Our mainstream economic system is modelled on scarcity and endless growth. But what would an economy look like that's inspired by the abundant generosity of a serviceberry tree: giving freely, circulating gifts, leaving enough for all?
This September, two of the most compelling thinkers of our time come together to explore that question. Robin Wall Kimmerer, Potawatomi botanist, author of Braiding Sweetgrass and The Serviceberry, and Kate Raworth, economist and author of Doughnut Economics, share a deep conviction: that our current economic system is out of alignment with the living world, and that reimagining it is both urgent and possible.
In The Serviceberry, Kimmerer draws on Kate's work as she weaves together Indigenous wisdom and economic thought to propose a gift economy rooted in enoughness, reciprocity, gratitude, and what she calls "practical reverence". For Kimmerer, nature is not simply to be protected from us; it calls us into relationship with it. She says: "Practical reverence offers almost a notion of redemption, to say: No, you are not just a taker, you are not a despoiler. You can be medicine, you can be medicine for the Earth. You can be a healer. You can participate in regenerative economies..." Practical reverence is a way of living that is at once deeply spiritual and entirely pragmatic. Harvesting, done honourably, is an act of kinship, and gratitude, practised seriously, is a radical act.
Kate Raworth's bestselling book "Doughnut Economics" and action labs offer the structural framework for this vision: an economy that meets the needs of all people while remaining within the planetary boundaries that make life possible.
Together, they invite us to ask: what does an economy of right relationship look, feel, and live like? And how do we begin, here and now, to build it?
The conversation is moderated by Jo Confino, former Business Editor at the Guardian, podcast host of The Way Out Is In by Plum Village.
Whether you work in systems change, economic policy, or you are curious about different ways of being in and relating to the world, this timely conversation is for anyone who knows new economies are necessary, and within reach!
Join us for what will be an enlivening conversation spanning indigenous thinking and new economics.
Practical Info
Date & Time: Wednesday, September 30, 7 - 8.30 PM UK time (check your local timezone)
Pricing: Regular Admission is £20. However, this event is offered on a sliding scale between £8 and £25 to make participation accessible to those who could otherwise not afford it.
Recording: While we encourage live participation for the benefit of all, this event will be recorded and a recording will be sent to all registrants within 2-3 working days after the live event, and will remain available for 3 weeks.
About the Speakers
Robin Wall Kimmerer is a mother, scientist, decorated professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. She is the author of The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants and Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses. She lives in Syracuse, New York, where she is a SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of Environmental Biology, and the founder and director of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment. Her book Braiding Sweetgrass has sold over 2 million copies and is a New York Times bestseller.
Kate Raworth is an economist and thought leader whose work has transformed global conversations about economic purpose and design. She is best known for developing the Doughnut Economics framework, which offers a vision of prosperity that balances human wellbeing with planetary boundaries.
In her influential book Doughnut Economics, Raworth challenges growth-driven models and proposes regenerative and distributive alternatives. She works with cities, governments, and organizations worldwide to help translate this vision into practice, supporting the transition toward economies that enable people and planet to thrive together.
moderated by
Jo Confino (pronouns he/him) is an executive coach, facilitator, journalist, sustainability expert, and Zen mindfulness practitioner. He works at the intersection of personal transformation and systems change with several organizations, including Leaders’ Quest, Future Stewards, and the United Nations Development Program. Jo has worked closely for the past sixteen years with the late Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh and his monastic community in Plum Village, France, is on the board of the Thích Nhất Hạnh Foundation, is chair of the board of Parallax Press, as well as co-hosting The Way Out Is In podcast with Brother Pháp Hữu.