Solarpunk

[@agitball1355]

I like solarpunk but the art aspect could show more diversity in bioregions. More desert and winter solarpunk

[@optimisticfuturist]

So true I'd love to see that! Thanks for the idea

[@keturri]

yup! it's difficult to imagine solarpunk greenery in my area where it is cold and gray for more than half a year

[@RealBradMiller]

​@@keturriThink Skyrim! In the desert, think eco air conditioners, using underground water, high towers for air exchange. In the cold areas, lots of wind breaks, warm areas, warm colors, deep holes for storage and shelter.. but I agree. Gonna work on it. It is immeasurably cold, and immensely hot here... Exaggerated of course... 😂

[@thedappermagician6905]

​@@keturriHonestly I see this as caves, hobbit holes, hot springs, and mirrors that use water and snow to magnify the light in a particular area.

[@trendy4tmrw]

As a 27 year old Black woman in an urban US environment, solar punk has been giving me so much inspiration. The book ‘ A Psalm for the Wild-Built’ was a recent fav of mine ☀️

[@ribbrascal]

As a White male in an urban Hispanic US, solarpunk has been giving me so much inspiration. I basically live in an economically depressed trashy rundown Mexican city in Socal. For 3 more weeks only.

[@KarlSnarks]

Yeah as I understand it, lunarpunk is more focused on the more spiritual, contemplative, and artistic side of the same kind of society as solarpunk. It also embraces technologies like bio-mimicry (especially of night creatures, or bio-luminescence to light up the night), nightlife and artistic expression in a solarpunk world, space travel, exploring identity and maybe even sustainable transhumanism, and like how plants are really central to solarpunk aesthetics, fungi play a big role in lunarpunk aesthetics. Both solar- and lunarpunk imagine the same kind of world, but imagine different aspects of it.

[@MrJelllyo]

I'll also add that there is an aspect to lunarpunk in regards to technology. More or less the idea is that those who push for a better and brighter world should be ready to 'hide in the night' with cryptography from those who do not want to see change and would like to continue current oppressive systems. To build a better world, but do so from the shadows so to ensure the progress isn't stamped out - so in this way lunarpunks are not quite as blindly optimistic. Hope that makes sense.

[@optimisticfuturist]

That's an incredible idea, subversive underground revolution in the night, love it!

[@MrJelllyo]

@@optimisticfuturist This is a really well done video you may enjoy that taps into this idea from blockchain POV and is where I first heard of Lunarpunk: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3KWio2MebqBa9U.

[@KarlSnarks]

@@MrJelllyo Nicely said, and makes a lot of sense combining those ideas with the nightly aesthetics. The whole revolt from the shadows by those on the margins of society almost puts a pinch of cyberpunk back into the mix without the same cynicism.

[@optimisticfuturist]

@@MrJelllyo that is an extremely well done video, super interesting ideas and whilst I may disagree with the core premise of both genres & movements being centrally based around crypto & digital security it does bring up some fascinating points

[@KumaBones]

A key part of my favorite "solar punk" or optimist futuristic themes, is that they embrace the reality that we will still need to contend with life and death for the sake of our survival and prosperity. It's still a part of their every day lives, and they accept it instead of trying to hide from it or sanitize it behind a facade that looks pretty. The reason this is important, is because it reminds us that life is sacred. It reminds us to appreciate the beauty of what we have. That to cherish peace, we shouldn't forget the reality of death, our struggles, and sacrifices. That's why human autonomy matters, and ethical, efficient, and renewable resources are important. An example of what I mean, is the surface world of "made in abyss" while it's not exactly "solar punk" I do see it as an optimistic futurist theme. The people there work harmoniously together, because they're fairly familiar with the reality and gravity of death. So they don't squander anything, and they value the richness of life.

