I am sure that I am not the only one struggling mentally under the heavy cloud that is the metacrisis; climate collapse, the fall of the international rules-based order, and wars waged under deranged leadership – all fuelled by growing wealth inequality and fascism rearing its ugly head again.
Perhaps worst of all is societal division led by media bias and BS, which makes it all too easy to believe the bad guys are winning and that kindness and decency are on the retreat. But how should we behave in order to be effective in driving urgently needed change?
My wife Geetie is filling the cupboards with lentils and buying wind-up radios; her inclination is to provide not just for our family but for our community. Given the drought and fires of this summer, far worse to come is now inevitable. Who could question the justification of “disruptive” climate protesters – banged up, silenced, and derided? Apparently the disruption to commuters was the real crime.
I have until now avoided watching the People’s Emergency Briefing, even though it was made by friends… Geetie and I felt it would be more than we could bear. But last week we took the plunge and attended a community screening at our local village hall. I stepped out, not happier, but more resolved – yes, massive, disruptive change is inevitable but we can still reduce the scale of the calamity. Nor am I alone in recognising this: the Peoples’ Climate Vote 2024 found that 72% of people want to see a fast transition away from fossil fuels.
If we can mobilise and maintain our love for each other, while building resilient communities on less complexity and consumption, the disruption ahead might just be bearable. Which is why we’ll be screening the People’s Emergency Briefing online on the 6 November at 2pm (GMT). I hope you’ll join me and Professor Mike Berners-Lee for the film, followed by a live conversation (Riverford customers can book their free spot here).
I’d also recommend the funny and sensitively made film Derek v Derek, which charts the turbulent relationship of two Devon farmers – garrulous, “maverick rewilder” Derek Gow and Derek Banbury, the obstinate, intensive farmer, proud of his orderly hedges.
A lot less hopeful is Sarah Wilson’s book, I Eat the Stars, which I found honest, helpful, and paradoxically uplifting. Personally, I am done with “hopium” – hope without action turns out to be complicity.
Watch the trailer for the People’s Emergency Briefing here
Image of a community screening c/o the People’s Emergency Briefing
Our News from the Farm posts come from Riverford. They are the digital versions of the printed letters which go out to customers, every week via Riverford’s veg boxes. Guy Singh-Watson’s weekly newsletters connect people to the farm with refreshingly honest accounts of the trials and tribulations of producing organic food, and the occasional rant about farming, ethical, and business issues he feels strongly about.
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