Can We Think Planetarily?

We’re looking forward to the public launch of the Planetary Civics Inquiry taking place next month. This launch is a coordinated step into the future that braids together big themes, regional and topical perspectives, and intentionally honed techniques for addressing matters of existential planetary concern.?

The critique of status quo problem framing is already stated in the PCI position paper so I won’t attempt to repeat its points. Instead I’ll share a bit about the work we’re putting into one of the workshops that will be offered as part of the world-wide series of launch events hosted by RMIT, Dark Matter Labs, Politics for Tomorrow and CfC. Our workshop will focus on the challenges of thinking planetarily, and what activities might hold us upright as we step, and maybe even stride, into working at the planetary scale.?

The following questions are what we hope to address through some sensory and communication exercises in the workshop.

How do we become aware that our thinking is not planetary?

What efforts help us to think planetarily more often?

What does intuitive planetary thinking look like?

What is planetary thinking?

Our team will offer sensory prompts that invite the workshop participants into each question, and try to capture live responses. We’ll also ask some guests to curate material or social artifacts that reflect their perspectives on these questions to share with the room.?

If you’d like to try an exercise we’re considering for the workshop, read on and grab some headphones.?

Here is a sample from a collection of field recordings by Gordon Hempton. Pick any of them and listen.?

What did you notice? What felt important about what you heard?

Now listen again and try to think planetarily.?

Did you notice different things? Did something different feel important about what you heard?

Next take a look at this project.?

What feels important about their efforts?

Now take a look at any small object within reach.

Can you think about it planetarily?

Now that you’ve tried these things, do you think you can define planetary thinking?

We’d love to hear from you. Stay tuned for announcements about the workshop.

Article written by Katie Edmonds with Tim Maly