Wake Up!
Engaged Buddhist Response to Climate Change – a series of four talks and presentations on Thursdays in May 2019
MAY 2 – 23
6:30pm – 9:00pm
The aim of these 4 evenings is to hear an update on the latest scientific information about climate change, discuss and focus on solutions and draw together and share the sangha’s active involvement in addressing climate change. We will explore how our Zen practice offers inner transformation and healing as well as providing resilience, clarity and strength in the face of change and difficult times.
Zen teachers Subhana Barzaghi and Gillian Coote will facilitate a series of 4 evenings. The program will cover video presentations, discussion forums, guest speakers and experts in the field, as well as an opportunity to share the diversity of local responses that our sangha is already actively involved in.
MAY 2
Update on Climate Science
The evening will address the latest information and research from a video from climate scientists about global warming. Guest speakers and local scientists Dr. Rosalie Chapple from UNSW Masters of Environmental Management Program and Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute, and an update from Dr. Helen Redmond from Doctors for the Environment.
MAY 9
Despair and Empowerment – Meditative Resources
The evening will focus on the need for both our inner spiritual work of waking up and outer work in the world. We will explore how Buddhist teachings and emotional processes that support wise non-violent action. Zen teachers Subhana Barzaghi and Gillian Coote will draw from Joanna Macy’s work on despair and empowerment, compassionate communication skills, stories and examples of non-violent action. Guest speaker Sally Gillespie will talk about the psychological experience of ongoing climate change engagement drawing on her doctoral research and upcoming book “Climate Change and Consciousness: Re-imagining ourselves in our world” and Janet Laurence who expresses her environmental activism through art.
MAY 16
‘Drawdown’ – The top 100 solutions
We will focus on a video presentation of the launch of “Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming”, an inspiring book edited by Paul Hawken, followed by a discussion. We will be joined by guest speakers: Sue Holmes an economist, a former Assistant Commissioner of the Productivity Commission, co-ordinator of Get-Up North Sydney and an active participant in the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change; Kenneth McLeod who will speak about Anthropocene Transitions; and Neil Gunningham is a professor of climate and energy governance at the ANU and an active member of Get-Up! His recent work asks: can the climate movement achieve transformational social change?
MAY 23
Community networking and supporting one another
We will provide an opportunity to share sangha members’ engagement and involvement in social, political and environmental projects and organisations, providing an opportunity to support, network and liaise together to forge stronger alliances. We will be joined by Dr Beth Hill, who did her research on Climate Change in the Blue Mountains.
Register your interest: Brendon Stewart – stewarts34@bigpond.com
For non SZC members there is a $10 facility fee.