[@KM-wb1gr]

To those able and curious at the notion. I have recently started talking to a few of my friends about embracing and building a Solarpunk community. A commune actually. We are thinking about buying a plot of land 30-40 acres and designing out a full-blown community that embraces technology and healthy ecological practices. I believe the best course of action is to build out a financial REIT, for those not familiar it's a real estate investment trust, and have all members invest into it. If this interests anyone, please like or comment and with enough people that are interested, I will start a discord for discussions. For consideration, I am not advocating for cutting completely off from society but simply to become a beacon of what is possible. If you are tired of just hoping and wishing for a brighter future and instead want to truly build it, I would love to hear from you!

[@optimisticfuturist]

6 months on, how'd it go?

[@KM-wb1gr]

@@optimisticfuturist Nobody has been willing to take the leap yet. On the plus side I have created a company that is the very embodiment of solarpunk ideals. I'm not giving up on this as I believe it really is a great middle ground for moving forward.

[@Bebop8ubby]

Can you send in more info like a website or social media? It's hard to join something that might seem a bit vague without further information.

[@IAsimov]

I have been fascinated by this current lately. As big as I am on space operas, speculative fiction IS one of the things that greatly inspires real-life advances. I'll need to write of this current. You've earned my sub, mate.

[@optimisticfuturist]

Thanks, glad I could expand on the genre & movement! 😄

[@rociobarrionuevo5170]

this is the future i wanna live in. this is the future i wanna my childs to see and live in. this is the future i want for everyone

[@rmt3589]

I just discovered solarpunk today, and while I don't agree with the whole, there's definitely parts I like. But I digress, as my interest in this is worldbuilding, not politics. There's a lot of aspects of solarpunk that I think will help with a world I'm building. Kind of a fusion of cyberpunk and solarpunk. The concept is like a cyberpunk dense world, but ancient. Mostly run by an electricity-like magic system, is like how a lot of mythology describes ancient advanced civilizations, with more ancient creatures largely based on the colorful realistic dinosaur depictions. While an economy and well established theocracy will be in place in most cities, things like gorilla gardening and resource sharing, at least at a baseline, will be in place. Definitely social hierarchies, but the "lower" class being practically the same as non-diety upper class, with skill being what separates them.

[@dfsfsdfd]

1:15 I can't recall the source, but there was an old science fiction story where the guy was a programmer and was at some colony that was overtaken by solarpunk rebels, though they weren't called as such. I do remember he dreamed in code one night but it was a really high level language, "move left foot forward," that kind of thing. IIRC he tries to get into the local network so he can access the internet, but they only had dial-up modems. Somehow he ends up speaking to a rebel faction and they ask the password, he blurts out "Maple Syrup" and that becomes his nickname. The reason I say it's solarpunk is because at the end he reprogrammed the factory to churn out ships that could power themselves and were floating self-sustaining green habitats for people. I believe it was published in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine.

[@JimCosta-sy8os]

This is great stuff with some amazing minds at work. I'm on board with it all. Thank you for sharing!

[@ryanhasmanners9997]

So glad I found this, always been a massive fan of optimistic futurism

[@optimisticfuturist]

Glad to hear there's more of us 😄

[@nickwest1305]

One thing you should address is mining. If you want to create a solar punk future, your going to need a lot of raw materials to do that in the first place, such as copper, silicon, cobalt, nickel, and lithium. That’s a lot of mining that needs to happen. Nuclear power can pretty much provide all the benefits you talk about. Pretty much unlimited clean power if five right

[@nickwest1305]

Meant to say if done right

[@optimisticfuturist]

True, nuclear is a decent option. However unlike wind, solar & hydro there are pretty hectic waste products produced by nuclear which aren't currently recycled or properly handled in an acceptable way imho. The issue of mining raw materials isn't one I have seen a good resolution for, hopefully by focusing on recycling and reusing rather than planned obsolescence & hyper consumerism the mining of raw materials would be greatly diminished, but realistically there isn't a nice way to handle this issue 🫠

[@Alex-fu3mi]

not a silver bullet by any means, but I'm pretty sure just about every solarpunk future is a degrowth future as well.

