A diverse group of about 30 thinkers and activists have converged on Soneva Kiri for the SLOW LIFE Symposium. What are they hoping to get from the event?
David de Rothschild, adventurer and environmentalist, said he was particularly excited about the format. “Normally we sit around as so-called experts, speak on stage for two minutes, answer questions and leave. We are not getting off this planet, so we all need to untap our potential, share our own personal triggers and see what we can do together. Our fate is common after all.”
Meanwhile, Leo Johnson, writer and TV presenter, is looking forward to getting some freshness of perspective. “I particularly want to explore the relationship between micro and macro, local and global, short-term and long-term in addressing environmental issues. Also I want to chip away at some of the big Zen-like philosophical questions around the environment that I’m wrestling with at the moment. Should we let the planet look after itself? I don’t think so.”
“I’m here to try and find best practices for China, very simply,” said Peggy Liu, Chairperson of JUCCCE. “I think a lot of people who are doing systemic change projects are afraid to come to China because it seems indecipherable. But China needs help, and it’s the place everybody needs to be working with. I think that sustainability is really about nexus issues, so it’s really important that Symposiums like this get people from around the world to find out how one plus one equals eleven.”
Jonathon Porritt, the event chair, concurs with Liu about the power of collaboration. “People will leave the Symposium with new insights, new companions, and new opportunities to bring their personal genius to bear on creating a more sustainable world.”
And host Sonu Shivdasani agrees, setting out the very highest of expectations: “I look forward to three days of serious and yet interesting discussions and interactions, after which we will leave here with renewed energy and enthusiasm to change the world,” he said.
Watch this space for the results of those discussions over the next three days.