“The Sequel: What Will Follow Our Troubled Civilisation?”: a film about the extraordinary task of inventing a future…

“The Sequel: What Will Follow Our Troubled Civilisation?”: a film about the extraordinary task of inventing a future…

Our film about David Fleming's potent legacy is starting to take shape. And here's the first taster - a beautiful five minute wander through Deep Time, with a shocking ending..! https://vimeo.com/236050600 I'm so proud of these tasters, and happy to see that they're currently going viral on Facebook, with over 1.5m 2.5m 4m views already. For more head over to the home of the film: https://www.flemingpolicycentre.org.uk/the-sequel/ We look forward to hearing your thoughts there, especially on what else should be included when the final film comes out next summer :)
Community, Place and Play: A Post-Market Economics

Community, Place and Play: A Post-Market Economics

In a couple of weeks (Feb 6-10) I'll be leading a week-long course at Schumacher College based on David Fleming's legacy: Community, Place and Play: A Post-Market Economics. It will be an exploration of what 'life well lived' looks like in a world of ecocide and collapsing civilisational structures, and a call for those present to ramp up their involvement in the informal economy of relationships and Nature. The key resources for a thriving future. Myself, Rob Hopkins and Mark Boyle have all been walking variants of this path for at least the past decade or so, and are much looking forward to discussing and debating the most delicious, enlivening ways forward in today's world. And all of us are deeply inspired by the work of David Fleming, the mentor I first met, along with Rob, when they taught me at Schumacher College ten short years ago. It feels a great honour to follow in his footsteps and continue his work. I'm also particularly delighted that we will be able to première the beautiful, challenging and yearning film We, The Uncivilised as part of the course. It fits perfectly with the themes we will be exploring and is, quite simply, the most memorable film I have seen in years. It will be a real highlight and catalyst. Here is a quick Q&A I did with Positive News on the course, and I believe one or two spaces are still available if you wish to join us. Can't wait! -- Edit - 14th Feb 2017 - I had intended to do a full blog post reflecting on the course, but in the aftermath I find myself exhausted, thrilled and satisfied, with a deep yearning for quiet and stillness. Suffice to say that the week was even more potent than I had hoped, and felt a transformational experience for most, if not all, of us there. Many powerful relationships were formed and ideas mooted, and I look forward to seeing what emerges as we all continue on our paths.
Forthcoming (and past) events

Forthcoming (and past) events

Shaun Chamberlin, Dark Optimism, XR Rebellion Day 1
For more on my late mentor David Fleming's astonishing Surviving the Future or Lean Logic, see the official page for the books, which should provide all you need. The “Order the books” section there will point you to the best deals available (in print, as e-books, or as an audiobook with my narration!), with free worldwide delivery.  
Forthcoming public events:
 
Mon 23rd November 2020 - Sun 31st January 2021 - Eight week online course Surviving the Future: Conversations for Our Time, in partnership with Sterling College, Vermont. Led by Shaun, the previous run attracted 250 participants from 25 countries, with guest teachers including Vandana Shiva, Kate Raworth and Rob Hopkins. This run will be limited to 100 participants. Sat 12th December 2020 - Shaun will lead a workshop as part of A Journey Home, organised by Eve Annecke and Advaya.    
Click links for more details or to book places at events. Or follow DarkOptimism on Twitter for more. I look forward to seeing you soon!
 
