Make Earth Great Again: a Manifesto for Ecological Democracy

Make Earth Great Again (MEGA) exists to support and amplify the movements that are actively working towards a just, regenerative, free and egalitarian world. MEGA seeks to reclaim the Earth from corporate globalization and create a society that honors all beings on the planet. Our vision is built on principles of ecological democracy, market socialism, bioregionalism, permaculture, nonviolence, and Indigenous philosophy.

The renewal we seek is not a return to a particular time in history, but to a symbolic moment of profound transformation— the founding of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy. This union, established under the Great Law of Peace, brought together six nations of Turtle Island, ending cycles of conflict and demonstrating the power of cooperation, respect, and shared governance. It serves as an enduring example of how collective wisdom and unity can guide us toward a future of peace and justice.

MEGA arises from the spirit of this union. It is a vision rooted in the living web of life, where all beings hold intrinsic value, and the Earth is not a resource to be exploited but a sacred community to which we belong. 

MEGA stands in direct contrast to the narrow, outdated ethos of "Make America Great Again," which clings to national supremacy, traditional social hierarchies, and corporate extractivism at the expense of the many.

From the MEGA perspective, MAGA fails to deliver on its promise of restoring greatness, even on its own terms. MAGA cloaks itself in populist, America-first language, but it is little more than a mask for corporate plunder and the continued looting of the American working class. It weaponizes culture war issues to stoke division and distract from its true agenda: dismantling the social safety net, stripping workers of their rights, giving tax breaks to the rich, maintaining subservience to the military industrial complex, and hollowing out the nation in service to unchecked corporate greed. 

MEGA is an invitation to reimagine how we relate to each other, to our communities, and to the Earth itself. We welcome all to join us, including disaffected and disillusioned MAGA supporters. Whether today or in the coming years, we welcome all because we are ready for the culture wars to end. We welcome all because we see all of us as family, even those who were raised in cultures that taught us to forget. 

We are ready to restore the Great Law of Peace between nations and cultures. 

To those who are not ready to join us, who oppose us and wish to continue this bitter war, to those who will continue to wave the flag of empire and corporate rule - MAGA’s true heirs - know that at any moment, our war of words can end and we can become friends. This is possible because recognizing the dignity and worth of every individual is one of our foundational principles. This is what legends like Thich Nhat Hanh, Martin Luther King Jr, Berta Cáceres and Daryl Davis have taught us. Our goal is not to defeat our enemies, but to defeat old ideologies and win new friendships. The goal is the beloved community.

MEGA envisions a society that is deeply participatory, decentralized, egalitarian, and committed to humanity being a regenerative and respectful presence on the Earth, as it has in many pockets around the world throughout history. While we recognize that no culture has perfectly embodied these ideals, MEGA draws inspiration from the many Indigenous practices and philosophies around the world that are rooted in this ideal - principles that continue to guide Indigenous communities today, which we believe are essential to humanity’s survival and wellbeing.

Our guiding compass is a future based on trust, compassion, and cooperation rather than fear, division, and competition. We envision a global transformation where human systems coexist harmoniously with natural systems, in ways that celebrate life and diversity. We seek a world where the gifts of the Earth are shared equitably and sustainably among all its inhabitants, drawing on diverse cultural and ecological wisdom to guide us.

Main Principles of MEGA

1. Ecological Democracy and Direct Participation
2. Decentralization and Bioregionalism
3. Market Socialism and Economics of Happiness
4. Regenerative Living and Permaculture
5. Nonviolence, Compassion, and Aikido Principles
6. Global Solidarity and Cultural Pluralism
7. Empowerment through Local Action and Community Self-Reliance
8. Indigenous Values and the Circle of Courage: Belonging, Mastery, Independence, and Generosity
    

Ecological Democracy

At the heart of MEGA is the belief that democracy must extend beyond the ballot box and into the living systems that sustain us. Ecological democracy is the idea that people—not corporations, not bureaucracies, not elite technocrats—should have a direct and participatory role in shaping the human relationship to land, water, air, and life itself.

For far too long, decisions about our shared ecological future have been made in boardrooms and distant capitals, insulated from the communities most affected by them. Forests are felled, rivers poisoned, and air made toxic—not by public consensus, but by private profit. Ecological democracy seeks to flip this paradigm. It insists that the power to govern how we live with the Earth must reside with the people who depend on it, in relationship with the more-than-human world we are part of.

In practical terms, ecological democracy means giving communities a voice in land use decisions, energy production, agriculture, and transportation. It means local control over development that affects local ecologies. It means recognizing the rights of Indigenous nations to govern their territories in accordance with their laws, traditions, and ecological knowledge. And it means creating new democratic institutions—from watershed councils to bioregional assemblies—that bring diverse communities together to make decisions that reflect both ecological reality and collective need.

But ecological democracy is more than a political program—it is a worldview. It asks us to see democracy not as a set of procedures, but as a living ethic: one that extends respect, reciprocity, and mutual responsibility to all beings. It challenges the notion that nature is something "out there" to be managed, owned, or protected by experts. Instead, it invites us to remember that we are nature, participating in its continual unfolding.

This shift—from managing the Earth to living with it—requires that we center the voices of those who have been systematically excluded: frontline communities, Indigenous elders, young people, women, and non-human species. It requires slowing down, listening deeply, and co-creating systems of governance that honor complexity, interdependence, and long-term thinking.

Ecological democracy is what happens when we recognize that the climate crisis, the biodiversity crisis, and the crisis of democracy are not separate—they are symptoms of the same underlying disconnection. The antidote is reconnection: to place, to people, to future generations.

This is the path to making Earth great again—not through domination or management, but through participation, humility, and care.

