I'm interested in your thoughts on Hannah Ritchie's new book. She seems to be reiterating the belief that climate 'doomerism' (or what the well informed tend to call 'climate realism') plays into the hands of climate deniers. I have heard this perspective many times, but am not personally of that view. Would Hannah be someone you might invite onto Planet Critical? She has a book to promote so I'm sure she would agree, and I, for one, would love to hear you interview her.
I was recently reading an excerpt article of hers in the guardian. I honestly got really frustrated by her rhetoric which seemed like a veiled ‘business as usual technology will save us’ approach with what seemed like pretty cherry picked data to present an opinion... so it will be very interesting to hear how your interview went!
Blimey Rachel! I just listened to your interview with Hannah. You're one tough cookie. She was evidently ill prepared for the depth of challenge you presented to her. Fantastic job. I was really quite troubled by her book and you asked all of the questions I felt needed to be asked. Bravo! Great interview!
No probs. I just so wish I could afford to become a paid subscriber, but like many am having to watch the pennies at the moment. But I do promote your channel and site at every opportunity when online. It's such important work you're doing. I don't know what I'd do without you and Nate Hagens guiding me through the complexity of our dire predicament. I feel much less alone and grateful for having you guys help me understand and make sense of it all.
Thanks Rachel! I've read a few of your pieces but this is my first time listening to your podcast. It felt like a really interesting honest chat over a cup of tea! Just lovely!
Running a Church that is trying to change the world - or at least change money which we think WILL change the world - there was a lot in there for me personally!
You talk about language and Religion. And suggest that language might be a reason a new Religion isn't an answer to the metacrisis.
A key moment for me in gaining perspective on that problem (which I agree IS a problem) was understanding Marshall McLuhan's take on Religion. He took Communion every day. For him Church grew around Ritual rather than Holy Text. Engaging in Ritual rather than word (i.e. media) put him closer to its Sacred source.
Obviously, this idea that Ritual and Sacrifice are the gateways to the Divine, Absolute, Sacred or whatever your preferred term is, informs my work.
Words do have magical powers, IMO but they are not the source of the magic. In the same way that money has value, but is not the source of value.
Hi Jon, thank you for such an interesting perspective. I agree that ritual is a different source of power, and isn't an act of the body always more infinitely personal than the reading of a text?
I'd love to know how you think religion can innovate at this time!
Yeah... the experience of the body matters so SO much.
Innovation in the Religious/Spiritual space is a way to describe what we're doing, really. In practical terms its a really good time to be pushing the boundaries... Law in the UK hasn't caught up with the changes in the UK's Religious life since the 50s.
Thank you for your moving, inspiring, and insightful podcasts Rachel. Your openness, vulnerability, compassion and commitment to shaping a better world is just incredible. One little question please: who was the person you quoted as saying something along the lines of: "We're in an emergency and need to slow down?" As a keen supporter of the degrowth movement (although believe it could do with a rebrand!) I'd also love you to interview Jason Hickel, or Erin Remblance....if you haven't done so already? Thank you for all the brilliant work you do. Donna :)
Really enjoyed hearing all of this Rachel - what a wonderful insight into your journey and your thoughts for the future. Inspiring for me particularly as I
-am at the outset of trying to create my job which doesn’t exist and face much challenge to do it aligned with my values.
-have a daughter who’s precarious future is dear to me and
-have been trying to imagine realistic hopeful futures via reading much sci-fi over the years
On that note -
Anarchy - “the dispossessed” by Ursula k le guin is pretty much her manifesto novel on an anarchistic society. Highly recommend
Have a beautiful year, full of (hopefully pleasant) surprises!
Thank you that’s very kind... probably not much crossover as I want to create a guidance service and community for chronic inflammatory disease sufferers, trying to navigate healthcare and recovery!
However I mention it since I’ve always thought that health and happiness (or lack thereof) is what prevents people being able to care about planet, or even other people. And the solution is to learn to care and re-take care away from a largely broken system and become a good steward. And maybe make better systems.
I think you could have some interesting crossover conversations with people in the health/wellness/ psychedelics/ meditation world about how to encourage good world stewardship in people, as many who start by chasing the widely accepted drive for ‘self-improvement’ end up finding far greater meaning beyond their own selves.
