In this episode I am delighted to be speaking with pivotal figure in the world of deep ecology - a concept I came into contact with at Schumacher College in 1992 when I studied with Arne Naess - the Norwegian mountaineer and philosopher who coined the term Deep Ecology.
My guest today is deep ecologist, rainforest activist and author JOHN SEED - a fellow ecovillager. He’s based at Narara Ecovillage in NSW and I'm at Crystal Waters on Gubbi Gubbi Country, QLD.
John is the founder and director of the Rainforest Information Centre in Australia. He has worked for rainforests worldwide since 1979. He says many of their campaigns have been successful, but sadly, for every forest saved, another 100 have disappeared. He realised he cannot save the planet one forest at a time - what we needed is a profound change in consciousness.
Deep ecology reminds us that the living world is not a pyramid with humans on top, but a web. We, humans, are but one strand in that web and as we destroy this web, we destroy the foundations for all complex life including our own.
It’s not enough to have ecological ideas, says Arne - we have to have an ecological identity and ecological self. To nourish the ecological identity, John and the american peace scholar-activist Joanna Macy developed a series of experiential rituals called the Council of All Beings. John co-write a book, Thinking Like a Mountain in 1988 about the council of all beings, with Arne Naess, Joanna Macy and Australian Pat Fleming.
https://www.rainforestinformationcentre.org/john_seed
https://www.facebook.com/johnseed.deepecology
https://www.instagram.com/johnseed_deepecology/
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This podcast is hosted by Morag Gamble, founder of the Permaculture Education Institute, where she mentors people to design and teach permaculture in their own unique contexts.
Morag has been asking a central question for thirty years: How are we to live?These podcast conversations are part of her ongoing attempt to think that through in public, in community, with people who care.
Morag is also host of the Ethos Fellowship, Ethos Foundation, International Permaculture Festival of Wild Ideas, steward of Fritjof Capra's international Alumni Network, and member of the Ecocivilistation Coalition.
Discover Morag's permaculture design and teaching courses here.
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Morag records from her solar-powered studio in a permaculture ecovillage on Jinibara & Gubbi Gubbi country.
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