Almost 100 people signed up for EcoQuakers’ ‘Re-imagining Society Sustainably’ online conference, which took place on 18^th July 2020.

It was a wonderfully stimulating session considering how we can rebuild society post Covid19 with the three speakers providing plenty of food for thought.

Denise Gabuzda, Ireland Yearly Meeting Clerk and physics and astronomy lecturer at University College Cork, painted a wonderful picture of a more equal society with more renewable energy, more locally grown food, stronger communities, protection of biodiversity and a more peaceful earth.

She said imagining a future like this was the first step to it becoming a reality. “As our planet heals, so will we as we appreciate the inter-connectedness of all living things,” she said.

You can read Denise’s full script here.

Romanian-born and US-raised Oana Sariana Marian, an artist and writer and Co-founder of the Active Hope Network who is pursuing a PhD in Theology at Trinity College Dublin, spoke about the need for climate grief and imagination as we work towards a sustainable future. She also encouraged each of us to self-audit how we spend our money and to educate ourselves about how our society is functioning within the wider global economy.

You can read Oana’s talk here.

Féidhlim Harty of Cork and Limerick Meetings and founder of FH Wetland Systems said there were five things we could do to help create a more sustainable future:
– spend our money consciously
– live more simply
– advocate for change
– build and strengthen connections
– remain optimistic and ‘hold the vision’

He encouraged us to nurture a clear vision of a beautiful earth and to anchor this in our minds through prayer and meditation.

You can read the full script of Féidhlim’s talk here.

The entire event was recorded and you can watch it on our You Tube channel.