The John Muir Series: Answering the Call of Life

“The John Muir Series: Answering the Call of Life”

Part I: Abrupt Climate Change

Thursday, 22 March 2018, no-host cocktails/social hour—6 pm, dinner—7:00, program—8:00, intermission—9:00, after hours group discussion—9:15-11:00. Berkeley Yacht Club on the Berkeley Marina, one block north of the west end of University Avenue (ample free parking is available in the Marina parking lots).

Abrupt climate change is now upon us. An overview of the last 12 months reveals a rapid downward spiral: from droughts, wildfires, and mudslides here in California to melting icecaps, rising seas, and 100-year hurricanes becoming the new norm. The possibility of near-term human extinction, driven by extreme climate change, is a real concern; and the acceleration of the current sixth mass extinction event, a near certainty. No one knows for sure when we will pass the tipping point of runaway climate change, or whether we have surpassed that point already. And if and when we do cross it, what then? How high will temperatures and sea levels rise? How quickly? Given the broad spectrum of predictions regarding time frames and impacts, the central question becomes: In the face of all this uncertainty, what can we do today in order to course correct—before it’s too late? To date, as a species, our predictable response has been “business as usual” and “wait and see.” Clearly, there must be a much more responsible response. But what could it be?

Come join us for a three-part series of Sierra Club Dinners: the John Muir Series on Answering the Call of Life. We will “answer the call” together, both in-person at the Dinners, and via continuous online conversations on Radish.org. This new series of Dinners is designed to be the central hub of all these conversations. The first three Dinners of this series set out to address the following questions, as a foundation for our collective response to the predicament of abrupt climate change:
• March 22: On the spectrum of scientifically predictable impacts and timeframes of abrupt climate change, what is the worst-case scenario? What is the likelihood of it coming to pass? Short of that “worst case,” what are the other scenarios predicted by scientists? And finally, in the face of such serious scenarios, what set of strategies and goals may still be established for life on Earth to survive and perchance even thrive?
• April 26: Among all the possible strategies (discussed during Part I) to combat abrupt climate change, which ones ought we to prioritize as the more important? Which set of solutions should humanity design, develop, and deploy in order to stave off such worst-case scenarios and even regenerate the ecosystems that remain?
• May 24: From the many forums convening all around the world to address climate change, how can we convene a planetary “forum of forums” that would unite us and focus our collective intelligence on our shared predicament? As one of the oldest and best known environmental organizations in the world, the Sierra Club is perfectly positioned to be a leader in this collective adventure.

For the inaugural March 22 Dinner, we welcome back Professor Guy McPherson (our April 2017 Dinner speaker), proponent of the worst of the worst-case scenarios. Professor McPherson will lead us through the fascinating findings of his life-long career as a conservation biologist, including a “grand synthesis” of the relevant peer-reviewed scientific literature. His conclusions will clear the ground for an exploration of possible strategies and solutions for preventing his predictions.

Dr. Guy McPherson is an internationally recognized speaker, award-winning scientist, and the world’s leading authority on abrupt climate change leading to near-term human extinction. He is professor emeritus at the University of Arizona, where he taught and conducted research for 20 years. His published works include 14 books and hundreds of scholarly articles. Dr. McPherson speaks to general audiences across the globe, and to scientists, students, educators, and not-for-profit and business leaders who seek their best available options when confronting Earth’s cataclysmic changes.

Jamen Shively is Program Chair for the East Bay Sierra Club Dinners. He is also co-founder and President of Radish.org, pioneer of radical collective intelligence, which along with The John Muir Series, is focused on the co-creation of solutions to our predicament.

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Cost of dinner and program is $30, including tax and tip. $10 for program only, starting at 8 p.m. For a reservation, please send your check, payable to “Sierra Club,” with your name, your telephone number, and the names of your guests, to:

Jane Barrett
170 Vicente Road
Berkeley, CA 94705
510 845-8055

Attendance is limited to the first 115 reservations received. Reserve early, as these programs do fill up. Reservation deadline is March 15.

26 April 2018, East Bay Sierra Club Dinner

Part II: Strategies and Solutions for Abrupt Climate Change

Thursday, 26 April 2018, no-host cocktails/social hour—6 pm, dinner—7:00, program—8:00, intermission—9:00, after hours group discussion—9:15-11:00. Berkeley Yacht Club on the Berkeley Marina, one block north of the west end of University Avenue (ample free parking is available in the Marina parking lots).

Building off of Part I (March 22), this April 26 Dinner will zero in on those strategies and solutions which hold the most promise for saving as much of the diversity of life on Earth as possible, in the face of the scenarios predicted by scientists in Part I.

Come join us as we explore the exciting prospects of possible solutions—from global geoshading to local archologies (similar to Biosphere 2)—which aim to preserve species and ecosystems from the ravages of abrupt climate change. These “physical solutions” will only work when paired with the necessary political and economic solutions, since nothing short of a deep transformation across all the relevant realms of life on Earth can possibly carry the day.

In Part II, Jamen Shively and Professor Guy McPherson (see Part I) shall be joined by other experts who will facilitate a group conversation among the Dinner guests, spanning all of these topics. Come prepared for a truly exciting evening, even as we grapple with these life-and-death choices.

***

Cost of dinner and program is $30, including tax and tip. $10 for program only, starting at 8 p.m. For a reservation, please send your check, payable to “Sierra Club,” with your name, your telephone number, and the names of your guests, to:

Jane Barrett
170 Vicente Road
Berkeley, CA 94705
510 845-8055

Attendance is limited to the first 115 reservations received. Reserve early, as these programs do fill up. Reservation deadline is April 19.