Dancing the night away

In Dutch we have a saying: 'niet lullen maar poetsen'. Meaning something like: 'all words and no action'. Or: 'quit bull-shitting and get to work' (literally, start 'cleaning').

This sentiment easily pops up in response to our climate crisis; if we yearn for a more regenerative way of living, then let's stop talking about it, roll up our sleeves, and get to work!

But then, why does a podcast like 'Eerste Hulp bij Uitsterven' ('First Aid for Extinction') feels so relevant?

Yes, I love the jingle: "Het feest is al voorbij, maar we dansen nog door..." (by Merol: ‘The party is over, but we just keep on dancing...'). But, of course, that is not it.

It is light, and funny, and it makes complicated stuff accessible. Definitely, points for that.

But it is in the third episode, that something clicks. Reint Jan Renes, behavioural scientist, enters the scene and speaks about changing social norms.

He describes how we see a lot of people making small steps in all kinds of areas, like housing, travel, food, and that, once we get to 20-30% of the people, it can become a new social norm.

And Renes claims we can accelerate this process by not only changing our behaviours, but also talking about it with others.

While decreasing your footprint is all about lessening the impact your life (the way you eat, live, travel) has on earth’s ecosystems and resources, your 'handprint' is about the potential positive impact you can make.

Renes explains that by talking about this with others (about any positive changes you make) you make use of your handprint, you can 'give a voice to the new social norm'.

You are showing others: 'this is normal to me'. Renes calls this: "doing good louder".

And, yaiks, this is a sensitive area. Because, for one, like the hosts of the podcast already point out early on: we are all 'hypocrites'.

It is impossible to be perfect in the journey towards living more regeneratively. And it is incredibly easy to point out inconsistencies in our opinions, attitudes and behaviours.

But, I realise this is exactly why a podcast like this feels so important to me.

We (they) talk about it. About all of it. The pain, the grief, the inconsistencies, the plans, the doubts, the possibilities.

And I feel that is what we need. Safe environments to talk about what worries you, what you consider to start doing or stop doing, or how you already changed your behaviours. Not to sell it, not to evangelise, and definitely not to measure each other up. Not to show that you are 'good' or special, but to show that you care.

That even though nobody has all the answers, we are in the process of figuring it out, together.

This is what I am hearing in a podcast like Eerste Hulp Bij Uitsterven.

It is questioning, learning, unlearning, it is struggling out loud.

So yes, action is key.

And also, we should converse, commune, confide in each other.

We should talk ánd act.

'Lullen én poetsen'.