[@optimisticfuturist]

100% post scarcity & regrowth basically go hand in hand, go call out

[@ribbrascal]

​@@optimisticfuturistYou can't recycle solar cells, they are poisonous environmental waste. Wind farms massacre birds in the thousands. Hydro also has environmental consequences for ecosystems.

[@natanliber9592]

You king! Subscribed and hope to see your channel grow and thrive! Either way, continue spreading those revolutionary ideas. It plays an important role in the war of ideas

[@optimisticfuturist]

Thanks!

[@andrewchoi5808]

Make earth humanity nature wildlife environment biodiversity cities towns and countries 100% strong smart bright green renewable ageless beautiful eco friendly sustainable solarpunk immortal utopian resilient peaceful safer healthier anachronistic future

[@optimisticfuturist]

All the things 😄

[@leonbus1716]

This is a good video

[@Jay-pj5tg]

3:05 ideology. If you came here looking for worldbuilding tips/details this is a good place to start 3:52 wgat it opposes good for trying to imagine why the world has become the way it is

[@maxgronros6728]

Thats why i like superman, Hope Also why im growing to love solarpunk

[@Skoda130]

Corporate psychopaths will never allow something like this to happen.

[@rinnin]

Great concise summary. Thank you 🙏🌍🌱

[@optimisticfuturist]

Thanks!

[@calvenknox8552]

I am an optimist. That being said, I know we can't accomplish things through hopes and dreams alone. It's great foundation, but you have to build beyond that. One of the problems I have with solarpunk as an ideology and practice are the same that I have with the mainstream environmentalist movement. No matter how well intentioned, it seems to miss the mark by promoting non solutions instead of inventing real ones. A great example would be the promotion of solar ovens over conventional forms of ovens, or alternative ovens that use the same concepts with a more sustainable source. Using hydrogen instead of propane as an example. Short version of not liking solar ovens is that they wouldn't work for a not unsubstantial part of humanity. Those that live in places where it's dark often come to mind, in northern Canada, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Russia, Siberia, etc. That's one example. The other has to do with what seems to be a tendency towards not having an organization at all and falling flat because of it. No one here likes hierarchies in any form, but there is a reason they continue to stick around despite everyone's dislike of them. They work. In a horrible way, yes, but they make things happen. Someone will have to come up with a non exploitive group structure or community structure that can actually work. I'm sure this has already happened, I just haven't found it. Other then those, it's near perfect. I'd want more space travel as a personal thing, the near infinite resources out there and inability to pollute a rock with no atmosphere let's current modern technologies fall into a solarpunk mindset very well. I think many solarpunks would go along with that if it wasn't a capitalist venture. Until then though, and for technology on any world or habitat containing life, we'll need some very creative solutions in recycling, energy production, production of construction material, transportation, infrastructure. We'll make the future a good place to live. But we need to be more creative and create legitimate alternative to current systems for it to be that way.

[@optimisticfuturist]

I agree with a lot of what you said, there does need to be a more concerted effort to organise and grab the current undercurrent of "something being off" that pervades almost all parts of society save those at the top. I would argue solarpunk as a grass roots movement is a stepping stone to get more specific political movements like socialism & anarchism back into the mainstream but with a gentle step rather than the large leap from the current center norm of capitalism & consumption

[@calvenknox8552]

@@optimisticfuturist I'd agree. I used to be an anarchist outright, I got swept up in the idea of solarpunk though. It's specific message resonates with most people that hear it. As annoying as it may sound, and I have a feeling you'll disagree, compromise is the name of every political game. Rarely will you see absolutes without horrific violence or use of force. Despite the good intentions of people like Lenin, they fell into that trap and went insane because of it. I don't want to see the idea of solarpunk do the same. So, with that, I can see corporations in their modern incarnation go extinct if the right technologies come to be invented and properly spread. If you can grow all your food in a very small indoor garden using genetically modified crops, you not only don't need a corporation to sell it, you don't need an organization easily turned into a hierarchy, or taken over by one. The same logic goes for any other thing needed or even wanted. You can spin this pretty well with people who aren't solarpunks. Save money on food, grow your own. No more trips to the store for food, no need to worry about your next meal. That general idea can go pretty far. Replace those corporate systems by providing an alternative that the average person can make up their own reasons for using because of its sheer convenience. And watch the world become greener. Even if the neon signs of casinos in Las Vegas still shine and people still pay for luxury, you'll have a greener world.

