regenerate-reconcile_admin – Page 3

Degrowth

Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity has used all the biological resources that Earth regenerates during the entire year. The date changes each year, more information can be found here:

https://www.overshootday.org/

There are obvious reasons that we need to stop consuming and using the Earth’s resources faster than they are produced!

The question to consider is also who is using these resources and for what purpose?

Degrowth is a radical economic theory born in the 1970s.

What is degrowth? Degrowth broadly means shrinking rather than growing economies, so we use less of the world’s energy and resources and put wellbeing ahead of profit. The idea is that by pursuing degrowth policies, economies can help themselves, their citizens and the planet by becoming more sustainable.

(Source https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/06/what-is-degrowth-economics-climate-change/)

Degrowth is a term used for both a political, economic, and social movement as well as a set of theories that critique the paradigm of economic growth. It can be described as an extensive framework that is based on critiques of the growth-centered economic system in which we are living.

Source Wikipedia

A ‘degrowth’ strategy could cut CO2 emissions by 2050 more deeply than alternative economic growth strategies. Image: Nature Communications

The unfair distribution of wealth and consumption of natural resources by the global north is something that is of great concern. Climate justice activism and Degrowth form an important role in the transition to a fair, respectful, ethical and sustainable Living Earth.

Degrowth also forms part of the discussions regarding a paradigm shift: from an anthropocentric worldview – that says humans are the top and centre of life on this planet- towards an ecological systems worldview that acknowledges the value of the relationships between all living and non-living organisms on this planet, where humans are just part of the web of life, and dependent on its balance and healthy functioning.

Image source: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/06/what-is-degrowth-economics-climate-change/

Deep Ecology

Image source: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-Deep-Ecology-spectrum-Copyright-HR-Smith-2014-Reprinted-with-permission_fig1_329139474

Deep ecology is an environmental philosophy that promotes the inherent worth of all living beings regardless of their instrumental utility to human needs, and the restructuring of modern human societies in accordance with such ideas. Deep ecology argues that the natural world is a complex of relationships in which the existence of organisms is dependent on the existence of others within ecosystems. It argues that non-vital human interference with or destruction of the natural world poses a threat therefore not only to humans but to all organisms constituting the natural order.

(Source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_ecology)

The term was first used by Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess who wrote that deep experience can lead to deep questioning (and vice versa) which leads to a deep connection or commitment. He became an environmental activist and believed when people were deeply connected to nature they would no longer be willing to cause harm.

The Deep Ecology Platform:

(Source: Foundation for Deep Ecology)

The wellbeing and flourishing of human and nonhuman life on Earth have value in themselves (synonyms: inherent worth; intrinsic value; inherent value). These values are independent of the usefulness of the nonhuman world for human purposes.

Richness and diversity of life forms contribute to the realization of these values and are also values in themselves.

Humans have no right to reduce this richness and diversity except to satisfy vital needs.

Present human interference with the nonhuman world is excessive, and the situation is rapidly worsening.

The flourishing of human life and cultures is compatible with a substantial decrease of the human population. The flourishing of nonhuman life requires such a decrease.

Policies must therefore be changed. The changes in policies affect basic economic, technological, and ideological structures. The resulting state of affairs will be deeply different from the present.

The ideological change is mainly that of appreciating life quality (dwelling in situations of inherent worth) rather than adhering to an increasingly higher standard of living. There will be a profound awareness of the difference between big and great.

Those who subscribe to the foregoing points have an obligation directly or indirectly to participate in the attempt to implement the necessary changes.

Source https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/deep-ecology-9a9b8ae4caf7

“Active Hope is waking up to the beauty of life on whose behalf we can act. We belong to this world.” Joanna Macy

A leader and activist in the Deep Ecology field and creator of The Work That Reconnects and Active Hope is Joanna Macy. The Work That Reconnects is a form of group work designed to foster the desire and ability to take part in the healing of our world. Since its inception in the late 1970’s, it has helped countless thousands of people around the globe find solidarity and courage to act despite rapidly worsening social and ecological conditions

Read more about her work here https://www.joannamacy.net/main

Read more about Deep Ecology here: https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/deep-ecology-9a9b8ae4caf7

Watch this short film of Satish Kumar speaking of Shallow Ecology, Deep Ecology, Reverential Ecology and Gaia https://youtu.be/MlmTLvHMg-g

Research is being done to understand the important role Deep Ecology has with preventing future environmental degradation: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330437921_The_role_of_environment_clubs_in_promoting_ecocentrism_in_secondary_schools_student_identity_and_relationship_to_the_earth

Decolonisation

Colonized minds 
hear
“ours” 
and think of
possession

Decolonizing minds
hear
“ours” 
and feel 
Connection 

josievf

What is Decolonization?

