Accidental Gods

How can we begin to reverse the destruction of our countryside, the pollution of our rivers - and our disconnection from the Natural World?  Beavers, of course.  Eva Bishop of the Beaver Trust tells of the UK introduction of beavers and puts it in a whole-system context.  The Beaver Trust is a small group of committed individuals who understand the deep interconnectedness of life.  By bringing beavers back to the UK where once they flourished, they are seeing whole ecosystems grow back to life.  In their work with farmers and landowners, they are able to open gateways to radical restoration of our landscapes and biodiversity, reversing the catastrophic species loss of the past five decades. Eva Bishop is their Communications Director. In this week's episode, we explore the work of the Trust and it's place in the wider systemic change we need if we're going to make it through the current bottleneck. The Beaver Trust https://beavertrust.orgThe Lodge Cast podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-lodge-cast/id1530950902Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeaverTrust/All We Can Save: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/All-We-Can-Save-by-Ayana-Elizabeth-Johnson-editor-Katharine-K-Wilkinson-editor/9780593237083

When Forrest Landry was 16 years old, he took a vow to meet the Natural World openly, fully, without any projection or expectation on his part - he was not going to take one step and wait for the rest of the world to take 99 steps to him - he was going to go all the way.  His life has been shaped by the experience - and he talks to us this week about where that has taken him.   "Love is that which enables choice. Love is always stronger than Fear. Always choose on the basis of Love."  – Forrest LandryYou might know him as the founder and CEO of Magic Flight, a company among the first to introduce the portable vaporizer to the world, but Forrest Landry is really a philosopher, writer, researcher, scientist, engineer, craftsman, and teacher who has been studying and practicing the varied High Arts since the mid 70’s.Before creating Magic Flight, Forrest was a third generation master woodworker who found that he had a unique set of skills in large scale software systems design. This led to work in the production of several federal classified and unclassified systems, including various FBI investigative projects, TSC, IDW, DARPA, the Library of Congress Congressional Records System, and many others.This work was a fun diversion, but Forrest’s heart has always been most focused on metaphysics – the study of what is, what is the nature of being, what is the nature of knowing, and why are we all here. And, so, the most challenging system design that Forrest has tacked is his work “The Immanent Metaphysics” a decades long effort to restore legitimacy to the practice of metaphysics and construct a rigorous, coherent and precise statement of, well, everything.  He talks to us this week of his experience in connecting with the world unmasked  - about the considerations of life that it led to: what matters most and how we, too can connect with it. Forrest Landry TED Talk: https://youtu.be/iAmLRLc4ffkSolarPunk questions answered: https://mflb.com/civ_dev_1/solarpunk_questions_out.pdfOverall orientation to What is needed to meet the coming transformation: https://mflb.com/civ_dev_1/overall_recommendations_out.pdfForrest Landry's technical investigations into the meaning of life: https://mflb.com/geek_index_1.html

