Meeting notes

–Notes are in reverse chronological order:–

May 12th, 2020 — Reactions to the readings on ‘First Nations Resistance and Climate change’ and other thoughts ....

Sovereignty versus practical realities of living Decolonization Indigenous prophecy meets scientific prediction Resolving generational trauma Reconnecting - The crux of Westernization - Creating spaces to reconnect to our bodies and to the Earth Trust what is emerging Sharing experiences (Indigenous and non-Indigenous) from different parts of the world: Latin America/Europe/Africa/North America/Australia The role and positive presence of the outsider Need for a local, tribal, national, global shared vision allowing for diversity Challenging complexity - e.g. Indigenous rights versus green movement The need for time .... to pause, reflect and work out directions, draw together differences Workers rights and the need to take care of existing workers in a just transition to alternatives. Degrowth will mean less traditional ‘work’ and so the need for something else. The role of science in a just transition (multiple sciences not just Western) New normal – shared perspectives under lock down - how to capture this Bruno Latour’s notion of living on two (or more) different planets (in his book ‘Down to Earth’) Certain groups of people being considered expendable Exploring communication ... We are in a liminal space - of confusion, of messiness, of not knowing where we are or where we are going, lets accept this and allow it to be, so we don't rush to ‘solutions’ that are not meaningful or effective. How can we build a nation? What is it and how will we all contribute? Being in a container – sharing our own transitions, in touch with principles that are important to us How can we ‘re-enter’ in a just way - acknowledging the role that African Americans and others have played in serving others at their own cost - what is their sense of place? Building relationships - who each person is, what do you like, love and do Flesh out the ways that change can happen and the threats to those changes Important that we recognize power and how it is applied Patient trust versus the need for action

May 27th, 2020 — Reactions to ‘Disaster Capitalism and a People’s response’ and other thoughts

The views and perspectives are still very much from the US or Australia and do not reflect well the experiences from Latin America – how to bring these in? Questioning that the answer to problems with capitalism is socialism – must consider the problems of socialism too especially in Latin America. Need also to question the model of development of the West.

Just transition is still the key thing arising from these materials – taking care of workers in existing systems whilst transforming to new systems

Considering ways in which we can connect with others - global practices and networks - this is a touchable moment

We need to question and consider the role of work – the idea of work, vulnerable workers, essential work, whose work? Who for? The connection between work, knowledge and social cohesion.

The following themes arose in our discussion:

Just transition Work Re-balancing power Values of success – truth meaning and value Capitalism/socialism – nationalism, growth, greed Westernization Wholeness versus patriarchy and racism Political theology of the earth (Katherine Keller) Corporations, power and culture

We considered the following action items we would like to include in future meetings:

Critical friend - someone to help you question your own assumptions and ideas Sharing one idea or reading from the two weeks before - if it's a paper please share beforehand otherwise just bring it up at the meeting Taking one of the themes above and leading a discussion around this with associated papers, etc. - please let us know if you are interested Graphic recording – Holly Bring in the work of other networks and meetings and share these with the group - please bring this up each session as appropriate Digital place to store readings and links - Jerry/Eric to consider mechanisms

Critical friends

My suggestions are as follows – I've tried to think about overlaps of interests / enough difference to support criticality/ people that don't know each other so well to stretch us. I will think of an activity for our next meeting to use critical friends to get us going.

Caroline/Holly – Jerry/Glevy – John/Eric – Debbie/Melissa

July 9th, 2020 — Reaction to Democracy (but more specifically to the anti-racism movement)