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Page added on September 8, 2016
Some Thoughts on System Change
It becomes clearer with each passing day that simply ameliorating current problems is not going to be sufficient. This blog is about how we might scale up transformative change.
There is an ongoing litany of alarming and depressing news regarding climate change and the growing gap between our aspirations for addressing it and reality (and climate change is only one of the nine planetary boundaries). There is similarly grim news about exponentially increasing levels of inequality, conflict — including in what Naomi Klein calls fossil fuel sacrifice zones — and the emergence of a nation of refugees.
Pondering appropriate responses to our increasingly chaotic and unstable global context has led me to identify a few central issues. First is the high degree of interconnection between the problems that we face. I would argue that proportionate reactions to climate change, for example, demand exploration of how energy is used — which in turn demands not just an understanding of the role of energy in our economies, but a preparedness to move away from relying on economic growth as the primary aim of economic policy. Generally we shy away from questioning the fundamentals of our economic system: if they come into conflict with the major issues we face, we somehow manage simply to ignore such conflict. See, by way of example, the EU’s (secret, internal) position during COP21 that nothing could be agreed which might jeopardise TTIP and similar agreements.
Continuing on the theme of connection, or the lack of it, I’m also struck by how little connection there is, generally, between top down responses to global issues and the bottom up movements also seeking to act on those issues. Again using climate change as example, the chair of IPCC working group 2, Debra Roberts, commented on the general lack of access to high level processes and agreements: “These things can’t remain discreet agreements that are signed somewhere in New York to great fanfare and don’t impact on the lives of people in the streets. How do we construct that opportunity of access and participation and responsibility in this new era that is the post-Paris era?”
Finally I’ve been exploring the effectiveness with which the change movements have brought expert understandings of psychology into their practice. In Engaging with Climate Change, a collection of essays from a variety of contributors on psychoanalytic and interdisciplinary perspectives edited by Sally Weintrobe, there is an exploration of the difference between three forms of climate change denial: denialism (deliberately misinforming), negation (saying what is, isn’t) and disavowal (apparently accepting reality, but minimising its significance). Weintrobe suggests that “Disavowal can lead us further and further away from accepting the reality of climate change, with murderous and suicidal consequences. This is because the more reality is systematically avoided through making it insignificant or through distortion, the more anxiety builds up unconsciously, and the greater is the need to defend with further disavowal.” It feels key to me that we all try to understand and grapple with our own levels of disavowal, which dangerously allow us to “cope” and carry on as if everything was fine.
That’s because one of the dangers of individual or societal disavowal is an undermining of our capacity to care, to love, to show concern. As Klein argues in her discussion of fossil fuel sacrifice zones, “A culture that places so little value on black and brown lives that it is willing to let human beings disappear beneath the waves, or set themselves on fire in detention centres, will also be willing to let the countries where black and brown people live disappear beneath the waves, or desiccate in the arid heat.”
In responding to the interconnected and urgent challenges we face, how might we seek to address both visible, linear causal factors and, crucially, also make links through to underlying cultures, seeking to unleash and foster a caring imagination? How do we move away from the supremacy of ego and other manifestations of the Algonquin concept of Wetiko, while also remembering that as a society we value compassionate over selfish values even if it doesn’t necessarily feel that way? In attempting to do so it is useful to bear in mind the research showing that, in Tom Crompton of Common Cause’s summary, “How we talk …and think about … other issues will prove to be of crucial importance in building public support for action on climate change”.
Given this setting, what can/should funders who agree that systems change is urgently needed do? In her blog in April on the practice of philanthropy Florence reported a comment from the chief executive of one of the largest grantmakers in the UK that, “If you’re in the game of amelioration, the system is fine. If you’re interested in long-term systems change, the fundamental mechanism of grant-making is not fit for purpose.” From my perspective and experience the core question is how might funders responsibly take risks and give greater support to radical — or potentially radical — work which looks at the kinds of interconnections I raised previously.
