The Great Food Debate
SKGR was delighted to host the Great Food Debate at this year’s Cheltenham Literature Festival. Jonathon Porritt, Colin Tudge and Felicity Laurence discussed this pressing theme, what it means to them and to the world to a captivated audience on Friday October 14th.
A photostory from the event can be seen here and subscribe to the free SKGR podcast feed to hear a recording of the event when it becomes available.
Press Release: SKGR a new platform for responsible and reflective global action
For immediate release, September 26 2011
“If we get agriculture right, then all the other things we might aspire to – world peace, justice for all, personal fulfilment, the conservation of other species and of the fabric of the world as a whole – would become possible… But if we get agriculture wrong then everything else is bound to be compromised.” Colin Tudge. SKGR Journal Issue 1
The Self Knowledge Global Responsibility Project is delighted to be sponsoring the The Great Food Debate at the Cheltenham Literature Festival on Friday 14th October at 4.30pm. Bringing together food, farming and sustainability experts Felicity Lawrence, Jonathon Porritt and Colin Tudge, it promises to tackle one of the most pressing themes facing humanity today: how can we produce enough food for growing populations in a sustainable, ethical and responsible manner; respecting the environment, ourselves and the rest of the world.
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Symposium 2011: Moving Heaven Moving Earth
9 – 11 September 2011, Chisholme House, Scottish Borders
From the 9th – 11th September Chisholme House once again hosted the SKGR Symposium, this year entitled Moving Heaven Moving Earth, examining the source of action, where does it come from, how do we participate in it, what is its result.
Talks, conversation, meditation, walking in the hills, contemplating mysteries of science, art, food, music and dance. Three extraordinary days were had by those who were able to attend. And for those of you who weren’t… there is a photo-story that illustrates some of the highlights and podcasts of the talks are being posted regularly.
World Peace Festival
Berlin, 20 – 27 August 2011
The World Peace Festival in Berlin was quite an event. A fascinating mix of some 300 0r so politicians, visionaries and grass roots activists, not always reading from the same page but creative nevertheless, it was the first of what the organisers hope will be many events world wide.
While a relay team of meditators kept up vigil throughout the 2 days of the event some 40 or so speakers including Deepak Chopra, Scilla Elworthy, Clare Short, Major General Sir Tim Rose and Arun Ghandi, provided a very stimulating range of perspectives on peace and peace activism.
The overall title for the day 2 workshops was Peace begins with me. Self Knowledge Global responsibility was the title of Deepak Chopra’s presentation and SKGR also ran a workshop on the same theme. It seems that how we see ourselves as human beings and the way that vision impacts on the world has become the stuff of conferences and conversations everywhere, even those with an implicit political dimension.
Future Food
Symposium at Chisholme House, Scottish Borders, 29th May 2011.
On Sunday 29th May SKGR and the Beshara School were host to Future Food, a symposium on the future of food and farming, with local and national farmers, theorists and food lovers.
A very full programme of talks and conversation was interspersed by food from the fabulous Chisholme Kitchens, culminating in a magnificent buffet made up of local and seasonal ingredients.
Key note speakers included:
- Colin Tudge: Biologist, writer, founder of The Campaign for Real farming
- Pete Ritchie: Award- winning Borders farmer
- Emily Caruso: PhD candidate in anthropology
- Denise Walton: Award-winning Borders farmer
- Sam Henderson: Co-Founder of Agrarian Renaissance
- Ed Hamer: Farmer, co-editor of The Land Magazine
- Daniel Gotts: Chair of Edinburgh Slow Food Convivium
Podcasts and video of the talks are available.
See photos of the event in our gallery.
Saskia Bruysten: Building Social Business
Seminar at the School of Oriental and African Studies, March 16 2011
Saskia Bruysten, CEO of the Grameen Creative Lab, founded by Nobel Peace Laureate Mohammed Yunus. The Grameen Creative Lab promotes and sets up social businesses around the world as a new model for tackling poverty and solving social problems.
During a fascinating seminar, Saskia talked about why our economic system today is ripe for a new way of thinking, why social business can provide a sustainable solution and how people who are interested can get involved.
Podcast available soon.
Watch a video of Saskia’s Symposium 2010 talk
Dr Maja Goepel: What is future justice?
Seminar at SOAS, London, February 2011
Maja is currently a directing researcher for the Hamburg-based World Future Council, where she campaigned on climate/energy issues and launched the World Future Council programs, Future Justice in January 2008. With its global expert commission, she develops and promotes tools for public policy frameworks that integrate human security, ecological integrity, and social equity in the interest of future generations.
