Nuclear Conflict: 7 Key Questions for Sustainable Futures
Frankly #63
In this week’s Frankly, I offer an update on the current state of conflict between NATO and Russia and the increasing threat of escalation, followed by 7 high-level questions about how to think about war, the human predicament and our work for a more stable future. While these issues may seem too looming and overwhelming for our everyday lives, the society-ending (world-ending?) ramifications of them would trump every other issue if the worst were to happen.
When thinking of how we define “war”, is it even possible to “win” within a complex, interconnected, global society given the level of our military technology? Is the way we view and participate in war a result of governance systems that no longer are fit for purpose? Taking a step further, could we change our cultural values - starting with individuals and communities around us - to reorient towards peace-centric structures that rely on cooperation and stability?
In case you missed it…
This week, I was joined by educator and researcher Vanessa Andreotti to discuss what she calls “hospicing modernity” in order to move beyond the world we’ve come to know and the failed promises that “modernity” has made to our current culture. Whether you refer to it as the metacrisis, the polycrisis, or - in my terms - the human predicament, Vanessa brings a unique framing rooted in indigenous knowledge and relationality to aid in understanding, grieving, and building emotional resilience within this space. What does it mean to live and work within systems that are designed to fail, embedded in an aimless culture?
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I look forward to input from Daniel Schmachtenberger on de-escalation and an end to game theory.
I appreciate how my containers of thinking get opened out listening to the podcasts and to the Franklys. The updates are what I don't receive from elsewhere easily.
I understand why GS might want to avoid reflecting on Israel Palestine hurricane -- it is so very polarised and so little else can get through without contributing to further polarisation.
And I want the team to know I really miss getting insights on this situation from your podcast. I would appreciate if you could even point to some sources for study and reflection for the sake of pro-complexity of life. I feel our attention has become more and more narrow and skewed and it isn't healthy.