She wrote so much... I keep finding short stories I haven’t read, or being reminded of series I’ve almost forgotten about! It’s not all earthsea and hainish! RIP the greatest sci-fi/fantasy poet the world has seen. Enjoy the dispossessed Aidan :)
Listening to your 2100 answer... I would love to hear a conversation between you, Alex Evans and David Steven about their "Long Crisis" scenarios. It's fascinating work, especially at the level of the geopolitics. I think they would agree with you that the G1/G2 of today is not going to continue - their consideration of both "G zero" as a "fragile resilient," chaos scenario (first posited by Ian Bremmer I think), and "G infinity" as a radical distribution of power but with coordination, is fascinating, and I think might contribute to your thinking. I'd also selfishly love to know what you make of it! www.longcrisis.org
"Together, it is essential for us to acknowledge promptly, rather than delaying, that we all reside on an extraordinary, wholly self-sustaining celestial planet. It thrives with minimal support and remains resilient to the necessity for safeguarding as long as we provide for it with individual care." - anonymous.
One can't help but wonder if the plutocrats and their supporters still need convincing that the Earth is not flat!
I beg your pardon, for I approach you with the possibility of my standing being dubious.
A wise and kind retired professor, author of outstanding books on the subject of climate and society told me years ago something I will never forget concerning those issues.
“If the public knew the truth, it would be mass pandemonium or they would ignore the report as an impossible hyperbole.”
After a very long pause, he finished with “ the best advice I can offer is, hug the ones you love every chance you get”.
I'm so pleased you find value in my work. I find Planet: Critical to be quite an emergent being, one that I interact with rather than forge. I do not choose the emphasis, and believe myself to still be in the learning phase. Also, if I may, I think a lot of the "what to do" is offered: love, care, create, dare, laugh, resist. The only way to resist corporate capture of our souls in a growing economy is to grow them even bigger.
Rachel - Thank you for your moving, inspiring, and insightful podcasts. I almost found this one more interesting that your other ones (although you had to do all the talking!). I completely agree with your points about the importance of stories, the opportunity for continuous learning, the wonder that exists in the world if we choose to slow down and see it. And also (if we open our eyes) the critical juncture in our history, and the opportunity for something inside each of us to emerge so that we can play a role in how it unfolds. Some responses will be good, some less so. And finally, please keep going with PC. As someone once said... "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong woman stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the woman who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends herself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if she fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that her place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."
Really enjoyed this Rachel. I'm currently re-reading Latour's "Down To Earth" which was written pre-pandemic, but the points hit home over and over again and resonate with your conclusions shared here. I also recently read Octavia Butler's "Parable of the Sower" and the discussion of religion in this podcast really got me thinking about it again - it is set in the midst of a climate collapse apocalypse and starts set in a gated, walled community to keep the chaos on the outside (ever shrinking borders!), but a core part of the narrative is about the protagonists generation of a new religion called Earthseed, which is being developed and trialed throughout the narrative. Earthseed as a religion is about living and change - but has a bit of a techno-futurist element to it which is about humanity reaching the stars. Perhaps that is open to interpretation!
I only know this one by Butler, I will pick up the sequel soon - I definitely recommend Parable of the Sower, it is a bit bleak to read, much like "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy, but also deeper and more entangled in politics, social justice, religion
Thank you for this! Very open and vulnerable. I love the part when you speak about having been able to find meaningful work and career path. It reminds me of the ideas and hopes I had for myself when I was in my 20s. Unfortunately for most of us financial reality rears its ugly head sooner than later and we need to give up our time and ideals to earn the money for food and rent. As we know writing and journalism are not professions that allow most people to earn sustainable living. The bit I'm missing from your piece is any insight into your class background. Sounds like you had some privilege of financial stability to pursue your interests and passions. I don't mean it as an attack, just a genuine curiosity about what shaped you and the rest of us and our lives.
Thanks Rachel. I really enjoyed this podcast.
I'm interested in your thoughts on Hannah Ritchie's new book. She seems to be reiterating the belief that climate 'doomerism' (or what the well informed tend to call 'climate realism') plays into the hands of climate deniers. I have heard this perspective many times, but am not personally of that view. Would Hannah be someone you might invite onto Planet Critical? She has a book to promote so I'm sure she would agree, and I, for one, would love to hear you interview her.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/jan/02/hannah-ritchie-not-the-end-of-the-world-interview?fbclid=IwAR0zwJF-wR2Nm_UFeTw4rscCObjTVFX-El8e9djTNvnu_pRQ-MQ4WGx1hA8
I'm interviewing her in one hour for Mongabay!
Haha amazing timing.
I was recently reading an excerpt article of hers in the guardian. I honestly got really frustrated by her rhetoric which seemed like a veiled ‘business as usual technology will save us’ approach with what seemed like pretty cherry picked data to present an opinion... so it will be very interesting to hear how your interview went!
