Discussion Group 9/18/23 : Wrestling with Lost-Futures, Grasping the Potential for Change, and Imagining Alternatives to Capitalism

Hello Vertebrata,

I am hosting a discussion group on Monday September 18th from 7-9pm. NO ADVANCE READING REQUIRED.

I would love you to join a conversation about how capitalism distorts our ideas of what is normal or true, specifically how capitalism has allowed climate change in all it's forms, species extinction, human migration, habitat loss, temperature and sea level rise, to appear normal or "natural". No preparation is necessary for the discussion; we will spend the first 30 minutes taking turns reading highlights from "Writing the Truth: Five Difficulties" by Bertolt Brecht out loud. Brecht published this seven-page thesis in 1935 and it is about how narratives of historical determinism, specifically narratives about race and inferiority, prevent us from imagining alternative futures and taking action to change the world. Climate change can feel "natural" and it can also feel "unavoidable" but Brecht urges us in his essay to realize that truths, like climate change, are always reasons for taking action, never reasons for resignation. I was inspired by this article in crafting the focus for the discussion: "When Ecosystem Recovery Hinges on History, Intergenerational Memory, and Marine Conservation". Our main focus "Writing the Truth: Five Difficulties" by Bertolt Brecht is linked here, print it out and bring it with you if you want a physical copy for the discussion.

All the Best,

Hattie