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We Can Build A Healthy Global Society

By David Korten, YES! Magazine. Posted August 7, 2006.


It's never too late to change our future -- we're the ones we've been waiting for.
earth

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By what name will future generations know our time?

Will they speak in anger and frustration of the time of the Great Unraveling, when profligate consumption exceeded Earth's capacity to sustain and led to an accelerating wave of collapsing environmental systems, violent competition for what remained of the planet's resources, and a dramatic dieback of the human population? Or will they look back in joyful celebration on the time of the Great Turning, when their forebears embraced the higher-order potential of their human nature, turned crisis into opportunity, and learned to live in creative partnership with one another and Earth?

We face a defining choice between two contrasting models for organizing human affairs. Give them the generic names Empire and Earth Community. Absent an understanding of the history and implications of this choice, we may squander valuable time and resources on efforts to preserve or mend cultures and institutions that cannot be fixed and must be replaced.

Empire organizes by domination at all levels, from relations among nations to relations among family members. Empire brings fortune to the few, condemns the majority to misery and servitude, suppresses the creative potential of all, and appropriates much of the wealth of human societies to maintain the institutions of domination.

Earth Community, by contrast, organizes by partnership, unleashes the human potential for creative co-operation, and shares resources and surpluses for the good of all. Supporting evidence for the possibilities of Earth Community comes from the findings of quantum physics, evolutionary biology, developmental psychology, anthropology, archaeology, and religious mysticism. It was the human way before Empire; we must make a choice to re-learn how to live by its principles.

Developments distinctive to our time are telling us that Empire has reached the limits of the exploitation that people and Earth will sustain. A mounting perfect economic storm born of a convergence of peak oil, climate change, and an imbalanced U.S. economy dependent on debts it can never repay is poised to bring a dramatic restructuring of every aspect of modern life. We have the power to choose, however, whether the consequences play out as a terminal crisis or an epic opportunity. The Great Turning is not a prophecy. It is a possibility.

According to cultural historian Riane Eisler, early humans evolved within a cultural and institutional frame of Earth Community. They organized to meet their needs by cooperating with life rather than by dominating it. Then some 5,000 years ago, beginning in Mesopotamia, our ancestors made a tragic turn from Earth Community to Empire. They turned away from a reverence for the generative power of life -- represented by female gods or nature spirits -- to a reverence for hierarchy and the power of the sword -- represented by distant, usually male, gods. The wisdom of the elder and the priestess gave way to the arbitrary rule of the powerful, often ruthless, king.

The peoples of the dominant human societies lost their sense of attachment to the living earth, and societies became divided between the rulers and the ruled, exploiters and exploited. The brutal competition for power created a relentless play-or-die, rule-or-be-ruled dynamic of violence and oppression and served to elevate the most ruthless to the highest positions of power. Since the fateful turn, the major portion of the resources available to human societies has been diverted from meeting the needs of life to supporting the military forces, prisons, palaces, temples, and patronage for retainers and propagandists on which the system of domination in turn depends. Great civilizations built by ambitious rulers fell to successive waves of corruption and conquest.

The primary institutional form of Empire has morphed from the city-state to the nation-state to the global corporation, but the underlying pattern of domination remains. It is axiomatic: for a few to be on top, many must be on the bottom. The powerful control and institutionalize the processes by which it will be decided who enjoys the privilege and who pays the price, a choice that commonly results in arbitrarily excluding from power whole groups of persons based on race and gender.


Digg!

David Korten is co-founder and board chair of the Positive Futures Network. This article draws from his newly released book, "The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community.

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Schools have taken down the monkeybars
Posted by: YogiBear on Aug 7, 2006 4:07 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Isn't imperialism a natural outgrowth of government? Wherever large groups of people put their trust into a few -- for whatever reason -- imperialism and the crush of human liberty will result. Every year, in every society, scores of new laws are passed to govern human behavior. Some of these laws undo or fix previous ones, but so many find new ways or are refinements to restrict, refine, and repress individuality. I see that we are too chaotic a species to exist in masses without government, but the utopian goals of most governments always end up undoing any gains they make through advancements in liberties to begin with.

