INTERBEING

“Waking up this morning I smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. I vow to live each moment deeply. And to look at all beings with the eyes of compassion” - Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet

Since the online platforms went live in 2020, we have always been focused on the interconnected nature of animal, human, and planetary wellbeing. All of us at AnimalConcepts are delighted to share that we have given the interconnected platforms and membership experiences the overarching name of INTERBEING. This name is inspired by the teachings of the late global spiritual leader Thich Nhat Hanh.
INTERBEING is a term coined by Buddhist scholar Thich Nhat Hanh that refers to the interconnectedness of all – the insight that all beings and things exist in relationship to each other. Interbeing recognises that we are dependent on nature and also each other to live and that we do not exist outside or above nature, but are fully enmeshed within it.

Thich Nhat Hanh wrote, “About thirty years ago I was looking for an English word to describe our deep interconnection with everything else. I liked the word togetherness, but I finally came up with the word “interbeing.” The verb “to be” can be misleading, because we cannot be by ourselves, alone. “To be” is always to “inter-be.” If we combine the prefix “inter” with the verb “to be,” we have a new verb, “inter-be.” To inter-be and the action of interbeing reflects reality more accurately. We inter-are with one another and with all life.”

“As we move into 2023 and approach three years of the multi-platform experience, it has been important to us to find an interconnecting name that represents our purpose and philosophy of being together in a shared world. INTERBEING represents and embodies this stance”, shares Sabrina Brando, Director and Changemaker at AnimalConcepts.

As part of this new name for the platforms, we have also renamed individual platforms to “Animal wellbeing”, “Human wellbeing” and “Planetary wellbeing” to better represent and expand their intertwined nature and fully encompass what each of the platforms are all about, including but not limited to e.g., ethics, sciences, arts, philosophies, practices, and more.

It aligns with and supports our stance of using the Earth Charter as an ethical compass. The Earth Charter is an international declaration of the fundamental values and principles that are considered essential to building a global society that is peaceful, just, and sustainable for current and future generations of living beings. “Having INTERBEING as an "umbrella" name for all the platforms and activities reflects that all we do is connected to others, whether animals, peoples and or the planet. I cannot imagine a better name to connect all in such a harmonious way!” says Dr Patrícia Rachines Lopes, Project Manager at AnimalConcepts.

We currently stand at a critical moment in the history of all life on Earth. With the joint challenges of climate change, resource depletion, social injustice, economic turmoil, and global loss of biodiversity, the time to choose the future of both humanity and the planet is now. The Earth Charter recognises that all life on Earth is interconnected and that all people of all cultures are bound together by a common destiny as one Earth community. The sixteen principles provide a sense of universal responsibility that anyone can follow and apply to their lives and communities. “Working with a team that embodies the values of togetherness, respect, and love for all life, and supporting the planet Earth that we share is an incredible experience. The new name for the platforms, INTERBEING, reflects all of these values and who we are, what we are working for, and the message we want to share with you all” says Max Norman, Animal Welfare and Conservation Coordinator at AnimalConcepts.

The first principle of the Earth Charter is Ecological Integrity. Recognising that all beings are interdependent on one another to thrive, and every form of life has value regardless of its/her/his worth to humans; affirming our faith in the inherent dignity of all beings. Animal Welfare & Virtual Learning Coordinator at AnimalConcepts, Melody Tamayo Moreno, shares, “The term INTERBEING recognises this interconnectedness and the interdependence of all beings, and the need for cooperation in order to create a world that is healthy and thriving for all.”

We hope that this new name inspires the use of our platforms as well as our other services and resources even more, so we are all partners-in-purpose and changemakers now and into the future. Caring for the community of life with love, and building just and peaceful democratic societies.