Professor Jem Bendell is a world-renowned scholar on the breakdown of modern societies due to environmental change. Downloaded over a million times, his Deep Adaptation paper is credited with inspiring the growth of the Extinction Rebellion movement in 2018, and created a global network of to reduce harm in the face of societal collapse. He completed his PhD at the University of Bristol and his Geography BA (Hons) at the University of Cambridge. For decades he worked on Sustainable Development as a researcher and NGO manager, as well as a consultant to businesses, political parties and UN agencies. One of his specialisms since 2011 is pro-social currency innovation, with his TEDx from that year explaining reasons for Bitcoin and similar. In 2017, he co-led the development of the UK Labour Party’s communications plan for the General Election and co-wrote speeches for their top politicians. Although recognised in 2012 as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, Jem has been increasingly critical of the globalist agenda on sustainable development. Away from that work, he is partner in an organic farm school in Bali (bekandze.net) and supports meditation retreats at the main Buddhist Temple on the island.

Website: jembendell.com

Books:

Breaking Together: A Freedom-Loving Response to Collapse

Deep Adaptation: Navigating the Realities of Climate Chaos

Evolving Partnerships: A Guide to Working with Business for Greater Social Change

Healing Capitalism: Five Years in the Life of Business, Finance and Corporate Responsibility 

The Corporate Responsibility Movement: Five Years of Global Corporate Responsibility Analysis from Lifeworth, 2001-2005

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group

Summary and transcript of this interview

Interview recorded October 28, 2023

YouTube Video Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction to Professor Jem Bandel

00:03:58 - Introducing "Breaking Together" and its Hypothesis

00:07:56 - The Shift in Collective Consciousness

00:11:47 - The Importance of the Dark Night of the Soul

00:15:32 - The IPCC's Desire for Consensus

00:19:03 - Siloed Science and the Denial of Climate Change

00:22:44 - A New Form, A New Identity Structure, A New Kind of Safety

00:26:24 - Finding Inner Presence in Times of Chaos

00:30:21 - Faith and the Sense of Time

00:34:18 - The Catastrophic Risks of Climate Change

00:38:04 - Climate Change and Public Dialogue

00:41:35 - Debunking the Study on Free Will

00:45:06 - The Importance of Ocean Health to Climate Change Awareness

00:48:47 - Rejecting Activist Stunts and Embracing Community Preparedness

00:53:20 - Indigenous Environmental Stewardship

00:57:28 - Eternity and the Meaning of Life

01:01:31 - A Vision for Freedom and Connection

01:05:04 - Consciousness and Reincarnation

01:08:40 - Collapse Acceptance and Joy

01:12:30 - The Source of the Theory of Spiritual Awakening

01:15:26 - The Possibility of Human Extinction

01:18:54 - Examining Deep Stories and the Importance of Consciousness

01:22:15 - Collective Consciousness and Spiritual Awakening

01:26:14 - The Scientific Attitude and the Future of Human Society

01:29:14 - Implications and Perspectives

01:32:54 - Love Beyond Hope and Social Engagement as a Gift

01:36:23 - The Cultural Breakthrough of the Beatles

01:38:52 - Feeling Empathy for Others

01:42:51 - Becoming Oceanic in Consciousness

01:46:54 - The Meaning of Life and Personal Values

01:50:05 - Conversation with Jem about his book