693. Jem Bendell

Buddha at the Gas Pump

Professor Jem Bendell is a world-renowned scholar on the breakdown of modern societies due to environmental change. Downloaded over a million times, his Deep Adaptation paper is credited with inspiring the growth of the Extinction Rebellion movement in 2018, and created a global network of to reduce harm in the face of societal collapse. He completed his PhD at the University of Bristol and his Geography BA (Hons) at the University of Cambridge. For decades he worked on Sustainable Development as a researcher and NGO manager, as well as a consultant to businesses, political parties and UN agencies. One of his specialisms since 2011 is pro-social currency innovation, with his TEDx from that year explaining reasons for Bitcoin and similar. In 2017, he co-led the development of the UK Labour Party’s communications plan for the General Election and co-wrote speeches for their top politicians. Although recognised in 2012 as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, Jem has been increasingly critical of the globalist agenda on sustainable development. Away from that work, he is partner in an organic farm school in Bali (bekandze.net) and supports meditation retreats at the main Buddhist Temple on the island. Website: jembendell.com Books: Breaking Together: A Freedom-Loving Response to Collapse Deep Adaptation: Navigating the Realities of Climate Chaos Evolving Partnerships: A Guide to Working with Business for Greater Social Change Healing Capitalism: Five Years in the Life of Business, Finance and Corporate Responsibility The Corporate Responsibility Movement: Five Years of Global Corporate Responsibility Analysis from Lifeworth, 2001-2005 Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded October 28, 2023 Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Professor Jem Bandel 00:03:58 - Introducing "Breaking Together" and its Hypothesis 00:07:56 - The Shift in Collective Consciousness 00:11:47 - The Importance of the Dark Night of the Soul 00:15:32 - The IPCC's Desire for Consensus 00:19:03 - Siloed Science and the Denial of Climate Change 00:22:44 - A New Form, A New Identity Structure, A New Kind of Safety 00:26:24 - Finding Inner Presence in Times of Chaos 00:30:21 - Faith and the Sense of Time 00:34:18 - The Catastrophic Risks of Climate Change 00:38:04 - Climate Change and Public Dialogue 00:41:35 - Debunking the Study on Free Will 00:45:06 - The Importance of Ocean Health to Climate Change Awareness 00:48:47 - Rejecting Activist Stunts and Embracing Community Preparedness 00:53:20 - Indigenous Environmental Stewardship 00:57:28 - Eternity and the Meaning of Life 01:01:31 - A Vision for Freedom and Connection 01:05:04 - Consciousness and Reincarnation 01:08:40 - Collapse Acceptance and Joy 01:12:30 - The Source of the Theory of Spiritual Awakening 01:15:26 - The Possibility of Human Extinction 01:18:54 - Examining Deep Stories and the Importance of Consciousness 01:22:15 - Collective Consciousness and Spiritual Awakening 01:26:14 - The Scientific Attitude and the Future of Human Society 01:29:14 - Implications and Perspectives 01:32:54 - Love Beyond Hope and Social Engagement as a Gift 01:36:23 - The Cultural Breakthrough of the Beatles 01:38:52 - Feeling Empathy for Others 01:42:51 - Becoming Oceanic in Consciousness 01:46:54 - The Meaning of Life and Personal Values 01:50:05 - Conversation with Jem about his book