Life After Capitalism<\/em><\/h3>\nOrganised by the New Economy Network Australia, led by Michelle Moloney of the Australian Earth Laws Alliance, this conference brought together a wide variety of organisations and \u2018experts\u2019 engaged in developing local and global solutions to the \u2018meta crisis\u2019 \u2013 the intersecting and cascading consequences of climate change, growing wealth inequality and loss of social cohesion and trust in governments and institutions, environmental degradation, and a rising mental health epidemic of anxiety and depression, even in affluent societies like Australia.<\/p>\n
With a wonderfully rich Welcome to Country from Uncle Wally, inspirational presentations included: First Nations speakers, Dr Mary Graham and Professor Yin Paradies; global leaders such as Katherine Trebeck of WEALL (Wellbeing Alliance), Donnie McClurcan of the Post Growth Institute, and Rob Dietz of the Post Carbon Institute.\u00a0 The menu of offerings at the conference was rich and I only got the opportunity to draw inspiration from a few: such people as Scotty Foster of Canberra Radio 2XXX, Producer and Host of \u2018Behind the Lines\u2019, Andrew Skeoch\u2019s work on deep listening to nature, Keith Sharma\u2019s facilitation of \u2018Wet Data\u2019 and Catherine van Wilgenburg, from Gippsland-based Living Colour Studio, on \u2018Putting Country First\u2019.<\/p>\n
I particularly loved Professor Paradies\u2019 advice:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Make more-than-human communities on Country (land, water, air, plants, people, animals, stories, songs and feelings etc), <\/em><\/span>as they exist in flowing mixing merging waves of resonating place-time.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0A Slide from Professor Paradies Presentation<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/regenesis.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-27-at-11.44.22-pm.png\")
<\/p>\n
My own presentation on The Three Pillars of Regenesis<\/em>, based on my book, The Regenesis Journey<\/em>, was received by a packed audience of engaged listeners and I managed to sell quite a few of my books.\u00a0 Many thanks to Virginia Francken from our GBMCAN leadership team, who came with me to the conference.<\/p>\nCreating a Mycelium Network of Creative Praxis<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\nThe core idea I came away with from the conference was that any way forward in shaping life after capitalism will come from the organic growth of local like-minded initiatives that can be linked up into a mycelium-like network of learning, caring and activation that is both local and global. Just as fungi creates an interconnected world of biological thriving through its mycelium network in the soil beneath our feet, so our own creative work can weave a mycelium-like network of creative praxis, whereby theories and ideas are born and grow organically, some thriving and spreading, others small and some needing to find different directions.<\/p>\n
The way forward for we creative practitioners is to find and capture <\/em>other such incipient\/emergent mycelium networks \u2013 local and global, by linking up with them. Then we need to brand <\/em>it with an illustrative meme, eg \u2018mycelium network of creative praxis\u2019, and activate <\/em>this development through connection, ideas sharing and projects on the ground that talk to local communities, feeding and nurturing our body, speech, minds and spirits as we witness, with awareness and compassion, the decay and unravelling of modernity around us. This is not going to be easy.<\/p>\nThe Great Unravelling<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nThe seemingly solid structures of urban industry, businesses and dwellings lifestyle, along with their footpaths and freeways, are yet beginning to be eaten away within by a \u2018concrete cancer\u2019 (climate change, wealth inequality, environmental degradation, militarisation, mental health crisis of anxiety and depression).\u00a0 This feeds a growing sense of unease, anxiety and uncertainty that is widespread, leading to fractious politics and communities.<\/p>\n
I agree with Vanessa de Oliveira (Hospicing Modernity<\/em>, 2021) that the whole scientific-materialist-rationalist-extractivist framework of modernity, which stretches from the Scientific and Industrial Revolution of the 18th century through to late global techno-capitalism in our current times, is in a state of collapse\/unravelling.\u00a0 We ricochet between fantasies of the Tech-Bros of Platform Capitalism, colonising Mars and pioneering space tourism, the survivalist strategies of armed desperados, and the ‘tech-fix’ illusions of our so-called experts.<\/p>\nThe Rage Response<\/span><\/em><\/h2>\nA lot of contemporary politics\/policy is raging against this (Far Right ethno-nationalism, manosphere misogyny etc, sexualised violence against women). Witness recent riots in Dublin against refugees and asylum seekers, or the stunning election win by far right Dutch politician, Gert Wilders, in a country famous for its tolerance.\u00a0 All agree that these developments are a direct result of the increasing growth of wealth inequality that has trapped working class ‘whites’ and and the young in declining standards of living, insecure housing and insecure work. For them, the old middle class promise of rising affluence is dead, neutered by greed.<\/p>\n
