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Alternative Futures: Pathways Toward Ecological Civilization
October 28, 2016 - October 29, 2016
Free – $29This interactive conference seeks to explore and inspire new “social imaginaries” through case studies that represent real alternatives in humanity’s movement toward positive futures.
In recent years, a new sub-genre of speculative fiction, called climate fiction (cli-fi), has captivated the public’s imagination, providing apocalyptic and dystopian stories about a future wrecked by climate change. Whether in the novels of Kim Stanley Robinson and Margaret Atwood or in films like The Day After Tomorrow or TV shows like The 100, the dominant narratives surrounding climate change are all about survival of the fittest. Most stories portray a future civilization steeped in violence, where people begin to starve because of food shortages resulting from drought, dead soil, and overpopulation. But, are these the only futures we can envision? Could we envision a future of flourishing and not just survival?
We think so. This conference seeks to present and inspire new “social imaginaries”—that is, new narratives that tell the story of humanity’s movement toward more positive alternative futures. We will seek to inspire new speculative visions based on principles of cooperation, community, and caring, because just as a boat glides better when we all row in the same direction, an optimal response to the dangers of climate catastrophe is one where we imagine together viable pathways toward ecological civilization. To that end, this conference will develop visions of alternative futures connected to case studies of real alternatives, called concrete utopias. Constructing and inhabiting these social imaginaries is indispensable if humans are to recognize our current situation and set course toward more sustainable modes of existing on this planet.
Format & Goals:
The overall goal of the conference will be to identify how the broad vision of ecological civilization relates to 6 key sectors. To accomplish this, the conference will be thematically organized in two parts: (1) envisioning alternative futures, and (2) conceptually mapping pathways toward ecological civilization. These two parts will help participants envision a future that is not only desirable, but also achievable given current constraints (eg. available resources, consumption patterns, population growth, and current science and technology). The general aim of the conference is to concretely and historically situate positive visions of alternative futures in our contemporary situation.
To accomplish this, the main body of the conference will be organized into 4 Eco Talks and 6 Woodsheds. Eco Talks and Woodsheds will shift participants’ focus from a broader to a more focused account of transition in one of 6 sectors, so that participants shift between an ideal vision of the future and its potential exemplification in initiatives that currently exist. Eco Talks are 1-hour long sessions combining a lecture from an expert with a Q&A session. They will help broaden our focus, affording a big picture assessment of what is required to transition society toward ecological civilization. Woodsheds are 1.5-hour long sessions divided into three 30-minute sections, comprising a “brainstorming” session, “featured presentations,” and “strategizing” session. The woodsheds allow space to hone in on 6 key domains of the transition. In each of the Woodsheds, participants will be asked to imagine a positive future within a specific domain (during the “brainstorming” session). Then, they will listen to an expert describe local initiatives presenting possible pathways toward ecological civilization (during the “featured presentations”). Finally, participants will be asked to craft strategies for implementing their ideal vision through 3 different pathways: local, regional/national, and global (during the “strategizing” session).
Overall, the conference is formatted to be an interactive platform for participants to consult experts, generate knowledge, and craft strategies for constructing an ecological civilization. Participants will work together to coordinate and apply their collective wisdom toward the design and implementation of an ideal future. The collective visions and strategies we discuss will be artistically represented and material from the conference will be published in an effort to present positive, inspiring visions that can help mobilize transition to a more just, sustainable world.
[themify_button style=”blue” link=”https://ecociv.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/ConferenceSchedule.pdf” target=”<strong>_blank</strong>”]Tentative Schedule[/themify_button]
EcoTalk Featured Speakers:
Gar Alperovitz
The Next System Project: Political Economic Reform
Oct. 28 (10:45am-11:45am)
Butler 201, Claremont School of Theology
Gar Alperovitz has had a distinguished career as a historian, political economist, activist, writer, and government official. For fifteen years, he served as the Lionel R. Bauman Professor of Political Economy at the University of Maryland, and is a former Fellow of Kings College, Cambridge University; Harvard’s Institute of Politics; the Institute for Policy Studies; and a Guest Scholar at the Brookings Institution. He is also the co-chair of the Next System Project, a project of the Democracy Collaborative.
Systemic Crisis and Systemic Change in the United States in the 21st Century (PDF)
Gar Alperovitz on The Cleveland Model
Gar Alperovitz on Evolutionary Reconstruction
Erik Olin Wright
Envisioning Real Utopias: Pathways to Positive Futures
Oct 28 (5:00pm-6:00pm)
Butler 201, Claremont School of Theology
Erik Olin Wright is an American analytical Marxist sociologist, specializing in social stratification, and in egalitarian alternative futures to capitalism. Wright has introduced novel concepts to adapt to this change of perspective including deep democracy and interstitial revolution. Recently, Wright has been associated with a renewed understanding of a socialist alternative, deeply rooted on social associativism. The transition to this alternative, according to Wright, depends on designing and building “real utopias,” the name of a research and book of his. “Real utopias,” combine alternatives to prevailing institutions that carry moral principles in accordance to a just and humane world and that are concerned with problems of viability.