I cringe these days, whenever I hear the phrase "There ought to be a law" in response to some unfortunate incident. Sometimes I fear that laws and lawsuits will one day get so restrictive, we'll all be afraid to step outside the house.

What's so ironic is that imperialistic societies are so awful to live in because they are so restrictive, by government mandate. But when given a chance at freedom, free societies do their best to mimic the imperial ones.

I think that no matter which scenario we head toward: empire or earth community -- our true nature will show through. Basically, I am concerned that that both paths will lead to a smiliar end.

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good ideas
Posted by: rsaxto on Aug 7, 2006 4:22 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
There are good ideas here but the empire builders have stolen our votes, our democracy, our corporations and our military. Perhaps the only way to get these things back in the hands of the people is to impeach the current officeholder criminals and to crush the legal concept of corporations as people instead of institutions. We are getting closer to being able to do these things but power still is in the wrong hands. Power to the people by impeaching the criminals.

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» RE: good ideas Posted by: zorro
» RE: good ideas Posted by: chuckville
» RE: good ideas Posted by: Pirate1
Interesting.............
Posted by: Lizmv on Aug 7, 2006 5:14 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Alternet has woven an interesting tapestry of articles today. Mass extinctions, a wider war in the Middle East, strong women running for office and the Great Turning. Anyone else see the connections?

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» RE: Interesting............. Posted by: willymack
» RE: Interesting............. Posted by: Basenjis
» RE: Interesting............. Posted by: redjenny
David Korten, thank YOU!
Posted by: greentime on Aug 7, 2006 5:25 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
David,
Over the course of a long research project, and a life long search for understanding, I was fortunate to have read your books and hear you speak over the radio.

You have examined the issues of environment, culture, power, and human avarice and aggression so deeply. You have evolved now to the point of true leadership towards our future and I thank you.

The tough questions of why we have strayed so far from our best path, which I also believe is our natural path, have been given clarity in your writing. I too believe we have a chance to create a sustainable and healthy society and will be working towards realizing that hope in all good ways.

To all who read Alternet, please, if you haven't yet, PLEASE read David Kortens books, suscribe to "Yes!" magazine and become part of the future that is our destiny if not our only hope.

There are so many who are asking us to make this change and make it now. Some you know, many you may never meet but all of our energies are there just the same. You will find them among the staff of "Yes!" magazine and this will connect you to many more who understand how to save this planet and in doing so, save ourselves and fellow creatures.

LOVE>FEAR
The time to evolve is now! Join us in the beauty of what is to come and be part of creating a life in balance. It is possible for you to take the first step.

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» Forgot to add Posted by: Lizmv
Man-bashing aside...
Posted by: Logic's Edge on Aug 7, 2006 5:27 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
"They turned away from a reverence for the generative power of life -- represented by female gods or nature spirits -- to a reverence for hierarchy and the power of the sword -- represented by distant, usually male, gods. The wisdom of the elder and the priestess gave way to the arbitrary rule of the powerful, often ruthless, king."

Oh, good grief. As always men are to blame for everything, eh? Although I see no shortage of women partaking of every modern convenience and form of indulgence that they can. In fact, aren't women are the primary consumers spending the majority of the money?

Anyhow, despite the annoying context, there is no doubt that something needs to be done or we're all in for a very nasty time ahead. I'm placing my hope in new technology since human nature is such a quagmire. There really should be a huge drive to get solutions like the one mentioned below in place around the continent and the world. They're opening one plant capable of producing 420 MW of solar cells each year. That's a good start, but we need hundreds of such plants, fast.