Against this trend, hospitality to the ‘foreigner’ from abroad is wearing very thin, and resentment is turning to rage – not at the wealthy elite, but at the equally desperate asylum seekers and refugees. This is similar to the phenomenon of ‘lateral violence’ where the marginalised turn on one another, rather than confront the all powerful true ‘enemy’ and cause of their misery.\u00a0 Similar tensions inform the rise and persistence of rude and vulgar Trump as a performative champion of ‘true Americans’, despite his real advocacy for the elite uber-rich who are their true ‘enemies’.<\/p>\n
The Fix it Response<\/span><\/em><\/h2>\nMeanwhile reformist liberal democracies like ours are trying to plug the dyke\/plaster the cracks with things like shifts to renewable energy, circular economy-style industrial production and better nature conservation etc, while still pursuing a growth-productivity strategy that continues high levels of consumerism that is the engine of capitalism and modernity. They are too strangled by the politics of special interests, populist anger, and media enabled political wedging and opportunism, to even begin to challenge this paradigm of conventional economic wisdom.<\/p>\n
This whole modernity framework rests on the hegemonic globalised Western knowledge system that has shaped our education and research sectors, along with business and political institutions, and much of the commercialisation of the creative sector. This knowledge system is now being challenged by the post-colonial warrior scholars of relationist First Nations knowledge systems, which have retained an altogether different worldview; one in which humans are part of natural systems, not in charge over them. And where wisdom, not cleverness is celebrated.<\/p>\n
New Shoots in the Cracks and Crevices<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nMeanwhile in the cracks and crevices of the unravelling structures of modernity, new green shoots are growing. We can take inspiration from the words of Bayo Akomolafe:<\/p>\n
What I feel called to do to along with others is to trace out theoretical breaks or \u201ccracks\u201d that allow us to extricate ourselves from the stranglehold of the familiar<\/b>. . . The practice of creating the nurturing conditions for the imperceptible to blossom.<\/em><\/p>\nThe ruins of the familiar are all around us, rising in the dust of chaos. But lively worlds, unheard sounds, illegible futures, and new practices thrive liminally in the ruins, zigzagging with the breaks, crackling with potential, threatening to be actual…<\/em><\/p>\nSome new shoots offer nurturing promise.\u00a0 Some are noxious weeds (dark web\/scams, trolling, terrorism, tech fantasies).<\/p>\n
Here in Australia, as yet, we are avoiding the worst of the noxious weeds, and meanwhile there are lots of local initiatives connected to cooperatives, de-growth, post growth, community focused agriculture, eco-villages etc, and community arts groups such as climarte, cultural gardeners etc, plus the whole re-wilding movement about reconnecting with the natural world.<\/p>\n
In particular, we can draw on the millennia old First Nations knowledge system and its unabashed eco-spirituality encoded as Caring for Country. In my own local area of the Blue Mountains, our local council has adopted the Planetary Health Initiative, along with its Statement of Recognition and Commitment of Indigenous Knowledges, as a guiding framework, recognising that First Nations people, through their resilience, wisdom and tenacity, have endured and survived the traumatic process of being colonised for over two centuries through heroic resistance, survival, reawakening and reclamation of their rich inheritance of an unbroken and timeless connection to Country (Ngurra).<\/p>\n
\u00a0A Slide from Professor Paradies Presentation<\/strong><\/p>\n My own presentation on The Three Pillars of Regenesis<\/em>, based on my book, The Regenesis Journey<\/em>, was received by a packed audience of engaged listeners and I managed to sell quite a few of my books.\u00a0 Many thanks to Virginia Francken from our GBMCAN leadership team, who came with me to the conference.<\/p>\n The core idea I came away with from the conference was that any way forward in shaping life after capitalism will come from the organic growth of local like-minded initiatives that can be linked up into a mycelium-like network of learning, caring and activation that is both local and global. Just as fungi creates an interconnected world of biological thriving through its mycelium network in the soil beneath our feet, so our own creative work can weave a mycelium-like network of creative praxis, whereby theories and ideas are born and grow organically, some thriving and spreading, others small and some needing to find different directions.<\/p>\n The way forward for we creative practitioners is to find and capture <\/em>other such incipient\/emergent mycelium networks \u2013 local and global, by linking up with them. Then we need to brand <\/em>it with an illustrative meme, eg \u2018mycelium network of creative praxis\u2019, and activate <\/em>this development through connection, ideas sharing and projects on the ground that talk to local communities, feeding and nurturing our body, speech, minds and spirits as we witness, with awareness and compassion, the decay and unravelling of modernity around us. This is not going to be easy.