Dr. Elizabeth Sawin
@bethsawin.bsky.social
27K followers 1.4K following 3.2K posts
Director Multisolving Institute. She/her. Systems thinking, climate justice, and multisolving, with a sprinkle of gardens and the odd puns. @bethsawin on X
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Sawin
antoniajuhasz.bsky.social
Been thinking about this quote from my 2005 book, The Bush Agenda, and how Trump keeps trying to entice "enemies" to attack.
Joint Chief of Staff Admiral William J. Crowe once told Colin Powell:
"First, to be a great President you have to a war. Two, you have to find a war where you are attacked."
bethsawin.bsky.social
I enjoyed the conversation with Michael Simpson - I hope you like the result!
bethsawin.bsky.social
The purpose of a system is what it does.

There are no physical reasons we cannot have a balance-seeking, nature-honoring, human development seeking system.

There are physical reasons why accelerating of energy and material throughput cannot be sustained.
bethsawin.bsky.social
A system designed around growth will keep looking for ways to accelerate.

A system rooted in the biosphere and human well-being will look for ways to develop while staying in balance.

You can decide which this is...
Meta Tells Workers Building Metaverse to Use AI to ‘Go 5x Faster’
Meta says that its coders should be working five times faster and that it expects "a 5x leap in productivity."
www.404media.co
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Sawin
franklincountynews.bsky.social
Taft Museum of Art in Cincinnati Ohio newest exhibition includes a quilt by Rella Hall Thompson from Franklin County
www.cincinnatimagazine.com/article/new-...

Read more about Rella Hall Thompson
www.instagram.com/p/C20v-HJqfm...
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Sawin
bethsawin.bsky.social
I don't know where the "debate" is because I've gradually shifted to spend more time with do-ers than the debaters (and the do-ers seem very clear that it's all connected. I think about is if how if the "it's all connected" view had prevailed 2008 or 2015 what a different world we'd have now.
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Sawin
katycroffbell.bsky.social
Students, employees, and alumni just received an email from Sally Kornbluth -- MIT says NO to the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.”

"we cannot support the proposed approach to addressing the issues facing higher education."
Dear Madam Secretary,
 
I write in response to your letter of October 1, inviting MIT to review a “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.” I acknowledge the vital importance of these matters.
 
I appreciated the chance to meet with you earlier this year to discuss the priorities we share for American higher education.
 
As we discussed, the Institute’s mission of service to the nation directs us to advance knowledge, educate students and bring knowledge to bear on the world’s great challenges. We do that in line with a clear set of values, with excellence above all. Some practical examples:
bethsawin.bsky.social
Whatever its called it is a busy place these days.
bethsawin.bsky.social
What's the venn diagram of very bonkers, very self-serving, and very dangerous called?
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Sawin
kellylianne.bsky.social
Squirrel’s Afternoon Tea ☕️🐿️
Brown and cream illustration, a teaset decorated with acorn motifs sits on a table. There’s a flower in a vase and acorn/oak motifs in frames hanging on the wall. The scene is encapsulated in a giant acorn.
bethsawin.bsky.social
Also, the number of people in their early 20s referenced gives me pause. I have many people this age in my life. All wonderful, creative, smart. And they are young. They are figuring themselves & the world out. It's a very young age to be involved in something this powerful with vast global agendas.
bethsawin.bsky.social
3 dangers well known in systems thinking:
--exponentially growing power & weak breaking systems
-- incentives and values, like wealth and power, out of touch with physical limits or the common good

🚨 Systems thinking flashing red alert at what's revealed here

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/o...
Opinion | The A.I. Prompt That Could End the World
www.nytimes.com
bethsawin.bsky.social
But but ..isn't autism more likely to be diagnosed in boys than girls and isn't circumcision....
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Sawin
vanessagillings.bsky.social
My thirteenth piece for my solo show @gallerynucleus.bsky.social! LA people — only 3 days left to see the show in person if you’re interested! ☺️💛

#illustration #kidlitart #watercolor #watercolour #gouache #fantasyart #cozyart #cozyfantsy #storybookillustration
watercolor and gouache painting of a witch looking up at a birds perching in a tree on a calm autumn afternoon
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Sawin
mongabay.com
In northern Thailand’s Ban Pong village, a group of women has spent nearly two decades restoring and guarding their community forest to prevent dry-season wildfires. From the restored forest, residents now harvest forest products to sell in markets and feed some of Ban Pong’s 7,100 residents.
Women firefighters in Thailand restore community forest
In northern Thailand’s Ban Pong village, a group of women has spent nearly two decades restoring and guarding their community forest to prevent dry-season wildfires. From the restored forest,…
news.mongabay.com
bethsawin.bsky.social
Kinda like paying for the harms from air pollution and greenhouse gases would kill the fossil fuel industry. Wait...isn't that how the invisible hand of the market economy is supposed to makes our lives better and better?
bethsawin.bsky.social
There is a carbon price, it's just that the polluters aren't the one to pay it.
michaelwara.bsky.social
This is a good thing from a risk-based pricing perspective. But also so hard for people that are now paying $12k + difference in conditions. This is one of the true costs for Californians of wildfire.
lvulis.bsky.social
CA FAIR plan seeks 35.8% rate increase.

#climaterisk

www.latimes.com/business/sto...
Reposted by Dr. Elizabeth Sawin
drhelleal.bsky.social
Late capitalism, with no effective regulation of the most powerful and monied interests (and boy are they monied) is gonna break all hell loose.
bethsawin.bsky.social
Climate change disasters as a matter of personal responsibility. "The advisories emphasize the importance of increased personal responsibility in preventing wildfires" www.newsweek.com/wildfire-ris...
Warning issued as entire state faces wildfire risk
National Weather Service meteorologists have issued warnings for Maine amid dry, windy weather.
www.newsweek.com
bethsawin.bsky.social
Climate change disasters as a matter of personal responsibility. "The advisories emphasize the importance of increased personal responsibility in preventing wildfires" www.newsweek.com/wildfire-ris...
Warning issued as entire state faces wildfire risk
National Weather Service meteorologists have issued warnings for Maine amid dry, windy weather.
www.newsweek.com
bethsawin.bsky.social
That set of chains we hardly know is there..."Imaginary lock-ins." You fight them by getting specific about your dreams.