Duo promises 'life-changing' workshop to ease growing environmental anxieties

A workshop focusing on climate change, its global impacts, and environmental uncertainties will take place in Wagga Wagga in September.

Local environmentalists Melanie Baulch and Dick Green will host the second Deep Ecology workshop at ErinEarth.

“The workshop is about what’s happening in the world, the society and the environment at the moment with climate change,” Melanie said.

“It’s also about the change in humanity because people are anxious about what will happen. People are uncertain.

“Deep Ecology professes there’s an alienation from nature as individuals and communities.”

Melanie said the workshop was designed to unite people, encourage deep sharing, and provide experiential activities that strengthened community bonds.

“It is a life-changing workshop if people come with an open mind and are open to new experiences,” she said.

“It’s a positive workshop that gives people ideas and tools about handling life and contributing positively.”

In 2022, the couple attended the Deep Ecology workshop in Canberra, facilitated by John Seed, founder and director of the Australian Rainforest Information Centre and activist.

“John gave all his material to all the participants to run the workshop because he has been doing it for 30 years, not only in Australia but around the world,” Melanie said.

“The first workshop was very successful. We had Patrick Anderson, a forest activist who has worked alongside John for 30 years.

“Because of Patrick’s international experience, he was a huge drawcard. We had 12 participants, and everybody felt it was deeply enriching for them.”

Dick said participants in this year’s workshop would focus on remembering the deep connections with nature.

“We are not separate from nature,” he said. “We’re part of nature.

“We will be showing gratitude for our position and responsibility to look after Country and nature from an Indigenous and broader perspective.

“We’re all Indigenous to the planet … this is an experimental workshop, and we feel the pain from Earth and our pain from what’s happening.”

He said the workshop was vital for the region.

“Wagga sorely needs it. We’re a little bit of a sleepy hollow in some ways here,” Dick said.

“We’re taking on board the crisis because it’s almost catastrophic in terms of what’s happening.

“We’ve been immune, largely, from the disasters that people have had on the coast, the floods and fires … but our share is coming in terms of the climate crisis.”

The Deep Ecology workshop is from Friday, 27 September, at 5:30 pm to Sunday, 29 September, at 4 pm at ErinEarth and 11 Maple Road, Lake Albert.

Contact Melanie or Dick by Saturday, 31 August, to sign up via [email protected] or [email protected].