Provided by The School of Economic Science,
11 Mandeville Place, London, W1U 3AJ
Charity numbers 313115 and SC039950
Economics, Energy & Environment
EEE Conference 2014
OVERVIEW
We understand the environmental challenges we face, but why doess western society seem to be sitting on it's hands and continue to increase pollution and resource exploitation? What can we really do to make a difference? How can we really understand nature better?
On June 1st 2014 we brought together some pioneering speakers from around the globe to open up these questions. John Michael Greer shared his views on the future of industrial society and the elements of a personal response. Robin de Carteret took us into the world of living systems to help break us out of the western pattern of machine-like thinking.
CONTENT
The Elements of Response - "I'm just one person. How can I make a difference?"
John Michael Greer's blog, “The Archdruid Report,” has become one of the most widely cited online resources dealing with the future of industrial society.
He brought his wide experience of the appropriate tech movement and cultural history to bear on the predicament of the natural decline of the modern civilisation. He characterised the crisis, and his thoughts on what the experience will really be like for those who live through it (it's not what you might expect!) and explored the elements of a response - the concrete actions you can take and also the personal inner challenges we may have to face.
Experiencing Living Systems
Mechanistic, linear thinking has helped create the wonders of the modern world.
But is this worldview appropriate in a world of increasing complexity and uncertainty? Could it be an underlying cause of the ecological, social and financial crises we currently face? And is there an alternative?
In this workshop, Robin de Carteret explored a living systems worldview and led us through some simple games that model the complex dynamics in organisms, eco-systems, economy & society. We looked at concepts such as feedback, emergence, tipping points, edge of chaos and self-regulation. The games were interspersed with inspiring images and film clips of natural systems exhibiting similar complex emergent behaviour. Robin explored the shift from a 'mechanistic', to a 'living systems' view of the world - one where we move from a paradigm of control, to one of participation.
Host and facilitator for the conference, will provide a summary of the findings from the 5 week course.
ORGANISATION
The Summer 2014 conference sold out, and was a great success. We're considering running the conference again, so if you would like us to let know when we have more information please register your interest below.
LOCATION
The course and conference both take place at The School of Economic Science, 11 Mandeville Place, London W1U 3AJ less than five minutes walk from Bond Street tube station.