Publishing hiatus comes to an end
When I set free my last blog post I didn’t realise it would be eight years before I would again hit publish. It's not like I haven't had anything to say, it's just that I got busy.
A rising sense of alarm at the mutiple, intersecting, wicked problems we humans face has prompted me to get off my arse and write something. As a parent of two teens whose futures will be governed by choices we're making right now (or not, as is too often the case) I feel an urgent need to do more, including sharing any insights I’ve gleaned in my 50 something years. I'm trying to err on the side of optimism and positive change as the Great Unravelling bears down on us.
My return to writing is under the banner of Pushing the Limits. This is a nod to the work of the Club of Rome who laid down a challenge to humanity to live within planetary boundaries. This was 50 years ago. Sadly, their seminal analysis on the Limits to Growth has largely been overlooked.
I hope to rattle a few cages and push a few buttons as I go. First up, I will return to an article that I wrote in 1993. My story about living more lightly on the earth is as relevant now as it was back then. I draw on a conversation with my nana, who lived through the depression, and the work of Australian sustainability pioneer Ted Trainer. (See Revisiting a leap into the unknown, from 1993.)
I’ve got a few other topics up my sleeve. I plan to write about what AI means for good causes, my prolonged — as as yet incomplete — break-up with Google, and tips on how to avoid burnout. I’ll also offer some glimpses from behind the scenes of the 10 day Te Tiriti Based Futures + Anti-racism 2024 online conference.
This all lies in the future. And if I am honest with myself, I'm not exactly sure what direction this will take. I've uttered perfectly reasonable commitments to blog in the past that I've failed to keep, so I'll get started and see what happens.
The decision to publish using Substack was easy. I've any lost fascination I once had to get under the hood of websites. Instead, I’ll make the most of the ready-made features on offer. The time gained I can put to better use mangling the English language.
Right now though, I'm being interrupted by Fabio, who is demanding an early dinner. On the bright side, this mean he's not chasing birds but do I have get up. Before I prevaricate any further, it’s time to hit publish: 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 ....
