I don't know if there is a "most effective" way. I think different people will respond to different things. You will be slowed by skepticism, naysayers, and politics no matter what way you choose. Societal attitudes change at a glacier pace so it is often difficult to see the impact even if it's happening.
Thanks for devoting your time and intellect to this worthy topic, Julie. Yeah, when notions (or myths) of “sustainable development” or “ecosystem services” don’t work (and I believe they don’t), we’ve always got joy and wonder in nature. They’re still intrinsic to what it means to be human, and perhaps they’re the message.
Dear Julie, your essay on how to message the environment made me stop and think many times. I think storytelling is an old art form but I feel it is where we can inspire change and hope. It's where we can imagine alternative futures, and communities based on love and trust, joy and sustainability. A good short story will move you, get down into your bones. And if your heart is in it, your head will follow, then maybe your car!
Here's to more brilliant nature stories!
Thank you for including me in your list of nature writers here, I am deeply honoured.
So glad you’re here, Kate! Indeed, stories create worlds — first in our imaginations, then in reality. It’s not even cause and effect as that implies; the veil between them is thin. 💚😊
Hello Maurice, I’ve been thinking about this too. When writers and artists work together we combine our audiences. So perhaps this is my moment to connect and reach out to other nature writers, as Julie has so brilliantly demonstrated. I will think more about how I might do this in 2025. Let’s stay in touch here and see what we can come up with. Perhaps others are interested too? Let me know if you have any ideas on how we can work together on this?
On another note- I am very lucky to live in Tasmania, a small Island at the bottom of the world, that is home to some brilliant nature writers and storytellers. Check out writer Robbie Arnott, he writes brilliant eco-fiction. Where animals and clouds and fire take on personalities. How latest book is Dusk.
Hi Kate, I have a stack for adventure stories, historical semi fiction, and personal. Another stack where I am gearing up to assist Green writers to develop. I am halfway to putting a team of twelve collaborators together.
I have promoted 430 other stacks, Gratis, since 20th Nov. Multiply that by 12 to see the potential. It’s similar to what Julie is doing. Her interview here goes live on Friday.
Oooo, Kate! I’m definitely interested in cooking something up. I loved Arnott’s Rain Heron (on your recommendation- thank you), so I’ll look for Dusk. Hope my library has it by now. Cheers!
So many things to say about this posting - makes me think and wonder how do we come out the other side. How do we maintain our positive presentations so others might listen and learn. I don't have answers. I struggle every day, but all I know I can do is try.
But I tried (quickly) your exercise -
What if your senses are never awakened by nature's reliable action of reclaiming - for too many this is true because of proximity or inaccessibililty or economics. My responsibility is to share, to guide you through small bite-sized steps how to feel the breath of outdoors. This opportunity matters, because without the living of wildness, we as a species cease living.
Oooo, Stacy! Happy to see this. I’m sure “nature’s reliable action of reclaiming” has a certain meaning for you, but it may be less accessible to some. What’s a specific place, feeling or experience that evokes it?
Thank you, Maurice for the nudge. I did miss Julie's comment.
"Nature's reliable action of reclaiming" can be taken to its simplest form - she is always reclaiming, right? For the past couple of weeks, I have been digging into her dependability to follow her own rules and then stray outside the lines now and again to maintain balance. My post for next week speaks of layers using the pillow and cradle idea of downed trees and is just one example of joy I relish in because she continues to continue on in the space's humans provide. It is hard to be positive and that is shifting how I tell stories wondering if Hands, holding Actions are going to play more of a roll in the stories I tell.
What if the best, most effective message is not a story, but a tool? I'm thinking of Buckminster Fuller who said, "If you want to teach people a new way of thinking, don't bother trying to teach them. Instead, give them a tool, the use of which will lead to new ways of thinking." Such a tool might look like a decision-making process through which people anywhere & everywhere persuade themselves to choose the option (for meeting their physical needs) that extracts less from the biosphere and/or puts less pollution into the biosphere. Such a tool might look like an affirmative answer to Ayana Elizabeth Johnson's question, "What If We Get It Right?" because people everywhere have a tool to get it right.
I love this!! Bucky Fuller is a touchstone for me! He would’ve been on that timeline for sure. He understood that everything connects to everything else. He’s also delightfully quotable. This is my favorite: “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete”
Thank you Julie. The tool I'm referring to is a new decision-making process for meeting human physical needs (called "regenerative decision-making") that makes the existing present-day decision-making process obsolete.
