THE MOST IMPORTANT IDEA IN THE WORLD

“The Most Important Idea in the World” examines the disjunction between the circular patterns of the natural world and the linear process of the human economy, which on closer inspection seems to have the effect of turning the planet into junk as fast as possible.

How do we change this? Fundamentally, we need to re-learn what indigenous people still understand: we are part of the natural world, not separate from it. Seeking sustainability, we have to recognize that the circular patterns of the natural world require a closed, circular economy in which nothing is wasted, and where the economy is organized to deliver services (warmth, light, transportation) rather than stuff (furnaces, lamps, cars). 

This is a dramatic transformation, but some communities and some companies are already well along this path — the presentation identifies some of them — and it represents our greatest hope for a prosperous and sustainable future.

An early version of the talk can be streamed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkifHXFbIMg

The themes in this presentation are also embedded in my book Warrior Lawyers: From Manila to Manhattan, Attorneys for the Earth and my 67-minute feature documentary film, Green Rights: The Human Right to a Healthy World. A screening of the film, and/or a deeply discounted bulk purchase of the book can be packaged together with the presentation.

The trailer for the film can be screened here: http://ow.ly/NxSt30c5UrV

Format: 45-60 minute keynote, with Q&A if desired 

This program is perfect for:

• University audiences
• Organizations involved with sustainability and environment
• The liberal faith community
• Companies engaged with the green economy

The audience will leave with:

• An appreciation that the environmental crisis results not from technology, but from spiritual and intellectual poverty
• An understanding that social change must be rooted in intellectual and spiritual change
• An inspiring visit to the economy of the future
• A renewed sense of hope and empowerment