The Blazing World, Or the Climatological Imperative: From Inaction to Reimagination Part III

IDSVA is pleased to present the final webinar in the International conference series, “The Blazing World, Or the Climatological Imperative: From Inaction to Reimagination,” on April 5, 2–4pm EDT. The conference series so far engaged with, on the one hand, the inaction of climate science and, on the other, artistic-philosophical interventions. For this third webinar, please join Andreas Weber (Berlin, Germany), Nephi Craig (White Mountain Apache Reservation, Arizona), and Piripi Kingi Waretini (Aotearoa, New Zealand). The event is moderated by Dejan Lukic, IDSVA Core Faculty (New Mexico).

Free and open to the public. Register here.

Andreas Weber: The Atmosphere as Breath
The earth’s atmosphere is mostly understood as a vast reservoir of anorganic gasses—as dead matter, which is relevant for life, but itself is not alive. Climate policy usually centers on “getting the balance of this reservoir right.” But the atmosphere is not lifeless. It rather is our (in the sense of us-as-shared-life) collective breath, the phase of breath in which it establishes full reciprocity between all individual living subjects. The atmosphere consists of the invisible, gaseous bodies of all living beings. 

Nephi Craig: Trauma, Violence and Internalized Supremacy
Indigenous paradigms view Colonialism as a “shapeshifter” or a monster with a violent appetite for life. Colonization rages blindly to remain in power while devouring our world. This session presents Colonization as the act of violence and Colonialism as the behavioral health pandemic that ensues. Indigenous perspectives, values, and intergenerational vitality offer remedy and place-based renewal.  

Piripi Kingi Waretini: He aituā! He aituā! (Death! Death!): Urging Interconnectedness
The iconography of Māori spirituality resonates with indigenous cultures globally, illustrating our unique approach to understanding the unknown through storytelling and our deep connection to the natural world. Papa-tūā-nuku, often referred to as Mother Earth, embodies the intricate interconnectedness of all life, serving as the foundation of the Māori worldview. Two aphorisms encapsulate the profound relationship between humanity and the Earth. First, “Whatu ngarongaro te tangata, toitū te whenua” (“People pass, the land remains”) acknowledges the enduring presence of the land despite the transient nature of human existence. Second, “He aituā! He aituā!” (“Death! Death!”) serves as a poignant reminder of the catastrophic consequences awaiting if we fail to recognize the gravity of our impact on the environment. 

Speakers
Andreas Weber is a biologist, philosopher, and nature writer. He focuses on a re-evaluation of our understanding of the living. He proposes to view—and treat—all organisms as subjects and, hence, the biosphere as a meaning-creating and poetic reality. Weber is Visiting Professor at the UNISG, Pollenzo, Italy, and teaches at the University of the Arts, Berlin. He contributes to major German newspapers and magazines and has published more than fifteen books, most recently, Enlivenment: A Poetics for the Anthropocene (MIT Press, 2019) and Sharing Life: The Ecopolitics of Reciprocity (Boell Foundation, 2020).

Nephi Craig is an enrolled member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe and half Navajo, with 24 years of culinary experience in the US and internationally. Chef Craig is the founder of the Native American Culinary Association or NACA, an organization/network that is dedicated to the research, refinement, and development of Native American Cuisine. He was featured in the film Gather (2020), a documentary on Indigenous Food Sovereignty, and is a pioneer in the development of “Restorative Indigenous Food Practices.” He received an honorary doctorate from IDSVA in 2022 for his achievements.

Piripi Kingi Waretini (Waikato Maniapoto tribal confederation) is a certified translator with Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission) whose translation work ranges from complex legal documentation and Pushkin’s poetry in iambic tetrameter to several movie scripts. Waretini was the inaugural kaiwhakahaere Māori Advisor to Parliamentary Service and The Office of the Clerk. Waretini is a poet, writer, and musical composer and, amongst other things, was the former Wellington Chair of Ngā Puna Waihanga (NZ Māori Artists and Writers).