During this seminar Maja explained the concept of future justice, why it is imperative we start taking it seriously today and proposed an agenda for collaborative action.
Listen to a podcast of Maja’s talk.
Dr Scilla Elworthy: What makes a Master Peacebuilder
Seminar at SOAS, London, February 2 2011
Scilla Elworthy, prominent international peace activist and three times Nobel Peace Prize nominee spoke about the essential qualities necessary for effective conflict prevention and how anyone can learn to access these fundamental human attributes in their own lives.
A brilliant talk in which she mentioned some of the qualities embodied by people she works with, such as generosity, lightness, humility, truthfulness, high standards, tenacity, courage, and the ability to respond rather than to react. As she said “Everyone has these qualities… they are available for your use tomorrow.”
Listen to a podcast of Scilla’s talk.
Peter Young: Knowledge for uncertain times
Seminar at SOAS, London, January 12 2011
Peter Young is the Principal of the Beshara School at the Chisholme Institute in the Scottish Borders, which provides an education in self knowledge.
In this talk he spoke about knowledge: where it comes from, how to relate to it in an appropriate and respectful manner and its relevance in the uncertain times we currently inhabit.
Launch of SKGR Journal
January 11 2011, The Hub, Islington, London
The first SKGR journal was launched with aplomb at the Hub in Islington, amidst a chorus of operatic arias and a feast of Turkish mezzes. Scilla Elworthy, John Hill and Aaron Cass introduced the project and the journal, and lively conversation ensued.
View photographs of the night taken by Karen Robinson.
SKGR at Paramadina University
October 2010, Jakarta Indonesia
Alison and Peter Yiangou were invited to give a presentation of the SKGR theme at Paramadina University in Jakarta.
Andrew Harvey: Sacred Activism
October 2010, Melbourne, Australia
The SKGR project was launched in Australia with a public talk and discussion with Andrew Harvey (a writer, translator and scholar of mystical traditions) on some of the themes from his book “The Hope – A Guide to Sacred Activism”.
This was attended by over 70 people and was followed the next weekend with a two day workshop exploring in greater depth the connection between self knowledge and global responsibility.
Symposium 2010: Facing the Unknown
September 9 – 11 2010, Beshara School, Scottish Borders
The 2nd Self Knowledge Global Responsibility Symposium, with the theme Facing the Unknown, brought together scientists, artists, activists, economists and more for three days of conversation and contemplation.
Speakers included Saskia Bruysten (Social Business), Professor Robert Turner (Neurophysics), Maja Goepel (Future Justice), Arif Haysim (Environmental Activism), Peter Young (Education), Jane Carroll (Architecture), Scilla Elworthy (Conflict Resolution), Jonathan Hyams (Photographer), Michael Buck (Artist), Willow Murton (Documentary Production).
Visit the Symposium 2010 website – View photo gallery – Watch video of some of the talks.
Seminars at the Beshara School
Two weekend seminars at the Beshara School, Spring 2010
13th 14th February, Towards a Modern Metaphysics
Lectures and conversation with Colin Tudge “The Art of the Insoluble: Why a unified Metaphysics is essential to a sustainable future” and Jane Clark “He Governs the World through Itself: In Arabi on secondary causation”.
Listen to a podcast of Colin’s talk.
13 – 14th March, Action From the Heart
A workshop with Dr Scilla Elworthy on “Reflections on the relationship between contemplative practice and public service.
A nourishing mix of lectures, conversation and workshop exercises, these two seminars were run in conjunction with the Beshara School as part of the six month course programme.
Symposium 2009: Towards a Unified Vision
September 9 – 11 2009, Beshara School, Scottish Borders
The first Self Knowledge Global Responsibility Symposium asked participants “Can I see myself and the world as one self?”
What are the consequences of seeking a unified vision, be it between science and metaphysics, between nations, between a concept of the inner and the outer or humankind and the world?
This event was a feast of ideas, inspiration and action with diverse contributors brought together for three days in the Scottish Borders. Speakers included: Scilla Elworthy (Peace building), Colin Tudge (Biology), Giles Chitty (Ethical Finance), Felia Salim (Banking and Economics), Neils Detert (Neuropsychology), Peter Young (Education) and Aliya Ryan (Indigenous Rights).
Watch a short film about the event - View photographs
