Solastalgia: A book display at the SFU Library

Here are some of Jason's words about the display: 

In 2000, Australian philosopher Glen Albrecht was looking for a word to talk about his growing unease at the ecological crisis. Instead of borrowing an existing concept, he coined a new word that means “comfort-pain” and envokes the idea of nostalgia, the deep longing we sometimes feel for home places or former times in our lives. Solastalgia, on the other hand, tries to capture the discomfort of the places we live changing before our eyes. It is the anticipated grief that is surging as the ecological crisis advances. This display highlights a response to these worries. These books are reliable maps for navigating a new emotional and spiritual landscape. They are resources that invite us to acknowledge the toll that climate change is having and will have on our lives.

Climate Ribbon Tree: Read ribbons and add your own

In addition to checking out the books, you are encouraged to participate in the Climate Ribbon tree which is the centre of the display. What do you love most that you hope to never lose to climate chaos? Write your thought on a slip of paper and hang it on the tree. Read someone else's ribbon and think about an action you can take on their behalf.

Visit the display: Now at SFU Surrey 

For the first half of November the display will be at the Fraser Library (SFU Surrey), and then travel to the Belzberg Library on the downtown Vancouver campus.

The display was in W.A.C. Bennett Library (SFU Burnaby) for the month of October. 

Read online

About Jason Brown

More about Jason Brown: as a Lecturer at Simon Fraser University Jason teaches courses in religious studies and ecological humanities for the department of Global Humanities. 

He is coordinating an ecological chaplaincy pilot project for the Faculty of Environment and Multifaith Centre.