12-11-13 11:26 PM
LECTURE 8
Picture of earth rising rotated from original sideways picture
Our view of things can be easily altered, or flipped sideways
Earthrise name of picture of Apollo 8 mission, Dec 24/1968
Picture is sideways, editor rotated picture so Earth is horizontal at the
bottom of the page rather than vertical on the right side, one of the most
reproduced photos
Why? Rotated photo may make people feel more secure.
Thomas Berry, 1914-2009
Reflecting on the universe as a sort of deep connection
First time the human has been the major cause in environmental change
Are we going to learn to live with the land or are we going to continue to
rely on technologies?
How do narratives play in our environmental consciousness?
Inspired David Suzuki
Geologian
Roman Catholic priest
The Great Work, one of his books
Advised US government on environmental
The Universe
The Universe, as contemporary science shows us, is in a process of
development, and represents the primary source of revelation.
The universe, the solar system, and the planet earth in themselves and
in their evolutionary emergence constitute for the human community the
primary revelation of ultimate mystery whence all things emerge into
being. Thomas Berry and the New Cosmology, p. 107.
Reflects on universe as a source of deep inter connection
The New Story
What is education? Education is knowing the story of the universe, how it
began, how it came to be as it is, and the human role in the story. There is nothing else. We need to know the story, the universe story, in all is
resonances, in all its meanings. The universe story is the divine story, the
human story, the story of the trees, the story of the rivers, of the stars,
the planets, everything. It is as simple as a kindergarten tale, yet as
complex as all cosmology and all knowledge and all history. Thomas
Berry, Befriending the Earth, p. 101.
Talks about how humans effect the Earths evolution
Shifting from the Cenozoic to the Ecozoic Age
What is happening in our times is not just another historical transition or
simply another cultural change. The devastation of the planet that we are
bringing about is negating some hundreds of millions, even billions, of
years of past development on the earth. This is a most momentous period
of change, a change unparalleled in the four and a half billion years of
earth history. Thomas Berry, Befriending the Earth, p. 4.
The universe is communion of subjects, not a collection of objects.
Thomas Berry
Frankenstein clip, 1930s
What are we doing with the natural world when we do not take into
account the effect it might have on the planet or nature
Early tale of Jeff Goldblums speech in Jurassic Park (i.e. we cannot
interfere with nature however we see fit there are consequences)
Any empathy for monster?
Scientists creating imbalance
Modern Times, 1936
Food sequence with feeding machine
Not concerned with Charlie, just the machine
People have been dehumanized and compared to livestock (as shown by
the herds at the beginning of the film)
With lunch invention, scientists were not concerned with how Charlie felt,
or if he was comfortable with food, etc.
Were concerned if machine was working well.
President was not concerned with how it would affect employees, etc. Said it was impractical, not concerned with employees, production
efficiency is more important
Opposite of Walking Thoreau, video describes the rise of
industrialization
Charlie related to animals at beginning, workers are dehumanized
He could not escape work, the motions of working, symbolizes how we
can try to forget the world is so industrialized, but we cannot get away
from it.
He would rather be in jail, as he thinks it is saner than the company.
Spirits of the Trees | The Peach Orchard
Doll day, the dolls represent the spirit of the peace tress which are being
celebrated
But the trees have been cut down so the ritual has been changed
Little boys parents cut down the peach trees in the orchard
He cried because he loved the peach trees
Dolls were initially angry with him, then they realized that he liked the
peach trees and cared for them, then they allowed all the peach trees to
blossom again
Just a dream, boy looks around and there was only one peach tree
outstanding.
Love nature for its non commercial value, the boy said but peaches can
be bought anywhere, the head doll responds, but where can you see
peach trees in bloom?
LECTURE 9
Wilmur Nadjiwon
Survivor of the residential school system
WWII veteran
Advocate for Native rights
Founding chief of Ontario Union for Indians
Bit of an acting background
91 years old
Ojibiway elder, carver, and former Chief of Cape Croker Reserve.
Brought up as a Roman Catholic
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