I spent this past weekend with a group of MSLS alumni that had travelled from all over Ontario to spend time together and start creating our network in this little part of the world. It was a fantastic experience that left me feeling profoundly humble. Humble at being included in this group of great intelligence, passion and talent. Humble in the face of the job that we have to do. Humble in the face of the network and movement that we are building.

I’ve been struggling a lot recently with the scope of the problems that we face. There are small reminders in the headlines every day and there are giant glaring ones like what our friends in Australia are watching and experiencing right now. And yet we seem to be rooted in place, unable to properly mobilize ourselves to be the ‘clear voice in the commotion’ that The Natural Step has been called in the past. We are individual people working on individual projects and struggles. We are sitting around waiting for someone to take charge, to declare that our problems are both real and solvable with our frail tools. And what I see is that we need a new model for leadership. One that doesn’t rely on individuals to solve problems, but on our respect for collective wisdom and honesty. And that is what I saw this weekend. This group leads through inclusion and respect. It honors various voices. It is keen to ‘slow down to speed up’.

As part of the weekend, we had the opportunity to screen Sylvie Van Brabant’s film, The Last Planet which chronicles a young man, a former activist, who travels the world looking for real solutions that will help him solve issues of sustainability in his hometown in Quebec. He learns from people around the world, including Kalle, that share the years of experience that they have gained. One of the most striking lines in the film was that “action occurs in a place between hope and dissatisfaction”. Too much dissatisfaction without hope and you have no will to change. Too much hope without dissatisfaction and you have no reason to change.

We are at a time where the growing tide of social, economic and environmental devastation is giving rise to an unprecedented level of dissatisfaction. What we, as a collection of leaders, as a group that cares deeply and widely for each other have to contribute to the public is hope. A new world is possible. And looking around the physical table in Ottawa and the virtual table around the world, this is the group that is helping to build it. It’s humbling, inspiring and downright terrifying to be part of it.

Hållbarhet Ottawa included:

Mike Purcell, 05, Canada

Alexandre Magnin, 07, France

Antoine Belaieff, 07, Switzerland/Canada

Luke Raftis, 08, Canada

Tim Nash, 08, Canada

Theo Van Brabant, 08, Canada

Anouk Bertner, MSLS groupie, Canada