Ecological Crisis statement

Our resolution

Everyone in the CERES community is watching with interest, and perhaps some sense of hopefulness, the growing movement of people demanding action in relation to the climate and ecological crisis. CERES has been educating about environmental and social issues for more than three decades, yet it can sometimes feel like little has changed. In fact, our global issues are worsening and compounding. But this also makes it clear that change is inevitable. The question then, is what kind of change? Perhaps descent into collapse and chaos, or emergence into a more beautiful world, or an infinite number of other scenarios? Will we have a choice, and which path will the CERES community choose?

CERES helps people fall in love with the Earth, and each other, again. In advocating for love and connection, especially in times of danger and fear, we are seeking to counter the narrative of late-stage capitalism, which encourages us to think of ourselves as individual consumers in a globalised growth economy. Deep down we all know that we are much, much more than the components of a destructive machine. We are human beings of Planet Earth, and we are profoundly and radically connected to the Earth and to each other. This knowing gives rise to a sense of belonging that can never be lost, a sense of wonder and reverence for the living systems around us, and a desire to act for the wellbeing of the collective. This is the foundation of our resilience, and will serve us well in the times ahead.

Resilience also requires practical skills for living in a more connected way. CERES education and training programs teach some of these skills, and we invite and host others who share their skills. From the garden to the kitchen, from meditation to mobilisation, we learn to depend less on the failing globalised economic system and depend more on each other. CERES helps everyone learn the skills for building ‘community sufficiency’.

CERES’s social enterprises are part of the movement away from globalisation and toward localisation, in particular of our food systems. Local food economies reduce energy use and carbon emissions, reduce packaging, processing and refrigeration, increase diversity, increase food security and create employment. CERES demonstrates how a local food economy can make an entire community healthier and more resilient.

As we find ourselves in a time of great change, CERES continues to hold open a space for connection and love, peace and healing, stories and skill sharing, resilience and sufficiency, localisation and regeneration. May we prevail.