Nanosolar

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» RE: Man-bashing aside... Posted by: Linda23456
» RE: Man-bashing aside... Posted by: bornxeyed
» Oh Brave New World!!! Posted by: GypsyIntent
» RE: Oh Brave New World!!! Posted by: Logic's Edge
Yep
Posted by: blackinjun on Aug 7, 2006 5:28 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
this is a watershed moment in history and we had better be careful about where we are going and who's taking us there. Just keep in mind the cultural essence of the ideas that have guided us for the last 2000 years or so.. Maybe that needs adjustment...

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» RE: Yep Posted by: Pirate1
» RE: Yep Posted by: blackinjun
EVERYONE SHOULD READ "THE GREAT TURNING"
Posted by: chuckville on Aug 7, 2006 5:46 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Steal it if you have to, copy it a hundred times, but read it and give it to someone else when you are done. It is that important. (and I'm sure Mr. Korten won't mind, he's trying to save the planet, not get rich)

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Finally common words for the all too common situation...
Posted by: Farmertim on Aug 7, 2006 6:00 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
As an organic farmer, and if one holds true to his or her open ended learning curve, one will reach the conclusion there is no end to learning of the earths natural processes and our role in it.
Beyond organic farmers are just now looking at natural processes to over come the short falls of organic as a food producing system and realize there is much more to soil science and soil "spirituality", or if you will our place in the Earth community.
As one tends to the soil in its natural occurance for any length of time the first impression one gets when looking up from the wonder that is the natural process, one sees the "empire" in everything and soon learns there is much to do in order for "us" as a species to get our act together, and fall in line to that which will sustain us, from the very land in which we stand upon to the web of interaction we should have as a speicies not only with ourselves but with the other life around us.
The "Natural Step" process from Sweden is a wonderful place for our society to start our re-alinement with the process we have ignored for too long.
Looking at your nieghbor with out judgement and fear is a good one as well....realizing we have been ruled by fear by those who wish to rule us can change a person in an instant.
Farmer Tim

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dreaming the positive future
Posted by: mwildfire on Aug 7, 2006 6:13 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
One thing badly needed is to spread everywhere, by any means possible, images of a positive future. People who marinate their brains in television daily lose some of the capacity to imagine, and need the details drawn in for them in living color. One reason things have gotten this bad is that there is an underlying idea in our society that there is no alternative--that it all ends in fire and destruction. That corruption is the natural order of things.
I have proposed an envisioning conference, in which activists and artists get together for a weekend to dream up detailed scenarios of the world we want--and perhaps a few ideas on how we might get there. If and when they come to some kind of consensus, they then work to create illustrations of this dream, via films, traveling theater, novels, poems, skits, murals, anything--and bring this collective depiction to one community after another, inviting audience participation in dreaming up a future, and overcoming our tendency to passively wait for "them" to make the decisions.
I have not succeeded in getting a nucleus of people together to make this happen, but maybe in New England or the West Coast it would be easier...
anybody want to talk about this, mwildfire@hotmail.com

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» RE: we need GLOBAL GOVERNMENT! Posted by: davechris
» Religion Prevents Growth! Posted by: GypsyIntent
Great vision
Posted by: daw13 on Aug 7, 2006 6:36 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I think you're right on on all counts. My only question: how to deal with our own reluctance to accept the implications of real freedom, of self-actualization. I agree that culture evolves and we may be heading in the right direction -- hopefully not too slowly. But the concerns Erich Fromm raises in Escape From Freedom are more relevant than ever, it seems to me. Perhaps you've written about this elsewhere.

I love this overview and shall share it with my students. Thanks!

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Sounds good but
Posted by: blackinjun on Aug 7, 2006 6:41 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Korten began losing me when he started praising technology. As expected, he reverts to thinking like a white person. Briefly, revering technology implies embracing the idea of "progress." Progress is based in linear thinking.. meaning that along this straight line of progress into an unknown and unknowable future, we leave in its wake that "technology" that preceded the NEW technology we are embracing. That now old technology is what's polluting the planet and also the quest for the new technology, anywhere along the line, also uses valuable limited resources (which causes another set of problems) and further pollutes.

