We are still processing what has happened. To many, the previously inconceivable has become a reality. Donald Trump is the next POTUS. I've been an ardent supporter of Bernie Sanders since he first announced his candidacy in May2015, all the way from Australia. Like millions in the U.S. and beyond, he filled me with a great deal of hope. Not only because he is clearly a man of passion and integrity, but because he is a proponent of the bold the systems change that his country and indeed, the world, needs.

This is a sad day for many reasons. I personally feel that the Democratic Party and Hilary Clinton have a lot to answer for. Their rigging of the primaries (startng from 2014) and their general misreading of the pulse of the people has often beggared belief. It could be strongly argued that we would not be in this predicament if the Democratic Party had truly understood that this was an anti-establishment election. If both Clinton and the Democratic Party could see past their obsession with an #iamwithher apparatus and sense the mood on the streets and in people's homes. I don't say this rub salt in wounds or fan flames of hatred. I only stress the above because I feel that there's an inclination to squarely blame mysoginy for the result. I think, as often is the case, that there is a lot more complexity to the situation than that. In the final assesment, I believe that Democrats were too blinkered and arrogant to recognise that they sent forward a deeply flawed candidate that largely represented what people are weary of. Business as usual.

Alas there's little utility in the blame game now. I am less interested in political punditry and more concerned with what we do from here. Why would a Sri Lankan living in Australia care so much about a U.S. Election? There are clear global consequences. Be it action on climate change, war or trade. There is so much on the line.

So what do we do from here? I think its important for us not to descend down the path of labelling those who voted for Trump as a 'basket of deplorables' as Clinton did on the campaign trail. There are many parallels with the Brexit vote in the UK as well as the rise of One Nation in Australia. Hear me out. I am not suggesting that mysoginy, racism , bigotry, pro-violence and anti-science views should be welcomed with open arms. Quite the contrary. However I think that there's much we can learn from the rise of (predominantly) white far right-wing movements. I'd argue that beneath the toxic veneer of ignorance and prejudice are people who feel deeply disenfranchised. Particularly in a context where 'whiteness' does not lord over minorities as it once did. People who are victims of social and economic policies that have left them behind and are thus vulnerable to empty rhetoric of systems change , suspectible to vile scapegoating. I am not suggesting that there is no personal responsibility here. I am not suggesting that there isn't a strong undercurrent of white supremacy that seems to underpin phenomena such as Trump, Brexit or One Nation. But there is a wider social and economic context within which these views are being fermented.

Once the dust settles, I believe that these developments can offer us insight into what an appropriate response could be. To borrow the sentiment expressed by Naomi Klein last night , the void left by neoliberal policies needs to be filled with a progressive imperative. If not, it will be filled by facism. This response will need to be bold and far-reaching. It will require systems change and thus re-imagining our political, social and economic policies. The good news is that there millions who are yearning for such a vision as they recognise the need for systems change, they recognise the deep failings of trickle-down economics, of consumerism, of war and the madness of not situating ourselves in an ecological reality. One does not need to look further than the movement Bernie Sanders led (and arguably still leads) to see that young people can rally behind an authentic and bold progressive vision. As a voting bloc, milennials have the most at stake across this planet. We are already inheriting a planet where we will have to contend with climate change and profound levels of income and wealth inequality. We are inheriting political systems mired with special interests that are laser focused on the short term and almost always diamterically opposed to the interests of the public. This is precisely why enthusiasm for Clinton was so low and many who did vote for her, voted out of fear.No manner of fear mongering and celebrity endorsements could hide the the centrist, incremental heart of her campaign.

So yes, things just got a whole lot harder! We must grieve but it is vital that we do not let it extinguish all hope. We must summon the strength to take resposibility and help forge a positive global response. Starting with our own backyards. Both present and future generations depend on this.

Whether its the setbacks to action on climate change, the rising tide of prejudice or the policies that widen inequality, we must educate ourselves and raise our intensity. We cannot wait for politicians to play catch up and pin our hopes to the incremental change that they prefer. We cannot rely on activism at the fringes from a privileged distance. We will all need to speak up, walk the talk, exercise initiative, protest and put our bodies on the line. Yet, as the inspiring Murrawah Johnson (An Indigeous Climate Activist) said at a Sydney Peace Prize event last night, we must also be willing 'to be led'. Led by those with vision and deep ancestral knowledge, by those who have recognised and fought these struggles for so long. Led by those who have been marginalised. Led by those who lend voice to other ways of being in the world...as clearly, this is not working.

A friend and fellow activist Adebayo C Akomolafe shared words that carried deep resonance.

"Shadows are not all we think they are - dark places have stunning opportunities for unprecedented justice.'

So as devastating as this result is. I choose to raise my level of responsibility and uncover opportunities for justice. If this has been your struggle, I yearn for you to continue! If it hasn't, it is my deep hope that you join in. We need you.

Who is Bernie Sanders you ask?

For those unacquainted with American politics, he is a Vermont Senator that is challenging Hilary Clinton for the Democratic nomination in the 2016 Presidential Election. The longest serving independent senator in the U.S. congress and he is a man I have admired for many years on account of his passionate stances on a range of issues - climate change, income inequality, financial reform and foreign policy being some key areas. His near 9 hour filibuster of Obama's continuation of Bush-era tax cuts to the wealthy being but one example of his passion to support the working class. Along with Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders has been one of the few consistent voices of reason within a political system that appears out of touch with the daily struggles of the lower and middle class, one utterly compromised by the greed of corporations and high net worth individuals like the Koch brothers. I have long felt that for better or worse (more of the latter), American politics has a huge bearing on the rest of the world. It is with this in mind that I am watching this presidential campaign with great interest and I daresay ...hope!