As Jen Morgan pointed out in her December 2015 post on systems change on the EFN Blog, really engaging in understanding, and working towards, systems change needs different approaches. In particular I wonder how funders might explore taking risks more, in supporting potentially transformative ideas from a range of potential change agents. Leading climate modeller Kevin Anderson said, “We all have the potential to be agents for change, the person, organisation or city whose ideas and examples initiate a whole new way of thinking. It is not an issue of top-down or bottom-up, of us or them. If we are to deliver the timely revolution in … our emissions it will need to be a partnership – not something simply imposed from above or forced through from below.”
The time for a revolution in how we live, way beyond our relationship with energy, is very short. It can’t take place in isolation from other societal changes, including in our cultures of care or uncare. Exploring how to engage with this conundrum is my primary focus.
23 Comments on "Some Thoughts on System Change"
Kenz300 on Thu, 8th Sep 2016 10:43 am
Wind, solar and geothermal continue to grow in use every year while fossil fuel use declines………..
Climate Change will be the defining issue of our lives…
23 States to Rely on Geothermal, Solar, or Wind Power as a Primary Source of Electric Generation in 2016
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2016/09/23-states-to-rely-on-geothermal-solar-or-wind-power-as-a-primary-source-of-electric-generation-in-2016.html
Kenz300 on Thu, 8th Sep 2016 10:44 am
Endless growth, especially endless population growth is unsustainable………….
Climate Change will impact all of us and cause enormous problem for countries and people around the world……… this is the great challenge of our times……. will future generations be doomed to suffer the consequences of our actions….
Should We Be Having Kids In The Age Of Climate Change?
http://www.npr.org/2016/08/18/479349760/should-we-be-having-kids-in-the-age-of-climate-change
Apneaman on Thu, 8th Sep 2016 11:44 am
Naomi Klein huh? She nailed it with her book “The Shock Doctrine” for sure. As good as blueprint and documentation for how TPTB operate as any other. It’s funny how someone who is such a staunch critic of capitalism has no issue selling her books through said system – no choice really, but on the environmental stuff she supposedly had a choice yet did the same as every other status seeker. She jets all over the planet every year plugging her books and attending climate rallies, marches and conferences and giving guest lectures at universities. And she recently squirted out a little baby. All these environmental people are full of shit too. They are not wrong about the changes the humans have triggered. In fact most of them cannot/will not come to terms with just how late the hour is. Where they err the most is in their belief and promotion that the humans have some kind of choice – they don’t. The MPP is your daddy.
rockman on Thu, 8th Sep 2016 2:28 pm
My position remains unchanged: as long as folks point to some “system” or some group of “TPTB” as the primary source of our energy/environmental predicament no realistic response can be designed. The current state of affairs is simply a function of human nature. The nature of the vast majority of the world’s population that want to see their lives and that of their children improved. The negative effects on the lives of others, including their children, is not as important. And the lives of those yet born: of no consideration at all.
If someone wants to change the “system” they need to devise a way to alter human nature across a VERY large group of the global population IMHO.
Good luck with that.
HARM on Thu, 8th Sep 2016 2:29 pm
“She jets all over the planet every year plugging her books and attending climate rallies, marches and conferences and giving guest lectures at universities. And she recently squirted out a little baby.”
If you want to get your message out there today, there is really no other alternative. No conferences, no book tours and no lectures = no exposure and no readers.
Re: her one kid, is this really a litmus test of who’s not an eco-hypocrite? One kid (less than replacement) vs. 7.6 average per Nigerian? If anything we should be encouraging couple to stick to one child, like China used to. Not to mention that if all the intelligent, well informed people stop reproducing, while mouth-breathing idiots keep reproducing like rabbits, in a few generations we end up with a real-world Idiocracy.
HARM on Thu, 8th Sep 2016 2:36 pm
@Rockman,
Exactly. Some here maintain the fantasy that Americans (and Western culture) is to blame for all the world’s ills. If only the pure-of-heart-and-mind Noble Savages in the Philippines, ME, India, Asia or Africa were handed the global reigns of power, all would be right. Because independent nations in those regions are already doing so gosh-darned well with keeping their populations in check, reducing consumption & pollution, managing their natural resources, rooting out corruption and spreading freedom, wealth and happiness among the masses.
Nice fantasy.
rockman on Thu, 8th Sep 2016 4:05 pm
HARM – It’s like far eastern cousins: what other country has increased the damage to the world’s ecology in the last 15 years then China? OTOH how can the US consumers, the current record holders for the per capita damage done, fault the for trying to match us?
Same for every “undeveloped country”: which one with the opportunity to expand fossil fuel energy consumption (and thus increase GHG production) in an effort to improve it’s economy and has graciously rejected the opportunity?
How can any American criticize a foreigner for try to get to where we’ve gotten? And more important: expect them to reject thier human nature any more then we have?
Kenz300 on Thu, 8th Sep 2016 4:52 pm
Big Oil’s Nightmare Comes True – EcoWatch
http://www.ecowatch.com/california-climate-policy-1988157045.html
The oil companies and the auto companies need to get their collective heads out of the sand and realize that the world is changing with or without them.
Climate Change is real….. it will impact all of us…
It is time to move away from fossil fuels and embrace alternative energy sources like wind, solar, wave energy, geothermal and second generation biofuels made from algae, cellulose and waste. They need to change their business models and move from being OIL companies to ENERGY companies. The auto industry needs to move from just building compliance vehicles to embracing electric vehicles and start putting development and advertising behind them..
The world is moving to embrace alternative energy sources…….. the fossil fuel companies can transform themselves into “energy” companies or they can die a slow death.
As Climate Change impacts more people there will be a bigger backlash against fossil fuels.
Clean energy production with wind and solar…….
Clean energy consumption with electric vehicles……
Boat on Thu, 8th Sep 2016 8:02 pm
Hillary Clinton Could Turn Both Texas And Mississippi Blue According To New Polls
The same polling also shows Clinton tied with Trump in Arizona and Georgia. If Donald Trump loses any of these four red states, Hillary Clinton will win the presidential election. If Trump loses Texas, it will be a complete disaster for the Republican Party.
http://www.politicususa.com/2016/09/06/hillary-clinton-turn-texas-mississippi-blue-polls.html
claman on Thu, 8th Sep 2016 8:45 pm
rockman, I call upon Theedrich to answer you : “How can any American criticize a foreigner for try to get to where we’ve gotten? And more important: expect them to reject thier human nature any more then we have?”
Sorry theedrich for calling you, but this exactly where you fit in
Boat on Thu, 8th Sep 2016 9:28 pm
clanman,
Rockman is exactly right. Doesn’t matter the skin color, gender or nationality. We all want ac, computer, phone, fridge, washer/dryer, shed, home and garage. If you need direction on how to live, go to N Korea.
drwater on Fri, 9th Sep 2016 12:21 am
“My position remains unchanged: as long as folks point to some “system” or some group of “TPTB” as the primary source of our energy/environmental predicament no realistic response can be designed.”
Exactly as Rockman says. And to use another one of Rockman’s themes, It’s the PRICE, stupid. We don’t need some squishy new liberal concept, there just needs to be a steadily rising price on carbon. Make it revenue neutral like in British Columbia and it doesn’t even have to hurt the overall economy.
Cloud9 on Fri, 9th Sep 2016 6:46 am
Some charismatic may lead some small segment of the population into some alternative life style. Most of us on the other hand are too heavily invested in the current system to make any drastic changes. Change will come as we adapt to the unfolding reality. The simple fact that new discoveries are not replacing current consumption should be all a person needs to know to understand that a phase shift is on the horizon.
This phase shift heralds the end of exponential growth. The end of exponential growth collapses the exponential debt system that currently funds the world’s governments.
Defaults on the scale we should anticipate will no doubt bring in a deflationary tsunami.
This deflation may mask oil shortages for some time to come. The natural reaction for governments faced with this level of deflation is to print. The printing inevitably goes exponential and the affected currency collapses. When currencies collapse, usually political systems collapse as well.
We boomers came of age during the protests and riots of the sixties. We may go out during the riots and protests that accompany systemic collapse.
Dredd on Fri, 9th Sep 2016 10:49 am
It is us or Oil-Qaeda … and “us” are not in control (When Will New York Sink?).
