Like the way our tale to ancestors comes together How we tell tales of courage and miracles today Could be the folktales that are told of us all one day Each telling connects to so many, through every incarnation Through melted wax Menorah wicks, and eight heroic luminescent dedications Our ongoing solarpunk hero stories a growing phenomena Not just found in some fancy candelabra But now found in you, where you now see Giving and Renewable Light In Chanukah Like me.
— Adam Powers. Happy Chanukah + everything else you’ve got going on. I hope whatever/however you celebrate (or not!), your winter season stays bright and giving.