What is a Climate Café?
This Climate Café Listening Circle is based on the approach developed by the Climate Psychology Alliance to give people confidential time and safe, supportive spaces to share their feelings about the climate, environmental and social justice crises.
There is no charge.
Why?
It’s normal to feel a range of emotions at different times, from indifferent to grief-struck, and anything in between; talking about them can help us to make sense and keep going despite bad news. Talking also strengthens our connection to others and to the living world, and allows us to stay awake to the reality without being overwhelmed.
Climate Cafés help different people in different ways - for example some say they feel less alone, some experience relief at being able to speak about what others in their lives may not want to hear, and others are glad to get back in touch with important feelings they've pushed away.
You may not really know what you want to get from coming, but we hope that it will be a worthwhile experience for you.
What is it not?
It’s important to note that there will be no expectation or pressure on you to join any organisation or take any particular action; it's for talking, listening, sharing and being heard. (Some Climate Cafés, for example in local communities are about action planning however this one does not have that aim. Of course if you want to take any kind of action afterwards, that’s up to you.)
This isn't intended to be a course - it's a stand-alone meeting, however we may offer more of these and if you want to come again, you'd be welcome.
And it’s also not a place to debate whether or not climate change is real or serious - there are other spaces for people to do that. So we ask all group members to respect this meeting's purpose.
How does it work?
After agreeing how we’ll be together, (including the meeting purpose and confidentiality) we can each take turns to speak, and to be listened to. We will invite you to bring or bring to mind an object from the natural world - that can help your thoughts and feelings to flow.
We normally do a couple of rounds in the available time. Zoe and Linda will facilitate the meeting lightly and also be participants - as the climate and environmental crises affect us all in some way.
This 90-minute meeting starts at 7pm and closes at 8.30pm (GMT).
There are 10 adult places and as it's not a drop-in event we'd appreciate you being on time for a 7pm start, and if you can, stay for the full meeting.
At the end we will signpost some resources that you might find useful.
Everyone over 18 is welcome; you will need to register your place in advance. We'll operate a waiting list so if you book and then find you can't come, we'd appreciate you cancelling the place (using the confirmation link you'll receive on booking) so someone else can take it up.
"Of all the dangers we face, from climate change to nuclear war, none is so great as the deadening of our response". Joanna Macy