The title of the session — “Spirit and Matter” — was already promising. So was its description: “An unprecedented dialogue between different forms of knowledge, a rare intellectual and spiritual experience.”
That was how the conversation between Ailton Krenak and Marcelo Gleiser was introduced on the final day of Rio Innovation Week, a major event held at Pier Mauá in Rio de Janeiro in mid-August.
I can assure you, there couldn’t have been a better way to end my Friday — or, for that matter, my entire week!
It was incredibly powerful to see and hear ancestral wisdom and science converge in a discussion about what brought us to the current climate emergency and the path we need to take to safeguard our future here on our planet.
It’s difficult to capture everything these two extraordinary Brazilian thinkers shared. Their achievements and credentials alone could fill pages.
But I’d like to share a few excerpts from this enlightening conversation between the philosopher, environmentalist, and first Indigenous writer to join the Brazilian Academy of Letters, and the internationally renowned astronomer, physicist, and professor.
It was hard to take my eyes — or my attention — away from the stage long enough to write down their words.
Marcelo Gleiser:
“In the most ancient stories, the narrative is that everything is one. There is no separation between us and nature. In monotheistic narratives, however, the Earth became objectified. We lost our sense of belonging and the ethics that come with it. Instead, we adopted a logic of power over the Earth. And that’s how we arrived at our current crossroads.”
Ailton Krenak:
“Generation after generation, we are becoming increasingly insensitive in our relationship with Mother Earth. Not to mention those who believe it’s time to colonize other planets. We are experiencing a profound sensory disconnect. We need to reclaim the narratives that remind us we are an extension of this Earth.”
Marcelo Gleiser:
“There are a trillion planets. But there is no Earth 2.0. Our planet is unique. And, as far as we know, it is the only planet that harbors life.”
Ailton Krenak:
“The Earth’s body is alive. It has intelligence and moods. And those moods change according to how we treat it.”
Ailton Krenak:
“Now, in the 21st century, scientists are becoming more open to other truths about our origins. I still have hope that we can change our footprint on Earth. It is a garden, and we need to learn how to walk through it.”
Marcelo Gleiser:
“We need a campaign to rekindle our sense of wonder at the natural world. But that experience can only be transformative if we truly immerse ourselves in nature. The challenge is that billions of people live their daily lives disconnected from nature, in large cities.”
Ailton Krenak:
“We need to create an economy that generates life, not death. The Earth is not a platform for extraction.”
This extraordinary conversation was moderated by climate leader Flávia Maia, who also invited us to “reawaken our senses and our capacity to feel, inspired by the teachings of Krenak and Gleiser.”
Invitation accepted, Flávia!
Carina Almeida, Managing Partner of Textual
