Solarpunk Thinking

About Solarpunk Thinking

“Hope is like a road in the country; there was never a road,
but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence.” - Lu Xun

My name is Vivienne. I'm a solarpunk and I want you to become one too. A solarpunk is someone who imagines a good life in a sustainable future; one where we flourish while caring for our environment and
for one another. A solarpunk grows hope.

Real hope is not just optimism; it’s a way of thinking. Hope is grounded in reality, and it demands we roll up our sleeves and get to work. Hope also demands imagination—a clear picture of the future we want.
Knowing our destination helps us create pathways to get there.

How did I become a solarpunk? Well, concerned for my kids' futures, I went back to school and obtained a Master in Sustainable Practice. It helped me understand our world better and look at things differently. I learnt how damaged Earth is and how we're in real existential trouble. I also learnt how our world got to this point. I studied possible solutions to our problems. I learnt we CAN enjoy good lives in a sustainable way, every one of us everywhere.

But living sustainably in modern society is so, so hard; especially when raising a family. It’s practically impossible to disentangle ourselves from the unsustainable lifestyles we find ourselves in. I've learnt—and am continuing to learn—that living sustainably begins with how we think: how we view the world and our place in it, and how we view each other. How we think influences how we act. So, if we transform our thinking, then a positive future to hope for (read “work towards”) is possible.

Knowledge to shape sustainable thinking already exists. In Solarpunk Thinking I explore sustainability ideas in small, easy-to-digest, tasty bites. The articles are wide ranging--sometimes they're personal (as I try to put concepts into practice—failing often); sometimes they refer to ancient or indigenous wisdom (I'm Pākehā and love stoicism), feminism (because it's for everyone), politics and economics (weird, because I studied English at uni), even relationships. But my articles are always grounded in academic-level research. I substantiate my thinking with much cleverer sources than I! Where relevant I include a reading list.

I write to share the solarpunk way of thinking, so together we might grow radical hope—hope for the good life in a sustainable Aotearoa, for all of us and our kids.

(Don’t tell my teens I call myself a solarpunk. They’ll be horrified!)