John Seed is an Australian environmental activist who co-created the Council of All Beings practice and founded the Rainforest Information Centre. His work connects direct action rainforest protection with experiential deep ecology practices.
Born in Australia, Seed became involved in rainforest protection campaigns in 1979. His participation in direct actions contributed to the protection of Australian rainforests during the 1980s. In 1984 he helped establish the US Rainforest Action Network, organizing roadshows that connected Australian forest campaigns with North American audiences. He produced the documentary “Earth First!” for Australian national television in 1987, documenting rainforest protection efforts.
Seed founded the Rainforest Information Centre to support rainforest protection through projects combining conservation with sustainable development for indigenous communities. These projects, funded by AusAID and other organizations, have operated in South America, Asia, and the Pacific. The Centre provides alternatives to forest extraction for indigenous inhabitants.
In the mid-1980s, Seed worked with Arne Naess, Joanna Macy, and Pat Fleming to develop the Council of All Beings, a group practice in which participants speak from the perspective of other species and ecosystems. This ritual form emerged from deep ecology philosophy and Buddhist practice. The four collaborators wrote Thinking Like a Mountain: Towards a Council of All Beings (1988), which has been translated into twelve languages.
Seed has conducted Council of All Beings workshops and other deep ecology practices internationally for over four decades. His workshops have been hosted by institutions including Esalen Institute, Omega Institute, Naropa University, and the California Institute of Integral Studies. His teaching connects experiential practice with ecological philosophy and activism.
He studied with Vimala Thakar, whose integration of meditation and social action influenced his approach to environmental work. Seed brought Thakar’s film about the Terania Creek protests to India, where she recognized connections between Gandhian satyagraha and Australian forest activism.
Key Concepts
- Council of All Beings: Ritual practice for speaking from perspectives of other species and ecosystems
- Thinking Like a Mountain: Adopting ecological timescales and perspectives beyond human immediacy
- Deep Ecology Practice: Experiential methods for cultivating ecological consciousness
- Rainforest Protection: Direct action combined with sustainable alternatives for forest communities
Essential Works
- “Thinking Like a Mountain: Towards a Council of All Beings” (New Society Publishers, 1988) - ISBN 978-0-86571-133-7 - With Joanna Macy, Pat Fleming, and Arne Naess
- Articles and essays on deep ecology and rainforest protection
- “Earth First!” documentary (1987) - Australian national television
Resources
Related posts
Quotes from John Seed
Further Reading
Biographical Sources
- Rainforest Information Centre history
- Documentation of Australian rainforest campaigns (1979-present)
Key Books
- Thinking Like a Mountain: Towards a Council of All Beings (New Society Publishers, 1988) - ISBN 978-0-86571-133-7
Related Resources
- US Rainforest Action Network archives
- Council of All Beings practice materials
- Deep ecology workshop documentation