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» RE: Sounds good but Posted by: redheadedbluegirl
» RE: Sounds good but Posted by: Phenix
» RE: Sounds good but Posted by: blackinjun
» RE: Sounds good but Posted by: blackinjun
» RE: Sounds good but Posted by: pgward
» RE: Sounds good but Posted by: blackinjun
» RE: Sounds good but Posted by: bornxeyed
» RE: Sounds good but Posted by: bornxeyed
» RE: Sounds good but Posted by: blackinjun
chrispy
Posted by: cpatton on Aug 7, 2006 7:01 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
A good descripton of some of the problems from a high level but integrated socio-political perspective. The difficulty always comes with how to effect idealist visions. That we need a world aligned with social justice, liberty and balanced economy should be a no brainer for most, but how?

Changing tales will not wage the dog of imperialistic nation states. Neither will it change the globalized monster being created through the UN, which does not move to stop genocide of Jews or peoples of color and fosters increased wars and oppression where ever it does intervene.

The problem lies in the human dependence on the yin-yang spirit power found in natural life. The most successful efforts at decent society based on this force balance men and women as well as "male" and "female" symbol sets in a spiritual fullness. The truth is that God is both genders but neither, and His Spirit is incorruptible and non-compromising as to what good is, how love is defined and provides the only way to peace. That way has been and continues to be rejected by religionists all over, beginning with most Christians.

Jesus is the way, and He has been rejected by most of those using His name. Emperor Constantine in the 300s AD corrupted Christianity and sold it out to imperialism controlled by the elite. Jesus is coming again soon to stop to environmental rape of this planet, destroy oppressive political structures and redistribute capital resources in a balanced manner. You can read about it at www.apocalypse2008-2015.com. The dates are only probable, but the material can be searched by key words and the tables of contents have all of the subsections listed.

Keep thinking, but time is running out one way or the other.

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» RE: Typoes Posted by: Knowmad
New Age drivel
Posted by: brunowe on Aug 7, 2006 7:08 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The point is that the city-state was made possible by the excess produce of successful agriculture (the generative power of life) in river valleys such as the Nile, Tigris-Euphrates, Huang Ho and Indus. It was a continuation of the pre-existing human experience, not a break from it.

Certainly, it is imperative to make the economy more resource-efficient to deal with the problems of pollution, global warming, resource wars, etc. It isn't necessary to resort to a Gaia fetish in order to do so.

One has to wonder, also, whether his view of pre-city history isn't a mythologized one.

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» RE: New Age drivel Posted by: chuckville
» RE: New Age drivel Posted by: brunowe
» RE: New Age drivel Posted by: chuckville
Pretty picture...
Posted by: magmaybe on Aug 7, 2006 7:34 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Personally, I'd like to teach the world to sing - in perfect harmony. I'd like to buy the world a Coke.....

Unfortunately, New Agey talk about higher spiritual consciousness/evolution (and the elitist, dualistic, hierarchical snobbery implied when vilifying those childish, nasty magical thinking lower life forms) doesn't *mean* anything on the ground. Sure, I'd love it if we would get our shit together, or even find some totally improbably way to continue civilization without damaging each other and the globe, and we wouldn't have to give up all our fun tech luxuries. But that is not the reality, and technology is not going to save us. We are not headed for some Star Trek future where we become married to the machine and global peace results. The problem extends beyond mere empire to the civilizational level. Domestication, industrialization, totalitarian agriculture, etc. etc. And even then, anti-civ sentiments only mean something when they are applied on the ground through realtime efforts, which should employ a diverse range of tactics.

And while those tactics include philosophy, teaching, art and imagination, there are some real problems in an idealism that postulates some kind of linear spiritual ascension. It creates the exact same kind of superiority complex evidenced by certain Christian groups. We're up here, you're down there.

Korten makes some really good points - I merely question parts of his approach, as well as the wisdom of quoting Riane Eisler, an author whose theories are *interesting*, but wildly controversial. Partnership is a better model than domination - absolutely. But let's just leave it at that - by positing a sweeping picture of a gentle monotheistic goddess-land (which is not necessarily false *or* true), one merely invites the backlash jokers to pile in and crap all over the place, making true dialogue impossible. Of course the history of patriarchy is intimately tied with the development of empire and civilization - there are just better ways to go about presenting this information IMO.