COP26 takes place in Scotland in November. How can ordinary people persuade our elected Overlords that they need to change the system?  Across the UK, Climate Actions are being prepared. We speak to two people involved in Pilgrimages to Glasgow about what drives them and what they hope will change.  COP26 takes place in Glasgow, Scotland in November of this year.  This is our best  - possibly our last - chance to persuade those who govern the world that the climate and ecological emergency needs swift and radical action.  So how can we get the message through to those who are driving our collective bus that they need to turn the wheel before we all hurtle over a cliff?  How can we persuade them that 'business as usual' is no longer an option, or that alternatives do exist if we only had the creativity, imagination, courage and empathy to make them work? This week, we speak to two people involved in two separate Pilgrimages to Glasgow to find out what they're planning and why. Benjamin Christie is driven by the deeply held belief in the possibility of a more equitable, sustainable and harmonious world. He works to support NGOs and ethical businesses develop and achieve their goals. With a career spanning events, media and business development, Benjamin has been fortunate enough to gain experience of many different countries, environments and partnerships at first hand.  He's speaking on behalf of the SPINE OF ALBION Pilgrimage which is walking from the southernmost tip of England to the northernmost tip of Scotland - through Glasgow at the time of COP26. Links to his work and activities include: http://www.listeningtotheland.com/https://medicinefestival.com/https://www.wisdomkeepers.earth/Bamber Hawes says of himself that he is 'a Thing Maker'. He trained as an Industrial Designer in Sussex, then moved to London and had various companies making furniture, building sets and film props, art directing and modelmaking.In 2005, after 22 years living in Hackney just off the Murder Mile he 'ran away from his annoying media clients' to Bishop's Castle in South Shropshire, where he now is a picture framer, furniture maker, artist and Art Co ordinator for an Art Trail and is a Town Councillor.Now, he has created CLARION, a 10 foot Polar Bear made to be portable. He and Clarion will be walking from his home in Bishop's Castle to Glasgow in time for COP.  Instagram:   @clarion_the_bearFacebook:   Clarion_the_BearTwitter:       @BearClarion     His call to those who might want to join him is this: Calling anyone who would like to be part of a commitment to our living, breathing Earth and the future of all life. I am organising a Climate Crisis Pilgrimage from South Shropshire to the COP26 climate talks that starts on 1st November in Glasgow. Would you be interested in joining me for a day of walking as I progress northward?I will be doing the whole 306 mile walk which will take 22 days.  Each day I will be joined by local people from the area that I have reached. The unusual thing is that I will be accompanied by a ten foot high sculpture of a polar bear, that I have made.  The bear, called Clarion, is made from thin bamboo poles, willow withies and many layers of heavy duty tissue paper bonded together with waterproof PVA.  He is carried on a palanquin.              He ain't heavy! I am looking for people to join me for a day walking along footpaths, bridle paths, canal towpaths and B roads.  The intention for this pilgrimage is to come together to walk, to talk, to connect with each other, to connect with the landscape by moving through it slowly, admiring its beauty and grandeur.  To be positive and kind, and to build active hope. To smile and laugh while being serious.Walking to the climate talks will not change the world ~ but I can think of nothing better to do to show the earnestness of my belief that we must learn to talk together and build community, only in Oneness will we make a better more just world.   Clarion and I will be coming through your area on these dates:DAY ONE 10th October    Bishop's Castle to LongdenDAY TWO 11th October    Longden to Platt LaneDAY THREE 12th October    Platt Lane to BulkeleyDAY FOUR 13th October    Bulkeley to KingsleyDAY FIVE 14th October    Kingsley to RainhillDAY SIX 15th October    Rainhill to Appleby BridgeDAY SEVEN 16th October    Appleby Bridge to MiddleforthDAY EIGHT 17th October    Middleforth to GarstangDAY NINE  18th October    Garstang to LancasterDAY TEN  19th October    Lancaster to HincasterDAY ELEVEN 20th October    Hincaster to SadgillDAY TWELVE 21st October    Sadgill to AskhamDAY THIRTEEN 22nd October    Askham to CalthwaiteDAY FOURTEEN 23rd October    Calthwaite to CargoDAY FIFTEEN  24th October    Carge to Stapleton GrangeDAY SIXTEEN  25th October    Stapleton Grange to LockerbieDAY SEVENTEEN  26th October    Lockerbie to MosslandsDAY EIGHTEEN  27th October    Mosslands to ElvanfootDAY NINETEEN  28th October    Elvanfoot to DouglasDAY TWENTY  29th October    Douglas to StrathavenDAY TWENTY ONE 30th  October    Strathaven to BusbyDAY TWENTY TWO  31st October    Day offDAY TWENTY THREE  1st November    Busby to COP26 The complete itinerary will be on Facebook soon : Clarion the Bear So, please consider coming along as a treasured, intrepid pilgrim.I assure you this will not be a shouty, banner waving demonstrating rabble.This pilgrimage will be in the media, and I am sure it will be praised and vilified. If you are not a walker perhaps you would like to still be part of this by being a driver, delivering walkers at the start of the day and/or collecting them at the end. Contact me on Social media or on 07957 667 847 No small children, no dogs, no alcohol. Thank you Bamber the Human and Clarion the Bear

What is it that makes us human? How can we bring the best of ourselves to the current crises – individually, and as a civilisation? In this episode, we talk to Matthew Taylor, CBE FAcSS, and explore his ideas around ‘co-ordination theory’ and how we can use them to create new politics and new ways of organising our society to give more people a better, more equitable say in how we make things happen. Matthew Taylor, CBE FAcSS, is the Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation, but before that, he was Chief Executive of the Royal Society for the Arts (or more properly, for the Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) - and before that, he was head of the Number 10 Policy Unit for Tony Blair's Labour Government.  He is a regular panelist on BBC Radio 4's Moral Maze, presents 'Agree to Differ' and occasionally, Analysis on the same channel. He's also deeply interested in the intersection between neurophysiology, psychology and human behaviour  - and how we can bring these to bear on the current transformative moment in our history.  In this episode, we explore his ideas around 'co-ordination theory' and how we can use them to create new politics and new ways of organising our society to give more people a better, more equitable say in how we make things happen. Matthew Taylor blog: https://www.thersa.org/blog/matthew-taylorMinimate: Co-ordination theory:  https://youtu.be/-54DxHlOMncThe Podcast with Daniel Schmachtenberger and Tristan Harris: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/your-undivided-attention/id1460030305?i=1000526825665

