Giving Voice To That Which Cannot Speak
SPI’s Talk with Environmental Writer and Activist Terry Tempest Williams
In her SPI recording, Terry Tempest Williams offers listeners a first-hand introduction to her work as a writer, naturalist, and conservationist. Terry is a life-long activist who speaks eloquently on the imperative of taking an ethical stance toward all living things.
She consistently shows us how environmental issues are social issues that ultimately become matters of justice. “So here is my question,” she asks, “What might a different kind of power look like, feel like, and can power be redistributed equitably even beyond our own species?”
Williams, like her writing, cannot be categorized. Known for her impassioned and lyrical prose, she is the author of the environmental literature classic Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place. Other books include The Hour of Land, Finding Beauty in a Broken World, and When Women Were Birds. Delving into topics like land conservation, biodiversity, the effects of climate change, and the human connection to nature, her work takes readers on a journey that transcends the written word. At once gentle and graceful, her writing none-the-less wields a stick, as Williams intertwines her experiences, emotions, and reflections with the landscapes and species she encounters.
The result is a tapestry of words that will leave students inspired and deeply moved as she calls upon listeners and readers to engage with the world around them and consider their role in its preservation.
This is a perfect beginning-of-term “first-listen” for students (grades 9-12+) who have expressed interest in environmental studies. You can find Terry’s recording in SPI’s Learning Lab / Science / Earth and Environment or by clicking here.
She is currently a writer-in-residence at Harvard Divinity School.
SPI Recommended Companion Recording
Mary Evelyn Tucker - Journey of the Universe
From Our Cosmic Origins to Our Place in the Earth’s Ecosystem, Grades 9-12+
Mary Evelyn Tucker is a Senior Lecturer and Research Scholar at Yale University, where she teaches in a joint master's degree program between The Forest School / Yale School of the Environment, and the Divinity School and Department of Religious Studies. She directs the Forum on Religion and Ecology at Yale with her husband, John Grim.
Mary Evelyn’s SPI talk encourages young people to take a larger view of life in its myriad of forms and helps them better understand where we came from, the evolution of life on Earth, and the impact of human behavior on our planet.
She was among the first to propose the interdisciplinary alliance between religion and ecology, based on the belief that religions are a primary source of values in any culture and the environmental crisis that we face is fundamentally a crisis of values. Mary Evelyn’s talk can be found in SPI’s Learning Lab / Science / Earth and Environment or by clicking here.
If students wonder what one person or a small group can accomplish, direct them to Natural Resources Defense Council founder Gus Speth’s page found here. After listening to his recording, direct them to the Held vs. State of Montana link. Kids rock!
Still questioning? Introduce them to Harvard’s Steven Wofsy and MethaneSAT.
And, after students have listened to one or all of these recordings, consider asking them to research and discuss and/or write about what is currently happening in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone.
About SPI
SPI’s Mission: Story Preservation Initiative believes in the transformative power of story to connect people around our common humanity and create a better future.
Our Work: We are a leading producer and online distributor of original, content-rich audio-based narratives for K-12 students. SPI stories are the raw materials of history, roadmaps to scientific discovery, and windows to the mind of artists and skilled tradesmen and women.
What We Achieve: SPI brings listeners into personal contact with extraordinary people whose stories engage their hearts and minds, imparting content knowledge and fostering curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking as they open doors to possible career paths in professions associated with the arts, sciences, humanities, and skilled trades.
SPI was founded in 2010. We are fully and proudly open-source. When educating the minds of our youth, we must not forget to educate their hearts.
Please consider making a tax-free donation to SPI, so we can keep the stories coming. www.storypreservation.org