[@optimisticfuturist]

No I absolutely agree that's where I think solarpunk especially as an ideology has it over the established political movements in that it's less about specific about the intricacies of the how other than the practical , where as most political ideologies are specific about some parts of the how but being based on dated historical society they are often not equipped for the modern era, i.e the internet. Automation and taking ownership of the means of subsistence is a huge part of what makes solarpunk especially poignant in our lifetimes. I do agree with your point that individual action isn't going to be anywhere near enough though how we effect change on corporations without it 🤷‍♂️

[@calvenknox8552]

@@optimisticfuturist I suppose I'm used to talking to a very different kind of solarpunk. I'd like to reword something with that. Instead taking ownership of these means of production that we currently have, I suppose we should instead create a new means of production to own outside of a group basis. Hierarchies attach themselves to groups like an organized crime organization does to a money making industry. So making the means of production a non central, even individual practice that can work within and without a larger community makes the hierarchy useless for gaining money or power. It's a solar punks dream. And the future will be a better place because of it. Either way, like you said. No matter the exact means or details, the future will be a better place in comparison of the past. Less starvation, less exploitation, less racism, less war. If not elimination entirely. We'll make it there, even if the details aren't what we expect.

[@otherperson]

You might like the channel Andrewism and his video Solarpunk is not enough (or something like that). Also the video by Anark called Hope, which rejects optimism for what he calls hopeful realism.

[@Tarodenaro]

Huh thanks, it's nice to see this kind of positivity once in a while. I'm getting tired of people accusing others of "toxic positivity" with envy for the bloomers. They probably should try gardening, it's pretty nice; happiness is pretty simple on a small scale. Realistic goal can be achieved by looking for alternatives, not forcing alternatives. Unfortunately though, people will find a way to accuse subgenre of Solarpunk or Frutiger Aero aesthetic as being a "le fuchsiest capitalism tool" scapegoat to blame their sadness on.

[@ribbrascal]

I really enjoy it when wokenistas attack "toxic positivity" as "white privilege".

[@zhorky]

just found you on my frontpage.... subbed. Always loved an optimistic view on the future :)

[@optimisticfuturist]

Thanks!

[@Jay-pj5tg]

Great video!

[@rareraven]

Solar wind hydro nuclear and fusion power. 💥

[@BeautifulEarthJa]

Lovely intro

[@GhostiesWithTheMosties]

Really awesome video. Subgenre of solarpunk could be late solar punk where everything is overgrown the plants and the wind turbines don't work anymore as humans have gone extinct possibly from a disease, or unknown causes. Leaving androids on there own in a overgrown world with cities perfectly fine still covered in moss, grass, and more.

[@optimisticfuturist]

That's a great story idea and reminds me of Castle in the Sky

[@GhostiesWithTheMosties]

@@optimisticfuturist Maybe even the androids keep the buildings, concrete, and houses kept to regulation or just to keep the building from falling apart.

[@luxill0s]

No. The goal of solarpunk is to keep the human race alive while coexisting healthily with nature. Your concept isn’t solarpunk, it is mass extinction and death. That is not a utopian future to look forward to.

[@GhostiesWithTheMosties]

@@luxill0s Yes but that doesnt mean humans can still not die. Plants and buildings are still being repaired by people and so forth the androids make more androids for future androids to keep building or making repairs

[@jpsilverplaylists]

I'm an electronic music producer and am working on some solarpunk music. I'm looking for some visual artists to connect with to do some video to go with the music...

[@KootFloris]

The best way to achieve this future is through Regenerative Design, which integrates all things you mentioned. Read the works of Daniel Christian Wahl for an in depth full understanding.