As our world hurtles towards tipping points, how can we be part of the solution? How can we find resilience, in ourselves, our lives and our communities? Above all, how can we bring Active Hope to the world?  Dr Chris Johnstone and Madeleine Young have set up an online training course based in Joanna Macy's work that reconnects and we talk about it in this week's podcast. With a background in medicine and psychology, Chris Johnstone's work over the last thirty years has focused on exploring what helps us face disturbing situations (whether in our own lives or the world) and respond in ways that nourish resilience and well-being. His books include Active Hope (co-authored with Joanna Macy and translated into more than eleven languages) and Seven Ways to Build Resilience. His online resilience courses have attracted students from more than sixty countries. He lives in the north of Scotland where he teaches online at CollegeOfWellbeing.com, ResilienceTraining.net and ActiveHope.TrainingMadeleine Young is a permaculturist, homeopath and XR activist.  She's a trained facilitator in The Work that Reconnects and has helped to co-create the Active Hope online training. Find their free video-based online course in Active Hope at https://activehope.trainingOnline resilience courses at https://resiliencetraining.nethttps://www.activehope.infohttp://collegeofwellbeing.comhttps://chrisjohnstone.info

As we hover on the edge of the Great Turning, how can we find a spiritual practice that draws from the roots of who we are and yet provides the sustenance we need to help us navigate our changing world? Sue Philips of Sacred Design Labs explores the possibilities.  Sacred Design Lab is a soul-centred research and development lab that explores and interprets the changing landscape of spiritual and community life. The Lab collaborates with divinely restless, intellectually curious and entrepreneurially practical leaders to help design and prototype the spiritual communities and infrastructure of the future, interpreting ancient best practice in the service of transformation. Sue Philips, one of the co-founders of the Lab says of herself that, 'I am relentlessly curious about liberating ancient wisdom to solve complex problems. I’m passionate about inspiring spiritual flourishing, designing for meaning making, and witnessing the transformation that happens when people roam around in what matters most.My wife and I share our 30-minute “family chapel” every morning, to remember who we want to be and what we care about, and to cultivate imagination for “the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible.”1I’m part business strategist, part design geek, and part monastic. On any given day I might read liberation theology, human-centered design briefs, or business school case studies. Ideally all of them side by side. I graduated from Colgate University and the Episcopal Divinity School, and taught at Harvard Divinity School, where I am a Ministry Innovation Fellow. My wife and I live in Tacoma, WA with whichever of our five children is passing through.'As we hover on the edge of the Great Turning, increasingly, we seek a spiritual foundation that is fit for purpose in the twenty-first century. In this week's podcast, we discuss how that might come about, how we might recognise broad spiritual foundations that are universal and useful to support our connection with a numinous world. Links: Sacred Design Lab: https://sacred.design

In a world that is literally burning, with politicians whose positions of power are predicated on their not listening, what are the most creative, thoughtful, caring people on the planet doing to bring about change?   Sophie Miller of Ocean and Extinction Rebellions was an integral part of the stunningly impressive actions at the G7 summit earlier this summer. In this second of two parts, she reflects on her experience - and looks ahead to future actions.  Sophie Miller trained at Central St Martins before moving on to a decade-long career in television design.  Now, she gives her time and energy to Extinction Rebellion as a Red Rebel - and to Ocean Rebellion, of which she is a co-founder.   She lives in Cornwall, and so when she discovered that the first post-Covid G7 summit was taking place in her country and her county, she had to ask. In this week's second inspiring podcast, she describes what it actually takes to mount a successful action in the current political climate.  She talks of the growing support from all aspects of the Fourth Estate and - movingly - of the practical - and spiritual - path that has brought her to this place and this time. She speaks as an activist who understands the damage done to the Oceans, knowing that there is still time to change what we're doing.   We discuss the nature of policing, of totalitarianism - and the ways we can all work to transcend the crushing forces of authority to bring something deeper and more profound to our world.  https://oceanrebellion.earthhttps://rebellion.globalhttps://extinctionrebellion.uk

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.'  As our world burns ever faster and our politicians cling ever more desperately to the old ways of being and behaving, Sophie Miller of Ocean Rebellion commits her creativity, artistry and courage to bringing truth to power. Sophie Miller trained at Central St Martins before moving on to a decade-long career in television design.  Now, she gives her time and energy to Extinction Rebellion as a Red Rebel - and to Ocean Rebellion, of which she is a co-founder.   She lives in Cornwall, and so when she discovered that the first post-Covid G7 summit was taking place in her country and her county, she had to ask. In this week's inspiring podcast, she describes the practical - and spiritual - path that has brought her to this place and this time - as an activist who understands the damage done to the Oceans -and that there is still time to change what we're doing.   We discuss the nature of policing, of totalitarianism - and the ways we can transcend the crushing forces of authority to bring something deeper and more profound to our world.   This is the first of two parts. Next week, we'll be back to find out how the activism transpired and where we all go from here. https://oceanrebellion.earthhttps://rebellion.globalhttps://extinctionrebellion.uk