A self labelled "Democratic Socialist", Bernie is calling for a "political revolution" and often looks towards Scandinavia for inspiration (e.g. taxation, education, healthcare). While "socialism" seems to be a dirty word in American politics, the Republican candidates thus far (all 12 of them) appear to be so entrenched in far-right politics (billionaire financiers, climate change denial and trickle down economics in tow) to have a serious chance of defeating a Democratic candidate next year. So while it is early days it does indeed appear to be a battle between Bernie and Hilary Clinton for the U.S. presidency. The Daily Dot has a great summary of some of the key policy differences between Sanders and Clinton. For progressives, it ought to be abundantly clear that it is Sanders who has the authentic track record. Be it his stance on big banks, electoral reform, same-sex marriage, climate change, Keystone XL, on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, healthcare, mass surveillance or the 'war on terror', it is all remarkably clear and consistent. The same cannot be said about Hilary Clinton. Or the vast majority of politicians across the world for that matter. The regressive, wildly inconsistent Abbott Government here in Australia being a case in point.

But let's face it, there is a much greater battle playing out here...and this is what moves me the most.

It is a battle against a powerful, maniacal, greedy elite who have hijacked governments and hence the system of rules (or lack thereof) that determine how we function as a global society. An oligarchy. Before you conjure images of me being a conspiracy theorist, I invite you to reflect on the extent to which big business and wealthy elites hold the reigns when it comes to political decision making. Whether it is media control, flagrant campaign financing, lobby groups or intense business-government collusion in policy development. A paradigm that has unsurprisingly resulted in inaction when it comes to climate change, growing income inequality and of course the denigration of all social services to the majority while insisting on tax breaks, loopholes and subsidies for big business. Thus a context in which we talk about about 'democracy and freedom' without having clear insight into who the levers of power are controlled by. A reality that is by no means relegated to the U.S.

It is against this rather Orwellian backdrop that Bernie Sanders has launched his bid for the Presidency.

I'll tell you this, I get emotional watching Bernie speak. There is something about the optics of a scruffy 73 year old man fearlessly voicing the truth about the "crooks on Wall Street", undeterred by the overwhelming odds against him. There is something about a man who is genuinely immersed in the substance of his message and not his appearance. There is something about a man that oozes authenticity and cogently outlines a rational, humane vision for America and by extension, the world. There is no slick marketing or tailored speeches driving this bid thus far. Bernie's words are measured, they are direct. The foundation of his campaign in his own words is what he sarcastically calls "a radical concept, the truth". It is this directness, in stark contrast to the willful ambiguity that defines mainstream politics, this clear identification of the roots of injustice and the concise path to address it... that is capturing hearts and minds. He certainly has my attention and above that, my respect.

In Bernie's speeches in packed halls thus far, there is the distinct impression that he is a man who is determined to be a champion for the underdog. It has been his legacy for decades. An authenticity that sees him swearing not to touch billionaire money and Super PACs (Political Action Committees). Bernie is a fierce opponent of the Citizen's United decision that lead to the supreme court ruling in favour of "independent" political spending by corporations and unions. Instead, he is relying on donations from citizens. He has started raising millions through a grassroot campaign which currently has over 200,000 supporters with an average donation of USD $42. Still, an observer might call this chump change in light of the staggering $ 2.5 billion that the Clinton campaign aims to bring in through donations.

Meanwhile, the mainstream media is still largely cynical about Sanders' campaign and are largely framing it as a bid that at best, may shift Clinton's campaign further to the left. Ironically, as he points out, the fact that he is deemed to have a snowballs chance in hell is largely because he is unwilling to cave in to corporate interests that allow such 'obscene' campaign funds like other candidates on both sides. On the ground, Bernie is filling venues and gaining momentum and as he keeps saying in each interview, he should not be underestimated. Even the previously non-aligned ,Occupy Wall Street movement is endorsing him.

It seems to me that at the very heart of his campaign is a desire to mobilise the grassroots, the working class, to rally against a system controlled by corporations and the 'billionaire class'. A call to action in the midst of a sense of futility and apathy among the struggling majority. A 'political revolution' to drive money out of politics in order to amplify the voice of the people and place quality of life and environmental sustainability at the center. It is very much an attempt to reclaim democracy in the United Sates. While the odds may seem stacked against him, while the road will be grueling and implementation of his ideas may be gridlocked in congress ...what better choice do the majority of American people have than Bernie Sanders? What if ...what if even a fraction of what he outlines is possible?

It would seem that Sanders is the only man with the gumption and integrity to lead a movement to redefine the values and political direction of the United States. Inherent in his vision is a re-imagining of American society that seems to resonate with a growing number of working class voters. Should he secure the Democratic nomination, it would seem that the likelihood of him winning the election would be very strong. If he does succeed it would be a David vs. Goliath tale for the ages. Above all, it would be an inspiring testament to the power of a people powered movement. We could have a world leader the world needs, one who is genuinely committed to addressing systemic injustice and climate change.

You have a fan in me Bernie. If I were American, there would be no doubt that you would have my vote. I'm captivated and I am inspired by your leadership. I'll be watching this race very closely and willing you to win.