Seeds of Fire: A People’s Chronology

Recalling events that happened on this day in history.
Memories of struggle, resistance and persistence.

Compiled by Ulli Diemer

August 5, 1895
The death of the revolutionary Friedrich Engels. Further Reading: Connexions Author Index ‘E’ Related Topics: Engels, Friedrich
August 5, 1914
Rosa Luxemburg and a few other left-wing Marxists form Gruppe Internationale (International Group) to oppose the German Social Democratic Party#s betrayal of its stated principles in coming out in support for the Great War (World War I) that began on August 1. Related Topics: Anti-War Movement – First World War – German Social Democratic Party (SPD)
August 5, 1919
30,000 Rumanian troops entered Budapest, Hungary, and begin a reign of terror in crushing the Hungarian soviet republic. Related Topics: Counter-Revolution – Hungary – Massacres – Military/Violence Against Civilians – Terrorism
August 5 - 6, 1929
The Lupeni Strike: Miners in the Jiu Valley of Romania go on strike and take control of a power station. They are fired on by troops; at least 30 men die. Related Topics: Military/Violence Against Civilians – Romania – Strikes
August 5, 1934
Birth of Wendell Berry, American farmer, writer, and environmental activist. Berry advocates a balanced and life-affirming society which values sustainable agriculture, meaningful work, communities, and connection to place. He sees industrial farming and the economics of greed as threats to our future. Quotes: “Today, local economies are being destroyed by the "pluralistic," displaced, global economy, which has no respect for what works in a locality. The global economy is built on the principle that one place can be exploited, even destroyed, for the sake of another place.” “Much protest is naive; it expects quick, visible improvement and despairs and gives up when such improvement does not come. Protesters who hold out for longer have perhaps understood that success is not the proper goal. If protest depended on success, there would be little protest of any durability or significance. History simply affords too little evidence that anyone's individual protest is of any use. Protest that endures, I think, is moved by a hope far more modest than that of public success: namely, the hope of preserving qualities in one's own heart and spirit that would be destroyed by acquiescence.” Related Topics: Environmental Advocacy – Farmers – Sustainable Agriculture