Exploring the Roots of our Current Challenges with Soren Bondrup-Nielsen

Shared Ground

Join me for a talk with Soren Bondrup-Nielsen about the effects of a mechanistic worldview. This wide-ranging conversation includes topics of teaching conservation in a holistic way, his involvement in the court case to protect species-at-risk in Nova Scotia, the effect current forestry has on the the composition of our forests, and how ultimately, the economic system is at the root of many of our current world challenges. As he says, “our economic system is something WE created. We can change it.”

He also offers some thoughts on the internet, critical thinking, how technology can interfere with feedback loops, and the danger of "experts".

Soren grew up in the country in both Denmark and Canada and is passionate about the outdoors and how we humans relate to nature.

For twenty-seven years, Soren was a professor in Biology at Acadia University where he taught ecology and conservation biology. He is president of the Blomidon Naturalists Society.

EPISODE RESOURCES

Soren's website, where you can also find the books he's written

Blomidon Naturalists Society

The BNS' podcast

A summary of the species-at-risk court case in Nova Scotia

The book, Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Stats Canada annual survey of forestry

ALSO

(Some economic resources)

Engage Nova Scotia- Quality of Life Index

3-minute video explaining how banks create money, and that it is possible to design a different system that leads to healthier, fairer, and more sustainable societies.

Time Article about Donut Economics and its implementation in some municipalities around the world.

A report from the Government of Canada highlighting various measures of well-being, beyond the GDP.

The story of change (6-minute whiteboard animated video)

A resource about the power of ethical consumerism, and with resources on everything from search engines to accommodations, such as Fairbnb.