Two new Finnish dissertations feature significant discussion on eco-emotions, and I was glad to be involved in the process of both of them.
Johannes Cairns, Ph.D., defended his disseration in Helsinki on Tuesday 26th August, on the theme of Buddhism and environmental activism. He interviewed Buddhist activists from many countries and the discussions went deep into their life stories. In the research articles which are the core of the dissertation, it is shown how complex negotiations these Buddhists are making in relation to their religion, emotions, identity, and activism.
Many Buddhists have contributed greatly to constructive methods for engaging with eco-emotions, most notably the late Joanna Macy. This dimension shows in Cairns’ data in many ways, and we wrote together a research article on climate emotions and the respondents. For example, some of the respondents organized climate grief activities for other activists. Many had gained new insights on the constructive potential of being angry (in a managed way) from their activism, and this partly contradicted their earlier learning from traditional Buddhist teachings on anger as only negative. You can read more via the link below:
There are very interesting connections between my personal history and the two dissertation authors. We found out some years ago that both Cairns and I grew up in the small village of Järvelä in the municipality of Kärkölä. The second dissertation is by Päivi Koponen from University of Turku, who is a teacher, and my own life history has been much shaped by teachers and teaching. My dear mother worked as a teacher all her working life, and I’ve been running on school corridors both as a child and as a young substitute teacher (well, that was a different kind of running).
Koponen’s dissertation, written in Finnish, applies a traumainformed perspective to environmental pedagogy, especially in relation to teaching literature in high schools. The dissertation is unusual in its wide interdisciplinarity, and I was delighted to be both a pre-examiner and the opponent of the dissertation defence in Turku on 22nd August. I tried to apply bell hooks’ style in practice: it is possible to combine academic rigor with benevolence.
Hopefully Koponen’s insightful work will be available also in English in the future.
Panu will be holding a free online workshop on climate grief together with the pioneering Good Grief Network. Times: 11 AM EST / 8 AM PST / 18.00 EEST (Helsinki)
People regularly ask me: why focus on grief, when it’s the time for outrage and action? I answer by nodding, and then trying to explain how grief and passionate resistance are connected in the midst of socio-ecological crisis. Remembrance is work of grief, and remembrance keeps up the struggle against injustice.
There’s both local and global dimensions in ecological grief and grievance. Sometimes there are acute losses which sadness helps us to engage with. Tears reconnect us with Earth.
In the background, there’s the great change: from the age of cheap oil into another age. Many things that people from industrialized societies have taken for granted need to change. But change and letting go are difficult, and there’s a major fight going on, based on efforts to deny the evident need for transformation.
We need safe spaces for sorrow. It is a long process of reconstructing our identities, belief systems, roles in society, and practices. Robert Neimeyer and colleagues call this “meaning reconstruction”, and it requires re-telling of our stories.
For this multifaceted work, the new materials prepared by me, Anya Kamenetz, Sarah Newman and others, offer words, practices, and ideas. The videos by different people bring testimonies of various ways that ecological / climate / sociopolitical grief plays out in their lives. I hope that they’re useful for you, too; and if so, please spread the word. We’d also love to hear about your experiences.
The written resources include:
– A grief guide
– Images of types of loss and grief
– Activities
– Tip sheet for parents and educators
For the research behind the materials, see my article Ecological Sorrow from 2024. I hope you’ll find the materials useful!
Panu and many members of the collaborative which produced the webpage www.ecoanxietyprocess.com and the videos therein, will be speaking at a webinar Friday 16th May. Hosted by Isaias Hernandez (QueerBrownVegan).
Join us for an intimate and powerful gathering that explores the deep intersections of climate change, mental health, and storytelling. Together, we’ll unpack the emotional toll of the climate crisis and spotlight the creative ways communities are responding through care, culture, and connection.
The event also includes a private screening of How Are You, Really, a forthcoming documentary, and The Dance: Living with Eco-Anxiety, a short animated film, alongside a small segment of Teaching Climate Together’s Climate Emotions Episode.
Space is limited. We invite you to join us in honoring the emotional layers of this work.
This event has been generously supported by @Nessling Foundation, @University of Helsinki, @Stranded Astronaut, @Queer Brown Vegan
Nuori toimittaja Eveliina Lempiäinen haastatteli Panua ympäristötunteisiin liittyen ja osallistui Kadonneiden lajien muistopäivään Helsingissä marraskuun lopulla. Lehtijuttu sisältää syvälleluotaavaa omaa pohdintaa sekä yhteiskunnallisten ilmiöiden pohdiskelua. Saatavilla Ylioppilaslehden paperinumerossa sekä netissä.
After a long while, Panu is travelling to the US to give talks and participate in conferences. On Friday 28th February, there’s an event in Charlottesville which is open to the public:
