The document emphasizes the urgent need for system scientists to confront the dangers of the Anthropocene, highlighting the disconnect between human emotions and the technological challenges we face. It advocates for new governance models that empower communities to manage resources sustainably while reconnecting with nature. The authors call for creative and participative solutions to inspire hope and action in addressing these existential threats.

1. CALL TO ACTION
to the system scientists
community
Irma Wilson
and
Pamela Buckle Henning
Governing the Anthropocene
ISSS’59
6August 2015

2. “The most dangerous
thing in the world is
immense accumulations
of human beings who
are MANIPULATED
by only a few heads”
C.G. Jung

3. “The real problem of
humanity is the
following: we have
paleolithic emotions,
medieval institutions and
god-like technology; and
it is terrifically
DANGEROUS and it is
now approaching a point
of crisis overall”
Edward Wilson

5. here we are

6. The juncture on
which we stand
demands both
the best of
meta-foresight
and interior
self-awareness
we can muster,
as women and
as men; as
scientists and
consultants and
collaborators.
Will we
CHOOSE LIFE
or will we
CHOOSE DEATH?
This is the central
challenge of our
times.

7. We are neurologically wired
to defend ourselves from
realizing too much the extent
of the danger we are in.
AT THIS TIME
when we need as much of
our whole human selves as
possible, our minds are
urging us to find ways to tune
out

8. By decoupling from
nature we have
created an
anthropocenic sized
possibility that we
could destroy it.
AND SO WE
AND NATURE,
TOGETHER
ARE IN
TROUBLE

9. Scaffolding
added strength
the structures that precedes new
structures
1. Interior scaffolding
2. Emergence as scaffolding
3. System Scientists as scaffold constructors

10. We must have
COURAGE
to look with
open eyes.
We must not
allow ourselves to
be paralyzed.

11. Emergence as scaffolding

12. “Insert text
here, insert
INTO A
SMARTER
WORLD
insert text
here”
“Danger creates
the need and
occasion for
humans’ capacity
to organize”
Crittenden
“Luckily the
emergence of peer
producing
communities is
showing the way
for a fundamental
reorganisation”
Bauwens

13. As a SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE,
the commons:
• lets people make their own rules for
managing the resources on which they
depend
• it gives them a significant degree of
sovereignty
• it can help them reconnect with
nature and each other
• it sets limits to resource exploitation
and internalises the negative
externalities so often associated with
market behaviour
Bollier

14. Economic enabling mechanisms
Generative global political systems

15. People are are learning their true power…
Prefigurative &
concurrent emergent
economic alternatives

16. Peer-to-peer
production
governance
and
ownership
Michel Bauwens
www.p2pfoundation.net

17. a thinking
frame:
Post
Capitalist
Scenario
stable
commons
allied to
social
economy
CONTRIBUTORY
CULTURE
Civil Society
ETHICAL
ECONOMY
Reformed Corporation
Enabling & Empowering
PARTNER STATE
Common Good

19. We are constructing
the world anew
SCAFFOLDING
IS NECESSARY
Imagination and
creativity are
called for

20. We now ask you to participate: THOUGHT EXPERIMENT

21. http://allisasis.com/emerging-metasystem/

22. Irresistible options made visible:
that entice and enthrall
fascinate and thrill
As much as our work is to
design and educate making it
ATTRACTIVE AND FUN
is what needs to happen
to open up the possibility space
we need HOPE

24. “Never doubt
that a small
group of
thoughtful,
committed
citizens can
change the
world; indeed,
it’s the only
thing that
ever has”
Mead

25. Now is the time.
System science holds
an important key
USE IT
SUDDENLY,
EVERYBODY!
Thank you
irma@futuresharp.org
pamela@systemic-coherance.com