<\/p>\n The Great Unravelling<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n The seemingly solid structures of urban industry, businesses and dwellings lifestyle, along with their footpaths and freeways, are yet beginning to be eaten away within by a \u2018concrete cancer\u2019 (climate change, wealth inequality, environmental degradation, militarisation, mental health crisis of anxiety and depression).\u00a0 This feeds a growing sense of unease, anxiety and uncertainty that is widespread, leading to fractious politics and communities.<\/p>\n I agree with Vanessa de Oliveira (Hospicing Modernity<\/em>, 2021) that the whole scientific-materialist-rationalist-extractivist framework of modernity, which stretches from the Scientific and Industrial Revolution of the 18th century through to late global techno-capitalism in our current times, is in a state of collapse\/unravelling.\u00a0 We ricochet between fantasies of the Tech-Bros of Platform Capitalism, colonising Mars and pioneering space tourism, the survivalist strategies of armed desperados, and the ‘tech-fix’ illusions of our so-called experts.<\/p>\n A lot of contemporary politics\/policy is raging against this (Far Right ethno-nationalism, manosphere misogyny etc, sexualised violence against women). Witness recent riots in Dublin against refugees and asylum seekers, or the stunning election win by far right Dutch politician, Gert Wilders, in a country famous for its tolerance.\u00a0 All agree that these developments are a direct result of the increasing growth of wealth inequality that has trapped working class ‘whites’ and and the young in declining standards of living, insecure housing and insecure work. For them, the old middle class promise of rising affluence is dead, neutered by greed.<\/p>\n Against this trend, hospitality to the ‘foreigner’ from abroad is wearing very thin, and resentment is turning to rage – not at the wealthy elite, but at the equally desperate asylum seekers and refugees. This is similar to the phenomenon of ‘lateral violence’ where the marginalised turn on one another, rather than confront the all powerful true ‘enemy’ and cause of their misery.\u00a0 Similar tensions inform the rise and persistence of rude and vulgar Trump as a performative champion of ‘true Americans’, despite his real advocacy for the elite uber-rich who are their true ‘enemies’.<\/p>\n Meanwhile reformist liberal democracies like ours are trying to plug the dyke\/plaster the cracks with things like shifts to renewable energy, circular economy-style industrial production and better nature conservation etc, while still pursuing a growth-productivity strategy that continues high levels of consumerism that is the engine of capitalism and modernity. They are too strangled by the politics of special interests, populist anger, and media enabled political wedging and opportunism, to even begin to challenge this paradigm of conventional economic wisdom.<\/p>\n This whole modernity framework rests on the hegemonic globalised Western knowledge system that has shaped our education and research sectors, along with business and political institutions, and much of the commercialisation of the creative sector. This knowledge system is now being challenged by the post-colonial warrior scholars of relationist First Nations knowledge systems, which have retained an altogether different worldview; one in which humans are part of natural systems, not in charge over them. And where wisdom, not cleverness is celebrated.<\/p>\n New Shoots in the Cracks and Crevices<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Meanwhile in the cracks and crevices of the unravelling structures of modernity, new green shoots are growing. We can take inspiration from the words of Bayo Akomolafe:<\/p>\n What I feel called to do to along with others is to trace out theoretical breaks or \u201ccracks\u201d that allow us to extricate ourselves from the stranglehold of the familiar<\/b>. . . The practice of creating the nurturing conditions for the imperceptible to blossom.<\/em><\/p>\n The ruins of the familiar are all around us, rising in the dust of chaos. But lively worlds, unheard sounds, illegible futures, and new practices thrive liminally in the ruins, zigzagging with the breaks, crackling with potential, threatening to be actual…<\/em><\/p>\n Some new shoots offer nurturing promise.\u00a0 Some are noxious weeds (dark web\/scams, trolling, terrorism, tech fantasies).<\/p>\n Here in Australia, as yet, we are avoiding the worst of the noxious weeds, and meanwhile there are lots of local initiatives connected to cooperatives, de-growth, post growth, community focused agriculture, eco-villages etc, and community arts groups such as climarte, cultural gardeners etc, plus the whole re-wilding movement about reconnecting with the natural world.<\/p>\n In particular, we can draw on the millennia old First Nations knowledge system and its unabashed eco-spirituality encoded as Caring for Country. In my own local area of the Blue Mountains, our local council has adopted the Planetary Health Initiative, along with its Statement of Recognition and Commitment of Indigenous Knowledges, as a guiding framework, recognising that First Nations people, through their resilience, wisdom and tenacity, have endured and survived the traumatic process of being colonised for over two centuries through heroic resistance, survival, reawakening and reclamation of their rich inheritance of an unbroken and timeless connection to Country (Ngurra).<\/p>\n<\/p>\nCreating a Mycelium Network of Creative Praxis<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n
The Rage Response<\/span><\/em><\/h2>\n
The Fix it Response<\/span><\/em><\/h2>\n