Posts by Tamzin Ractliffe
Resilience Revisisted 05: Cognitive Obsolescence and Resilient, Sustainable Futures: A Contradiction in Human Progress
Obsolescence noun the process of becoming obsolete or outdated and no longer used; becoming antiquated, out of date, old-fashioned, no longer in general use, or no longer useful, or the condition of being in such a state. “computers are infamous for their rapid obsolescence” Cognitive adjective relating to relating to the mental process involved in…
Read MoreResilience Revisited 04. Framing a theoretical concept: Strategic Hope
“Hope is not a lottery ticket you can sit on the sofa and clutch, feeling lucky. It is an axe you break down doors with in an emergency. Hope should shove you out the door, because it will take everything you have to steer the future away from endless war, from the annihilation of the…
Read MoreResilience Revisited 03. Dissonance as Conscience: Navigating the Path Between Ecological Integrity and Everyday Life
It has become routine to remark ‘if you’re not sitting uncomfortably in today’s world, you’re really sick’. It is, paradoxically, comforting (not only for me, I have discovered) to meet more and more people who are wrestling with a growing sense of cognitive dissonance as they sense the gap between their daily behaviours and their…
Read MoreResilience Revisited 02: If not coalescence, can we collaborate?
Come gather ’round people Wherever you roam And admit that the waters Around you have grown And accept it that soon You’ll be drenched to the bone If your time to you is worth savin’ And you better start swimmin’ Or you’ll sink like a stone For the times they are a-changin’ … Bob Dylan,…
Read MoreResilience Revisited 01: The Great Retraction. Why we must resile if we want to shape a resilient future
Resilience Revisited is an occasional blog series reflecting on the need for a deeper understanding of the concept of resilience, one that inspires a conscious, intentional shift towards achieving strong sustainability through deep adaptation, individually and collectively. It is a way of reflecting on conversations and articulating thoughts on my PhD journey. Whilst it is my…
Read MoreThe best of times, the worst of times: Which future will we choose?
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it…
Read MoreOn failing and little big steps: 2018 year in review
You have heard it said, “Every little bit counts”. In a world facing extinction, one needing transformational change not just a tinkering at the edges, it’s understandable that we may feel our small efforts are meaningless. In the greater scheme of things does it matter if we give up eating meat – even if only…
Read MoreIn Memoriam: Tom McLaughlin
It is with immense sadness that I write to bid farewell to Tom McLaughlin – advisor, mentor, compatriot, co-creator on the Routes to Resilience programme and co-conspirator in delivering its first iteration at Cedar House School. Above all, Tom has been a friend and someone who has been a soft, warm and enduring presence in…
Read MoreIs empathy really a 21st Century skill?
The nature of work is changing before our eyes. Cars can now drive themselves, drones can deliver medical supplies to previously unreachable areas, and robots can perform surgical procedures with 3D printed body parts. It’s mind-blowing and terrifying all at the same time. As more and more jobs become automated by advancing technology, skills that…
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