Editorial

Over the break I engaged with a book titled Ecological intelligence: Rediscovering ourselves in Nature by Ian McCallum. McCallum is a psychiatrist and poet and writes from a framework which blends science with functioning of the brain/mind. An interesting read and different. The following is an extract from page 1. Here is his starting premise:

Towards a greater awareness of the privilege of what it means to be the human animal is what this book is about. To me, it is a wild and ethical imperative – an urgent reminder that we are inextricably linked to the land; that the history of every living creature is within us; that we are above all a mindful, poetic species and that we are the “keepers of our zoo”. If we cannot accept this then we will continue to be the creatures of our own undoing.

When we review the history of life on the planet, it is evident that death and, eventually, extinction is the fate of all species and that life, with a will of its own, will continue to find new ways of expressing itself. This, in itself, is a miracle. But there is another side to this awesome process. Prior to the emergence of humans, nowhere in the evolutionary narrative does it show any one species contributing quite so dramatically to its own extinction, let alone the extinction of other species such as birds, butterflies, and marine animals, plants and beetles, as well as many species we don't even know about.

There is hardly a place on the face of our planet that we have not explored, settled, and altered in some way to satisfy our own ends, and the news is not good. The denuding of tropical forests, acid rain, air and water pollution, diminishing wilderness areas, the introduction of alien vegetation, and greenhouse warming all have one thing in common – the human factor. A sobering thought. Even more sobering is the realization that the natural selection process of evolution is happening right in front of our eyes and we are the force behind it. In response to the well-intentioned use of insecticides, antibiotics, and other organic chemicals, the Earth is now host to multiple new strains of resistant organisms, from bacteria and viruses to weeds and insects including more than a hundred new strains of DDT- resistant mosquitoes. Having turned a blind eye to the fact that we are part of Nature's great diversity, we have become ecologically unintelligent. Lopsided in favor of the angels, we have steadily distanced ourselves from our biological past.

In what is sometimes referred to as the Human-Nature split, we have ignorantly, if not arrogantly, placed ourselves at the apex of creation. It is time to come down from that precarious pedestal.

The big question, of course, is can we reverse this destructive, self-deceptive trend? Are we willing to come off that pedestal? Something in me says no. It is difficult to counter the argument that the downward spiral of human coexistence with this planet has already begun and that it is too late to make amends; but something in me says yes. It is that something that allows me to continue my work as a psychiatrist, that affirms the belief that when we commit ourselves, we can learn to see ourselves differently. That it is in our nature to change, to adapt, to diversify, to deal with suffering, and to discover, with time, that our suffering is sometimes an important part of our healing. It is a belief that the future of human coexistence with the Earth is going to depend just as much on the creativity of its scientists and poets as it does on changes in climate and vegetation. And so, if it is not too late, how do we begin to rediscover ourselves in Nature? How do we begin to heal or to reconcile the Human-Nature split?

Extract from Ecological Intelligence: Rediscovering Ourselves in Nature by Ian McCallum. Ian McCallum is a psychiatrist and poet from the USA.

The above quote represents the first five paragraphs of his book. On reading it I felt compelled to use it as the editorial to the first newsletter for 2024. The book was first released in 2005 and revised in 2008. In that time the world seems to have sunk lower and lower into the abyss of climate change. In January 2024 atmospheric CO2 was at 422.83 ppm whereas on January 17 2023, it was 419.07. Onwards and upwards it seems.

In case you have a yearning to know more immediately about the notion of the word ecological and how it applies to civilisation the following article will take you there:

What does an ecological civilization look like? by Jeremy Lent published in yes! Magazine.

Still on climate change but in a past tense sense comes an email from Natalie Collard, CEO of Farmers for Climate Action. To quote Natalie:

While I was at COP, I met with MPs from Labor, Liberal and National parties, international political leaders and representatives of Australian and global agriculture peak organisations. I spoke on panels, including facilitating a National Farmers’ Federation panel on sustainability in agriculture. In all these conversations, I emphasised the great opportunities that can flow to Australian farmers from strong climate policy. There’s so much potential to benefit our productivity, profitability and sustainability.