The word “decolonisation” was first coined by the German economist Moritz Julius Bonn in the 1930s to describe former colonies that achieved self-governance.

Decolonisation is now used to talk about restorative justice through cultural, psychological and economic freedom.

(Reference: https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-is-decolonisation-131455)

Decolonization is about “cultural, psychological, and economic freedom” for Indigenous people with the goal of achieving Indigenous sovereignty — the right and ability of Indigenous people to practice self-determination over their land, cultures, and political and economic systems. Colonialism is a historical and ongoing global project where settlers continue to occupy land, dictate social, political, and economic systems, and exploit Indigenous people and their resources. It is a global endeavor.

(Reference: https://globalsolidaritylocalaction.sites.haverford.edu/what-is-decolonization-why-is-it-important/)

Decolonization is more than thinking, it calls for action to deconstruct systemic violence!

It calls (instead) for deconstructing settler-imposed systems that continue to oppress Black, Brown, and Indigenous people. Moves of settler innocence domesticate decolonization’s demands of undoing colonialism, eliminating its gendered and racialized hierarchies, and establishing Indigenous sovereignty. The danger of the decolonization metaphor (such as ‘decolonize your mind’) is that it prevents us from actually decolonizing. “It recenters whiteness, it resettles theory, it extends innocence to the settler, it entertains a settler future” rather than recentering Indigenous futures and sovereignty (Tuck and Yang 2012, 3, 35).

(Reference: https://globalsolidaritylocalaction.sites.haverford.edu/what-is-decolonization-why-is-it-important/)

To read more about decolonization and links to articles and tools:

https://www.racialequitytools.org/resources/fundamentals/core-concepts/decolonization-theory-and-practice

Watch a short film called Land Back about the movement to reclaim Indigenous lands

https://youtu.be/HCl6TS5zBIw

Read about Decolonizing academia in South Africa here https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-01696-w

Deep Adaptation

Deep Adaptation is a concept, agenda, and international social movement. It presumes that extreme weather events and other effects of climate change will increasingly disrupt food, water, shelter, power, and social and governmental systems. These disruptions would likely or inevitably cause uneven societal collapse in the next few decades. The word “deep” indicates that strong measures are required to adapt to an unraveling of western industrial lifestyles. The agenda includes values of nonviolence, compassion, curiosity and respect, with a framework for constructive action.

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Adaptation

Image reference: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/11/6280

Image reference: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/11/6280

Read more about the founder of this concept here https://jembendell.com/category/deep-adaptation/

Watch a short video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAZJtFZZYmM

Join the forum here https://deepadaptation.ning.com/

Voice of Nature Artivist : Selah Liberty Joy

Your name…

Selah Liberty Joy

Tell us a little bit about your background…

I am a bit of a movement junkie. I was originally trained as a classical ballerina, and spent a lot of time in the bright lights and sweat smells of theatre. An injury brought me to yoga and I started to question and explore the spirit of my embodiment. I then flowed into circus and the festival scene and have been working in the entertainment industry since. Through that I got to travel all around South Africa and have performed internationally in Europe, Canada, Namibia, Mauritius, Seychelles and the Azores. I’ve enjoyed pretty much every form of dance from martial arts to bellydance to Flamenco to aerial- and this has enabled me to build a diverse and intimate relationship with my body. Now I love exploring the expression and impact that an emotion, spirit or thought form has on movement, mostly through a deep listening that flows into a creative improvisation.

Please share one thing you love about the world today …

Innovation! The melding of polarities to create something new and unique. My personal journey at this time is about this beautiful weaving of the individual within the collective – I feel like I am discovering what inter-dependence is, what collaboration can co-create…its the birthing of a new story like the unfurling of the fern.

Please share one of the things that concern you about the world today…

Misdirected energy.

How would you describe your art? What is the message you would like people to receive when seeing/hearing/ experiencing your artwork?

The dance is an expression of what is now.

The dance is opening to being fully alive.

The dance is passion and pain and pleasure pouring through.

The dance is a heart song, an offering, a union, a prayer of creation.

The dance is an expression of the joy of being alive, on this Earth, connected to all that is.

What motivates you to use your art on behalf of nature?

Communion with Nature has always been present in my life. I feel deeply connected to the land, the soil, the mountains, the trees and plants, the animals and fungi, the waters and oceans, the air and the clouds.I feel deeply connected to my fellow humans. It is through the body that we bridge the gap between human and earth consciousness.

