Take the Rocky Road

Any who know me understand that
I think we're in for tough times.

Specifically, based in good systems science,
& the work of top climate scientists,
I argue that we're in for a 1-in-50-million-year
climate change event that will likely end civilization
as we've known it for the last few hundred years.
(Not the end of civilization, but the end of what
we've known for the last century or so.)

My lectures about climate change
(see Euglena News in the right column)
back that up with systems sciences.

I also argue that
- if we get our act together
- humanity can weather that storm.

Of course, that's a really big "if". Collectively, humans aren't known for preparedness. Especially in this live-for-today mentality. We're used to responding to crisis, not preparing for it. Hell, the idea of "savings account" bit the dust decades ago. Now, severe debt is more common than savings accounts.

Yet someone sent me a link to this article entitled "Prepare for the Best: A guide to surviving - and thriving - in Philadelphia's new green future."

Interesting reading. This set of paragraphs caught my attention. The parts emphasized in {my} bold are particularly relevant IMO.

As usual, the future will be different. Philadelphia's responses to global warming and market cooling, high fuel and food prices, health unsurance, mortgages, student debt and war will decide whether our future here becomes vastly better or vastly worse. Whether we're the Next Great City or Next Great Medieval Village. Imagine Philadelphia with one-tenth the oil and natural gas.

But to hell with tragedy. Let's quit dreading news. Take the Rocky road. There are Philadelphia solutions for every Philadelphia problem.

Imagine instead that, 20 years from now, Philadelphia's green economy enables everyone to work a few hours creatively daily, then relax with family and friends to enjoy top-quality local, healthy food. To enjoy clean low-cost warm housing, clean and safe transport, high-quality handcrafted clothes and household goods. To enjoy creating and playing together, growing up and growing old in supportive neighborhoods where everyone is valuable. And to do this while replenishing rather than depleting the planet. Pretty wild, right?

Entirely realistic. Not a pipe dream. And more practical than cynical. The tools, skills and wealth exist.

I don't resonate with all of what follows that opening. Even though many of the ideas are good, some are pie-in-the-sky, probably not sufficient to deal with what's coming. But it is at least thought provoking.

Added to what Aprovecho has to offer (from a more rural perspective) &, well, Eugene would do well to pay attention.

Still, I think we need to steel ourselves to take the Rocky Road.

As I've said repeatedly, climate change is not an apocalypse, it's an adventure, & an opportunity for humans to learn to do things differently.

And one of the most important things that we need to learn, & learn quickly, is the true nature of life on Earth from a geophysiological (Gaia theory) perspective, the only way that we can grok global heating & climate change, & begin to heal our relationship with our living planet.

I'm planning a series of essays & lectures to address that. As always, more to come ...