About this episode
Duane Elgin is an internationally recognized speaker, author, and social visionary. He has an MBA in business and an MA in economic history He has worked as a senior staff member of the Presidential Commission on the American Future, and a senior social scientist co-authoring numerous studies of the long-range future for clients such as the President’s Science Advisor; the National Science Foundation; and others. Duane has also co-founded three non-profit organizations working for media accountability and citizen empowerment. He received the Peace Prize of Japan, the Goi Award, in recognition of his contribution to a global “vision, consciousness, and lifestyle” that fosters a “more sustainable and spiritual culture.” Duane is the Co-director of the Choosing Earth Project. His books include: Choosing Earth: Humanity's Journey of Initiation Through Breakdown and Collapse to Mature Planetary Community "The Living Universe: Where Are We? Who Are We? Where Are We Going?"; "Promise Ahead: A Vision of Hope and Action for Humanity's Future"; "Voluntary Simplicity: Toward a Way of Life That Is Outwardly Simple, Inwardly Rich"; and "Awakening Earth: Exploring the Evolution of Human Culture and Consciousness" (Also available as a free download on Duane's site.) He co-authored the book "Changing Images of Man" with Joseph Campbell and other scholars. In addition, Duane has contributed chapters to twenty-three books and has published more than a hundred major articles. Websites: choosingearth.org duaneelgin.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and Transcript of this interview First interview with Duane Interview recorded June 4, 2022. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of Duane Elgin 00:04:06 - The Time of Profound Transition 00:08:03 - The Top Environmental Problems: Selfishness, Greed, and Apathy 00:11:49 - Three Pathways for the Future 00:16:31 - A Time of Great Transition 00:20:54 - The Opportunity of This Time 00:25:20 - The Invitation of Transformation and Transition 00:29:20 - The Ecology of Consciousness 00:34:05 - The Aliveness of the Universe 00:38:03 - The Extraordinary Journey of Living in a Living Universe 00:42:09 - The Zooming Powers of 10 and our Connection to the Universe 00:45:29 - The Aliveness of the Universe: A Transition in Perception 00:49:23 - The Function of the United Nations 00:53:35 - The Power and Consequences of Social Media 00:57:18 - Mobilizing Our Capacities for Transformation 01:01:05 - The Devastating Times Ahead 01:04:57 - A Rush of Migration and Learning from Trauma 01:09:03 - Progression and Resistance 01:12:47 - Tapping into our Inner Resources 01:16:16 - The Miracles of Life, Consciousness, and Communication 01:20:30 - The Importance of Curiosity and Understanding Others 01:24:07 - Reconciliation and the Right to Life 01:27:58 - The Power of Recontextualization and Communication 01:32:21 - Averting the Danger of Lack of Conscious Attention 01:35:38 - The Importance of Community 01:39:36 - The Economic Hurricane and the Unraveling 01:43:30 - The Potential Consequences and Preparation for Disruptions 01:47:10 - The Shift towards Vegetarianism 01:50:56 - Finding Your True Gifts 01:54:12 - The Unraveling of Big Structures and Systems 01:57:34 - Setting Reminders for Upcoming Interviews on BatGap