Presentation at the International EcoForum for Ecological Civilization
I was delighted to participate in the 2024 International EcoForum for Ecological Civilization in Claremont, CA where there was over 70 absolutely brilliant people from at least 5 different countries. The purpose of the EcoForum is to bring together people from around the world who are cultivating philosophy and practices for Ecological Civilization. The focus of this year’s EcoForum was on balancing the wellbeing of humanity and nature, and showing how these are ultimately one and the same.
The 2024 Claremont EcoForum was a collaboration between The Institute for Ecological Civilization, The Institute for Postmodern Development of China, The Center for Process Studies, and more. Inspired by the work of John Cobb Jr, the members of these organizations have been collaborating for over 20 years to cultivate and promote the concepts of Ecological Civilization. This goes beyond the concepts and practices of sustainability and focuses on cultivating a shift in perception, allowing us to see that we are a part of manifesting nature’s evolutionary imperative.
I was asked to share my paper on humanitarian innovations in education, ‘Grasp the Golden Thread’. I was in excellent company, with people from China and Germany who shared presentations about how education must be focused on holistic wellbeing for an Ecological Civilization to emerge. One section of the event was a Youth Forum, where 5 high school students presented their projects on sustainability. In a discussion with the professors, they shared their views on the current global situation — some dire, some hopeful — as well as their hopes for the future.
Overall, it was a delightful experience to be immersed in a group of people who share my aims and ideals. Most impactful was seeing these brilliant teachers, philosophers, and professionals interact with such enthusiasm to collaborate across cultures for cultivating a bright future. Attending this conference was the perfect ending for the u.lab2x team journey of ‘Rising from the Ashes of Burnout’. I gathered the final pieces I needed for writing my paper on Imaginal Education and made connections for taking my next step in promoting participatory learning: the key to cultivating an ecological civilization.
You can learn more about past and future EcoForums, and view recordings and files from the events HERE
Below is my presentation on Participatory Learning for the Claremont EcoForum. You can read the original article HERE
Below are the slides from the presentation, as requested
You can read the referenced article on VUCA, ‘From Conquest to Participation’, published by Satish Kumar and Schumacher College HERE
You can read the referenced article on VUCA, ‘From Conquest to Participation’, published by Satish Kumar and Schumacher College HERE
