The world is in crisis! And more and more of us are accepting that we need to act quickly, before the tipping point is reached.
We read in the papers, hear on the news and see on our screens, that our planet is dying. We are recognizing that it is our actions that have exacerbated the situation. It is down to us to steer a more positive path ahead. But how? …… by believing in Nature, because we are Nature!
Climate change is not the only disaster we are facing. We are in crisis on many levels. Countries and civilisations at war, economies crashing, communities lost, families breaking, individuals lonely – our current culture is broken!
Why?..... because, as Daniel Christian Wahl explains in his book ‘Designing Regenerative Cultures’, we are currently living in a culture, whose narrative is separation. In general our society sees itself as being separate to Nature, having power over it and exploiting it.
It hasn’t always been this way and around the world, many people still live at one with Nature. These Indigenous Cultures, who until recently many felt had been left behind, are now the people that we are turning to, to help us survive. They have a deep connection and reverence for Nature. Their thinking is holistic and long-term, unlike our own. Their respect for Nature and their recognition of her finite resources, ensure that they live within their means, understanding the impact of their actions.
Through Nature we can learn. More recent studies, such as those of the forest ecologist Suzanne Simard, show that nature is not competitive. She is collaborative. She works together creating connections, sharing resources, growing and declining, releasing and recycling. In this way her biodiversity increases and her resilience builds, creating healthy, thriving eco-systems on many levels.
How can…… we apply this to our own lives? Regenerative Culture is the response created by many, who have thought out side the box, observed Nature and recognized her patterns. They are asking important questions about the changes we need to make, to reconnect with our planet and to build respectful relationships again.
These changes won’t happen overnight and some of the innovative ideas will progress no further than that, but through deep thought provoking questions we can reconsider our purpose and how we need to be, to survive and to live in harmony with Mother Earth.
Small changes on a local level eg. supporting local businesses, eco-conscious purchasing and sharing resources, are just some of the changes that we can all make in our lives. Our local economies will begin to grow, communities build and our mindset will change.
These local community connections will link into other networks on the same level and the next levels up. We will be supporting each other, rather than competing and the biodiversity and resilience of our culture will be increasing. Our narrative will no longer be that of separation, we will be regenerative, just like Nature!
So, take action!..... Why not set up or join a local Climate Action Group, or a Repair Café? There are great projects already running. One close to me is Sussex Green Living, who are thriving both in their home town and inspiring and supporting other communities around them. Take a look at their website and see what you could do.