This makes me think of all the people regenerating commoning and commons practices around the world. I think that's part of why I'm so taken with the idea of reinvigorating the commons -- it brings together story, tool, and, crucially, practice. Something as simple as a shared garden teaches the new-old story at a level that maybe, in some, can reach the DNA, but at least the bones and breath.
Yes! Commons practices! You see this in the aftermath of disasters like Hurrricane Helene - neighbors stepping up to share their skills, whatever they are, to help each other and the community at large.
This was extremely useful, well-explained and engaging, bringing out the kernel and showing it in multiple, complementary, pedagogical ways. A much-needed building block. Thank you.
This is so wonderful Julie, you've given me so much to think about! Thank you so much for writing something for the series - I'm going to go away and rethink my entire life now x
Hey Julie, when I first read this, I thought I'd wait a while before commenting,,,, curious to see what others would make of it.... Delighted in the good responses, particularly on Bucky and the commons.
Once we have your interview done, how would you feel about doing a guest post for https://thiscreativeadventure.com based perhaps on these good folks inputs ? I'm thinking mid Summer. Big Hug, Maurice
I don't know if there is a "most effective" way. I think different people will respond to different things. You will be slowed by skepticism, naysayers, and politics no matter what way you choose. Societal attitudes change at a glacier pace so it is often difficult to see the impact even if it's happening.
Yes, agree. I keep hearing Kamala Harris saying, "People will try to bring you down. Don't let them."
Nevertheless Joe, the impact is happening, the impetus growing, ever faster, folk are standing up.....
Thanks for devoting your time and intellect to this worthy topic, Julie. Yeah, when notions (or myths) of “sustainable development” or “ecosystem services” don’t work (and I believe they don’t), we’ve always got joy and wonder in nature. They’re still intrinsic to what it means to be human, and perhaps they’re the message.
Some are working Bryan, inc the joy and wonder stacks - they don't get enough publicity
Hear hear!! Thanks for reading, Bryan. 💚
Dear Julie, your essay on how to message the environment made me stop and think many times. I think storytelling is an old art form but I feel it is where we can inspire change and hope. It's where we can imagine alternative futures, and communities based on love and trust, joy and sustainability. A good short story will move you, get down into your bones. And if your heart is in it, your head will follow, then maybe your car!
Here's to more brilliant nature stories!
Thank you for including me in your list of nature writers here, I am deeply honoured.
Kate
So glad you’re here, Kate! Indeed, stories create worlds — first in our imaginations, then in reality. It’s not even cause and effect as that implies; the veil between them is thin. 💚😊
Yes Kate, here's to more...... How do we promote them to a wider audience ? Tell me how you think we can do that together ? Seriously, Maurice
Hello Maurice, I’ve been thinking about this too. When writers and artists work together we combine our audiences. So perhaps this is my moment to connect and reach out to other nature writers, as Julie has so brilliantly demonstrated. I will think more about how I might do this in 2025. Let’s stay in touch here and see what we can come up with. Perhaps others are interested too? Let me know if you have any ideas on how we can work together on this?
On another note- I am very lucky to live in Tasmania, a small Island at the bottom of the world, that is home to some brilliant nature writers and storytellers. Check out writer Robbie Arnott, he writes brilliant eco-fiction. Where animals and clouds and fire take on personalities. How latest book is Dusk.
Cheers, Kate
Hi Kate, I have a stack for adventure stories, historical semi fiction, and personal. Another stack where I am gearing up to assist Green writers to develop. I am halfway to putting a team of twelve collaborators together.
I have promoted 430 other stacks, Gratis, since 20th Nov. Multiply that by 12 to see the potential. It’s similar to what Julie is doing. Her interview here goes live on Friday.
You can keep up to date by subscribing for free to https://thiscreativeadventure.com
Oooo, Kate! I’m definitely interested in cooking something up. I loved Arnott’s Rain Heron (on your recommendation- thank you), so I’ll look for Dusk. Hope my library has it by now. Cheers!
So many things to say about this posting - makes me think and wonder how do we come out the other side. How do we maintain our positive presentations so others might listen and learn. I don't have answers. I struggle every day, but all I know I can do is try.