I hope the book posits more practical applications for how this massive shift in story and consciousness can be encouraged. And in the meantime, it is still crucial to participate in direct action to stop civilization from destroying our landbases and committing atrocities against all living beings.

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» RE: Pretty picture... Posted by: magmaybe
» RE: Pretty picture... Posted by: bornxeyed
» RE: Pretty picture... Posted by: Uncle Sam
» RE: Pretty picture... Posted by: harris
» RE: Pretty picture... Posted by: Uncle Sam
» RE: Pretty picture... Posted by: bornxeyed
relevant
Posted by: wearesilhouettes on Aug 7, 2006 7:46 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Has anyone picked up a bood by Ken Wilber? This article reminds me of his books and the spiral dynamic theory (The Theory of Everything, The Marriage of Sense and Soul). Most humans are not evolved, or not in an healthy environment, to evolve to state of integral consciousness or global community consciousness. Most of the readers of alternet, or "Yes!", or any other progressive magazine, are on their way to realizing that the only way our planet can survive is to unite all people together under one belief that accepts every religion and lifestyle and doesn't exclude one, but helps others to ascend the ladder to an integral mind-frame - to not discourage, be predjudice agaist others, or be narcisistic. Science is relevant but it's trying to crush spirituality. Other spiritualites are trying to negate science. (for example). Humans have been killing eachother in the name of Empire since the beginning. Only now in the 21st century have we had a glimmer of hope from the integral thinkers and people who are organizing agaist Empire for a united and peaceful world. If you're interested in this, please pick up one of his books, it will definitely give you some new ideas about human social evolution - and revolution.

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» RE: relevant Posted by: Chickensh*tEagle
» RE: relevant Posted by: joysea
» RE: relevant Posted by: Chickensh*tEagle
» RE: relevant Posted by: wearesilhouettes
» RE: relevant Posted by: harris
» RE: relevant Posted by: wearesilhouettes
» RE: relevant Posted by: rupazer0
End of oil
Posted by: YogiBear on Aug 7, 2006 9:25 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Has anyone taken a serious look at what effect the end of oil will have on our globalized future? Will globetrekking become a thing of the past, or be limited to the wealthy? Will the cost of transporting goods across the seas become so expensive, that the offshoring of labor is no longer seen as a viable alternative? Will global society exist primarily in cyberspace?

What effects will the loss of our major mode of cheap transport have on our geo-political systems?

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» RE: End of oil Posted by: badkitty
Be the change you wish to see in the world
Posted by: sfdenizen on Aug 7, 2006 9:55 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Taking Gandhi's advice, I encourage all readers who were enlightened and inspired by this article to take action and "be the change you wish to see in the world."

1) Start with your own spiritual and ethical growth. Eliminate greed, hate, and delusion from your mind and heart. Embrace loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity in every aspect of your life. Be gentle in your thoughts, speech, and manners, especially to those with whom you disagree or who have caused you suffering.

If you hate Bush and the necons, or hate Jews, or hate Muslims, or hate men, or hate whomever, practice compassionate understanding in your mind and heart and try to love them. It will be really hard, but you will never create true peace or happiness if you approach your difficulties from a place of hate.

2) Re-evaluate your own story about the world. What is the meaning of your life? What are your heart's true desires? Is your guiding story telling you that power and acquisition and bodily pleasure are the goals of life? Re-examine what will truly make you happy and re-structure your life accordingly. Eliminate unnecessary spending and acquisition. Volunteer in your community. Build loving and charitable relationships with your family and neighbors and co-workers. Reconsider how you consume food and what its impact is on the enviroment and other people. Think about the kind of work you can do in the world that best utilizes your talents and goals and will create a more just, healthy, sustainable, and joyous society.

