I’m sorry I couldn’t join you there in person or in live video call, but thank you all for sharing this. It is both exhilarating and scary — and somehow also a very fitting reflection of the age we are living in. The “realness” of your fire-related experience, the grounded resilience, and that mix of panic and relief that comes with online and global connectedness really resonates. Your story also reminded me of this TED talk by Sarah Wilson that I heard a while ago. My networks and information sources are so mixed up by now that I wouldn’t even be surprised if I first came across it here 😄, but either way, I wanted to (re)share it because I sensed some overlap with what you were describing — at least with what I took from your recording. Thank you again, girls, for sharing so openly. Enjoy the rest of your stay at the farm, and I hope you get to breathe some fresher, quieter air after the fires end. 🙌

@Sarah Santacroce ouh yes, that was that Sarah! Okay, I didn’t realize it was the same full name. Awesome how synchronicities work 😍

FYI, I've got information from another network that this event got so many people applied that it would be a youtube stream at the following link:

Interesting that you mentioned birds—in one part of the movie, they discuss how birds can serve as indicators of local environmental health. And I honestly had no idea about Canada’s involvement in the nuclear story. I read that footnote several times and then followed the link you shared. At first, it seemed almost like an oxymoron, but I realised that reaction came largely from my own stereotypical image of Canada. Once I moved beyond that, it became another sobering example of how deeply imperial and industrial histories are intertwined.

@Maritza Roldan that is so cool. You must be enjoying wonderful coffee then 🙌

This should be an everyday morning reminder: “Don’t take it all so seriously, have fun!” 😊 Thank you @Sarah Santacroce, this hangout was exactly the kind of lightness-refill I needed.

Just to give some feedback I promised to @Nadene Canning and @Lars-Erik Einevik : I held my first larger union meeting as a local union representative at my faculty, and around 40 people came, including 12 non-members, which was much more than expected. I framed the union not only as a legal or administrative mechanism, but as a space for dignity, responsibility, listening, and humane dialogue. I used a simplified polarity map, translated into English here: when trust breaks down, we need formal mechanisms such as protection of dignity, designated persons, union support, and procedures; but before that, we need clearer information, safer conversations, earlier raising of problems, and more trust. The room started with some tension, but my own openness — saying that I am new, that I will make mistakes, I already did, and that I also had not known enough about some past issues — seemed to help people relax. Some people voiced criticism of the union and of past lack of transparency. One former member said the meeting gave her a “seed of hope” to return. One colleague from the cleaning staff spoke very movingly about missing humane conversations, gatherings, and mutual appreciation. We did not solve a lot, but we opened a door after a long period without regular meetings, and I announced that we will continue with another meeting within about six months (as defined by law). For me, this felt like a small but real movement from silence and defensiveness toward dialogue, recognition, and shared agency. I am also aware that there were tensions, few sour-ish faces and pockets of resistance — partly around concerns raised by members, and partly around my intention to look more carefully into missing or unclear protective measures. But I also understand that this road will be bumpy, and I am slowly coming to peace with that. Once again, Nadene and Lars-Erik, thank you so much for the conversation during what was originally meant to be our regular summer hangout, but ended up becoming a very helpful coaching session for me as I was preparing for this meeting. You helped me find the steadier state of mind I needed for this work. I am enormously grateful for this community and The Field.

@Nadene Canning Thank you! I do see the value, but I also see how this kind of space can be uncomfortable at the beginning, especially when people are used to the status quo or to a more “muddy” state of things. Like I said, there will be bumps, but I guess that is pretty normal and expected.