But I tried (quickly) your exercise -
What if your senses are never awakened by nature's reliable action of reclaiming - for too many this is true because of proximity or inaccessibililty or economics. My responsibility is to share, to guide you through small bite-sized steps how to feel the breath of outdoors. This opportunity matters, because without the living of wildness, we as a species cease living.
Oooo, Stacy! Happy to see this. I’m sure “nature’s reliable action of reclaiming” has a certain meaning for you, but it may be less accessible to some. What’s a specific place, feeling or experience that evokes it?
Hi Stacy, good to see you popping up here, Did you answer Julie's question, Maurice
Thank you, Maurice for the nudge. I did miss Julie's comment.
"Nature's reliable action of reclaiming" can be taken to its simplest form - she is always reclaiming, right? For the past couple of weeks, I have been digging into her dependability to follow her own rules and then stray outside the lines now and again to maintain balance. My post for next week speaks of layers using the pillow and cradle idea of downed trees and is just one example of joy I relish in because she continues to continue on in the space's humans provide. It is hard to be positive and that is shifting how I tell stories wondering if Hands, holding Actions are going to play more of a roll in the stories I tell.
Beautiful, Stacy. Mother Nature has more tricks than we can imagine.
What if the best, most effective message is not a story, but a tool? I'm thinking of Buckminster Fuller who said, "If you want to teach people a new way of thinking, don't bother trying to teach them. Instead, give them a tool, the use of which will lead to new ways of thinking." Such a tool might look like a decision-making process through which people anywhere & everywhere persuade themselves to choose the option (for meeting their physical needs) that extracts less from the biosphere and/or puts less pollution into the biosphere. Such a tool might look like an affirmative answer to Ayana Elizabeth Johnson's question, "What If We Get It Right?" because people everywhere have a tool to get it right.
I love this!! Bucky Fuller is a touchstone for me! He would’ve been on that timeline for sure. He understood that everything connects to everything else. He’s also delightfully quotable. This is my favorite: “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete”
Thank you Julie. The tool I'm referring to is a new decision-making process for meeting human physical needs (called "regenerative decision-making") that makes the existing present-day decision-making process obsolete.
Tell me more, Pleas
This makes me think of all the people regenerating commoning and commons practices around the world. I think that's part of why I'm so taken with the idea of reinvigorating the commons -- it brings together story, tool, and, crucially, practice. Something as simple as a shared garden teaches the new-old story at a level that maybe, in some, can reach the DNA, but at least the bones and breath.
Yes! Commons practices! You see this in the aftermath of disasters like Hurrricane Helene - neighbors stepping up to share their skills, whatever they are, to help each other and the community at large.
Commons practices yes, people accepting responsibility, teaching by example.... We need to get that message out, n'est-ce pas ?
Yes! Doing my best to do my part ...
Yay Eric, Buckie was a smart cookie indeed.... How's about building a toolKIT here ? I'd be up for helping to do and promote that, Maurice
Thank you Maurice
I already built it. Here's a download link to my short & simple mini-book, Simply Reversing the Eco-Crises, containing the toolkit: https://www.erikkvam.com/simply-reversing-the-eco-crises/
Aloha and grateful for your consideration, Erik
This was extremely useful, well-explained and engaging, bringing out the kernel and showing it in multiple, complementary, pedagogical ways. A much-needed building block. Thank you.
Thank you very much! I’m glad it served its purpose. 💚 And I appreciate your taking a moment to comment.
A building block provided by a talented and caring Architect, bring it on.....
This is so wonderful Julie, you've given me so much to think about! Thank you so much for writing something for the series - I'm going to go away and rethink my entire life now x
Yeah Hari, rethink and shapeshift, way forward is to encourage, just as you and Julie have done here. Many thanks, Maurice
I'm so glad! And rethinking your entire life -- that's MY thing! On a regular basis! 😂
More compassion for people's flaws and less shaming. 🦋
Brilliant
Thank you! I needed this.
Wonderful! Thanks for reading.
My pleasure Stacy, where would we be without friends who nudge ?....
Hey Julie, when I first read this, I thought I'd wait a while before commenting,,,, curious to see what others would make of it.... Delighted in the good responses, particularly on Bucky and the commons.
Once we have your interview done, how would you feel about doing a guest post for https://thiscreativeadventure.com based perhaps on these good folks inputs ? I'm thinking mid Summer. Big Hug, Maurice
I can’t laugh at this…
❤️