Heavy. Moira Millan and Aurélien Barrau, between earth and cosmos

When a guardian of the earth meets an explorer of the cosmos: dialogues between Moira Millan, Argentinian Mapuche writer and activist, committed to the defense of the earth and the anti-patriarchal fight, and Aurélien Barrau, committed astrophysicist and philosopher. The facilitator opened the discussion on books, words and lyrics. For Aurélien Barrau, science poses no fundamental questions and words have lost their meaning. He claimed to have moved away from production structures which he considers to be instruments of domination. An analysis which echoed that of Moira Millan who, after the disappearance of 2000 copies of her books, denounces a world subject to a system that no longer leaves room for humans. “It is time for people to confront the system,” she said, pointing the finger at Europe and its anthropocentric culture which is the structural cause of tercide. His observation is also that of racism towards migrants, forced with the complicity of institutions. For Aurélien Barrau, Trump and Netanyahu only represent the visible face of the problem. What is dignity in this world? Moira Millan spoke of assuming a telluric identity: humans, the earth, the living are one. The astrophysicist defined this contextually: “Dare to think against yourself so that ultimately it means thinking for yourself”. Moira Millan discussed the word “community”, which she rejects and prefers the term cosmocentric whole, based on a strong link between telluric peoples and all other forms of life. “Trees carry knowledge, not academies. If we were the colonized plugs in our ears, we would hear nature” she proclaimed. The problem here in Europe, replied Aurélien Barrau, is that we are the heirs of a concept of reason and words that has become hegemonic. “We don’t need science to be interested in ecological problems or Palestine, we know!” Another observation shared by the two guests: “we have the illusion of owning land with a piece of paper and finding happiness in a bank note”. For Moira Millan, the telluric revolution is underway. Aurélien Barrau was more reserved, believing that his allies are not in the West and inviting everyone to start by looking elsewhere. Finally, Moira Millan concluded by believing that we were at the start of a new era, while Aurélien Barrau recalled that it was easier to imagine the destruction of capitalism than the apocalypse.