Blimey Rachel! I just listened to your interview with Hannah. You're one tough cookie. She was evidently ill prepared for the depth of challenge you presented to her. Fantastic job. I was really quite troubled by her book and you asked all of the questions I felt needed to be asked. Bravo! Great interview!
Thanks so much, Patrick!!
No probs. I just so wish I could afford to become a paid subscriber, but like many am having to watch the pennies at the moment. But I do promote your channel and site at every opportunity when online. It's such important work you're doing. I don't know what I'd do without you and Nate Hagens guiding me through the complexity of our dire predicament. I feel much less alone and grateful for having you guys help me understand and make sense of it all.
Fantastic! I'll look forward to hearing it.
Thanks Rachel! I've read a few of your pieces but this is my first time listening to your podcast. It felt like a really interesting honest chat over a cup of tea! Just lovely!
Running a Church that is trying to change the world - or at least change money which we think WILL change the world - there was a lot in there for me personally!
You talk about language and Religion. And suggest that language might be a reason a new Religion isn't an answer to the metacrisis.
A key moment for me in gaining perspective on that problem (which I agree IS a problem) was understanding Marshall McLuhan's take on Religion. He took Communion every day. For him Church grew around Ritual rather than Holy Text. Engaging in Ritual rather than word (i.e. media) put him closer to its Sacred source.
Obviously, this idea that Ritual and Sacrifice are the gateways to the Divine, Absolute, Sacred or whatever your preferred term is, informs my work.
Words do have magical powers, IMO but they are not the source of the magic. In the same way that money has value, but is not the source of value.
Look forward to hearing more from you in 2024!
All the best wishes! Jon x
Hi Jon, thank you for such an interesting perspective. I agree that ritual is a different source of power, and isn't an act of the body always more infinitely personal than the reading of a text?
I'd love to know how you think religion can innovate at this time!
Yeah... the experience of the body matters so SO much.
Innovation in the Religious/Spiritual space is a way to describe what we're doing, really. In practical terms its a really good time to be pushing the boundaries... Law in the UK hasn't caught up with the changes in the UK's Religious life since the 50s.
Thank you for your moving, inspiring, and insightful podcasts Rachel. Your openness, vulnerability, compassion and commitment to shaping a better world is just incredible. One little question please: who was the person you quoted as saying something along the lines of: "We're in an emergency and need to slow down?" As a keen supporter of the degrowth movement (although believe it could do with a rebrand!) I'd also love you to interview Jason Hickel, or Erin Remblance....if you haven't done so already? Thank you for all the brilliant work you do. Donna :)
Thank you kindly, Donna.
I quote Bayo Akumalafe :)
Thanks so much. I haven't seen this piece and look forward to reading and sharing :)
It really strikes a chord.
Really enjoyed hearing all of this Rachel - what a wonderful insight into your journey and your thoughts for the future. Inspiring for me particularly as I
-am at the outset of trying to create my job which doesn’t exist and face much challenge to do it aligned with my values.
-have a daughter who’s precarious future is dear to me and
-have been trying to imagine realistic hopeful futures via reading much sci-fi over the years
On that note -
Anarchy - “the dispossessed” by Ursula k le guin is pretty much her manifesto novel on an anarchistic society. Highly recommend
Have a beautiful year, full of (hopefully pleasant) surprises!
Tom
Oh, good luck, Tom!! I'm so pleased to hear that! Let me know if the P:C community can be of any help.
Thank you that’s very kind... probably not much crossover as I want to create a guidance service and community for chronic inflammatory disease sufferers, trying to navigate healthcare and recovery!
However I mention it since I’ve always thought that health and happiness (or lack thereof) is what prevents people being able to care about planet, or even other people. And the solution is to learn to care and re-take care away from a largely broken system and become a good steward. And maybe make better systems.
I think you could have some interesting crossover conversations with people in the health/wellness/ psychedelics/ meditation world about how to encourage good world stewardship in people, as many who start by chasing the widely accepted drive for ‘self-improvement’ end up finding far greater meaning beyond their own selves.
I love Le Guin and haven't read The Dispossessed yet - I will get on it!
