Flowing Money in Service of Life: From Awareness to Action
In a constantly changing world, thinking about systemic change can feel overwhelming and intangible. However, by activating collective change, we can become inspired and hopeful. We can explore what it means to have money in service of life, imagine new futures and discover ways to move from awareness into action.
On July 10th, we hosted the webinar Flowing Money in Service of Life: Moving from Awareness to Action with Be The Earth to hold conversation about on the role of money, philanthropy, and capitalism in the context of social and environmental justice. Guest speakers Lynn Murphy and Alnoor Ladha (Transition Circle), Seth Tabatznik (Be The Earth, 42 Acres) and Ruth Andrade (Lush Regenerative Impact, Regenerosity) brought unique insights to a conversation that explored historical context, new futures and methods to get there.
Three helpful takeaways that were discussed during the webinar included rethinking paradoxes, uncovering alternative frameworks and remembering the inner work that is essential for our collective shift.
Nature inspired frameworks
The speakers introduced a compelling framework based on natures four elements, where each element represents a different aspect of the shift we need to make towards a system that prioritises life and the well-being of the planet.
Earth symbolises the importance of local governance and stewardship of the land, especially in the face of climate change. Air represents the realm of ideas and narratives, emphasising the need to shift our discourse around these issues. Water celebrates the work of indigenous peoples in protecting biodiversity and cultural practices. Fire stands for solidarity with social movements and marginalised people.
Beginning with inner work
The conversation also dived into the importance of inner work and spiritual practice in this shift, sharing that this transformative work needs to be done both individually (or ‘innerly’, as beautifully reframed by Lynn Murphy) and collectively, and that it involves a process of deep listening and attunement to the needs of the living Earth and the living Cosmos.
Paradoxes are opportunities
One of the key insights from the discussion was the value of embracing contradictions and paradoxes. The speakers encouraged embracing these complexities for their possibilities to lead to innovative solutions in service to life and the planet.
“Contradictions and paradoxes aren’t obstacles, but opportunities to break open new ways of thinking and acting.”
About the speakers
Lynn Murphy is a strategic advisor for foundations and NGOs working in the geopolitical South. She was a senior fellow and program officer at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation where she focused on international education and global development. She resigned as a”‘conscientious objector” to neocolonial philanthropy.
Alnoor Ladha is an activist, journalist, political strategist and community organiser. From 2012 to 2019 he was the co-founder and executive director of the global activist collective The Rules. He is currently the Council Chair for Culture Hack Labs.
Seth Tabatznik is an avid proponent of regenerative, diversified, and decentralized systems. As co-founder and CEO of 42 Acres, a regenerative estate and wellbeing retreat in Somerset, UK, he is devoted to developing living examples of the much-needed transformations of our times, through our connection with nature, self, and others. In 2019, he established the Be the Earth Foundation to merge impact investing and philanthropy through programs and partnerships that focus mainly on regenerative food systems.
Ruth Andrade considers herself a systems activist, identifying key nodal interventions in systems to support the transition to regenerative cultures. She has been co-creating Lush’s environmental strategy since 2004. She is a trustee and co-founder of Re-Alliance and a co-creator of Regenerosity.