Sci Fi London - Earth 2.0 Initialisation

Yesterday, I went along with Arctic Bunny to Sci Fi London Film Festival at the Apollo Cinema to see the Earth 2.0 Initialisation. For all of you who don;t know what Earth 2.0 is, please visit this site. It's a really fascinating concept that these people are trying to form, and thereby give a platform and mouthpiece to the idea that we need to move into a new sphere of being - that we have to be accountable for our lives here on Earth - upgrade from the broken and self involved Earth 1.0 to the new, symbiotic Earth 2.0. It's currently a multimedia vehicle to drive these issues forward.

*DISCLAIMER* This post is very environmental, Gaia esque. If that doesn't interest you, fair does. If the fate of humanity on Earth does though - go for it! 

I was drawn to this idea because I believe in this fundamental law - that we are part of the Earth, part of the biosphere, not differentiated or disassociated and that science and technology needs to understand this. I am not a scientist at all but the new spheres of science and development into eco-friendly and eco-conscious systems is of great interest to me.

The event started off with an intro talk, then a short film, then a panel talk and discussion (which wasn't nearly long enough). The film had six people speaking about the idea and/or cause that is Earth 2.0. It was a taster, a teaser even and I think a lot of people who were there, were expecting more - I myself, as well. Yet, it was clear to see that this project is very much embryonic - this is the genesis, just the touchstone and the speakers wanted to be open to participation from everyone.

Some of the points raised are worth noting - and my thoughts on them:

1. Earth 1.0 is unsustainable. 'If everyone lived the life of an average American, we would need 5 planets.' This was one of the first quotes in the short film. It really hits home the scale of our impact, our incessant devouring. 'Business as usual cannot go on', was another point made and Dr Rachel Armstrong, one of the speakers there added 'Doing less of what we do now, is not the way to go.'  I completely agree on this point - less traveling in cars, less trips on an airplane is not the solution. What no one likes to admit, particularly the current system of science, is that there are some systems and ways of being that will need to go - go, go. Perusing the planet for that other miracle batch of oil is only going to stave our problem off longer - 'Hey - more oil! We can consume like maniacs for another 50 years!' Routine, rigid minds and thinking are only going to entrap us and keep us in the current form and paradigm, even when our surroundings our urging us to think otherwise.