1 Democracy, the Earth, and You Master Pictures of the Ecological Era The Ecological Crisis: Facts...

1

Democracy, the Earth, and You

Master Pictures of the Ecological EraThe Ecological Crisis: Facts and ProspectsCore Blocks to Progressive ChangeStrategies for Planetary Transformation

2

The Ecological Crisis: Facts and Prospects

The 6th extinction

and the importance

of

biological diversity

Global warming

and the importance

of

stabilizing the climate

The population explosion

and the importance

of

stabilizing population

Planetary exhaustion

and the need for

a new mode of society

3

The Sixth Extinction and the Importance of Biological Diversity

Extinctions and Extinction SpasmThe Sixth ExtinctionDiversity and the Healthy EcosystemA Biocentric Human Presence

4

Major Extinction Spasms

0100200300400500600Millions of

Years

Signal Events

oldest animal fossils

first land

plants

Eras Paleozoic Mesozoic Cenozoic

age of dinosaurs

ends

origin of humanity

5

An Alternative View

The real and somewhat embarrassing cause of mass extinction: reptile dysfunction.

6


0100200300400500600Millions of

Years

Signal Events


first land

plants


age of dinosaurs

ends

origin of humanity

7

An Alternative View“Arnold, you’ve got to do something quickly about these filthy, disgusting little mammals before they completely take over!”

8


0100200300400500600Millions of

Years

Signal Events


first land

plants


age of dinosaurs

ends

origin of humanity

9


Extinctions and Extinction SpasmThe Sixth ExtinctionDiversity and the Healthy Ecosystem

A Biocentric Human Presence

In one teaspoon of soil there is more living mystery than could be fully described in all of the human

libraries on the planet.

10


Extinctions and Extinction SpasmThe Sixth ExtinctionDiversity and the Healthy EcosystemA Biocentric Human PresenceThe attitude that everything is here

simply for human use inevitably results in the misuse of living

ecosystems and the misuse of most human beings.

11


The Sixth Extinction and the Importance of Biological DiversityGlobal Warming and the Importance of Stabilizing the ClimateThe Population Explosion and the Importance of Stabilizing PopulationPlanetary Exhaustion and the Need for a New Mode of Society

12

Global Warming and the Importance of Stabilizing the Climate

The Facts and Figures of Global WarmingThe Grim Prospects of Climatic InstabilitiesThe Human Cause of Global WarmingThe Costs of Meeting This Emergency

13


The Facts and Figures of Global WarmingThe Grim Prospects of Climatic Instabilities

The Human Cause of Global WarmingThe Costs of Meeting This Emergency

It is very likely true that we have already endangered the quality of our planetary

atmosphere to the extent that we may not be able to avoid dire consequences in the

next fifty years.

14


The Facts and Figures of Global WarmingThe Grim Prospects of Climatic InstabilitiesThe Human Cause of Global Warming

The Costs of Meeting This Emergency

The extensive fossil fuel burning of industrial civilization is a primary cause

for the rise in CO2 levels.

15


The Facts and Figures of Global WarmingThe Grim Prospects of Climatic InstabilitiesThe Human Cause of Global WarmingThe Costs of Meeting This EmergencyWe are not going to make it to

the end of this century.

16

Global WarmingAn Alternative View

Houston Chronicle 4/8/02

17



18

The Population Explosion and the Importance of Stabilizing Population

Population Facts and Figures

The Tragedy of Population GrowthHow Stabilization is Being EffectedThe Costs of Meeting This Emergency

Whereas past growth occurred in both industrial and developing countries,

virtually all future growth will occur in the developing world where countries

are already overpopulated.

19


Population Facts and FiguresThe Tragedy of Population Growth

How Stabilization is Being EffectedThe Costs of Meeting This Emergency

The planet’s support per person is being drastically

reduced..

20


Population Facts and FiguresThe Tragedy of Population GrowthHow Stabilization is Being Effected

The Costs of Meeting This Emergency

As long as women are oppressed, there is no solution to the

population explosion.

.

21


Population Facts and FiguresThe Tragedy of Population GrowthHow Stabilization is Being EffectedThe Costs of Meeting This Emergency

Poverty cannot be eliminated until population growth is controlled.

22



23

Some Grim Facts

Fresh Water Depleting

Forest Cover Overwhelmed

CroplandsBeing Destroyed

Oceans Over-fished

24

More Grim Facts

PovertyDiseaseTerrorismChaos

Oppressed groups are becoming more aware that the forces which

prevent social justice are the same forces which prevent ecological

integrity.

25

A Third Mode of Human Society

Pre-civilization Civilization Post-civilization

over 100,000 years ago 4000 BCE 2000 CE

26

Social Mode QualitiesPre-civilization Civilization Post-civilization

Tribal Intimacy Hierarchical OrderPlanetary ConfederationKing

Slaves

CompanionabilityAristocracy/commoners

Full democracy

Nature-honoringAll-out use of the earth

Ecological design

Nature roles Male rule Male/Female balance

Isolated diversity Uniformity Interactive diversity

Isolated autonomy Centralized power Local empowerment

Local enmeshment Mobile expansionGrounding in life regions

Boundary maintenance

All-out warfareNegotiation and restraint

1 Democracy, the Earth, and You Master Pictures of the Ecological Era The Ecological Crisis: Facts...

Documents

Transcript of 1 Democracy, the Earth, and You Master Pictures of the Ecological Era The Ecological Crisis: Facts...