David Farrier, author of "Wild Clocks," dives into the alarming disruption of ecological rhythms caused by climate change. He traverses fascinating sites like the Future Library in Norway and the Arctic, examining how mismatches in biological clocks threaten ecosystems. The conversation contrasts Indigenous and Western views on time, highlighting how cultural identity shapes our relationship with nature. Farrier also sparks discussions on redefining time through political calendars that resonate with natural cycles, urging a deeper connection to our environment.
The disruption of ecological and biological clocks due to climate change highlights the severe consequences for species' survival and interactions.
Integrating kinship time and ecological awareness into our social structures may help restore balance and foster deeper connections with the natural world.
Deep dives
The Disruption of Biological Rhythms
The synchronization of ecological and biological clocks is being disrupted globally, as exemplified by climate change's impact on various species. Many animals and plants are struggling to maintain their natural rhythms, resulting in catastrophic mismatches in predator-prey relationships and crucial pollination processes. For instance, mountain pygmy possums in Australia are emerging from hibernation too early, risking starvation due to the misalignment with their food sources. This chaos emphasizes the critical nature of these ecological timings that were developed over millions of years, highlighting the intense consequences of their disruption.
Chronobiology and the Complexity of Time
Chronobiologists study the intricate biological clocks that guide different organisms, revealing how timekeeping is fundamentally more complex than conventional clock time. Each organism has a unique 'chronotype,' shaped by both internal biological rhythms and external cues known as zeitgebers, such as temperature and daylight. For example, Arctic breeding birds synchronize their migratory timing with environmental signals, reflecting the layered nature of their seasonal adaptations. The interaction among organisms also requires a coordinated understanding of time, as demonstrated by social insects like honeybees, whose foraging and nurturing behaviors are intricately linked to shared environmental cues.
Future Library: A Temporal Vision
Future Library, a project in Norway, symbolizes a long-term vision for future generations, wherein authors contribute works to be kept in a forest for one hundred years before being published. This project invites reflection on the nature of time, as each new addition is a testament to humanity's relationship with the future amidst present uncertainties. The pandemic has illustrated that even long-term initiatives are subject to immediate disruptions, emphasizing the delicate balance between time, creativity, and ecological health. The symbolism of planting a library within a living forest echoes the potential for nature's cycles to inform and enhance our understanding of temporal responsibility.
Rituals and Kinship Time
In a world increasingly dominated by artificial timekeeping, the concept of kinship time offers a counter-narrative emphasizing the interconnectedness of life across species and ecosystems. Indigenous perspectives on time often incorporate communal experiences and seasonal variations, framing time within ecological contexts that resist rigid scheduling. The need to integrate ecological awareness into our social structures suggests that rituals could play a vital role in restoring balance, celebrating the past while looking towards the future. By engaging with these rhythms, societies can foster a deeper connection with the natural world, ultimately informing sustainable practices and policies.
David Farrier examines how “wild clocks”—the biological and ecological rhythms that living beings use to coordinate their lives with the greater cycles of the Earth—are falling out of synch with each other in our age of ecological crisis. Traversing the Future Library in Norway, Sami reindeer herds in Scandinavia, and oyster colonies in Scotland’s Firth of Forth, David considers the different ways time is made between people, more-than-human beings, and place—and wonders if the disordering of our wild clocks offers an opportunity to understand anew how time can be an expression of kinship.