I am about to start a Spring and Summer season of talks promoting my book ‘System Change Now!’ The book, like my old series of talks called ‘Global Problems: Global Solutions’, acknowledges the scale of the many problems humanity faces, but is overwhelmingly solution focused. We could provide a really good standard of living for all eight billion of us while restoring nature, reversing the climate crisis, eliminating poverty and much more besides. However to do all this does require change: change in politics, economics, technologies and land use systems. None of this change relies on technologies that do not exist, or on impossible ideas.
In many areas very much better systems are emerging, but sadly they get very little media attention and so are often not well known. My aim is to shine a light on some of these ideas and technologies, political movements and land use systems that show that the trajectory of our collective future as a species may be on the cusp of monumental change. I also want to explore our own agency as individuals and communities in creating change. Hope lies in action, and in understanding the alternatives that exist. For example, if we see humanity’s addiction to fossil fuels as unchangeable then climate breakdown seems inevitable. If on the other hand we can see that replacing fossil fuels with renewables can be done quickly across all sectors of the global economy, then reversing the climate crisis looks a whole lot easier.
The first talk of the series is to be in Colwall on Tuesday 11th April, at the Colwall Park Hotel, Walwyn Road, Colwall, Herefordshire WR13 6QG. Doors open 6.30pm for 7.00pm talk, hosted by Colwall Greener.
The second talk will be in Stourport, at a Sustainability Festival organized by Wyre Forest Green Alliance. I’ll be speaking on Saturday 29th April, time and exact location to be confirmed. More.
The third talk will be at Spring Greens, at the Court of Noke near Pembridge, Herefordshire, HR6 9HW, on Sunday 30th April. I’ll be around all day to sell copies of my book and to chat about the ideas within it. At some point in the day I will be giving a talk and slide show. More details to follow.
I would very much like to add to this list, so if you’d like me to speak at your festival, or in your village hall, or to do a presentation via Zoom, then do please e-mail me at richardjpriestley@hotmail.com