Engaging Educators in Conversation on Our Climate and Ecological Emergency

Lengthorn, Elena ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4816-1361 (2024) Engaging Educators in Conversation on Our Climate and Ecological Emergency. In: Nurturing ‘Difficult Conversations’ in Education: Empowerment, Agency and Social Justice in the UK. Bloomsbury, London, pp. 145-164. ISBN 978-1-3503-3211-9 (hardback); 978-1-3503-3212-6 (epdf); 978-1-3503-3213-3 (epub); 978-1-3503-3214-0 (online)

Abstract

I am sorry.

I am truly, deeply, sorry.

Sorry, that we find ourselves in a position where this chapter, a chapter about difficult conversations on our global climate and ecological emergency, needs to be created, needs to be read and needs to become your action. Nobody grew up planning for this, a future of flooding, increased extreme weather events, drought and food shortage. Does anyone want this? Did anyone choose this? I am sorry that, individually and collectively, we are now facing an existential crisis. A crisis that will impact the entire human population directly, throgh extreme heat, floods, fire or by their accompanying energy shortages and food insecurity.

I am also stubbornly optimistic and feel empowered to be able to convey these messages here to invite you to reflect on your own impact and place in this crisis. This reflection, whether a difficult conversation with the self or with others will, most likely, require some shifts in thinking and allowing yourself to ‘sit in the uncomfortable’ (Bhabha, 2004). Now is the time,like no other, to leave our conversational comfort zones and talk about protecting humanity....

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