“We are bloated by technology and starved for wisdom,” exclaimed Dr. Elizabeth Kapu’uwailani Lindsey from the main stage at this year’s 21st Annual Bioneers Conference, in San Rafael, CA. Dr. Lindsey, an award-winning filmmaker, anthropologist and the first Polynesian Explorer female fellow in the history of the National Geographic Society, was one of the many distinguished keynote speakers addressing the nearly three thousand attendees who had traveled around the world to attend the conference. As Dr. Lindsey finished her keynote, the Marin Convention Center erupted into thunderous applause, it seemed many of us had found our tribe of like-minded folks.
This was See Jane Do’s first time attending the Bioneers Conference. Bioneers co-founder Nina Simons had been a keynote speaker at our sold-out Passion Into Action conference in January and had invited us to attend. Like so many, we had come seeking answers and viable solutions to the environmental and social crises in the world today. We had also come to learn, be inspired and discover a community of social change.
Co-Founder Kenny Ausubel coined the term bioneers in 1990 to describe an emerging culture. Bioneers are social and scientific innovators focused on breakthrough solutions inspired by nature and human ingenuity. The annual conference is a leading-edge forum where people “can see tomorrow today: a future environment of hope.”
This year’s conference featured dozens of speakers including Dr. Jane Goodall, women’s activist Gloria Feldt (another keynote speaker at the Passion Into Action conference), community organizer and President Obama’s former boss Mary Gonzalez, Lynne Twist of the Pachamama Alliance, Andy Lipkis of Tree People, and other activists, community organizers, leaders, authors, filmmakers, speakers, and change-makers.
From cutting-edge climate initiatives and the power of women leading from the heart to challenging corporate power and permaculture for humanity, no topic was left uncovered during the conference. At times, the shear amount of information felt overwhelming; there was definitely moments filled with tears of joy and pain. But those feelings where quickly diminished with the realization that we were surrounded by a room of thoughtful, committed people, from all walks of life, who believed that together we can change the world.
If you missed this year’s Bioneers Conference and are interested in learning more, go to www.bioneers.org. The website not only features information about the conference but other campaigns and programs such as Dreaming New Mexico, Women’s Leadership, Youth, and Food & Farming plus the Bioneers Radio Series.
Look for this story and more in the December/January issue of the KVMR 89.5FM Listeners Guide.
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