Think Talk: Understanding the Reality of Everything – Climate, Health, Democracy & Community Action
Watch and discuss a series of live and pre-recorded presentations from leading thinkers on how climate change, freshwater decline, public health pressures, economic instability and democratic strain are converging, and what this means for communities in Aotearoa.
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Tue 17 Nov
- $5.00 incl. GST
Please note there is NO refund or transfer if you cancel less than 5 working days in advance of a class starting. Our refund policy can be read in full here.
Description
Think Talk: Understanding the Reality of Everything - Climate, Health, Democracy & Community Action
Tuesday 17 November 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Watch and discuss a series of live and pre-recorded presentations from leading thinkers on how climate change, freshwater decline, public health pressures, economic instability and democratic strain are converging, and what this means for communities in Aotearoa. The First three presentations bring together medical insight, democratic innovation, environmental science and economic context. They will be followed by facilitated discussion, leading into the introduction of democratic tools enabling opportunities for collective community engagement.
See https://realityofeverything.org/ for more information.
Why This Matters Now
New Zealand is navigating overlapping pressures: climate impacts, degraded freshwater ecosystems, health system strain, rising costs, and social cohesion challenges.
Dr Mike Joy (pre‑recorded) will outline the ecological limits facing Aotearoa, drawing on decades of research into freshwater health and environmental policy, starkly highlighting the multiple strains dubbed the polycrisis.
Dr David Galler will speak to the realities of our public health system and why strong, well‑funded public services are essential for resilience.
Dr Ganesh Ahirao (pre‑recorded) will provide economic context on how these pressures interact.
Dr Anne Bardsley will introduce democratic tools that help communities engage constructively with complex issues.
Together, they offer a grounded, evidence‑based picture of where we are — and where communities can act.
Introducing the Reality of Everything
This Think Talk is part of the Reality of Everything Symposium, a new community‑driven initiative founded by environmental author Dr Catherine Knight. ROE was created in response to the growing global and domestic polycrisis — climate change, biodiversity decline, energy constraints, economic instability, food and water security, and democratic strain.
The goal is to build a reality‑conscious network that helps communities understand how these pressures interact, and to support practical, collective action.
How We’ll Engage — Introducing Pol.is
As part of this event, we’ll be using Pol.is, a digital deliberation tool that helps communities map shared views and areas of agreement. Dr Anne Bardsley will demonstrate how Pol.is works and how it can support constructive, inclusive conversations about the issues that matter most to New Zealanders.
This is a chance for the Selwyn community to contribute directly to the national ROE conversation.
What You’ll Gain
- A clear, accessible understanding of the polycrisis and why it matters
- Insights from leaders in public health, democratic innovation, freshwater ecology, and economics
- A practical tool (Pol.is) for community engagement
- A pathway to participate in the Reality of Everything Symposium and wider national dialogue
Please register and pay $5 or this event as it is a slightly different format to our usual Think Talks.