3) Teach and spread your understanding through example. It's not enough to just write books or post on internet discussions or preach without practicing. You must get out in the world and be an actor for change. Join organizations which embrace your goals. You will be much more empowered working with others who share your vision.

Good luck and many blessings!

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It's Going To Take A Helluva Lot More Than A Change Of Heart
Posted by: sirossisofliver on Aug 7, 2006 10:03 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Unfortunately, I believe that it will take a major upheaval (economic, social, medical, environmental...or dare I say it: World War) in order to encourage people (all people) to 'pull together' toward a common good (survival).

That is, for people to re-develop a sense of community, commonality and resulting desire for mutual assistance and responsibility...(as we saw during the depression and during the dark days of WWII), the human race will have to suffer on a relatively large scale (global?).

So long as people (in the major world consuming countries) have unlimited consumer access and entitlement,....the more consumption they will strive for...at any and all costs (see, Amerika).

Understand, I'm not against 'consumerism', per se....I strongly believe that people have to have something to strive for in order to produce.....but the pervailing general and pervasive attitude of "getting all one can" without regard to consequences (societal or global) is the major flaw in the human character today.

In short, as long as "greed" is the primary driving force and major motivator (in both individuals and governments), there will be no "Turning"....it will simply get worse.

That's the Liberal (non-religious) view of "The End Times"; and yes, I believe we are within as little as twenty-five years thereof.

Pessimistic? Yes, but also pragmatic.

Sir Ossis

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If this isn't evidence enough
Posted by: marklar on Aug 7, 2006 10:12 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
"Eighty-three percent of Americans believe that as a society the United States is focused on the wrong priorities."

It should be evidence enough that a corporate and elitist public relations scheme has been confusing Americans about all issues for some time. Just look at the Oil Industries little anti-climate change, anti-Gore propaganda film of YouTube as proof. That is evidence.
The problem isn't red state blue state, race, immigration, it is corporate control of the media, all of it. TV, radio, internet, music, film, almost everything is owned by corporations. There are 63 lobbyist for every congress person, almost everyone of those 63 is a corporate lobbyist. They keep dissenting voices from mass appeal, yet, as the poll mentioned in the article suggest, mass appeal agrees that something is terribly wrong with America. We are living in a neo-fascist society.
We need the Fairness Doctrine back.

Nationalprioritiesproject.org

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» RE: By the way Posted by: marklar
We ARE the ones we've been waiting For!!!
Posted by: jeffrey7 on Aug 7, 2006 10:41 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Point of fact,there is no one else who will. Our politicians are all bought and paid for by the very machine that causes so much misery today....International Corperations. Through means that would qualify the average citizen for a few life sentences,these fools operate with immunity,across borbers,oceans,and Nations. These are the people that have declared War on Humanity. These are the people that are poisoning the air,the water,and the land. These are the people that have caused your relatives,or you, to have cancer,mental diseases, neuromuscular diseases,problem pregnancies,still births and early death. These are the people that have condemed our relatives to a life of unwanted poisoning for 10 generations. How do WE stop this crap?
Control ourselves. Don't let yourself fall victim to smoothe advertising campaigns. By politicians or companies. Educate yourself. If you get your information from the T.V. News,you're being lied too at 5,6 and 11pm. If you think you're not cool unless you have the latest 'stuff', you've been deluded by the Illusion of Freedom. Quit buying 'techie' crap.
That plasma T.V. did more to harm the environment than you'll get hours of watching. What we truly need to have a 'rich' life is surprizingly small compared to what we 'think' we need. It's because we've been flim-flammed.

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Save the Earth Community!
Posted by: Tiffany Twain on Aug 7, 2006 3:56 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Please check out the understandings at:
www.EarthManifesto.com

In particular, read "A Declaration of Interdependence: Comprehensive Global Perspective".

The ideas contained in these writings could have a revolutionary and positive impact on human societies. Read and contribute your perspective, as this manuscript evolves!

THANKS!

