Read on Twitter
It’s taken me too long to do this, but I’m finally finding the time to read Finding Our Niche by my good friend and colleague @ConserveChange.
In this thread, I’ll share thoughts about the book and bits that stood out to me.
You can buy it here https://fernwoodpublishing.ca/book/finding-our-niche
In this thread, I’ll share thoughts about the book and bits that stood out to me.
You can buy it here https://fernwoodpublishing.ca/book/finding-our-niche
This thread will grow over time, as I read through the book
The first chapter really sets the stage for us. This book is about taking what could be described as a mainstream settler worldview and interrogating it relentlessly. He talks about his own journey and evolution to this way of thinking.
Star Trek references are made throughout the first chapter. I won’t spoil it but he does a brilliant job showing how these shows shaped his worldview - and what their limitations are.
He’s setting us up to expand our own worldview by showing how his own worldview evolved
He’s setting us up to expand our own worldview by showing how his own worldview evolved
Chapter 2 interrogates the concept of “Pristine” nature. Begins with a well-deserved swipe at the scientific enterprise
@ConserveChange argues that calling something “pristine” is generally wrong and also dangerous. It hides evidence of today’s harm which may not be visible to the naked eye, and also erases a past where Indigenous people prospered in balance with ecosystems.
This fact blows my mind. In often think of how messed up it is that when we trash ecosystems through climate change we’re making life worse for people 2000 years from now.
By contrast, Indigenous people thousands of years ago managed ecosystems in ways we *still benefit from*
By contrast, Indigenous people thousands of years ago managed ecosystems in ways we *still benefit from*
@ConserveChange, to put it mildly, is unimpressed with the eco-modernist paradigm.
It’s hard to comment before reading the whole book but I wonder if there’s a distinction between eco-modernism as a philosophy, and the potential of specific technologies to advance conservation
It’s hard to comment before reading the whole book but I wonder if there’s a distinction between eco-modernism as a philosophy, and the potential of specific technologies to advance conservation
Like IMO electrifying vehicles is necessary but also wholly insufficient to sustainably fight climate change. I don’t *think* that’s eco-modernism to say that?
Maybe I should just keep reading...
Maybe I should just keep reading...
There are lots of informative and very moving stories of Indigenous experts and families woven into the chapters. I will mostly avoid posting excerpts of these because I think they should be read in context.
The chapter ends with a harrowing tale of hunters who nearly died due to a climate change-related problem during a hunt.
Makes me wonder how often this happens... how many of these “snowmobile through the ice” stories are really “here’s another way climate change is killing us”
Makes me wonder how often this happens... how many of these “snowmobile through the ice” stories are really “here’s another way climate change is killing us”
(Pausing for tonight. Up next: chapter 3)