Is there any other area of your life where you are taking action on behalf of our living Earth?

I work with the garden, am conscious of which farmers I am supporting and where my food comes from, plant trees when I can and every day I give gratitude!

What brings you joy?

Wow, way too many things to mention! Id say its in the small things 🙂

Instagram @selahliberty joy

Website www.selahlibertyjoy.com

To watch Earth Stories, Selah’s short film of dances for Nature:

https://selahlibertyjoy.com/performance/online/earth-stories/

Voice of Nature Artivist : Khandiz Joni

The I AM IMPACT Project by Khandiz Joni

Your name

Khandiz Joni

Tell us a little bit about your background…

I am a Chartered Environmentalist, independent sustainability professional and multidisciplinary artist, but I call myself a Creative Sustainableist.

I work with both businesses and individuals to transform their vision into one that stimulates social, environmental and economic cohesion. My approach is to design creative solutions that are ‘conducive to happiness’ and have a positive impact on all Life.

I have been a hair and makeup artist for two decades. Before studying makeup, I attended art school. My work marries conceptual art and thought-provoking narratives using eco-beauty alternatives. My entry into conscious beauty stems from a life-long interest in environmentalism.

I have been experimenting with natural beauty brands since 2006. In 2012 I moved to London from my native Cape Town and actively switched out my professional kit. My editorial and commercial clients include Harpers Bazaar Japan, Fashion Revolution, Absolution Cosmetics, Twelve Beauty and Hunger Magazine.

I have been working with an exclusively green, conscious kit since 2014 after systematically replacing mainstream and conventional brands. I have committed to finishing my kit, at which time I will no longer be a commercial makeup artist and will instead focus on sustainability consultancy work.

Khandiz is a registered Chartered Environmentalist. She holds a certificate from Cambridge University’s Institute for Sustainability Leadership, is certified by the Carbon Literacy Project as ‘Carbon Literate’, and has a Diploma SBP qualification from IEMA.

Passionate about storytelling, creative thinking and systems change, culminating in her entrepreneurial spirit. She was a founding member of A Novel Approach, an award-winning creative consultancy for eco-ethical fashion and beauty brands, was the Editor of Untainted Magazine and guest-writes about sustainable beauty for WGSN and other publications.

You can read more about Khandiz´s life journey here https://vujadecreative.solutions/about-khandiz/

Please share one thing you love about the world today …

Possibility

Please share one of the things that concern you about the world today…

Divisiveness; as it limits our collective opportunity to make meaningful change for every living thing on this planet.

How would you describe your art? What is the message you would like people to receive when seeing/hearing/ experiencing your artwork?

My art – regardless of the medium – is always an invitation to be inquisitive. To me, one of the great advantages of art is that it is subjective, and in being subjective, it offers the viewer an opinion. But it also offers them an opportunity to sit with their opinion and question why it makes them feel a certain way. Which in turn allows them to question and challenge long-held beliefs, and the possibility of seeing things from a new perspective.

What motivates you to use your art on behalf of nature?

My art is rooted in humanity. Humanity – and all life – depends on nature. We are of it. We are in it. How can I create art that depicts humanity if I am not examining our very reliance on nature?

Is there any other area of your life where you are taking action on behalf of our living Earth?

Everything I do, in every aspect of my life and work is dedicated to serving to regenerate living systems, and making this planet we share a happier – eudemonic – place to be. It’s a vocation. I can’t help myself.

What brings you joy?

Seeing people’s expressions when they learn, and understand, a new concept, idea or opportunity. The journeying towards simplicity and clarity (in all contexts) also brings me joy.

Links to website/social media/contact:

www.iamimpactproject.org / IG: @iamimpactproject

www.vujadecreatives.solutions / IG @khandiz

The I AM IMPACT Project_Biodiversity: Bees & Buildings

Photography: Aks Hucklberry

Global Citizen: Liz Bigonova

Bodypainting & Concept: Khandiz Joni

The I AM IMPACT Project_Biodiversity:Fisheries

Photography: @planetaks

Global Citizen: @elliottlevrai

Bodypainting & Concept: Khandiz Joni

The I AM IMPACT Project_Water Security: Body of Water

Global Citizen: @planetaks

Photorgraphy, Bodypainting & Concept: Khandiz Joni

Land-systems Change: Lungs

Global Citizen: Ethan Samuel Jacobs

Photorgraphy, Bodypainting & Concept: Khandiz Joni