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What's in a name?

What's in a Name?

The term we are using to describe the world so many of us want is Ecocivilization. 

Eco points to the fundamental shift in world view that is required from human-focused (anthropocentric) to life-focused (ecocentric), and civilization denotes the scale and scope of the transformation needed.

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We use this framing recognizing the issues it raises.

 
The idea of “civilization” has been used for millennia by dominating groups to justify the conquest and destruction of Indigenous groups and those considered “barbarians”.

We use the word as a placeholder based on a more neutral view of civilization as a society's entire culture and way of life at a particular time.

We use this term to convey the planetary scale and sweeping scope of transformation that is needed. 
The “eco-” prefix risks signaling that the struggle for justice and equity by oppressed groups is less important than ecological regeneration…

… Whereas both are crucially important!
The singular term might give the impression of a single, homogenizing vision of the future—that one size fits all…

…Whereas we value heterogeneity:
honoring and supporting the diverse ways in which various cultures and individuals pursue their own path to flourishing.
We hold all these considerations in mind, and continue to use Ecocivilization as a name, while we  explore alternatives.
What is an Ecocivilization?
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So, what is an Ecocivilization?

The specifics remain to be determined in a co-creating process over generations.  
 
But we believe there are some foundational principles aligned with the collective flourishing of humanity, which are shared among many diverse traditions throughout history from around the world.
 
Let’s see how they compare with the underlying principles of today’s dominant world system:
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DOMINANT
CULTURE

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ECOCIVILIZATION

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