Astounding Intelligence In the Natural World
This article contains the content from the 2/26/2020 Bioneers Pulse newsletter. Sign up here to get the newsletter straight to your inbox!
“The problem is that Western thinkers tend to consider intelligence as a human exclusivity.” — Jeremy Narby, anthropologist
“We’re just one member of the democracy of species; the Earth does not just belong to us.” — Robin Kimmerer, Potawami Indigenous ecologist
Humans are a part of nature, not apart from it. Our innate capacity for intelligence suggests the same is true for the rest of our interconnected web of life. As researchers study the natural world, we find our notions of consciousness expanding.
This week, meet thought leaders whose work is transforming our curiosity about intelligence in nature into a full-fledged field of research — with deep implications for the future of our relationship with the natural world.
Casey Camp-Horinek: Aligning Human Law with Natural Law
According to Casey Camp-Horinek (Ponca), for as long as Mother Earth and Father Sky have blessed all life on Earth with sustenance, there has been a Sacred System honored by all species. Only humans have strayed wildly from these original instructions to live in harmony with all and to recognize our place in the Great Mystery. Now, she says, in this crucial moment, we must find our way back to balance if we are to avoid the unraveling of the web of life.
Bioneers Reader: Intelligence in Nature
This brand new Bioneers Reader features some of the world’s foremost thought leaders, sharing their research and observations about nature’s intelligence. We’re excited to share a selection of the groundbreaking concepts buzzed about within our community, in a beautifully-designed package that’s free to download. Don’t forget to share this reader with your friends and family!
Intelligence in Nature: Bioneers Media Collection
Cutting-edge research is increasingly rediscovering what our ancestors understood: the animal, vegetal and fungal realms are teeming with organisms that make conscious decisions and respond intelligently to their surroundings.
In the Bioneers “Intelligence in Nature” media collection, we feature leading bioneers in this field who are using modern science to shed light on kinship and interconnectedness within the web of life.
The Latest from Bioneers.org:
- Lab-Grown Food: Ecological Savior or Empty Promise? | Arty Mangan, Director of the Restorative Food Systems program at Bioneers, explains how the technological novelty of lab-grown food might outweigh its benefits for the Earth.
- Every Seed Has a Story | Originally posted on the Food Tank website, this article tells the story of northern Ugandan women working together to save, use and sell their traditional seeds.
- The Ecology of Awakening | Kerry Brady, the co-founder and Director of Ecology of Awakening, explains that as we confront humanity’s demise, we must deconstruct “our ways of being and belonging to the world” in our attempt to re-align on the path forward.
What We’re Tracking
- From Greenpeace: “Climate Visionaries Artists’ Project with Lauren Groff” | This project features essays from artists about what it means to create in the midst of the climate crisis.
- From Yale E360: “Ecopsychology: How Immersion in Nature Benefits Your Health” | Health experts and government officials are trying to bring more nature into people’s lives, as a growing body of research proves that exposure to the natural world benefits our wellbeing.
- From Yes! Magazine: “How to Turn Your Yard Into an Ecological Oasis” | These tips can help you support your local ecosystem, all from your own backyard.
- From Common Dreams: “West Virginia Legislation Would Make Civil Disobedience Against Gas Pipelines a Felony” | In the face of a bill that would make civil disobedience against fossil fuel projects a felony, West Virginians are standing up for the environment and for their rights to free speech.
Bioneers Now on LinkTV!
A collection of keynote presentations from the Bioneers 2019 Conference are now available on LinkTV. Listen to the inspiring words of speakers like Bill McKibben, Eve Ensler, Terry Tempest Williams, and more.
This article contains the content from the 2/26/2020 Bioneers Pulse newsletter. Sign up here to get the newsletter straight to your inbox!
