Robert Fox
Reset for a Better Future

This talk focuses on how we might better prepare ourselves for actual and potential future crises and challenges. Do we need to think afresh about how we behave socially, politically, ethically, and how governance works whether under the banner of democracy or dictatorship—a prime concern in the cycle of elections now upon us. Climate change, population movement, and aging are now present and challenging items in every nation. Is it time to examine the use of war as an instrument of first, and not last, resort as the major wars in East Europe, the Middle East and the Gulf grind to uncertainty and stalemate? Climate crisis, debt, and the anxiety addiction of many societies dim prospects for a better future. But is this right? We need to believe in an open future, and revisit values of civic duty, community, civility, and equity. We need to remind ourselves of these as we head into political change in the UK, elections in the US, Israel, and France. The future is still an open book, as Carlo Rovelli suggests in his new books and we can “reach to the stars beyond” (Dante).