T.Twain

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Once again AlterNet doesn't disappoint
Posted by: cthelyt on Aug 7, 2006 4:52 PM   
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Someone criticizes a popular, idealist POV and is subject to personal attacks.

I was going to say that this article reminded me of countless discussions that took place in many dorm floor lounges at about one or two in the morning after or with a few cold ones and lots of cigarettes. I don't know if I'd call it New Age drivel, but against the evidence of thousands of years of empire, the odds are stacked against such idealism's coming to pass.

As for the much-vaunted new communications technologies, there is already a struggle afoot by the forces of empire to restrict and control them, and it is easy to imagine a scenario in which various governments cite anything from national security concerns to wars on pornography and a child-safe internet to muzzle dissent. Remember also that our political "leaders" are more responsive to the needs of power and the status quo than they are to the grassroots. Result: the new visionaries lost their chief global organizing tool. Back to the prerecorded messages and phone trees of the Dial-A-Demonstration days.

Korten does make some interesting points, however, and I hope to be proved wrong about my prognosis for his vision. Every generation has its ideals and visions, and to kill them is tantamount to mass murder. Show me that you won't mess up the world as your parents or grandparents did, and I'll beg forgiveness. But before I do, I'll ask your children to weigh in on you and your vision, and whether they think you're messing up too.

That is, if there's an internet and AlterNet to flame on in 20 years.

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Peace on Eart
Posted by: electriclady281 on Aug 7, 2006 5:33 PM   
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I don't think that there will be peace on Earth till we all learn to share and to do away with artificial national boundaries.

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The 'Conquest of Nature': a suicidal enterprise
Posted by: thoughtcriminal on Aug 7, 2006 5:49 PM   
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David Korten has written some great books on economics - in fact, he points out how Marxists and neoliberal economists both stole ideas from Adam Smith and David Riccardo while ignoring the larger view of these earlier visionaries. "Invisible hand of the market' is one sentance in a 1,000 page book that neoliberals took out of context; the same goes for Marx and the 'worker' ideology.

Now, if you go and listen to newsreels from the early part of this century you hear the words "Conquest of Nature" over and over - from the discovery of antibiotics to the building of roads and the draining of swamps for mall construction, the ideology of progress was that of a war against nature; natural systems must be tamed, controlled, and used for the benfit of mankind. John Mcphee wrote a great book on these efforts called "The Control of Nature".

The problem was that we ourselves are absolutely reliant on natural systems for our own survival, and we don't understand them very well. Ecology is a word that is only 100 years old - and when you tamper with something you don't understand (try loosening some bolts at random on your car, for example) bad things can happen - like melting the ice caps and bringing on record heat waves and record hurricanes.

The original concept of separation of powers is an integral part of learning to adapt to, rather then control, natural systems. If local communities control the things that happen to their local natural systems, rather then Wall Street firms halfway around the globe, everything will work out much better. This means that natural capital (fertile agricultural land, healthy fisheries, sustainable forests, etc.) has to be more highly valued then monetary capital, which is the inverse of the situation today.

So - like David Korten points out, one of the most important steps in doing this is restricting the movement of monetary capital into and out of various natural systems - which means that if the system collapses, so does the money that's tied to it. This is the opposite of Clinton/Bush support for NAFTA - CAFTA - GATT - WTO - IMF -World Bank policy, which is all about allowing billionaires to pull their money out of countries if their economies collapse (remember the '97 Asian crisis?). "Confessions of an Economic Hitman" is also required reading for those interested in this topic.

Good luck all!

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We need AT LEAST a 75% reduction in global population...
Posted by: SpreadingANUS on Aug 7, 2006 7:04 PM   
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..for anything written to materialize.