How did we get here?  How bad are things really? Is there still hope? (Yes!) and... crucially - what can we do, individually, collectively, in our businesses, in our governments, around the world, to turn the bus from the edge of the cliff?  Professor Mark Maslin is a climate scientist with a mission to explain in clear terms all we need to know.  And he does it with panache, enthusiasm and optimism.   How do we unpick the damage of Neoliberalism?  How can we break the connections between work and income and unsustainable consumerism?  Amidst the ideas of how our climate is changing, Professor Mark Maslin, FRGS, FRSA, offers answers to the social and economic ills of our time.  Mark Maslin FRGS, FRSA is a Professor of Earth System Science at University College London. He is a Royal Society Industrial Fellowship, Executive Director of Rezatec Ltd and Director of The London NERC Doctoral Training Partnership. He is a member of Cheltenham Science Festival Advisory Committee and sits on the Corporate Social Responsibility Board of the Sopria-Steria Group and Sheep Included Ltd. Mark is a leading scientist with particular expertise in past global and regional climatic change. He has published over 175 papers in journals such as Science, Nature, and The Lancet. His areas of scientific expertise include causes of past and future global climate change and its effects on the global carbon cycle, biodiversity, rainforests and human evolution. He also works on monitoring land carbon sinks using remote sensing and ecological models and international and national climate change policies, and has presented over 50 public talks over the last five years including Google UK, Twitter EU, New Scientist Live, UK Space conference, Oxford, Cambridge, RGS, Tate Modern, Royal Society of Medicine, Fink Club, Frontline Club, British Museum, Natural History Museum, Goldman Sachs, the Norwegian Government, UNFCCC COP and the WTO. He has also written 8 popular books, over 60 popular articles. His “Climate Change: A Very Short Introduction” by Oxford University Press is now in its fourth edition and has sold over 50,000 copies. In this podcast, we talk about his most recent book, 'How to Save our Planet: the Facts' which does exactly what it says on the tin. A crips, cleanly written, utterly absorbing book, this is one of the clearest books ever written on the nature of the problems that assail us, the fact that it's not too late to change - and what we need to do at every level of society to change things.  It's small enough to leave in the smallest room of the house - or by the kettle in the kitchen - so that everyone who comes by can pick it up and learn something useful.  This is how we change the world, one aphorism at a time. Links from the podcast How to Save Our Planet: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/320/320155/how-to-save-our-planet/9780241472521.htmlMark Maslin's home page: https://www.geog.ucl.ac.uk/people/academic-staff/mark-maslinReview of Bill Gates's book: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12115-021-00581-zThe Conversation: How bad could things be if we do nothing?: https://theconversation.com/climate-change-how-bad-could-the-future-be-if-we-do-nothing-159665

Imagine a world where we listen to the voices of the young as much as the old, the women as much as the men, all races, all abilities, all income streams - all species... where we honour difference, where compassion and empathy are our keynotes, not competition and separation.  If this is the world we want, how do we get there?  In this second of two parts, we explore the existential question of our time with behaviourist Alexandra Kurland.Alexandra Kurland is a horse clicker trainer, behaviourist, classical rider - and convenor of the annual (now bi-annual) Science Camp that explores the art and science of positive reinforcement. She is host of the Horses for Future podcast, co-host of the Equiosity podcast, and author of The Click that Teaches and a whole host of other books and online courses about horse training.  In today's podcast - the second of two - Alex and Manda continue to dive deeply into the fundamental question of our time - how do we bring people of widely disparate political views to a point where we all pull together to create a flourishing, generative future for people and planet?  We have the answers. We just need to see the possibilities and be emotionally and psychologically prepared to apply them.  So this is a behavioural problem now, not a technological one.  Which means it needs the brightest behavioural minds on the planet to begin to think about it.  And we can start now... The Clicker Center: https://www.theclickercenter.comEquiosity: https://www.equiosity.comHorses for Future: https://kurlanda.wixsite.com/sequestercarbonMary Hunter: PORTL shaping: https://behaviorexplorer.com/author/mary/An Introduction to PORTL shaping: https://www.artandscienceofanimaltraining.org/tools/portl-shaping-game/The New Climate War by Michael Mann: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-New-Climate-War-by-Michael-E-Mann-author/9781913348687