Ecozoic Regenerative Economics Study Group

CES has embarked on a five-year study project to provide meaningful answers to the question often asked, “What should we do?” Ecozoans know the peril of Earth community. We are committed to the Great Work. But how can we best make a difference?

What should we do?

To answer this question we are bringing together one study group each year for five years. The members of each group engage in study for nine-months and then write articles for The Ecozoic Journal on the subject of the study.

The study groups are as follows:

Creating the Ecozoic Era:

Climate Change and Energy (study group in 2021, publication in 2022)
Humans and the Biosphere (study group in 2022, publication in 2023)
Regenerative Economics (study group in 2023, publication in 2024)
Ecocentric Governance (study group in 2024, publication in 2025)
Ecozoic Culture (study group in 2025, publication in 2026)

We are currently seeking volunteers for the Regenerative Economics Study Group (RESG). One does not need to be an economist, a mathematician, or an expert to join this group. All one needs to do is participate in our current economy and wonder how it could operate in way that is coherent with the natural world and be ever renewing.

The take-off for this group is Thomas Berry’s thoughts in his book The Great Work:

In the closing years of the 19th century and in the 20th century, we moved from organic economy, which “is by its very nature an ever-renewing economy,” to an extractive economy which “is by its nature a terminal economy,” one dependent on extracting nonrenewing resources. In doing so, we placed ourselves where “we could survive only so long as these endured; or so long as the organic functioning of the planet was not overwhelmed by the violent intrusion involved in extracting and transforming these substances [and] the contaminants that resulted, especially from the chemical industry” (The Great Work. 138-39).

How do we individually and collectively move from extractive economies to organic/ever-renewing/regenerative economies?

The way the study groups work is that members of the group read books related to the subject matter and do or observe practices related to the study, they share insights with each other in weekly meetings, and they write articles for the journal.

If you have a passion for reflecting on better ways to meet the basic needs of our human household and wish to participate in this study, please email ecozoic.studies@gmail.com.

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay