Quakers debate deep transformation for climate activism
‘The key topic really was tackling challenging questions for the mobilisation of the climate majority.'
Four hundred people gathered earlier this month to discuss the vision and strategy needed to transform the climate action scene. Quaker Rupert Read, last year’s Salter Lecturer, and Liam Kavanagh, both co-directors of the Climate Majority Project, were interviewed by Jeremy Lent, author of The Patterning Instinct and The Web of Meaning. The online event aimed to debate ‘tricky issues and difficult questions’ and the ‘Deep Transformation we need to have a future’.
‘It went splendidly in my view,’ Rupert Read, from Norwich Meeting, told the Friend. ‘Certainly, that was the sense at the end from those who spoke out and were active in the chat.
‘The key topic really was tackling challenging questions for the mobilisation of the climate majority, such as: how do we appeal effectively to most people even while doing things that are challenging, such as telling the truth – including about how big the civilisational transformation is going to have to be.’
The event on 2 April grappled with ‘key questions’ including: how can we talk about the truth of the climate emergency without causing people to shut down emotionally? How does the climate crisis relate to the larger ecological crisis facing the Earth and humanity? How can the internal contradictions of our current system be discussed without alienating most people?
The video of the event can be seen on YouTube.
According to campaigners, ways to communicate without causing ‘climate fatigue’ include: emphasising creativity; collaboration; positivity; wording; and ‘giving people a reason’. ‘I constantly return to the message that there is so much beauty and life in the world that can be saved,’ recommends one therapist, specialising in climate grief. ‘I talk to them about attending beach clean ups and tree planting days’ as well as fossil fuel-free financial institutions.
Comments
Just a thought: I don’t suppose that headlong population growth could have anything to do with this?
By RogerP on 25th April 2024 - 11:26
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