Apneaman on Fri, 9th Sep 2016 1:04 pm
rockman, you are either confused or conflating human nature with the current system. Humans have conjured up any number of different systems that have been highly destructive. The USSR was almost as environmentally destructive as any capitalists system and the Nazi’s, in their short run, were none too kind to the environment either. Appears, you are once again rationalizing so as to defend your position in the social hierarchy and absolve yourself of spreading the cancer more than others. Lucky for you you live under this system. Under the Nazi’s, someone with your medical condition would be euthanized because because they would not want you to breed, are a financial/medical burden and don’t want to look at you because it upsets their vision of physical purity. This is all on ideological grounds and built into their system. Your skills are irrelevant. You live under a system that does not think that way and accommodates people like you. This is legislated, same as euthanasia of the physically and mentally handicapped was under National Socialism. You can thank all those liberal do gooders/social justice warriors for most of the tireless unpaid work to get legislation put in place to accommodate the handicapped in both the workplace and public. The growth imperative is biological, but it can happen under any system. Hell the Chinese have a Commie-Capitalist hybrid that no one predicted and they are doing more than their fair share in the suicidal growth project. That’s 4 different systems/set of living arrangements I described, but the one thing they have in common is their biological growth imperative regardless of long term consequences including the destruction of civilization and the extinction of the humans. That is in our nature. The living arrangements and dividing of the pie are cultural constructs and they can change in a hurry.
Apneaman on Fri, 9th Sep 2016 3:27 pm
The Sick Ocean
“the findings are based upon peer-reviewed research compiled by 80 scientists from 12 countries. It is the most comprehensive study ever undertaken on the subject of warming of the ocean.
Significantly, the ocean has absorbed more than 90% of “enhanced heating from climate change since the 1970s.” In other words, the ocean has been “shielding us” from the extensive affects of global warming. And, the consequences for the ocean are “absolutely massive.”
“The “seasons in the ocean” are actually changing as a result.
“The scale of ocean warming is truly staggering with the numbers so large that it is difficult for most people to comprehend,” D. Laffoley, et al, ed. Explaining Ocean Warming, IUCN Global Marine and Polar Programme, Sept. 2016.
“A useful analysis undertaken by the Grantham Institute in 2015 concluded that if the same amount of heat that has gone into the top 2000m of the ocean between 1955-2010 had gone into the lower 10km of the atmosphere, then the Earth would have seen a warming of 36°C.”
http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/09/08/the-sick-ocean/
The ocean is sick, in part, from all that heat energy and will soon puke it back out………..on the humans.
HARM on Fri, 9th Sep 2016 4:50 pm
“…the one thing they have in common is their biological growth imperative regardless of long term consequences including the destruction of civilization and the extinction of the humans. That is in our nature.”
@Apenaman,
Re-read what Rockman said. He basically agrees with you, as do I, on that point.
Apneaman on Fri, 9th Sep 2016 5:59 pm
HARM, the difference is that I don’t use human nature to defend an ideology that I am benefiting from while others are suffering it, nor am I using it to defend the corrupt industry I work for and benefit from. Much of said benefits from dirty tactics and gag orders and buying off politicians and lying and all the rest of that long history of malfeasance. If I went and shot rockman in the head and wrote it off as human nature would that make it OK? Humans have been killing each other forever, so it’s just human nature, so I have ZERO RESPONSIBILITY. It’s funny because I can remember a few occasions when the conversation was about obesity and addictions and rockman weighed in with the typical conservatard bullshit about “personal responsibility” in spite of the fact I had already demonstrated that was but one small factor and many other of aspects human nature and genetics and upbringing are involved. This has been proven, but it, like many other scientific discoveries, clashes with that texas’s conservatard neoliberal ideology. Rockman and others like him are simply cherry picking and warping science, in this case “social darwinism” to justify and defend their status and wealth and keep BAU as usual to benefit themselves at the expense of their fellow citizens and others. The oily cunts did everything in their power to misinform the public and prevent even the slightest attempt to slow down and at least try and do something. They have corrupted everything including most environmental organizations. It’s been smoke and mirrors the whole time. IMO, the humans are incapable of preventing their own extinction, but the idea that this global neo liberal system was written in stone is complete bullshit. It could have happened a thousand years ago or it could not have happened for another century or more. It’s happening now because of the system, the dystopian neo liberal capitalist culture (worst version America) we live under that benefits less people everyday. Rockmans defense of his position is human nature that’s for sure – everyone has an excuse – everyone is innocent or in his case a 100% necessary and benign “energy provider”. That’s why baybee geebus put him here – to provide energy for white people. He’s a fucking genuine hero of humanity.
peakyeast on Fri, 9th Sep 2016 6:00 pm
I wonder how long it will take before projects like the 1967 Project Gasbuggy in New Mexico or the ideas of Mining shale oil with nuclear bombs…
Oh and dont forget project 7 or plowshare – while we are at the paramount stupidity of businessmen and military men – thats also an exponential function btw.
