They know, we know and even those that contest the existence of this human-made crisis know if only as a lurking fear they can't identify. Yet we continue. It is difficult to live in this world without contributing to the problem but as a result we do violence to ourselves every day that we somehow have to live with. Some externalise that violence seeking a sense of control and a recognition of their existence while others direct it inwards and all the shades in between but it is a mental health crisis for everyone.
The sickness is our disconnectedness from the real world. The 'hard' science that Jessica talked about is a symptom of this, seeing what happens in the world as an objectively measurable thing that can be understood without reference to human experience and particularly the scientist's own experience of life.
In 'developed' nations we conveniently omit to ask questions about how this thing we have bought was acquired or jump on the easy slogan of 'green', 'sustainable' or other salve for our consciences printed on the packaging whether it is merited or not as long as we can continue this fiction and not face the reality of what is happening. I am not exempt as I swing between outrage and compliance, trying to negotiate this split existence.
I was just hearing, as I was writing this, about the town of Tunstall in England who in the face of local authority cuts created the Tunstall Action Group to rally locals to clean up the town themselves ( https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/maketunstallgreatagain/ ). This for me epitomises how we might transition from our learned helplessness to a sense of agency in the context of a community who we largely know (or are getting to know!) and with whom we share the lived reality of the landscape around us. Re-rooting ourselves in our surroundings helps to bring our sense of care to the fore, initially for the task in hand but ultimately for people who surround us too.
It will take some time to reduce our reliance on the abstract (and abstracting) supply of goods that we currently take for granted but it is a journey and one that starts at home.
Indigineity is not just an historical account of ancient tribes but an enduring sense of belonging to the land on which you live with all the life contained therein. A deep acknowledgment of our reliance on the continuing health of our land that is expressed both through the awareness of our senses and the wonder and mystery of what surrounds us.
By the by, this interview comes on the back of me finishing the Spell of The Sensuous by David Abram and is crystallising many of my rather random thoughts!
Never mind "simple solutions," there are no solutions at all. What people yearn for is to continue with modern lifestyles and that is what is driving so-called renewables energy deployment. Those lifestyles are just not sustainable and cannot be made so.
It should be noted that mega-fauna extinctions were a feature of humans' relationship with the land, long before modernity arose and indigenous peoples living modern life-styles are no better or worse than those who we don't think of as indigenous.
One might think there is nothing to hope for but reality has nothing to do with what humans (or any other species) hope for.
They know, we know and even those that contest the existence of this human-made crisis know if only as a lurking fear they can't identify. Yet we continue. It is difficult to live in this world without contributing to the problem but as a result we do violence to ourselves every day that we somehow have to live with. Some externalise that violence seeking a sense of control and a recognition of their existence while others direct it inwards and all the shades in between but it is a mental health crisis for everyone.
The sickness is our disconnectedness from the real world. The 'hard' science that Jessica talked about is a symptom of this, seeing what happens in the world as an objectively measurable thing that can be understood without reference to human experience and particularly the scientist's own experience of life.
In 'developed' nations we conveniently omit to ask questions about how this thing we have bought was acquired or jump on the easy slogan of 'green', 'sustainable' or other salve for our consciences printed on the packaging whether it is merited or not as long as we can continue this fiction and not face the reality of what is happening. I am not exempt as I swing between outrage and compliance, trying to negotiate this split existence.
I was just hearing, as I was writing this, about the town of Tunstall in England who in the face of local authority cuts created the Tunstall Action Group to rally locals to clean up the town themselves ( https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/maketunstallgreatagain/ ). This for me epitomises how we might transition from our learned helplessness to a sense of agency in the context of a community who we largely know (or are getting to know!) and with whom we share the lived reality of the landscape around us. Re-rooting ourselves in our surroundings helps to bring our sense of care to the fore, initially for the task in hand but ultimately for people who surround us too.
It will take some time to reduce our reliance on the abstract (and abstracting) supply of goods that we currently take for granted but it is a journey and one that starts at home.
Indigineity is not just an historical account of ancient tribes but an enduring sense of belonging to the land on which you live with all the life contained therein. A deep acknowledgment of our reliance on the continuing health of our land that is expressed both through the awareness of our senses and the wonder and mystery of what surrounds us.
By the by, this interview comes on the back of me finishing the Spell of The Sensuous by David Abram and is crystallising many of my rather random thoughts!
Rachel uncensored finally woman to woman. complexity to complexity. bravo. loved your tone and kindness to yourself and us all
Never mind "simple solutions," there are no solutions at all. What people yearn for is to continue with modern lifestyles and that is what is driving so-called renewables energy deployment. Those lifestyles are just not sustainable and cannot be made so.
It should be noted that mega-fauna extinctions were a feature of humans' relationship with the land, long before modernity arose and indigenous peoples living modern life-styles are no better or worse than those who we don't think of as indigenous.
One might think there is nothing to hope for but reality has nothing to do with what humans (or any other species) hope for.
I would love to share my perspective on a possible path to something better.
can't wait to read the "boring dystopia" chapter. without the socialised people skills and with all of Rachel's heart