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#5 If your life feels pressured, this could be why

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I’ve just learnt something about money that is blowing my mind! I’ve been learning about the money system for a while now and about how credit and debt drive the economy - for example through this animated explanation by Ray Dalio . But the significance only began to dawn on me after talking to the amazing Helen Dew , an 85 year old Carterton resident, who’s a passionate advocate for alternative currencies. “People hardly ever question the nature of money,” she told Kim Hill in her recent interview on National Radio . “How did money get into the system? Where did it come from originally? You know! People don’t ask about that and it’s critical. It’s the central nervous system of everything we do and we don’t even ask questions about it. It’s like a fish. You ask a fish, ‘how’s the water? And the fish says “what water?” you know. We swim in it and we don’t understand the nature of it and how it all works and supports us.” “Money is the central nervous system of everything we do and we do...
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#4 Finding hope again

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I recently read “ Active Hope ” by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone. This book feels like the perfect companion on my journey. I read most of it in a little hut in the bush where I went to rest and recover from a hard winter before beginning this new job. I feel like the authors took me by the hand and led me gently into the familiar feelings of overwhelm and cynicism that seem to shroud topics like climate change and through to a more hopeful and inspired state. Joanna and Chris teach us to feel the despair and grief of the world without turning away or avoiding it. When we stop defending against the pain and feel it, it begins to soften us and becomes a powerful motivating force. The book encourages us to acknowledge the incredible gifts we receive every day, just by being alive on this planet. Gratitude builds connection and trust and it begins to feel easier to respond. They call this “the spiral of the work that reconnects”. Joanna and Chris frame our challenge in facing the enviro...
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#3 A call for “de-growth” from the chairman of Quatro Trust

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I’d like to introduce you to Tur Borren, the Chairman of Quatro Trust (and also my dear friend Mitzi’s Dad). Tur and I met years ago and hit it off immediately. I’ve always admired his questioning approach and his belief that people can solve the most difficult problems if they’re given the space and encouragement to focus. This is my drawing of Tur with two of his grandchildren who are some of his biggest inspirations. This whole project was Tur’s idea and I feel incredibly grateful to be in his team along with his sister Marceline and Mitzi who are acting as sounding boards and providing lots of knowledge, connections and encouragement. I’m going to let Tur introduce himself in his own words, by sharing an email he sent me earlier this week. In it he shares a key idea, which has inspired this project: Kia ora Loo. I am excited about your journey into communicating the interface between economics and climate change. Thank you for letting me join you. As you know I have been reading an...
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#2 The greatest magic trick of all time

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Last night I had a dream that I was in a gym full of fancy exercise machines. All around me, fit-looking people were exercising in black face masks. The masks were designed to make it harder to breathe so they could get fitter faster. When I arrived, the gym staff had run out of proper masks so I was given a thick wool one that made it almost impossible to breathe. I tried to use a machine but couldn’t figure out how it worked. Everyone around me was gliding and pumping away and I just stood there feeling stupid and left out. Something about this dream resonated with this research into climate change and economics. I am going to link them somehow! I’ve been learning about a concept called “energy blindness” I was introduced to the concept through this video “ The great simplification ” and this podcast by Nate Hagens . Nate zooms out to give a quick history of life on earth - from the formation of the planet to the development of modern society. He points out that across the vastness o...
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#1 Join me on a journey to discover how economics impacts the environment

How to face a crisis without losing hope I’ve just been employed for a year (until Oct 2023) to research and write about the interface between economics and climate change. My last attempt to engage deeply with climate change was back in 2009 and 2010. I was awarded the Prime Minister's Science Communication Prize and I wanted to use the time and money it offered to contribute in a meaningful way to the climate crisis. You can read my blog posts from the time here . After about 9 months of research and investigation I burnt out. It felt so overwhelming and I didn't know what my role was or what ground I stood on. In the end I had to re-focus on my own development and healing to keep from falling apart. I haven't fully returned to the issue since - even though I care deeply about it. This is the first time since 2010 that I've felt ready to re-engage with climate change and what it means for us. I feel very well supported in my relationhsip and community and less ambitio...
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