Decentralization and Local Empowerment

To Make Earth Great Again, we recognize the importance of decentralization—moving away from corporate monopolies and distant centers of power that dictate our lives. Our efforts are grounded in local autonomy, bioregionalism, and community empowerment through genuine forms of direct democracy. True power comes from the people, working together to rebuild communities, economies, and cultures in ways that serve all life.

We believe in cities and rural regions transformed through bottom-up, participatory approaches. Imagine urban areas where once gray streets have given way to community gardens, food forests, and public spaces that bring neighbors together. Imagine rural areas thriving as hubs of ecological restoration and regenerative agriculture—places where people care for the land, and the land, in turn, provides for them. 

We are inspired by the innovations happening around the world—from Curitiba, Brazil, to Samso, Sweden—where local efforts demonstrate that a better way of living is already being built.
 

Market Socialism and Ecological Economies

Our economic vision for MEGA is rooted in the belief that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to building a fair and sustainable economy. We promote experimentation with different economic models within both market and public ownership frameworks, ranging from the Economics of Happiness, PROUT, democratic socialism, degrowth, solarpunk and library economics, to commons-based economics, solidarity economics and municipalism.

We support Worker Self-Directed Enterprises (WSDEs), where workers have direct ownership and control over their workplaces, as well as cooperatives and many other models.

Market socialism allows us to harness the positive aspects of markets, such as local entrepreneurship and decentralized adaptability, while ensuring that wealth is distributed fairly and ecological well-being is prioritized. We reject the extractive model that treats the Earth as a collection of commodities to be exploited, and instead embrace an ecological economy that respects the biophysical limits of our planet. We advocate for systems of exchange that regenerate rather than deplete, rooted in reciprocity and accountability to the community of life.
 

Permaculture and Regenerative Living

MEGA stands for a return to living systems. Through permaculture principles, we can design communities, farms, and cities that mimic the diversity and resilience of natural ecosystems. Permaculture teaches us to observe and work with nature rather than against it. By embracing permaculture, we create systems that are self-sustaining, regenerative, and beneficial for all living beings.

We see a future where food production is local, small-scale, and organic. Where rooftops, backyards, and vacant lots become vibrant spaces teeming with edible and medicinal plants, pollinators, and biodiversity. 

We envision neighborhoods that produce much of their own energy, food, and resources, taking responsibility for meeting their own needs while also supporting the needs of others.

Nonviolence and Compassion

Nonviolence isn’t just a strategy, but a way of being in the world. We seek to dismantle systems of oppression and domination—whether they manifest as militarized policing, extractive industries, or systemic inequality—without recreating harm. 

While our efforts will never be perfect, we strive to oppose unjust systems without mirroring the divisive tactics and ideologies we reject. This refusal to dehumanize, even when confronting injustice, is not a weakness but a deliberate choice to build a future rooted in our deepest values.

Nonviolence, as we understand it, is not passive—it is an active force for transformation, rooted in courage, empathy, and the belief that lasting change emerges from connection, not coercion.

For MEGA, nonviolence means rejecting the false dichotomy of "us versus them" and working instead to dismantle systems of oppression with integrity and care. It requires recognizing the humanity of those who uphold these systems, even as we resist their actions. Nonviolence is not the absence of conflict but a way to engage with conflict like an aikido master, seeking to neutralize an opponent’s blows without harming ourselves or the attacker. It’s a difficult but noble path, which seeks to free both the oppressed and the oppressor from stories and ideologies that serve neither of us.

Through nonviolence, particularly the practice of nonviolent communication as taught by Dr. Marshall B. Rosenberg and Thich Nhat Hanh, we aim to cultivate relationships that reflect the interconnectedness of all life, honoring the universal human needs behind every conflict. 

MEGA rejects the logic of 'power over' and instead celebrates 'power with'—the power of people united in solidarity to achieve collective liberation.

Global Solidarity and Diversity

We celebrate the incredible cultural diversity of our world, recognizing that true greatness comes from understanding and valuing different ways of living, thinking, and being. We reject the homogenization that often comes from imperialism, colonialism, and corporate globalization. Instead, we advocate for a tapestry of peaceful cultures, languages, and traditions—a mosaic of new and ancient ways of being that reflect the beauty of the human spirit.

We believe that the future must be co-created by all of us, with each contribution playing a crucial role in achieving a shared vision for a better world. Whether defending land rights, building cooperatives, promoting transformative media or transitioning to renewable energy - we need it all, and we need you.
 

Indigenous Values and the Circle of Courage

We draw inspiration from the Circle of Courage, an Indigenous model of positive youth development based on four universal growth needs: belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity. These values guide our vision of community—where every person feels they belong, has the opportunity to develop their skills, can exercise autonomy, and is encouraged to give back to others. This balanced approach to growth and education is fundamental to building a thriving, resilient society.

The Call to Action

Making Earth Great Again starts with each of us—dreamers, doers, healers, builders, and creators of every kind. We need people who have come alive, people who are pursuing their passions and sharing their gifts, people who are dreaming of a better world and putting their dreams into action. We need people to challenge the old systems of domination by creating something new in their place, as Buckminster Fuller taught us. 

It is time to connect the dots, see how our diverse efforts complement each other, and come together in solidarity.

The solutions we need are already here—in our communities, in our cultures, and in the wisdom of nature itself. Together, we can regenerate ecosystems, restore relationships, and reimagine what it means to live well on this planet. Together, we can Make Earth Great Again.

Join us. Find your place in this movement, bring your unique gifts, and work with your neighbors. Plant seeds—literal and metaphorical—and nurture their growth. Let us build a world that is not just sustainable, but abundant, joyful, and full of good music and dancing.

The Earth is calling, and we must answer with our hands, our hearts, and our courage.

Together, we can make the Earth great again—for all of us.