We shared our members’ stories via a powerful video we produced, which was aired on loop throughout COP28 at the Australia Pavilion. My sincere thanks again to Jody Brown, Peter Lake, Kylie Burton and Caitlin McConnel who shared their farming and climate stories in this film and to those who generously contributed to developing the video.

A message received from the Nature Conservation Council of NSW

Kerry, if I asked you what needs to happen to stop the wholesale destruction of our environment, what would you say?

Act on climate change? End native forest logging? Elect better politicians?

All great answers. But was your first response 'alter part 5A of the Local Land Services Act' and 'scrap biodiversity offset loopholes'?

To be honest, neither was mine. But that's exactly what we need our government to do if we have any chance of stopping the widespread destruction we are facing.

• Watch the NCC video on habitat clearing in NSW

• More context and ways to be involved.

The Biggest little Farm

John and Molly Chester from the USA have a story to tell and it is called The Biggest little Farm. John Chester left his job as a film producer to take on the challenge of building an ecological farm. The movie is absorbing and worth watching in full for $5 on YouTube. But if you want to meet John and Molly before you part with $5 here is an interview.

To hire or buy the film go to https://www.biggestlittlefarmmovie.com.

Rachel’s farm

And while on the topic of inspirational documentaries, try Rachel's Farm, about one woman's journey from ecological despair to finding hope in the soil beneath her feet!

• Watch trailer

• Watch full movie (buy DVD, watch or stream now

The Collected Thoughts of Thomas Berry

On October 20, 2023, the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology celebrated its 25th anniversary. In celebration, the Forum began releasing to the public some rare Thomas Berry content, including this collection of audio recordings titled “The Collected Thoughts of Thomas Berry.” In these reflections, originally a limited release on cassette in 1998 (the year the Forum was founded), Thomas is in conversation with evolutionary cosmologist, Brian Thomas Swimme. They were produced by Bruce and Pamela Bochte. A work in eight parts, the Forum will be releasing one part each month, beginning October 2023. Check back each month for a new release.

They can be heard from the Thomas Berry website and the Yale Forum YouTube channel. 

Thomas Berry introduced the notion of an ecozoic purpose to life and in that simple claim he started a revolution that is building in size and strength. Take the following article from the Winter 2024 Humanist by Tom Krattenmaker for example. The article is worth reading in the sense that it identifies that the world is caught between two paradigms, and that a clear direction is yet to emerge, although it is starting to. I think you will enjoy reading this interesting proposition which the Institute would support.

The Story of the Universe: We are Made of Star Stuff by Tom Krattanmaker, published by TheHumanist.com.

Time for some practical farming

This story comes via Soils for Life and involves Western Australian farmer Rob Hetherington and family. Rob took his first soil sample in the 1980s when he started managing the family farm in the Lakes District of the South-Eastern Wheatbelt in Western Australia. Since then Rob has collected hundreds of samples, which help him achieve his goal of farming ‘deeper’ to improve the health of the soil and plants, rather than expanding.

Read their story here.

Practical agronomy in the context of regenerative agriculture

In case you wish to join the dots when it comes to many of the practices associated with regen agriculture a conference at Ballan near Daylesford, Victoria, on the 5-6 March will be of great value. Speakers includes Ray Archuleta from the USA, Darren Doherty, Gary Page and Jake Chandler. Here are the details:

https://soilrestorationfarming.com.au/sp/ray-generate-2024-event/

If you are wondering about Ray Archuleta and his history here are some links of interest:

• https://globalearthrepairfoundation.org/ray-archuleta/

• https://soilhealthacademy.org/team/ray-archuleta/

Bayer shaken by another loss in US Court

Shares of Bayer have lost half of their value since June 2023. Now the company is hit by another major loss. A jury in the Philadelphia Court found Bayer guilty and the company was ordered to pay 2.25 billion dollars to a gardener who developed cancer from exposure to Roundup. The jury found that his non-Hodgkins lymphoma was the result of using the herbicide for yard work at his house for a period of several years. The verdict includes $250 million in compensatory damages and $2 billion in punitive damages. Bayer will appeal, but this is the fourth major blow in a short period.

Institute internal news

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Editor: Kerry Cochrane
Design & Presentation: Tony McKenzie (PhD)