[@user-ss6kg9nl7j]

Hey man, I’m raising a solar punk endowment. Worth a chat? Love the video

[@helline9]

nicely done :)

[@optimisticfuturist]

Thanks 😊

[@angelurena6137]

I really hope this is our future.

[@andrew9371]

i need optimism all i see around me is shit falling apart white pill me please

[@Inkiequill]

❤🌿🪩💡💻🌃🏞️🧩

[@MrJelllyo]

Loved this!

[@optimisticfuturist]

Thanks!

[@MrJelllyo]

@@optimisticfuturist Super interested to see what other topics you cover :)

[@andrewchoi5808]

Combine solarpunk utopian society nature humanity wildlife environment biodiversity ecosystem cities towns countries traditional modern past future renewable energy anachronism modern peaceful settings with immortality longevity ageless age reversal anti aging eternal youth and futuristic technology

[@optimisticfuturist]

All the things 😅

[@johnnyjet3.1412]

For any of those fantasy pictures One could make the statement 'We could have had that except Mom and Dad liked Reagan for some reason".

[@optimisticfuturist]

Truth! We've got to learn from the past and not make the same mistakes

[@dreamsalamander]

Hi, could I know where the 2d animated bits are taken from?

[@HauntrAndrw]

Lol so it's actually from a Chobani Yogurt ad of all things titled "Dear Alice", but someone online has scrubbed all the logos in some versions since it was such a beautiful rendition of solarpunk iirc.

[@optimisticfuturist]

I've heard of this yoghurt ad but never actually seen it, wonder if it was licensed from the creators, this is how I found it www.thelineanimation.com/work/chobani

[@Zephyrsag]

I posted this video in my futurist Reddit community

[@optimisticfuturist]

Awesome thanks!

[@Gitohandro]

Tyranny of capitalism?

[@arsenskavin130]

Another utopia, oh well

[@dripfeedtothebrain]

This isn’t punk.

[@micobijo]

may i ask why? i’m very new to all of this, i’m genuinely curious (sorry for responding to a year old comment lol)

[@dripfeedtothebrain]

@@micobijo being punk is fundamentally about going against the grain, rejecting what is. Looking at cyberpunk (Mike pondsmith version the scary thing being you can find massive correlations to what is happening in modern day life I’ll explain the correlation in scare parentheses cause why not)the world is crap: the entire society and economy have crashed and nothing is working. wars are everywhere and there is a general drift by governments towards extreme responses to keep some semblance of order. And corporations without oversight and are more powerful than most governments are running amuck across the globe(sounds like a normal headline today)people are going insane from disassociation as they literally turn themselves into machines and go on rampages killing people for no apparent reason(mass random killings) the punks are the net runners, rockers, reporters, gangsters and cops all fighting to stop the break down or make something that works in this new system. But they all have very different ideas of how to get there. (All from a guy in the 80’s ) Solar punk is the Karen who reads that and says, “Oh my god, that is just so depressing. Well what if all the activists won the those eco fights. And what if green energy worked like a miracle and there was no conflict. And like what if everywhere was green and like perfect and there wasn’t any mess. That sounds much better.” There is nothing to fight against, nothing to rebel against if everything is perfect. So what then would be punk about it?

[@lennysmileyface]

Seems a bit too optimistic to be realistic.

[@optimisticfuturist]

The main way to ensure it's not realistic is if we lose our optimism, hence the name of the channel 😄

[@lennysmileyface]

@@optimisticfuturist I mean to accomplish the things in the video you would have to make every country agree and good luck with that.

[@optimisticfuturist]

it's not an easy goal, I personally don't think it would take every country in the world, some wealthier smaller nations within the nordics could probably get away with moving towards these goals without too much push back from the capitalist hegemony but it would be a delicate balance. The main way this would actually take place is slowly from within by the gradual transition away from capitalism as it starts to reach its natural conclusion due to finite systems being incompatible with infinite growth

[@Alex-fu3mi]

a solarpunk future (especially staring down current and future climate change) may seem far fetched, but the project is to imagine a possible, positive, if unlikely future and reverse-engineer it from there.