All for One and One for All

Action Learning through Multispecies Hubs

Abstract

This research  addresses the challenges  facing the research environment by honouring both diversity and biodiversity. The team spanning Australia, Indonesia and South Africa build on our established track record with indigenous custodians and participating universities. Together we build on an existing community of practice with local communities to test engagement and governance processes linked with circular green local economies. Our shared understanding is that our shared survival is through a better understanding of our interdependency with others.

The rationale for our participatory action research project and the related book is that we are living beyond our human limits and using the resources of this generation of living systems and the next generation of living systems. Our way of life as a human species is out of balance and unrealistic. It can only result in extinctions of several species and given our current policies human being are also on the extinction list.

The purpose of our work is to set up multispecies hubs, in order to teach participatory democracy linked with the I Naturalist website. The organisations include local government, regional government and community groups, for example in South Africa such as  Dzomo la Mupo (Voice of the Earth), Singabanakekeli beMvelo (looking after the nature / Nurturing nature), Tlhahopele (Voice of Nature), Thusanang (Caring for others) and an organic farmer’s network (Participatory Guarantee System, PGSA). 

Our area of concern is 1. Learning lessons from communities that have food security and are self-reliant. 2. How to protect these communities 3. Applying the lessons to support local green circular economies in other communities. Our applied mixed methods praxis addresses the challenge of species apartheid by learning from communities that live in harmony with nature and applying these lessons to re-establish multispecies relationality in circular green economies.

Our multimethod approach combines qualitative and quantitative methods which we apply through participatory design and praxis with Indigenous custodians and local communities to address multispecies relationality. Our fieldwork comprises both focus groups and in-depth interviews with relevant sectors of local population.

This place-based participatory design addresses multispecies relationality. Our approach is in line with the latest agenda of the Club of Rome to foster community engagement that fosters hope. The community of practice (COP) spans projects in Indonesia and South Africa with graduates, their students, colleagues and members of the community. The ancient societies such as those in Ciptagler and Baduy and the resilient communities in South Africa led by Dzomo la Mupo are inspiring intergenerational learning with young people.

The potential implications of our research for future learning and educational policies is to set up learning communities, one multispecies hub at a time. We work together to enable local green circular economies that foster multispecies and hope for the future. The common good needs to be supported by democratic engagement.

[i] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J48l41l94HQ

[ii] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4t8Xt_QqGE

[iii] McGilchrist, I. (2019). The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World. Yale University Press..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V3_Y_FuMYk