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http://www.thegreatchange.com/
The Great Change:
We are in a defining phase of human evolution. Fail, and we relegate life on the planet to fungi deep in caves and bacteria on the ocean floor, if that. Succeed, and we take the next step in our own progress as a species — and life is, once again, truly great.
The current mix of challenges before us include:
The Energy Crisis: we have exhausted a supply of fossil sunlight hundreds of millions of years in the making. That savings account is half gone and what's left may be too valuable to burn. Now we have to learn to budget our energy expenses from our daily solar income.
The Resource Crisis: Malthus was nearly right, but didn't foresee technological advances. Limits to Growth was spot on! We have exceeded the carrying capacity of the planet for this many humans consuming this much of everything. We have to tear up the credit cards and live within our budget. We have to make space for all the other species and the web of nature that supports the whole ballgame.
The Climate Crisis: The budget is now 350 parts per million of carbon (equivalent) in the atmosphere. We are already committed north of 430, which means we need to sequester more than we emit, immediately, or 6 degrees, 12 degrees, and 18 degrees warmer are all theoretically possible. None of those is survivable by homo sapiens, even deep underground.
Ourselves: We are not biologically or culturally prepared for the new rules. If we are not to be remembered as a black smear in the strata, discovered millions of years from now by descendants of those microbes clinging to the innards of the rovers we sent to Mars, we need to change how we think, and act, and quickly. Delay, obfustication, manipulation and war are no longer serious options. That part of our evolution is now history. We are homo gestalt.
The Great Change follows our conscious choice to turn away from barbarism, conflict, xenophobia, and alienation and towards eco-communitarianism, peace and freedom. From that calm and secure center we will build the world to come. And, it will be wonderful. ------------------ One Hundred.
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