Sir Ken Robinson was a passionate advocate for the environment. He called for us to think differently about natural resources, human resources, and the relationships between the two. He pointed to, “a powerful need for new ways of thinking – and new metaphors about human communities and how they flourish or decay.” (The Element, p.257)
It’s not a challenge to feel gloomy about the environment. There’s plenty of scary news around. There is also hope, abundant HOPE. The great news is that most environmental problems already have proven, effective solutions. The hold-up is in people’s thinking.
“Much of Western thought assumes that the mind is separate from the body and that human beings are somehow separate from the rest of nature.” (The Element, p254)
What we need is a revolution in our thinking about the environment and our place in it. Ken Robinson knew a lot about revolution. He quoted from Benjamin Franklin about “…. people who are movable, people who see the need for change and are prepared to listen to it; and …. people who move, people who make things happen.” Sir Ken challenged us that, “ …. if we can encourage more people, that will be a movement. And if the movement is strong enough, that’s in the best sense of the word, a revolution. And that’s what we need.” (“Creating a Climate of Possibility,” TED TALKS Education)
The Creative Revolution was born from Sir Ken’s call for revolution.
Creativity allows for a change of perspective which leads to different actions along a different set of paths. In environmental work, we must create a climate of possibility that lets people rise and achieve in ways we, and even they themselves, can not anticipate.
Environmental problems are daunting because of their complexity, and their interdisciplinary nature. You might be a teacher, biologist, activist, legal consultant, and bookkeeper all in one day. This makes for challenges. It’s also cool in that there is room for everyone and it’s rarely easy or boring.
The parallels between Sir Ken’s call for a revolution in our thinking and the need for an environmental revolution are obvious. The great news is that both can be achieved with one revolution – a revolution in the best sense. One revolution for us all. One revolution, many metamorphoses. One revolution, many consequences. A chain reaction of consequences from schools to communities, from boardrooms to the rainforest, from the street corner to the beach.
The Creative E-volution thread within the Creative Revolution is our space for exploring new ways of thinking about creativity, education, and the environment.
06 Jan. 2025 Steven Greenleaf
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