Erik Olin Wright on the Basic Values of Social Change
Erik Olin Wright on the Mondragon Corporation
Tian Song
Oct. 29 (9:00am-10:00am)
Round Building, Claremont United Methodist Church
Tian Song is a professor at the Institute for History and Philosophy of Science at Beijing Normal University. Tianworks at the junction of philosophy of science, history of science, anthropology of science, environmental history, environmental philosophy, and interdisciplinary case studies. His books include A Touching Collapse of the World (2015),Warning Science (2014), The Remains of the Spirits’ World: The Change of Naxi the Ancient Ethnic Group (2008), The Skepticism in the Age of Limited Earth: Will the Future World be Made of Garbage? (2007), and a translation from John Wheeler, At Home in the Universe (2006), the latter two of which were awarded a secondary Wenjin Book Prize from the Chinese National Library
David Korten
Change the Story, Change the Future
Oct. 29 (5:00pm-6:00pm)
Round Building, Claremont United Methodist Church
David C. Korten is a cofounder and board chair of YES! Magazine, co-chair of the New Economy Working Group, founder and president of the Living Economies Forum, a member of the Club of Rome, a founding board member emeritus of the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, a former Associate of the International Forum on Globalization, and a former Harvard Business School professor.
David Korten on “What does ecological civilization mean to you?”
David Korten on “What are the characteristics to support an ecological civilization?”
Woodshed Featured Speakers:
Andy Shrader
Political Engagement
Oct. 28 (9:00am-10:30)
Butler 201, Claremont School of Theology
Andy Shrader is Director of Environmental Affairs, Water Policy & Sustainability for the 5th District of the City of Los Angeles. He advises Councilmember Paul Koretz on issues related to the environment, climate change, water policy, technology and sustainability, working to ensure the city can meet its present economic, environmental, and sociopolitical needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. He staffs the Councilmember on the Energy and Environment Committee. Andy was elected in 2003 as one of the founding members of the Mar Vista Community Council where his most notable motion instituted the popular Mar Vista Farmer’s Market. He earned a Master’s Degree in Screenwriting and a Certificate in Global Sustainability from UCLA, wrote the celebrity speeches for 10 years for the EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women (in support of cancer research, treatment and support) and was awarded Heal the Bay’s 2011 “Super Healer Award” for his work on marine debris plastic waste issues.
Herman Greene
Values & Worldviews
Oct. 28 (1:30pm-3:00pm)
Butler 201, Claremont School of Theology
With over 30 years of experience practicing law, Herman Greene also has decades of experience in environmental issues–seeking well-being in all life communities. He is founder of the Center for Ecozoic Societies. He was the Founding Executive Director of the International Process Network, an association promoting process-relational philosophies, and continues to serve on its Board of Governors. He is on the Board of Advisors of the Center for Process Studies and for the Institute for the Post-Modern Development of China, both in Claremont, CA. Further, he carries on a part-time practice in corporate, tax and securities lawyer at Greene Law, PLLC. He holds degrees in Spirituality and Sustainability, DMin, United Theological Seminary 2004; Law, JD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1979; Ministry, MTh and MDiv, University of Chicago Divinity School 1969 and 1970; Political Science, MA, Stanford University 1967; and Political Science, BA, University of Florida 1966.
Becky Rittenburg
Education
Oct. 28 (3:15pm-4:45pm)
Butler 201, Claremont School of Theology
Becky Rittenburg is Community Programs Manager for the Chino Basin Water Conservation District. Over the past six years, Becky has conducted watershed science research and developed project-based watershed education programming and curriculum for K-12 schools. She is passionate about getting kids outside to explore their watersheds, and to giving students a voice in the conservation conversation. Collaborating with partners to provide integrated opportunities for learning, research and restoration of our urban watershed is the most satisfying part of her job. When not working, you can find Becky exploring southern California’s diverse ecosystems and rafting western rivers.
Joanne Poyourow
Lifestyles & Communities
Oct. 29 (10:15am-11:45)
Round Building, Claremont United Methodist Church
Joanne Poyourow is an author, an educator, a gardener, and a community builder. Joanne has lead Environmental Change-Makers for 11 years, and brought the ideas of the international Transition Movement to Los Angeles. She is one of the founding members of the Transition Los Angeles city hub which is preparing local communities for the changes coming with global warming, peak oil, and economic contraction. Transition Los Angeles supports action groups in many local communities within the greater Los Angeles area. It is perhaps the largest metropolitan area in the world that is working with Transition ideas.
Kenji Williams
Creative Arts
Oct. 29 (1:30pm-3:00pm)
Round Building, Claremont United Methodist Church
Kenji Williams is Founder and Director of Bella Gaia. He is a composer and director for multi-media live theater, augmented reality, virtual reality, and interactive datavisualization. Named a “100 Top Creative” by Origin Magazine, a World Technology Network award finalist in Arts, Entertainment, and Education, and a Grammy voting member, Williams explores the nexus of art and science through collaborations as diverse as astronaut Koichi Wakata orbiting live aboard the International Space Station, multimedia artist Paul Miller, top world music musicians, and institutions such as NASA, UNEP, UNESCO.
Xavier Rizos
Economics
Oct. 29 (3:15pm-4:45pm)
Round Building, Claremont United Methodist Church
Xavier Rizos is an analyst for the P2P (Peer-to-Peer) Foundation. The Foundation is a global network of researchers and practitioners monitoring and promoting actions geared towards a transition to a Commons-based society. We are a decentralized, self-organized, globally distributed community building an information-commons ecosystem for the growing P2P/Commons movement. They examine both the digital and the material worlds, their freedoms and restrictions, scarcities and abundances. They are an incubator and catalyst, focusing on the “missing pieces” and the interconnectedness that can lead to a wider movement.
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