Mokita Dialogues: Addressing ecological change, grief

Jana Marie Foundation will hold its next Mokita Dialogues discussion on Thursday, Feb. 24, at 11 a.m. (tinyurl.com/MokitaDialogues). The word “Mokita” comes from the language of Kilivila, spoken by the Trobriand people, and is defined as “a known truth left unspoken.” February’s discussion will be led by Penn State professor Joshua Trey Barnett, who will address the known truth of ecological change and the feelings of grief that can accompany the fact that Earth’s many ecosystems are being negatively impacted on a vast scale by human activity.

If you read the news with any regularity, you are bound to come across information relating to the devastating impacts of climate change. Perhaps you have heard the statistic, originally released in a 2017 Carbon Disclosure Project report, that 100 fossil fuel producers are responsible for 71% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The scary reality is that we, as individuals, have very little, if any, influence over the systems of power that seek to maintain the status quo. We are forced to confront this discouraging truth over and over, which can lead to feelings of anger, frustration, and eventually, apathy. We are, in effect, grieving the loss of environmental “norms.”

The question is: How do we live with this “eco-grief” without giving in to the overwhelming feeling of dread that threatens to shut down any hope of action? If personal responsibility isn’t the silver bullet solution, and systemic change seems incredibly distant if not impossible, where does that leave us?

Barnett is an expert in the area of ecological grief, and has a forthcoming book from the Michigan State University Press, “Mourning in the Anthropocene: Ecological Grief and Earthly Coexistence,” that discusses this very topic. Barnett had this to share, regarding eco-grief and loss:

“Grief is tricky terrain. We are expected to grieve when we lose a loved one, but what about when other animals and plants die, when species become extinct, when habitats are destroyed, or when meaningful cultural practices unravel amid climatic changes? Given the tremendous environmental transformations we are currently witnessing, it is unsurprising that many people are experiencing what has come to be called ecological grief. Yet most of us lack a language for describing the feelings of loss and sadness that follow from living on a rapidly changing planet. Nor do most of us appreciate how ecological grief can open onto ethical and political responses to environmental degradation. And so, with this workshop, I hope to provide participants with ways of talking about feelings of ecological grief and of transforming that grief into care.”

This Mokita Dialogues session will give us the chance to come together virtually, expand our understanding of ecological grief, engage in conversations on how we can be more vigilant, and discuss ways we can work together in our community to make a difference.

For the past six years, Jana Marie Foundation’s Mokita Dialogues series has shined a light on a variety of topics of vital social concern that often go unaddressed or unnoticed. Held the fourth Thursday of every month, these discussions include a brief presentation, engaging activities that encourage thought and conversation, and suggestions for ways to continue the discussion.

To learn more about Jana Marie Foundation or Mokita Dialogues, please visit www.janamariefoundation.org.