Our spring issue explored what an ecological civilization might look like, digging into the origins and implementation of the principles that guide modern movements toward societies based on natural ecology.
Online, we asked readers where they are seeing elements of an ecological civilization arise in their own communities:
鈥淚 see people in my community (Brattleboro, Vermont, and the surrounding area) embracing ecological civilization principles by creating more edible landscapes that will help us be more resilient to the climate crisis as well as the ongoing crisis of capitalism/exploitation. We鈥檙e planting over 800 nut trees this spring to provide food for humans and nonhuman animals as part of the Rewild Vermont project of 350Vermont. The trees will benefit the area in so many different ways and we鈥檙e able to build community through the planting and tending of them. Other groups in the area, like Edible Brattleboro, are also building up food justice by planting gardens anyone can harvest.鈥� 鈥擫indsey B., Brattleboro, Vermont.
鈥淚 see it in the rise of mutual aid groups for food, rent, and resources, also in local 鈥榖uy nothing鈥� groups and gardening groups. Specifically in Tacoma, we have a wonderful coalition of groups focused on stopping Puget Sound Energy鈥檚 scheme of operating an 8-million-gallon [liquefied natural gas] storage/refinery right in Tacoma!鈥� 鈥擬arilyn K., Tacoma, Washington.
On Feb. 25, YES! Presents held 鈥淎n Ecological Civilization: The Path We鈥檙e On,鈥� a webinar co-hosted by YES! Executive Editor Zenobia Jeffries Warfield and Andrew Schwartz of the Institute for Ecological Civilization, featuring contributing authors Leah Penniman, Winona LaDuke, and Jeremy Lent. In addition to comments from thousands of attendees who joined us live, several readers shared their reflections after the event:
鈥淚 love the image of Winona being quarantined with a bunch of youngsters 鈥榳anting to learn.鈥� I suspect that they did鈥攁nd didn鈥檛鈥攌now what they were getting into. She is such a natural at 鈥榗utting to the chase鈥� as she responds to your questions. Wonderful clarity and inspiration. Then there鈥檚 Leah 鈥榥ot knowing anything about economics,鈥� yet spelling things out so clearly. As an elder permaculture devotee, I yearn for more of the connection to Gaia that Leah is showing is part of our cultural heritage and a current need and possibility. [And] Jeremy putting things into a broader and broader context and into the current context鈥攚hat a door opener.鈥� 鈥擪en H., Reno, Nevada
鈥淚 so much appreciated the richness of the personalities you assembled, the wealth of new insights, the moments of humor, and the lasting inspiration. Reading your articles helps me to stay in touch with the explosion of activity calling for entirely new ways of being human and doing pretty much everything.
鈥淎s I take in all the encouraging information, I can鈥檛 help wondering whether it鈥檚 time to find a name for this broad movement, and a way for the many points in this web of activity to connect with each other. There are so many places where work is overlapping or efforts are being duplicated. Is it time to shift from grassroots activity to a next stage involving organization, communication networking, cooperation and synergy? 鈥楾he YES! Movement鈥� comes to mind. 鈥� I know this is a broad question I鈥檓 floating, but it wants to be spoken.鈥� 鈥擫aura S., Vancouver, B.C., Canada
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Our spring issue explored what an ecological civilization might look like, digging into the origins and implementation of the principles that guide modern movements toward societies based on natural ecology.