Times are certainly getting desperate enough for them to start rampaging through the archives of insanity.
shortonoil on Fri, 9th Sep 2016 7:51 pm
Until something better comes along, (and contrary to some held beliefs, we are a long way from it) the last culture using fossil fuels will be the last civilization. Who wants to be first, at going back, to pounding the rocks together to make a living. That should be about where cannibalism fell out of favor.
Back to the drawing boards, “this dog don’t hunt”!
HARM on Fri, 9th Sep 2016 8:38 pm
@Apneaman,
I don’t claim to know what Rockman thinks, but based on his previous posts I seriously doubt he’s a stereotypical science-denying right-winger or cargo-cultist. That aside, practically no one on this board (aside from maybe cloggie) is defending the f**ked up status quo or capitalism run amok. Neoliberalism sucks and greed isn’t good.
The problem is, most people *claim* to believe in altruism and charity, but very few actually *practice* it. Just like everyone pretends to want to “protect the environment”, but when push comes to shove, no one wants to sacrifice anything or spend any money or effort. Actions speak louder than words, and when it comes to humanity’s supposed shared values, the silence is deafening. We appear to be genetically hard-wired for selfishness thanks to millions of generations of successful a$$hole ancestors.
Apneaman on Fri, 9th Sep 2016 10:33 pm
HARM, I agree that few practice it. I’ve had some generous moments and a few years back gave up a bunch of stuff, but it was as much as an experiment as anything and I was definitely in a different spot than most – little obligated to anyone or thing. I just was never all that materialistic to begin with for whatever reason. Humans are wired for selfishness/survival and status seeking, but they are also wired for cooperation and empathy and sympathy and selective altruism some of the time (reciprocal altruism). Just look at all the working class folks who pitch in after these weather disasters. It’s just that we live under a system of exploitation that at this particular point in history has morphed into a sick and cruel form of society that has lots of wealth and goodies but has impoverishes men’s souls. It drives the growing havenots to loneliness, desperation, addiction and suicide. What else would the end game from a system solely based on the accumulation of money and material dopamine hits look like? It is purposeless. Hell, just go back to America in the 1950’s, as imperfect as it was, many still had purpose and goals other than MORE. The cold war, civic duty and space race gave them meaning and hope that another flat screen or lift kit in the oversized truck, whole body tattoos or canned vacation cannot. It’s all one big fucking lie and a society like that will produce liars and avoiders of the truth in mass quantities and the higher up the chain the worse they are. It’s also produced billions of retards who will go their entire lives without one single moment of self reflection.
The unexamined life is not worth living
-Socrates
It’s all good HARM, history shows that what we are witnessing is the norm in the last stage of civilizational collapse. Like the climate system and the biosphere there is great inertia, so it’s pointless to expect any other outcome since we crossed the Rubicon decades ago.
Davy on Sat, 10th Sep 2016 6:06 am
Real meaning and lack thereof comes in times of crisis. We are now and we are going to be challenged at an existential level. This will be individual challenges and societal ones. Currently many are only challenged with health problems or financial problems within a stable society. We are now going to add to those individual challenges a failing civilization and ecosystem. This will be global. Where we still can grow is spiritually. Don’t equate spiritual to religion although they are related. I am not telling you to reject your religion but I will say it must be called into question because religion is part of the status quo. Religion has been coopted just as all the other institutions of man have been corrupted. What I mean by spiritual is that personal part of us that connects our lonely ego to creation. I am not commenting on the kind of spirituality my point is the essence of spirituality.