 
Past events (2016-present):
  Fri 2nd - Sun 4th Sept 2016 - Dark Mountain Basecamp festival, Embercombe, Devon:
Sat 10th Sept 2016 - Small Is Beautiful festival, with Natalie Bennett, Andrew Simms and others. Centre for Alternative Technology, Powys, mid-Wales Sat 17th Sept 2016 - 9am-5pm - Towards a Localised Future: A New Economy Convergence, with Helena Norberg-Hodge, Molly Scott Cato, Rupert Read, Michael H Shuman... Friends House, Camden, London:
Mon 19th Sept 2016 - 11:30am-1:30pm - "Could Brexit lead to the rediscovery of culture grounded in place?", celebration of the books with Jonathon Porritt. Trinity College, Oxford University:
Weds 21st Sept 2016 - 6:30pm-8:30pm - The launch party at Daunt Books Chelsea, London Mon 26th Sept 2016 - 7pm-9pm - Studio guest of Dave Hampton on MarlowFM, 97.5's weekly environment show:
[sc_embed_player fileurl="http://www.darkoptimism.org/MarlowFM.mp3"]listen here
Weds 12th Oct 2016 - 8pm-10pm - Schumacher College Earth Talk on David Fleming, with Rob Hopkins. Dartington, Totnes:
Thurs 20th Oct 2016 - 7pm-8:30pm - "We, Not Me: Community and Unity", a celebration of World Values Day. Global Co-operation House, Willesden, London Sun 20th Nov 2016 - Permaculture Podcast interview with Scott Mann: "Lean Logic: The Work of David Fleming" Tues 6th Dec 2016 - Legalise Freedom interview with Greg Moffitt, "Surviving the Future" (also distributed through the global 'Radio Ecoshock' network of 91 radio stations):
Sat 10th Dec 2016 - Permaculture Podcast interview with Scott Mann: "Surviving the Future with Shaun Chamberlin" Sat 7th Jan 2017 - Peak Prosperity interview with Chris Martenson, "Surviving the Aftermath of the Market Economy":
Mon 6th-Fri 10th Feb 2017 - Week-long course on David's work at Schumacher College - Community, Place and Play: A Post-Market Economics, with Mark Boyle, Rob Hopkins and Stephan Harding:
Community, Place and Play: A Post-Market Economics - book tour
Thurs 4th May 2017 - 2pm-4pm (UK time) - FEASTA webinar on David Fleming's work:
Weds 10th May 2017 - 7pm - 'Surviving The Future: Culture, Carnival and Capital in the Aftermath of the Market Economy', at Housmans radical bookshop. 5 Caledonian Road, King's Cross, London, N1 9DX Tues 18th July 2017 - Greening the Apocalypse interview: "The Future, and How to Survive It" on Melbourne, Australia's RRR FM:
Greening the Apocalypse team photo
Sun 30th July 2017 - Workshop hosted by video link at the first Transition US national gathering, discussing "Transition's wider vision: David Fleming and Surviving the Future":
21st-22nd Oct 2017 - Localize It: What Resilience Looks Like - author and activist Chuck Collins discussed the impact David Fleming's Surviving the Future has had on him, as part of this exciting event. South Royalton, Vermont, USA. 27th-29th Oct 2017 - The Economics of Happiness conference - author Richard Heinberg discussed the importance of David Fleming's Surviving the Future. Port Townsend, Washington, USA. Sat 11th Nov 2017 - Spiritual Ecology confluence - All attendees received a complimentary copy of David Fleming's Surviving the Future. Andreas Weber spoke briefly to the value of this gift. St. Ethelburga's, London, UK. Weds 29th Nov 2017 - Surviving the Future webinar - Shaun and Helena Norberg-Hodge hosted a buzzing webinar on Surviving the Future and David Fleming's legacy, in partnership with Transition US. Over 100 people took part, from four continents:
Thurs 30th Nov 2017 - Fleming anniversary event, Gaia Foundation - To mark the seventh anniversary of David Fleming's death, Shaun hosted a special evening with The Gaia Foundation at the beautiful Burgh House, honouring their late friend and fellow Hampstead resident. London, UK. Fri 1st/Sat 2nd Dec 2017 - Sterling College symposium - Sterling College hosted a weekend symposium dedicated to David Fleming, featuring presentations from five influential devotees of his work: Peter Buffett, Chuck Collins, David Bollier, Margo Baldwin and Matthew Derr. The event was standing room only, with over 150 people in attendance to engage with Fleming's legacy. Craftsbury Common, Vermont, USA.
Weds 7th Feb 2018 - Interview by Randy Powers of Practical Prepping Period, Georgia, USA: "Shaun Chamberlin talks Lean Logic and Surviving the Future", via the Authors on the Air Global Radio Network:
Fri 6th Apr 2018 - Interview by Jean Vidler MBE of The Green Futures Show, Kingston, UK: "Shaun Chamberlin on David Fleming", via the Authors on the Air Global Radio Network:
17-19th May 2018 - Sterling College short course on Surviving the Future. Sterling College hosted a three-day course built around David Fleming's vision, led by Martin Kirk, Richard Heinberg and Matthew Derr. Weds 19th Sept 2018 - The European Parliament discusses Fleming's TEQs system, as described in Lean Logic:
Molly Scott Cato MEP chairs discussion of David Fleming's TEQs system
Sat 17th Nov 2018 - Shaun spoke to the rebels on Blackfriars Bridge about his recent arrest with Extinction Rebellion, and his dark optimism for the future.
Shaun Chamberlin, Dark Optimism, XR Rebellion Day 1
Tues 19th Feb 2019 - Inspired by the release of the Surviving the Future audiobook, Peter Buffett and Jimmy Buff have been hosting a weekly show on Radio Kingston NY, playing/discussing the chapters. Click the image below to catch up from the first episode, or hear the final episode, featuring an interview with Shaun Chamberlin, here.
Peter Buffett and Jimmy Buff pose with David Fleming's Surviving the Future
Weds 17th Apr 2019 - Shaun spoke as one of the rebels in Parliament Square, addressing many of the popular criticisms of Extinction Rebellion (at least until the talk was rudely interrupted by 200 police officers!)
Shaun Chamberlin of Dark Optimism and Extinction Rebellion - Parliament Square - 17-04-2019
Sat 13th July 2019 - 5:30pm-7:30pm - Screening of The Sequel: What Will Follow Our Troubled Civilisation?, with introduction and Q&A from Shaun. Kingston Quaker Centre, Fairfield East, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2PT, UK.
Sun 14th July 2019 - Shaun spoke to the Extinction rebels during the East London Uprising, on the inevitability of impending radical change, for better or worse, and the possibility that remains to tell a beautiful story with our time on this planet.
Extinction Rebellion, East London Uprising
Sat 20th July 2019 - Shaun spoke on 'Dark Optimism - The Post-Growth Future I'm Rebelling For' in the morning, and then screened The Sequel: What Will Follow Our Troubled Civilisation? in the evening, alongside the film's director Peter Armstrong. Both events at the Seed festival, Hawkwood, Stroud, UK:
Fri 14th August 2019 - A beautifully warm 'Post-Doom' conversation with bestselling theologian Michael Dowd:
Shaun Chamberlin and Michael Dowd - Post-Doom conversation
Sat 7th Sept 2019 - Shaun spoke at the end of the opening ceremony for Extinction Rebellion's North London Uprising. Downhills Park, N15 3NX.
Extinction Rebellion, North London Rebel Rising
Fri 20th Sept 2019 - The Global Peace Film Festival screened their official selection The Sequel: What Will Follow Our Troubled Civilisation?, with remote Q&A by the film's executive producer Shaun. Orlando, Florida, USA. Mon 23rd Sept 2019 - 50th anniversary screening of the newly beautifully restored 1969 classic The Moon & The Sledgehammer. Shaun joined director Philip Trevelyan for the post-screening Q&A, hosted by Extinction Rebellion's Jessica Townsend. Curzon Bloomsbury, The Brunswick, London, WC1N 1AW.
Thurs 10th Oct 2019 - Shaun gave a packed-out talk for his fellow rebels in London, on his own arrest with Extinction Rebellion, and dark optimism for the future. Rebel Sanctuary, Trafalgar Square, Westminster, London. Mon 16th March 2020 - Triple launch for our feature film The Sequel: What Will Follow Our Troubled Civilisation?, online course Surviving the Future: Conversations for Our Time, and the interactive LeanLogic.online. Livestreamed by Dark Optimism and Extinction Rebellion. Click below for the full one-hour film, and the ensuing discussion between Shaun, Caroline Lucas MP, Kate Raworth and Rob Hopkins.
The Sequel - What Will Follow Our Troubled Civilisation?
Thurs 7th May 2020 - 'Deep Change: Cultivating a Truly Regenerative Activism', organised by Advaya and Ulex. Online panel discussion with Shaun, Ann Pettifor and Fran Boait of Positive Money: Mon 6th April - Sun 31st May 2020 - Eight week online course Surviving the Future: Conversations for Our Time, in partnership with Sterling College, Vermont. Led by Shaun and Philip Ackerman-Leist, with 250 participants from 25 countries, and guest teachers including Vandana Shiva, Kate Raworth and Rob Hopkins. Sat 20th June 2020, 8-10pm UK time - Shaun hosted an online screening of The Sequel: What Will Follow Our Troubled Civilisation?, as part of Into The Wild's 'Wonderland' online solstice festival, followed by a talk on the theme 'Culture, Carnival and Capital - Living in the Aftermath of the Growth Economy'. Sat 29th - Mon 31st August 2020 - Shaun joined/hosted a couple of panels at Medicine, the first physical UK festival to go ahead post-COVID lockdown, discussing 'Dark Optimism: Culture and Carnival in the Aftermath of Capitalism'.
 