As this article is being written, over one-third of the world’s land is being used for agricultural purposes, and certain percentage urbanized. In the past five decades, urbanized land use in the U.S. has increased by nearly 250%. In nations where population is increasing at higher rates, this percentage may be as much as double this figure. As another percentage water must be distributed among an exponentially growing world population (last count: 6.5 billion, projected to reach 9 billion by 2050—of which over half will be living in urbanized areas), it is quite evident that, should we continue down the path we are currently headed, the wars of the world will not be fought for human rights and luxuries such as oil, but over the elementary natural resources necessary for survival. Figuratively speaking, every five-person household will welcome two new members within the next four decades, as population density is expected to increase by 40% overall. All these facts and figures remain abstractions to the harried modern mind: what use is there in musing over the future when the present makes so many demands? There are bills to be paid, deadlines to meet, children to send through college and vacations to plan. After all, our politicians and scientists are already working on solutions…aren’t they?

Nature is a self-regulating system that, in stark contrast to human endeavor, behaves unconsciously. There can be no doubt, however, that an ecosystem will either return to stasis. There is only the question of the duration of such a process. Case in point: it is estimated that no more than 20% of the world’s land is arable, and it is nothing short of foolishness to suppose that any greater percentage can be bargained for. Statistical figures which indicate the trend towards urban lifestyles fails to take into account the fact that it is not due to our population’s migration towards cities—instead, it is the city that is expanding outwards to engulf smaller, more efficient communities. Resultantly, urbanized land itself is part of the problem we must address. In light of the aforementioned systemic patterns and current world situation, it is not without reason and well-informed judgment that we conclude that nothing less than 75% of the world must be returned to—and forever remain under the jurisdiction of—wilderness.

A different type of numbers game indeed!

http://corrupt.org/

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Dark History
Posted by: glorybe on Aug 7, 2006 10:21 PM   
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The idea that an Earth community lived in harmony before the empire period is total nonsense. Primitive communities slaughtered not only their neighbors but often great numbers of their own tribes as well. The side effect was that population was kept small and the Earth could sustain those upon it. As humanity advanced we began to take care of our sick and injured and we limited the constant slaughter of other tribes or families and we even developed religious models that don't require human sacrifice. By doing these things the population has soared and now we are facing a harsh future. And efficiency is a false answer. Even if we reduced the energy that our devices consume to 1% of what we now use we will soon be so surrounded by electro-mechanical devices that our energy needs will spiral ever higher. Birth control is the best way to go. We might also need energy quotas for every citizen regardless of the ability to pay for energy. Methods and programs currently offered hold no promise of relief at all.

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Life is complicated because truth is simple.
Posted by: D-of-G on Aug 8, 2006 12:00 AM   
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A Chinese proverb states that "The greatest evil in the world is that Man is teacher of Man." (para) So, please forgive me.
The reason life appears to be so complicated is that truth is so simple! But if truth is so simple, why is life so complicated? The truth is complicated because it cannot be taught, only learned. For teaching only discloses options for the sole purpose of volition. How does one learn? One learns by seeking truth with an unbiased mind. How does one seek with an unbiased mind? By overcoming the illusion of distinctions- The more we talk about world in terms of who did what, when, how many, what kind etc., the more truth will elude us. For truth is impersonal and needs no ancillary predications to support it.
In our world we say the number 1 is a prime number. However, in "......cosmology" it is the only number! There is no devil, but the EGO, that makes trophies of MAN!

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» And... Posted by: Sojourner
» PS Posted by: Sojourner
» In my opinion... Posted by: Sojourner
» RE: In my opinion... Posted by: blackinjun
» RE: In my opinion... Posted by: Sojourner
Yogi bear
Posted by: blackinjun on Aug 8, 2006 9:56 AM   
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Look let me try to make this plain and simple.. I AM NOT A WHITE PERSON. I have my own way of seeing the world and it's just as legitimate as yours. Just like blacks developed jazz and Europeans developed the symphony, (altho whites learned to play jazz and blacks learned to write symphonies, the mind set to bring them into being is born from a particular world view) we have different cultural ideas and world views and I don't think that's racist to mention it. However it may be racist to suppress it in order to maintain a type of "status quo." The problem as I see it, (and if you were honest, you'd admit it), is that whites are comfortable with blacks carrying their banner and as many white