She wrote so much... I keep finding short stories I haven’t read, or being reminded of series I’ve almost forgotten about! It’s not all earthsea and hainish! RIP the greatest sci-fi/fantasy poet the world has seen. Enjoy the dispossessed Aidan :)
Listening to your 2100 answer... I would love to hear a conversation between you, Alex Evans and David Steven about their "Long Crisis" scenarios. It's fascinating work, especially at the level of the geopolitics. I think they would agree with you that the G1/G2 of today is not going to continue - their consideration of both "G zero" as a "fragile resilient," chaos scenario (first posited by Ian Bremmer I think), and "G infinity" as a radical distribution of power but with coordination, is fascinating, and I think might contribute to your thinking. I'd also selfishly love to know what you make of it! www.longcrisis.org
"Together, it is essential for us to acknowledge promptly, rather than delaying, that we all reside on an extraordinary, wholly self-sustaining celestial planet. It thrives with minimal support and remains resilient to the necessity for safeguarding as long as we provide for it with individual care." - anonymous.
One can't help but wonder if the plutocrats and their supporters still need convincing that the Earth is not flat!
I beg your pardon, for I approach you with the possibility of my standing being dubious.
A wise and kind retired professor, author of outstanding books on the subject of climate and society told me years ago something I will never forget concerning those issues.
“If the public knew the truth, it would be mass pandemonium or they would ignore the report as an impossible hyperbole.”
After a very long pause, he finished with “ the best advice I can offer is, hug the ones you love every chance you get”.
I love that, no matter the scenario.
After careful consideration, I should mention him. Brooke Babineau. A brilliant man and an even better friend.
Good morning Rachel
Love your work.
If I may; would you consider shifting the emphasis more to the "what to do about it" as the main take away?
Our sense is that many people are ready to contribute positively and are hungry for more lived examples to encourage and inspire them.
All the best to you and your followers. Let's turn the corner together.
Respectfully,
Jim and Joan Canada
Hi Jim and Joan,
I'm so pleased you find value in my work. I find Planet: Critical to be quite an emergent being, one that I interact with rather than forge. I do not choose the emphasis, and believe myself to still be in the learning phase. Also, if I may, I think a lot of the "what to do" is offered: love, care, create, dare, laugh, resist. The only way to resist corporate capture of our souls in a growing economy is to grow them even bigger.
Rachel - Thank you for your moving, inspiring, and insightful podcasts. I almost found this one more interesting that your other ones (although you had to do all the talking!). I completely agree with your points about the importance of stories, the opportunity for continuous learning, the wonder that exists in the world if we choose to slow down and see it. And also (if we open our eyes) the critical juncture in our history, and the opportunity for something inside each of us to emerge so that we can play a role in how it unfolds. Some responses will be good, some less so. And finally, please keep going with PC. As someone once said... "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong woman stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the woman who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends herself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if she fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that her place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."
“No action is too small to transform the world" - climate activist Vanessa Nakate
Really enjoyed this Rachel. I'm currently re-reading Latour's "Down To Earth" which was written pre-pandemic, but the points hit home over and over again and resonate with your conclusions shared here. I also recently read Octavia Butler's "Parable of the Sower" and the discussion of religion in this podcast really got me thinking about it again - it is set in the midst of a climate collapse apocalypse and starts set in a gated, walled community to keep the chaos on the outside (ever shrinking borders!), but a core part of the narrative is about the protagonists generation of a new religion called Earthseed, which is being developed and trialed throughout the narrative. Earthseed as a religion is about living and change - but has a bit of a techno-futurist element to it which is about humanity reaching the stars. Perhaps that is open to interpretation!
Must read Octavia butler... thanks for the reminder, should I start with this book? Or would you recommend another?
I only know this one by Butler, I will pick up the sequel soon - I definitely recommend Parable of the Sower, it is a bit bleak to read, much like "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy, but also deeper and more entangled in politics, social justice, religion
Weapons of the Weak book by James C. Scott
The Revolution of Everyday Life by Raoul Vaneigem
The Enemy of Nature: The End of Capitalism or the End of the World by Joel Kovel
Thank you for this! Very open and vulnerable. I love the part when you speak about having been able to find meaningful work and career path. It reminds me of the ideas and hopes I had for myself when I was in my 20s. Unfortunately for most of us financial reality rears its ugly head sooner than later and we need to give up our time and ideals to earn the money for food and rent. As we know writing and journalism are not professions that allow most people to earn sustainable living. The bit I'm missing from your piece is any insight into your class background. Sounds like you had some privilege of financial stability to pursue your interests and passions. I don't mean it as an attack, just a genuine curiosity about what shaped you and the rest of us and our lives.
What a beautiful last question. One I think we all need to ask ourselves.
And a beautiful answer. I agree, we must keep trying. Not to do so will guarantee failure, while continuing to try offers a chance of success.