TEDxWHITECHAPEL: Visions for transition
A 1 day conference challenging existing paradigms and exploring innovative thinking in the realms of science, education, economics, politics and more.
The event took place at Toynbee Studios in Whitechapel, London in January 2013. It was co-curated with Stefana Bosse and Jennifer Tessler. For full details and talks please visit the TEDxWhitechapel website. Thank you to all our partners, team and contributors who made this event such a success!
Themes & Speakers
Sacred Economics: ‘A New Story of the People’, Charles Eisenstein
Law & Leadership: ‘Dare to Be Great’, Polly Higgins
Education: ‘Education with Head, Heart & Hands’, Satish Kumar
Science: ‘The Science Delusion’, Rupert Sheldrake
Consciousness: ‘The War on Consciousness’, Graham Hancock
Community: ‘We need the dreamers, doers and poets’, Mac McCartney
Business: ‘Business for Social Good’, Patrick Andrews
Holistic well-being: ‘Honour your Heart’, Ella Lauser
Philosophy: ‘Creating Freedom’, Raoul Martinez
Politics: ‘The Politics of Pleasure’, David Graeber
Performers
Storytelling: ‘Atlas’ Burden’, Ben McFadyen
Theatre & shadow puppetry: ‘The Last of the Curlews’, Feral Theatre
Music: ‘Interspecies Collaboration’, Cosmo Sheldrake
Spoken word: ‘Words from the Woods’, Lula Edmonds
Supporting Team
Claudia Bicen – Guillermo Chavez – Katherine Da Cunha Lewin – Ann Don Bosco – Marina Hartung – Sara Koller – Leah Langdon – Linda Pappagallo – Jack Razzak – Ana Sandoiu – Kelly Tokarz – Sophie Jane Turton
Selected Talks
Ecology and economy come from the same Greek word: oikos, meaning home. Ecology is the study of our home and economy is its management. In this mind-opening talk, internationally renowned spiritual thinker and educator Satish Kumar draws attention to the pervasive lack of a genuine understanding of nature in our education systems, which is contributing to the gross mismanagement of our planet. Kumar makes a compelling case for a more holistic approach to education, connecting our hands, hearts as well as heads.
"Our hearts know that a more beautiful world is possible; but our minds do not know how it's possible". In this intelligent and inspiring talk, writer and visionary Charles Eisenstein explores how we can make the transition from the old story of separation, competition and self-interest to a new Story of the People.
This talk was removed from distribution on the TEDx Youtube channel as it was deemed ‘unscientific’ by TED’s anonymous Science board. This decision was made against our wishes as the event organisers, and the video was subsequently re-uploaded gaining millions of views in a backlash against the ‘censorship’ of this talk. This controversy sparked a wider debate around censorship and free thinking in the scientific community, casting a light on the orthodoxy of a paradigm rooted in a worldview of materialism. Here, Rupert explores some of the central themes of his book ‘The Science Delusion’.
Barrister and activist known as 'lawyer for the Earth', Polly Higgins, tells her recent transformative experience taking time out walking in New Forest where she was awakened to her greater purpose and next steps in service of the Earth. She challenges us to ask the empowering questions: "How can we move from a place of dependency to a place of interdependency? How can we create a world of peace? How can I dare to be great?"
Recounting the lessons learned from his time with the 'metis' Native Americans, Eco-warrior Tim McCartney tells the dramatic story of his visit to the "Land of the Living Dead" after a seven day initiation ritual. He urges the audience to reconnect with life and the Earth, to speak out for what they love, and to be a "warrior of the open heart". In order to do so Mac says, we need to hear the voices of trees and remember the messages of our ancestors. They alone can teach us community and connectedness, to be lovers of the Earth where we truly belong.