A Circle Closing

A Circle Closing

A personal post this, on the sixth anniversary of my dear friend David Fleming's death. A mournful day, but also one of great satisfaction, as his incredible books finally spread their wings and find the audience his genius always deserved. Ten years on from our first meeting, on the Schumacher College course that utterly reshaped my decade since, and six years on from his death, I carry simply this immense gratitude for all that David was in my life and in our world. What I wouldn't give for one more side-splitting, enlightening conversation. And what an absolute honour to have been invited to teach a week's course on his work at Schumacher College in February, a decade on, with fellow friends like Rob Hopkins, Mark Boyle and Stephan Harding alongside. May its ripples spread as far as its ancestor's, which also gave birth to the Transition Towns Network. Above I release edited footage of Jonathon Porritt discussing David Fleming's legacy at Oxford University. And I hope David will forgive me and Schumacher College for having unearthed his below slightly nervous, rather endearing, rather brilliant public talk from the week of that course (immortalised in Rob's foreword to Surviving the Future). Rest well, dear man.
By popular demand, David Fleming’s interviews!

By popular demand, David Fleming’s interviews!

At recent events I have played clips from interviews with the late, great David Fleming, and a few people have asked me to make the full footage available. So here it is:
~~~ 22nd November 2006 - Schumacher College Earth Talk: "Lean Energy: A Practical Guide to the Energy Descent" (courtesy of Schumacher College, after some hard digging through their archives!) ~~~ 4th August 2009 - Interview on peak oil in his flat in Hampstead ~~~ 4th November 2010 - Interview on 'Lean Logic' and much else, in an oak tree! (audio only - courtesy of the wonderful Henrik Dahle of Uptrees) -- If anyone has access to additional recordings of David, I'd love to hear from you. And by the way, here's a beautiful at-a-glance summary of the reviews for his posthumous books to date. A great start!