Launch of the book “Regenerate – The Challenges of Regeneration and the Earth Charter” written by Rose Marie Inojosa

We are happy to announce the launch of the book Regenerate – The Challenges of Regeneration and the Earth Charter written by Rose Marie Inojosa. The book is available in Portuguese. 

This publication is part of the UNESCO Chair in Education for Sustainable Development with the Earth Charter and is a publication of the Earth Charter Center for Education for Sustainable Development at the University for Peace. 

In this book, the author makes an inspiring reflection on the idea and importance of “regeneration” through the lens of the Earth Charter and the raises the importance of making this concept more widely known. 

We invite you to the presentation of the book and to have a dialogue with the author: 

Wednesday – August 3, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. SP, Brazil (This Webinar will be in Portuguese)

Excerpt from the preface:

The regeneration process will only be effective if it is carried out in a systemic way, even looking at human society itself, source and lake of tribulations. The themes are always socio-environmental, which implies addressing, in an integrated manner, the dimensions of ecology, social and economic justice, democracy and living conditions. 

It is this integrated action that Regenerate deals with: the challenges of regeneration and the Earth Charter, seeking to share reflections and experiences on different aspects of the challenges we must face. 

In the first chapter, “Life in metamorphosis and regeneration”, by way of introducing reflection on regeneration and its challenges, the concepts of metamorphosis typical of the dynamics of life on the planet, sustainability and degenerative culture are covered, and their worldview, which produces the planetary crisis. 

“The challenge of ecological integrity”, the second chapter, addresses the challenge of regenerating ecological integrity, based on the power of anthropic action in relation to the self-sustainability and resilience of the living and components of the biosphere. The conceptual vision of ecological restoration is worked on as a process and as a commitment, commenting on cases and treating agroecology as a comprehensive restoration process. It addresses the partnerships and articulations necessary for ecological restoration, ending with the Earth Charter’s set of guidelines for ecological integrity. 

The chapter “The challenge of social and economic justice” is dedicated to regeneration in the face of social and economic justice. It begins with the question of growth and emphasizes that in nature there is no infinite growth. It also reflects on what is of interest in the situation of progressive degradation of the conditions that sustain life and on life for consumption, which has become the hegemonic paradigm in contemporary society. It is about the relationship between regeneration and climate justice, the regenerative economy and its practices, the Franciscan economy, the circular economy and “buen vivir”. The Earth Charter principles on social and economic justice close the chapter. 

“The challenge of democratic and peaceful coexistence”, in turn, addresses the challenge of regenerating the conditions of coexistence, democracy and peace, essential for comprehensive regenerative action. The chapter begins by reflecting on the relationship between democracy and peace, as well as the progressive weakening of democracy in the world. Next, it addresses the strategies for the regeneration of peaceful and democratic coexistence, focusing on the relationship between democracy, food and agroecology, social solidarity and the dimensions of voluntary action. To reflect on education, key to peaceful and regenerative coexistence, it follows the Earth Charter principles for democracy, non-violence and peace. 

The last chapter, “Narrow window and regenerating communities”, deals with the complexity and transformation in the regeneration of communities, returning to the urgency of action and seeking to visualize the situation of the socio-environmental agenda in the countries, in addition to the movement for human rights and rights of nature. It then shows the relationship between regeneration and bioregionalism, and the process of regeneration of communities, which can themselves become regenerative communities, assuming the self-sustaining movement that characterizes life. The need to mobilize for transformative collective action, based on the exchange of purposes and meanings, with the Earth Charter principles on respect for the community of life, complement the chapter. I deliver these simple reflections to the readers, hoping to contribute so that we can transform conscience into collective action, assuming our inescapable role as ancestors of the future.