June 20 marked the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, with Human Venture gatherings planned for Calgary and Edmonton. The downpour in both cities that day was a great reminder of how nature is above us in the hierarchy of power, and we had to cancel. But one rainy evening does not put a pause on the long arc of life and humanity. The summer and winter solstices are fantastic reminders of the rhythm of our planet and how quickly a year can pass. When studying patterns in human striving, failure and achievement, we have to consider both short and very long periods to see the patterns and how they may shift.
Some significant and short recent events warrant examination for their longer-term trajectory. Particularly, events involving countries that are, or nearly are, nuclear-weapon capable: US bombing of Iranian nuclear enrichment sites, night-time attacks by Russia on civilian residences in Ukrainian cities using hundreds of drones, and conflicts escalating between India and Pakistan, and Iran and Israel. A misunderstanding, miscommunication, or maligned intention during times of political, climate, and disruptive technology tensions can have existential long-term impacts on us all.
In January of this year, the Science and Security Board for the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists took the unprecedented step of moving the hands of the Doomsday Clock <https://thebulletin.org/doomsday-clock/timeline/> to 89 seconds before midnight. This is the closest to midnight that has ever been signaled regarding the threat of a global disaster. The Doomsday Clock is an important and well-known scientific communication tool that was founded in 1945 by Albert Einstein, J. Robert Oppenheimer, and University of Chicago scientists who helped develop the first atomic weapons. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists created the Doomsday Clock two years later, using the imagery of apocalypse (midnight) and the contemporary idiom of nuclear explosion (countdown to zero) to convey threats to humanity and the planet.
A notable shift in the communication from the Bulletin occurred in 2020 when reporting shifted from minutes-to-midnight to seconds. Communicating and influencing positive change has become more challenging amongst a global population who are influenced by a broader range of authorities and whose concerns range from food security in some communities to the latest video games in other communities. The Bulletin recognizes the need for adapting communication methods around a topic that should be of highest concern. But even the provocative title of “Doomsday Clock” can wane in perceived significance.
Solstices and other celestial events are helpful opportunities to intentionally pause and reflect on the patterns within the longer arc of life and humanity. In particular, having rituals and recurring gatherings around celestial events is important as we are highly social beings. The Human Venture creates community gatherings around solstices as a way to build our collective capacity for adaptive reflection and transcendent conversations. Food and music is a great hook, but the real opportunity in these gatherings is encouraging disciplined inquiry together.
A big thank-you Susan Urra for helping me plan our summer solstice events and to all the community members who were going to attend. Wishing you summer and fall that is healthy, safe, and full of curiosity, and connection.