Thanks for reading and commenting Gemma. Your point is very important. I think this metaphor is useful - though it needs more exploration. I don't think about it as further monetizing the environment as we have done so profoundly. We need to stop thinking that the planet can endlessly supply us with 'natural resources'. Instead, I think we should explore this metaphor as a means to push for political action, in regards to how much we are 'in debt' already, by pushing on the Earth's 'system boundaries'.
Great article. I often use business-style framing of assets as being the resources we have available to us to do things and the importance of protecting, nurturing, and building those assets. Extractivism is just dumb - you either deplete your assets, or run out of places to pillage.
These assets include lots of things not normally measured: trust, relationships, knowledge, even the content of your substacks, plus community assets, and global shared assets like clean air, healthy soil, water.
That makes sustainability and regeneration more closely aligned. The idea of sustainability as maintenance of the status quo is like barely breaking even without any buffers (aka retained profit) to cope with disruptions, or ability to innovate to make things better. So for me, 'planetary insolvency' is very much what we (people) are heading for.
I've never been comfortable with the idea of Mother Earth. The planet will carry on without pesky humans no matter how many stories we construct about it. It is our host and may well kick us out for bad behaviour.
Loved this essay, and the image at the end of a kick ass earth warrior! Lots to think about, and also as a mother who is always putting the needs of others first. Though I think giving rather than taking is my better mode.
Annabelle, this is one of your best! We have unrealistic expectations of mothers and of the earth. Perhaps the economic lexicon will get through to the oligarchs x
As a values based messaging practitioner, idea of describing earth and its relationship to humans in monetary terms really worries me though, as it primes the unhelpful value of WEALTH. This suppresses the helpful value of PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT, and makes people less likely to take environmental action.
Thanks for reading and commenting Gemma. Your point is very important. I think this metaphor is useful - though it needs more exploration. I don't think about it as further monetizing the environment as we have done so profoundly. We need to stop thinking that the planet can endlessly supply us with 'natural resources'. Instead, I think we should explore this metaphor as a means to push for political action, in regards to how much we are 'in debt' already, by pushing on the Earth's 'system boundaries'.
Great article. I often use business-style framing of assets as being the resources we have available to us to do things and the importance of protecting, nurturing, and building those assets. Extractivism is just dumb - you either deplete your assets, or run out of places to pillage.
These assets include lots of things not normally measured: trust, relationships, knowledge, even the content of your substacks, plus community assets, and global shared assets like clean air, healthy soil, water.
That makes sustainability and regeneration more closely aligned. The idea of sustainability as maintenance of the status quo is like barely breaking even without any buffers (aka retained profit) to cope with disruptions, or ability to innovate to make things better. So for me, 'planetary insolvency' is very much what we (people) are heading for.
I've never been comfortable with the idea of Mother Earth. The planet will carry on without pesky humans no matter how many stories we construct about it. It is our host and may well kick us out for bad behaviour.
Thanks for this thoughtful comment Gayle. I'm hearing from a few people that they have never liked the 'Mother Earth' metaphor.
Cheers
Annabelle
Loved this essay, and the image at the end of a kick ass earth warrior! Lots to think about, and also as a mother who is always putting the needs of others first. Though I think giving rather than taking is my better mode.
Annabelle, this is one of your best! We have unrealistic expectations of mothers and of the earth. Perhaps the economic lexicon will get through to the oligarchs x
TBH I was thinking of you when I was writing this Jodie. Thanks for reading and commenting.
As a values based messaging practitioner, idea of describing earth and its relationship to humans in monetary terms really worries me though, as it primes the unhelpful value of WEALTH. This suppresses the helpful value of PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT, and makes people less likely to take environmental action.