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The Big Picture: Global Warming, the Anthropocene, and Ecological Civilization

MARCH 15, 22, 29, AND APRIL 5, 10 AM TO NOON
UNC-CH’S FRIDAY CENTER FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION
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HERE.  FEE S $20, UNC RETIRED FACULTY $5.

Climate is always changing. Is the current global warming trend different? Can it be stopped or controlled? All of human civilization has taken place in the 10,000 year period of benign climate known as the Holocene. Civilizations tend to assume tomorrow will be like today, not vastly different. Yet, Earth’s history is one of wide climate fluctuations. Now Earth again enters into the picture as a primary agent. Some believe there are technological solutions to whatever may arise, others seek out small scale ecovillages. Ecology would seem to unify, but it is driving us crazy. The North Carolina geologian, Thomas Berry presented a set of ecozoic principles for the future. Ecozoic stands for Earth as a house (oikos) of life (zoion). An ecological civilization is one that is adaptive and responsive to changes in Earth, one whose citizens include animals, plants, life systems, and widely diverse humans. The well-being of the human community depends on realizing it, but the challenges are immense.

Session One: Global Warming – A Billion Year History (March 15)

Session Two: The Meaning of the Anthropocene – Earth Awakens (March 22)

Session Three: Competing Responses to the Anthropocene – Thomas Berry’s Ecozoic

Principles (March 29)

Session Four: The Challenge and Promise of Ecological Civilization (April 5)

Herman F. Greene, JD, DMin is Founder and President of the Center for Ecozoic Studies in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a thought, imagination and dialogue center for an ecological-cultural age. He serves on the Boards of Toward Ecological Civilization and the International Process Network, and on the Advisory Boards of the Center for Process Studies and the Institute for the Post-Modern Development of China. He holds degrees in Spirituality and Sustainability, DMin, United Theological Seminary 2004; Law, JD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1979; Ministry, MTh and MDiv, University of Chicago Divinity School 1969 and 1970; Political Science, MA, Stanford University 1967; and Political Science, BA, University of Florida 1966. hfgreenenc@gmail.com