Last time we met we started with an observation that in the book of Genesis, man was granted dominion over all he surveyed. How depressingly long ago Western culture misconstrued our relationship to nature as one of superiority. We considered that perhaps this gives context to politicians’ inability to act urgently. The hairpin turn we need to make has the enormous weight of 2000 years of history lurching behind it.
The concept of Radical Ethics came up from Donna Orange’s new book Psychoanalysis, History, and Radical Ethics. Her actions of radical uncomfortableness lead to a discussion of personal sacrifice; how much are people willing to sacrifice? What makes us sacrifice is perhaps the willingness to be an outsider.
Paul Hawken’s new book Regeneration, How to solve the Climate Crisis in one Generation has just come out. It is a book of work to do and has an incredible companion website. Any thought that the premise is deluded optimism is banished once you realise the vast interweaving web of solutions he suggests for individuals, groups, businesses, institutions, cities and more. We don’t need to all wait for legislation before we change. One quite practical and immediate principal he recommends is writing “punch cards” of vital actions to tick off, like heart surgeons do these days to prevent needless surgical tragedies. Regeneration makes me feel that what I do is a tiny but integral part of earth’s recovery.
Thank you for connecting and for this info. I'm slowly working through Sally Weintrobe "Psychological roots of the climate crisis" very dense and along with a Tiriti workshop over the weekend am doing my best not to deny these important realities. Feels like I work hard to avoid a version of Pakeha paralysis. Let's recognise and remember 28th October 1835, The Declaration of Independance of New Zealand by sovereign Hereditary chiefs and heads of tribes of the northern parts of NZ. Above all take care of you in your important work with vulnerable clients.
Kia ora Marion😊 There seems to be a continuum between creative action and numbness, I think everyone travels along the continuum. Paul Hawken says that we have to care about people and complex social systems just as much as caretake complex ecological systems. We are part of nature, he says there is no difference or conflict. Fortunately climate work is not continuously a state of grief and despair, it also brings aliveness, excitement and maybe self realisation for me, strange as that might sound! Thanks for commenting.
Thank you for connecting and for this info. I'm slowly working through Sally Weintrobe "Psychological roots of the climate crisis" very dense and along with a Tiriti workshop over the weekend am doing my best not to deny these important realities. Feels like I work hard to avoid a version of Pakeha paralysis. Let's recognise and remember 28th October 1835, The Declaration of Independance of New Zealand by sovereign Hereditary chiefs and heads of tribes of the northern parts of NZ. Above all take care of you in your important work with vulnerable clients.
Kia ora Marion😊 There seems to be a continuum between creative action and numbness, I think everyone travels along the continuum. Paul Hawken says that we have to care about people and complex social systems just as much as caretake complex ecological systems. We are part of nature, he says there is no difference or conflict. Fortunately climate work is not continuously a state of grief and despair, it also brings aliveness, excitement and maybe self realisation for me, strange as that might sound! Thanks for commenting.