Unify Toronto Dialogues: A Retrospective
Toronto activists and change agents are working in uncharted territory to address the ecological, socio-economic, and spiritual crises of our time. But they are often stove-piped within their issue, and on the verge of burnout. Leaders and interested citizens need spaces and processes to help them transform despair and apathy in the face of overwhelming planetary crises into collaborative action, across issues and organizations, toward a life-sustaining society. They need a broader context for their social change work, one that will help them draw on reserves of energy larger than their own. They need a place to experiment with possible futures—a local lab for the Great Turning. That's where the Unify Toronto Dialogues come in. (Read more.)
Our current initiative: Drawdown Toronto--How we can REVERSE global warming
We launched Drawdown Toronto in January 2018. Since then, we have held many introductions to Project Drawdown around the city, four 4-5-session courses, and Sector Summits on each of the 7 sectors into which Project Drawdown's climate solutions are grouped. Find out more about the project to actually reverse global warming, based on the latest research from a team of over 100 scientists and thinkers from around the world here, and learn all about Drawdown Toronto and its activities here.
Graphic record of the first Toronto introduction to Project Drawdown by Patricia Kambitsch, January 31 2018
What we are up to...
Through monthly dialogues and other events, we are bringing Toronto change agents together--leaders and interested citizens from social justice movements (e.g. Occupy), ecology, democracy and social justice activists, and faith-based communities. We are offering spaces and processes that help people transform despair and apathy in the face of overwhelming planetary crises, into collaborative action toward a life-sustaining society. We bring a broader context for social change work, a new way of seeing the world--as our larger living body--that helps free us of the assumptions and attitudes that threaten the continuity of life on Earth. We are working to build motivation, creativity and solidarity for the Great Turning to a sustainable, just and thriving human presence on the planet.
Why Unify Toronto?We understand that humanity is depleting the natural world of which we are part…
and we are willing to act to ensure its and our capacity to thrive for a long time to come We understand that the economic systems of which we are part are unfair and dysfunctional for most people on Earth and are destroying our means of existence… and we are willing to act to create an equitable way to share our natural abundance and create true wealth for the many We realize that for all society's material wealth and privilege, many among us are lacking basic necessities and more have little joy or meaning in life… and we are willing to act in a way which creates and embodies meaning and spiritual fulfillment in its many expressions as a natural right for all We know that the global industrial growth society is unraveling even as it struggles to reinforce its dominance, and many are in action to create a life-sustaining society, and the momentum needed to move away from potential global disaster has begun… and we are determined to catalyze a shift toward a new direction by acting locally, in our own homes, in our communities, and in our city: Toronto. We see that the ecological, socio-economic, and spiritual crises are really one, and that working to resolve each of them is to work toward resolving all of them… and we are ready to connect a full range of diverse committed people and organizations in Toronto to facilitate the emergence of a just, thriving, sustainable way of life for all. We draw inspiration and courage, and welcome engagement from change-making individuals, organizations and communities in Toronto and around the world…and we focus our energies on where we live. |
A Context for Collective ActionA Global Movement, Local SynergyPaul Hawken, in his speech at the 2006 Bioneers conference, describes the world's largest movement. "From billion-dollar nonprofits to single-person dot.causes, groups and organizations dedicated to restoring the environment and fostering social justice collectively comprise the largest movement on earth. This movement has no name, leader, or location, and has gone largely ignored by politicians and the media. Like nature itself, it is organizing from the bottom up, in every city, town, and culture, and is emerging to be an extraordinary and creative expression of people's needs worldwide." It springs from "humanity's collective genius" and is dedicated to reimagining our relationship to ourselves, one another, and nature.
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To follow the evolution of the "Indigenize or Die" series (January 2016-November 2017), see Friends of the 7th Generation: Allies Standing Up for an Indigenous Future.
The ship of global imperialism and colonization has hit an iceberg. While the majority of the world's inhabitants suffer the consequences of runaway capitalism and globalized war-making, the very few on the upper decks continue their party with business as usual, blissfully ignoring the realities.
In this two-year series, "Indigenize or Die," we deconstructed the myths of the dominant culture, explored a more truthful historical perspective and how that manifests today. Then, through the lens of decolonization and re-indigenization, we explored together possibilities for an ecologically sustainable and socially-just way forward. We asked, how can we ensure the survival of complex life on this land in accordance with its legitimate laws and the laws of Nature?
The intent of the series was to weave an understanding of history and current reality into developing a practical "go forward" plan for this land. What emerged was the Seventh Generation Initiative, a grass-roots phenomenon led by Indigenous women and youth, based on our love for the the land, the water and the future generations of all species. Guided by a series of four fires led by Mississauga ceremonial keeper, Nancy Rowe, the Initiative is rapidly emerging throughout the Great Lakes region. To stay abreast of developments and participate in their unfolding, go to Friends of the 7th Generation (friendsof7th.org).
In this two-year series, "Indigenize or Die," we deconstructed the myths of the dominant culture, explored a more truthful historical perspective and how that manifests today. Then, through the lens of decolonization and re-indigenization, we explored together possibilities for an ecologically sustainable and socially-just way forward. We asked, how can we ensure the survival of complex life on this land in accordance with its legitimate laws and the laws of Nature?
The intent of the series was to weave an understanding of history and current reality into developing a practical "go forward" plan for this land. What emerged was the Seventh Generation Initiative, a grass-roots phenomenon led by Indigenous women and youth, based on our love for the the land, the water and the future generations of all species. Guided by a series of four fires led by Mississauga ceremonial keeper, Nancy Rowe, the Initiative is rapidly emerging throughout the Great Lakes region. To stay abreast of developments and participate in their unfolding, go to Friends of the 7th Generation (friendsof7th.org).