Guy Dauncey’s fictional book Journey to the Future: A Better World Is Possible makes it clear where the self-described futurist stands on the subject of utopia.
“If you have a spectrum with total dystopia at one end of dark, black and grey, and utopia at the other end, mine is definitely toward the utopian end,” said Dauncey. “I work on the basis that every single thing we’ve achieved has been premised by a positive vision and a positive dream of the future.”
Dauncey, who lives in Ladysmith, will be bringing his particular vision of that unfolding future to town on Thursday, April 28.
Dauncey recognizes that scientists all over the world have collectively come together and proclaimed that this is a new era for humanity; one which is cynical, negative and despairing. He thinks in terms of making positive things happen.
“If I look at the future purely on current trends, I can be very pessimistic,” he said. “If I look at the future on the basis of human potential to change things to make a difference in the world, then I become optimistic.”
Dauncey admitted to having an outrageous sense of pride and confidence in what he thinks he can achieve.
“My goal is to change the whole world’s thinking from negative to positive,” he said.
Dauncey doesn’t know of any college course that offers futurism, so he has defined himself as someone who devotes comprehensive time in researching the possible trends and outcomes that might occur.
After spending three and a half years considering those possibilities, the result is his 10th book and first work of fiction.
Dauncey summarized his dust-jacket blurb for Journey to the Future as being about a 24-year-old character who visits Vancouver in the year 2032, when it has become one of the world’s greenest cities.
“He finds a city flourishing with solar power on every roof, food being grown everywhere, streets full of electric bicycles, electric cars, electric buses and people really happy and connecting in their communities,” said Dauncey, “but he also discovers there is an ongoing concern about a deeper crisis still unfolding globally, and dark shadows still lurk.”
Politically, Dauncey said he would support Bernie Saunders’ presidential campaign in the United States and is keen on what the Democrat is doing during the primaries.
“It’s interesting, a lot of what he’s asking for is already the rule in Canada,” he said. “It’s the norm, the way we live in Canada. I see that progressive change is important. I think we’ve lost sight of some of the possibilities of what we can do as humans.”
In keeping with his undaunted optimism, most of Dauncey’s previous writings are about solutions.
Dauncey is founder of the BC Sustainable Energy Association, co-founder of the national organization Prevent Cancer Now and co-founder of Victoria Car Share Co-operative.
Dauncey reads at Evergreen Theatre in Powell River Recreation Complex on Thursday, April 28, at 7 pm as part of Earth Month. For more information, go to earthfuture.com.