I personally have an eclectic spirituality that is influenced by Taoism and the Naturalism of the Native Americans on one end and the community and caring that comes with Christianity. I am not into beliefs and miracles so a great deal of Christianity has little meaning to me but I do appreciate the traditions and community that is found in Christianity. It is my upbringing and part of my community. Instead of rejecting it I embrace parts of it. I am a basically a mystic:
“a person who seeks by contemplation and self-surrender to obtain unity with or absorption into the Deity or the absolute, or who believes in the spiritual apprehension of truths that are beyond the intellect.”
That definition basically says everything and nothing because it points to truth but also points to you can’t know the truth. I am orientated to nature because I see nature as the basis. I start with nature as my foundation and move outward. With this natural foundation I then build on with my human home.
I used to be into the idea of civilization and the progress and expansion of humans. This ended many years ago as I saw the destruction and dysfunction of that arrangement. I now believe humans belong in small groups with small populations. I reject higher learning as our end and instead point to connection to our ecosystem as a higher end. It is the misplacement of man in scale that is the root of our predicaments. We are not going back to balance without passing through the gauntlet of death. This death will be at multiple levels both spiritual and physical. It is necessary because this process is “organic” natural law. It is only by acceptance and humility of turning oneself over to this process that some kind of redemption is possible. I am not speaking of redemption from a religious point of view. My view of redemption is natural and spiritual. We can regain our natural place by acceptance and surrender. The surrender is acknowledging we are at the end of a human age and the turning of a stable epoch to one of instability. Civilizations do not survive long. They especially don’t last long in instability. This surrender is accepting this process and orientating to it.
There is only a small amount of transcendence that can occur. Acceptance is the redemption of regaining our place in the universe within a death at multiple levels. We must embrace death to find life. Once you pass through that door than you go forth on nature’s path. If you orientate properly the stars will be on your side so to speak. The problem always is the ego that gets in the way. There is the problem of the body that is mortal and subject to horrible things. There is the problem of temptations of the flesh and the psychopathy of power. Power is separation but also survival. Power is the knife edge of sanity. We have a mind that is capable of great moments and in an instant fall into an abys of depression and insanity. The redemption comes from letting go but also knowing you can’t let go. Once you get to that point you stop the vicious circle that is the insanity found in the ego of the mind.
If you wonder where I am going with this it is basically expressing just how hard it is to journey through the gauntlet. I am not telling you a secret because this is my journey not yours. You have your journey unique to you. Our journeys are where we can find meaning in a time of the loss of meaning. Our civilization has produced amazing knowledge and destroyed our connection to ourselves and nature in that process. We now live by living denial at the individual and societal level. You cannot deviate too much from that social narrative of denial or you can’t survive in the status quo but too much of the status quo without reflection becomes insanity. Just walk through Walmart sometime and reflect and wonder what it is all about. Walmart is an extreme of the status quo and but one of hundreds.
I live in the status quo to exit it. I practice relative sacrifice because full sacrifice will not work with the status quo because full sacrifice is complete rejection of the status quo which is an existential starvation. You cannot reject the civilization that supports you. A very few lucky ones can but most can’t. You can reject parts of the status quo. I downsize with dignity. More is better in the status quo so have less with the understanding it is more. This where we can find dignity of less. Downsize relative to your local because no local is created equal or should be. There is no silver bullet. Collapse in place by finding a location and committing to it as your last refuge. Build your lifeboat there but also build your death bed. Recognize nature’s animals have homes but you have nowhere to hide because of the ego. My meaning here is recognize at some point you may lose everything. We live with that fear and anxiety the animals of nature don’t. You may be cast into a migration that may end in the loss of everything but right here right now you are safe don’t degrade that safety with too much anxiety. That is one of the deaths you must embraced to find life. Meaning can be found but never possessed. The material is not for you to own only to use.
What I have tried to do here is show a way to find meaning in a time of no meaning. It is my reflection not yours. Find your meaning and go forth to meet the challenges of the end times. When I am saying end times my meaning is what we had just a few years ago. This habituated reality is ebbing away and a new reality is just before us. This may be apocalyptic or just dull, boring but painful poverty. It may be both. What it will not be is what we have come to know. We will not colonize the solar system but instead be swallowed up by it as we should because this is nature’s way. It will be a rejection of everything we once knew. This is not for us to know now but you can know yourself and face the coming unknown with spiritual strength.