Gaia's revenge

It's always nice to see how the 'simple' people of the past had it right.  Like the native american.  At least some, maybe most, of these groups of indigenous people were tied to nature.  I'm not an expert on all the native american indigenous cultures

I have a theory that we of the modern world are moving away from biology with the use of our growing abstract capacities.  Our basic nature.  In a sense, I believe we are moving to an advanced nature with all sorts of hiccups along the way.  We HAD to break away from the basic genetic code which bound us to more simplistic ways of seeing the world tied to the instinctual habit of our genetic code.  With our abstract capacities, we can actually accelerate evolution through OUR creative abilities and alter our basic mode of being in our lifetime (especially for those who have become aware of this at post conventional levels of attainment).  We can imagine moving beyond basic 'instinctive' responses (and, with post conventional, even further, beyond the societal norm and into a truer harmonic parallel--dharma)

But...since it is becoming a 'logical' world and not a biologically led one, we also have the ability to veer into terrible directions. Double edged sword pandora's box. We thought nature was something to harness and use.  And this is true.   But not out of harmony.  We stopped paying attention to what she was saying.  She's been speaking to us quite loudly since the industrial revolution began and especially in the last 50 years.

We look so much to 'progress'.  Well, we've been brainwashed into believing 'progress' is a material thing.  We went in such a hurry, scurrying along without paying attention.  Maybe in a fear for survival (and NOT merely out of greed, as is most often said) as the european countries scrambled to gain access to raw materials and free slave labor and 'compete' for survival.  The era of exploitation began.  Let's hope we enter the era of sustainability very, very soon.  Or we could very possibly enter the era of mass die off.

for those who have not researched 'peak oil' you probably should.  I did a lot of research on this a couple years back and nothing has stopped this theory from becoming more solid.  The theory is, is that we are at or approaching the tipping point in oil production to where we will never produce more.  We have not run out, but we are running out.  To understand peak oil, you have to understand that less and less is produced.  So...with China and the world actually increasing demand, supply will FOREVER diminish.  At a rate of anywhere from 2 to 9 %.  The 2 percent decline is harsh enough.

Anyhow, there's all sorts of implications.  War over the last amounts of oil only one of them.  Few people are aware of just how much oil is used in products: carpet, plastic, pesticides, fertilizers, chemicals, pharmecueticals, rubber, etc.  NOT just for energy.

And...there is NO alternative or COMBINATION of alternatives ready to take its place on a mass scale.  Hydrogen is and has been bullshit since the beginning.  Ethanol is bullshit too, especially since it will take away from limited crop land normally used for food. 

Very few have a clue that modern society is a function of two discoveries.  The engine and oil.  Without oil there really isn't much else out there (unless some corporation out there has found something).  Oil's properties make it VERY unique.  Easily portable, extractable and therefore a very high energy in, energy out ratio.  The amount of oil used to get it out and ready to use vs its eventual output.  Nothing else has this potency.  Even nuclear, if done on a broad scale is limited because uranium (243, or something like that) is finite.

Since global warming is such an issue, I kind of hope we do start running out of oil.  The tipping point in global warming is not something we can afford to reach.

either way, I can't see any alternative to the conclusion that we are very, very quickly approaching a world wide catastrophe.

For those who agree, what do you believe we should do?  what are you doing personally?

If you disagree about any of this please comment too.  ONE of us should get our stories straight.   If you've heard differently than I have, that for example, at this stage in solar technology, we actually use just as much energy in the production of a solar panel as you will get out of it, then please help me.  Just trying to assemble facts and information.  Or if you have ANYthing that looks good on a mass scale.  All positives welcome. 

I think its time we really took a very adult look at this stuff and seriously work toward both seperation of fact and fiction, and when we find what we feel to be solid, then start assembling plans and getting active.

clyde