Growing Hope Together to create a better future.

Dr Emma S Pilgrim

“Hope is a social gift,”
Doug Abrams, The Book of Hope

“We are going through dark times… armed conflict … Racial & religious discrimination, hate crimes… A political swing to the far right.. The gap between the haves and have-nots is widening..fermenting anger & unrest.

Democracy is under attack in many countries…

The climate crisis temporarily pushed into the background is as an even greater threat to our future. Indeed to all life on Earth as we know it.”

Jane Goodall’s words from her Book of Hope, A Survival Guide in Trying Times (2021), are still relevant. She describes hope as “an innate human trait within all of us,” that we can “call upon in times of crisis,” to “create action-based hope.” When we realise these actions bear fruit, we’re inspired to continue working towards a better future.

These thoughts have resonated deeply with me, whilst her global stories of successful hope based action have provided comfort through what has been a particularly challenging year. My beloved dog has experienced incredible pain. Yet the equanimity with which she has supported our family through our health struggles has inspired me to find solutions to end all their suffering. I’ve immersed myself in the healing power of the natural world’s awe and wonder; just a step away in my wild garden. I’ve found joy in identifying moths; something I find comical as I was frightened of them as a child. A clothes moth had eaten my jumper and I was convinced that all moths wanted to eat my clothes whilst I wore them! It’s interesting how simple misunderstandings can lead to fears.

I’ve continued to learn from animals; donkeys taught me that actions speak louder than words. This helped decipher the apparent anarchy in my chicken coop as illness, rather than ‘hierarchical order.’ Two of my hens suffered egg yolk peritonitis; their ‘faulty’ egg laying system effectively creating scrambled eggs in their body cavity. Though I discovered this too late to help them, I’ve learnt to notice the symptoms earlier in another hen, whom I’m hopeful I can save.

Throughout our lives, our experiences teach us how to adapt to what life throws at us. Helping us to feel comfortable in our own skin; able to use our voices to protect those we care for; and keep going until we are heard. It’s felt like a complete transformation, akin to that of moth’s life cycle. The carefully hidden egg; the emerging voracious caterpillar; the apparent motionless pupa which undergoes a complete metamorphosis into the free flying insect. It’s also given me the courage to build my own hopeful future for a better world. I’ve created two events, very close to my heart, in collaboration with Sidmouth Science Festival (see website for details).

Remember

“Hope is contagious.
The actions of one person….no matter how small, will truly make a difference….
It can inspire others; helping them to find solace in times of anguish; direction in times of uncertainty & courage in times of fear,”Dame Jane Goodall, Global Icon of Hope

Growing Hope Together Friday 9^th October 7pm

Inspired by Jane Goodall and Doug Abrams’ The Book of Hope, we’ll discover how small actions can improve our health, the wellbeing of the natural world, and our collective future.

With guests: Andy Gray, Dr Jenny Goodman & Dr Michael Brooke, followed by a Q&A with Dr Emma Pilgrim

Saturday 17^th October A day discovering our local marine life

Coast Watch, is a hands-on marine monitoring event at Connaught Gardens with Coral Smith, Rick Morris & Dr Emma Pilgrim.

Afternoon talks, Kennaway House (from 2pm): with MARINElife, Devon Wildlife Trust &Seahorse Trust