Context:

This episode features the second half of the panel discussion recorded at the "Growing Out of Growth" festival, an event dedicated to exploring and promoting degrowth as a viable pathway toward a sustainable and equitable future. The panel titled "The way forward — What can we do to make degrowth a reality?"

If you did not listen to the previous part please do so.

This section of the panel captures a portion of the discussion focused on communication strategies for degrowth and a "takeaway session" summarizing key points.

Speakers:

• Ulrich Teidlt: Letzte Generation, physics educator.
• Julio Linares: Activist and economic anthropologist, Basic Income activist, author
• Carolina Rübe: Konzeptwerk Neue Ökonomie (think tank for new economy)
• Antonio Rohrßen: Former member of “Klima Liste” (a political party) and the Organizer of the Beyond Growth Germany conference 
• Dr. Federica Habermann: Historian, economist, and author.

Summary:

The second part of the panel focuses on the theme of communication, specifically in the context of promoting degrowth. Key points include:

• Democratically managed commons: The panel discusses the importance of community and cooperation as alternatives to capitalist individualism. This aligns closely with the idea of commoning, which involves the collective management of resources and shared spaces.
• The Power of Storytelling: There's an emphasis on the importance of telling relatable stories to engage people with the concept of degrowth, rather than relying solely on abstract arguments.
• Reframing Narratives: The discussion touches on the need to "turn things on their head" and challenge dominant narratives, particularly those that create fear or promote unsustainable consumption.
• Community and Cooperation: The importance of community and cooperation is highlighted as a key aspect of degrowth, contrasting with the individualism often associated with capitalist ideology.
• Fun and Enjoyment: "If it isn't fun, it isn't degrowth," emphasizing the importance of enjoyment and community in the degrowth transition.
• Operating in Crises: The discussion acknowledges the need to consider how to navigate and utilize crises to advance degrowth.
• Diversity of Methods and Stakeholders: The panelists emphasized the need for a diverse range of communication methods to reach different audiences. They stress the importance of engaging with various stakeholders (privileged or neglected), acknowledging the need to tailor messages to specific groups.
• Interdependency: The interdependency of the global north and south is inevitable, and isolating oneself from global problems is impossible.

External References Mentioned:

• https://growingoutofgrowth.org/
• https://waswirtunkoennen.jetzt/ - "What can we do now", a list of degrowth actions and policies
• Timothy Morton (philosopher and author)

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