Over the last few months I’ve been on a track of examining some of the big environmental topics: the planetary boundaries, the environmental footprints of food, how to feed the population in 2050 without deforestation, and how to reduce our water footprints. Of course, a lot has been happening in the meantime here in the US of A (understatement of the year).

There has been talk of a lack of response from the side of reason and democracy to the onslaught of the new political-corporate complex of Trump/Vance/Musk/Bezos/etc. Some people needed time to process, and that’s probably true for my part too. I immersed myself in researching the posts that I had planned to write while absorbing as many shocks in the news as I could, along the way. Monday’s news – the announcement of plans to monetize the US national forests – felt like a final straw for me.

Donald Trump has ordered that swathes of America’s forests be felled for timber, evading rules to protect endangered species while doing so and raising the prospect of chainsaws razing some of the most ecologically important trees in the US. – The Guardian.

But every day brings new horrors and it’s time to take the gloves off and start resisting. There may be an increase in the frequency of posts here on the Green Stars Project but please read and share them when you can.

Forms of resistance

I’ve begun researching forms of resistance and protest, so ideas will evolve over time, but here’s what I think so far. We can each protest and resist in different ways, and we should play to our strengths. If you’re a good writer then write, if you’re a good speaker then speak, if you can protest on the streets then do that. Some forms of protest and resistance will be more effective than others in the current situation – some will be treated only with scorn and derision by the reigning political-corporate complex.

For me, resistance and protest will begin with the path that I’m already on – ethical consumption. Hitting the antagonist’s bank account is often considered to be one of the most effective actions. Economic sanctions have often spurred change, whether on the international stage (e.g., Apartheid) or on an individual level of corporate boycotts (e.g., Nestlé).

We need to stick to our principles, as much as possible, while others attempt to erode the principals and standards that make society good. At the same time, I think we should not lose our sense of humor about all of this. Trump is a ridiculous man – he’s a bully who lies and intimidates but at the same time he has an incredibly fragile ego. 

Our resistance movement should have an image to represent it that strikes at Trump’s ego. I think it’s appropriate to have several different images and I’m going to ask you to suggest some. Here’s my proposal for an icon to get things started: Taylor Swift!  Feel free to laugh – get it out of your system – but then hear me out.

Taylor Swift – an icon for the resistance

What makes me think of Taylor Swift as an appropriate symbol of the resistance? Isn’t she white and rich and flying around in a private jet? Indeed she is – but she’s one of the most powerful women on the planet and Trump hates powerful women. He specifically hates her and would like her to quietly go away.

Swift made a decision, mid-career, to start voicing her opinion on political and social issues (endorsing Biden) as shown in the 2020 documentary Miss Americana. This was against her father’s advice to stay neutral as she is likely lose half of her fan base or, worse, be attacked by right-wing extremists. This clip from the film is worth watching.

And yet, her political stance doesn’t seem to have hurt her popularity. Swift continued to bring us together (at least, those who enjoy her music!) regardless of political beliefs. What Trump wants to do, on the other hand, is to actively divide us. He doesn’t just represent a difference in opinion; he exaggerates differences and polarizes us so that we end up in two deeply-opposed factions. It is this polarization that we must resist, and people like Trump who attempt to profit from it. Don’t be a pawn in his game.

Super Bowl LIX: A lot going on

There were several foreboding moments during the first big American event of 2025 – the Super Bowl. For one thing, Trump turned up and walked around the field a bit, appealing to the crowd. The ad breaks were like a time warp back to the 1980’s, appealing to our base instincts while selling SUVs and the like. One ad broke the news that Musk’s Starlink is operational and we can all get six months for free. Oh, yes please Mr. Musk – I’m sure you won’t use my data against me in any way.

Elon Musk secretly ordered his engineers not to turn on his company’s Starlink satellite communications network near the Crimean coast last year to disrupt a Ukrainian sneak attack on the Russian naval fleet. – Walter Isaacson’s biography of Elon Musk, reported by CNN

Anyway, Starlink (which was under investigation by USAID before Musk/Trump decided to shut the aid organization down) is a topic for another post. Let’s get back to the Super Bowl. As the game proceeded, Taylor Swift (who was in the audience, supporting her partner Travis Kelce, who plays for the KC Chiefs) was shown briefly on the Jumbotron… and the crowd booed her.

I don’t need to tell you that Swift is widely admired for her work ethic and for revitalizing the economy of every city on her Eras Tour. Swift, wasn’t booed at previous KC Chiefs games – only the one where Trump turned up. Most likely, some of the booing was just Eagles fans having a go at her (as a former Eagles fan) but Trump took advantage of it on social media, stating “MAGA is very unforgiving.”

It marked a new phase of the bullying that’s going to define this political era: crowds turning against individuals. Intimidation of political opponents is already in full swing – all it takes is a quick message on X or Truth Social before death threats start rolling in. Even a Republican senator, Joni Ernst, who recently raised concerns over Pete Hegseth’s nomination as defense secretary became the target of a smear campaign that was funded by Musk.

During Trump’s address to congress on Tuesday, his Republican flunkies stood up and cheered his nonsense about Greenland and so on. The House speaker had no problem with the Republicans chanting USA! USA!, but when black Congressman Al Green called out, he has no mandate, he was removed from the room while Republicans jeered at him, some shouting get out (reminding me of Jordan Peele’s film).

As you know, this situation has gotten real bad, real fast, and it’s time to start showing some unity against this. We need to make it clear to the new political-corporate complex that they are not, in fact, popular. A show of support will also hearten politicians to make a stand, knowing that the people are behind them. But it’s also critical that we show support for each other in public situations, as we never know when a mob mentality might take over.

Swifties, stand up!

Here’s what I propose: we need several visual symbols of resistance that are practical to display in everyday life. The Umbrella Movement during the Hong Kong protests is a good example – it was a very eye-catching visual and also doubled as a defense against the pepper spray used against them.

Well, Taylor Swift recently finished the biggest concert tour in history and there was plenty of merch sold! So wear your Swiftie shirts and hoodies and friendship bracelets as a sign of resistance. There are plenty to be had on Ebay, Etsy, or Goodwill, etc., should you want to pick one up. As a powerful woman that Trump despises, she’s an ideal icon to get under his skin.

So wear your Swift merch if you have some, but also consider wearing any clothes, pins, etc. that represent values we should all get behind. A simple peace sign still works. Ideas welcome – comment below or contact me with suggestions.

United24, a fundraising organization for the Ukrainian government is hosting a raffle for 100 T-Shirts bearing a phrase from President Zelensky’s infamous meeting at the Oval office, Criticized by Trump and Vance for not wearing a suit, he responded, “I’ll wear a costume when the war is over.”

The same applies to the rest of us – we can no longer go on living life as normal and ignoring this situation. Wear something to signify your resistance to Trump’s manipulation and our refusal to become a deeply divided nation.

To be continued…