WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7

"I know that the current economy is driven by finance and if the economic premise of our entire global economy is in conflict with the laws of physics, we have a serious problem." John Fullerton

It's interesting that "economy" and "ecology" share a common etymological root, yet in our current society they couldn't be further apart.

International thinkers and local leaders will explore alternative financial structures for supporting regenerative projects in bioregions and creating regenerative local economies. We'll look at how we can illuminate and mobilize different kinds of value, especially ecological and social.

Recommended: Read What Do We Value?, the Capital Institute's Eight Principles of Regenerative Economics, and characteristics of an Indigenous economy.

SPEAKERS

• Samantha Power, formerly with The World Bank and now leading Finance for Gaia, presents a forthcoming paper on bioregional finance for regeneration.


• Justine Dainard, Smart Cities Project Manager with the County of Wellington, offers insights on building a regional, circular food economy.


• Vicki Saunders, Founder of Coralus, talks about her innovative and successful community financing model.


• Natalia Ortiz and Joe Brewer talk about the new Territorial Foundation being set up in Barichara, Colombia and how it's linked to a profound shift across South America in how community funding and governance is structured.

For those in the GTB, there's an option for a customized field site experience at Riverdale Farm from 1-4 pm; register for more details. OR…

Featuring award-winning filmmaker, artist, international lecturer, research designer, and author Nora Bateson. Nora is Founder and President of the International Bateson Institute in Sweden. She is also the founder and creater of the Warm Data concept.

As we find ourselves in the middle of the 7-Generation Bioregional Earth Summit, are we reciting script or exploring stories that open possibilities? What's real? What's true? What matters – if anything?

The Summit is looking at both social and ecological regeneration. An undercurrent is exploring ecopsychosocial r/evolution. Each day, we're sharing provocations from Nora's new book Combining.

Says Nora, "Developing an understanding of the patterns and processes of interdependency in complexity is the single most practical capacity that we can support in ourselves and each other."

In this session, in Nora's own unique voice, we'll explore sensemaking in a world that doesn't make sense, double binds, transcontextuality, and the stories we tell ourselves. Says author Thomas King, "The truth about stories is, that that's all we are."

If that doesn't challenge everything you think you know, then a taste of Warm Data will. We'll whirl through some small-group breakouts – one question for everyone, each group given three different contexts, drawing on stories sparked from your own life experiences and the sharings of others in the group. You'll be gently wooed into a beautifully complex dance across people, thoughts, and emotions.

By the end (which is always a beginning), what will surface for you?