There appears to be a very high probability that human civilization will collapse within the next three decades or so. I’ll probably be dead by the time the mass extinction occurs (if there is reincarnation, there may be nothing left to come back as). But, I’d rather die knowing that my children and all children living today will have a reasonable shot at living a full life.
If we are concerned about averting civilization and massive ecosystem collapse, we can do something. But, we need to take massive and drastic action quickly. But, our actions must be wise and comprehensive. We can’t get caught in trying to find a savior (i.e., a person, a group, an institution, a government, a technology, or whatever). We have to take transcontextual actions (i.e., actions that span multiple contexts, situations, systems, etc.) involving as many diverse people as possible working in between (in the liminal spaces between) institutions and governments.
However, before we go any further with how to take action, I’d like to provide a brief overview of what I consider some of the major contextual or systemic issues that need to be addressed. Although I’ve listed these separate issues, it is best to think of these as intertwined aspects of one major systemic issue.
- Population — This may be the single most important issue to tackle. There is no way our planetary resources can support a burgeoning population. We must begin efforts for negative population growth. Maybe actions could include global distribution of free birth control, education of women, global economic and equitable wealth distribution, increased taxation on families with more than one child along with tax benefits for having no children, readily available women’s health clinics with abortion services, and so forth.
- Global Warming, with concomitant sea level rise, flooding, devastating climatic and weather events, desertification, etc. — All of these will tank economies, kill and displace hundreds of millions or more people, increase warfare, increase starvation, decrease resource availability, increase forced immigration for mere survival, and so forth.
- Capitalism and Emphases on Economic Growth — The current economic system will continue to over-tax multiple complex living systems, deplete resources, increase proportions of those living in poverty, etc., and will magnify all of the other issues.
- Energy Use and Production — So far, most “green” energies are not so green. I just read about hydrogen cars. They have no emissions, except for water, but all the emissions and resources are front-loaded (manufacturing) or remote (hydrogen production is energy intensive and produces CO & CO2). The same sort of pattern is true of electric and hybrid cars. Solar has it’s own issues, with resources and the need to replace them every 15 to 20 years. Wind has similar issues, as well.
- Peak & Dwindling Resources — Almost all resources (e.g., metals, minerals, oil, gas, farmland, water, etc.) are at or near “peak” and are dwindling rapidly.
- Carrying Capacity (the ability of any particular ecosystem or even the biosphere) to support its living systems) — Most countries are well past carrying capacity. In such cases, what appears to be living normally, is analogous to running out of money, then borrowing a $100,000 or more on which to live. But, you don’t have any way of paying back the debt without drastically reducing your entire lifestyle.
- Ecosystem Collapse and Loss of Biodiversity, as well as a Corresponding Resistance to Valuing Human Diversity — All living system thrive and depend upon diversity. Ecosystems collapse as they lose their diversity. The current situation with massive losses to insects and other species of living things is going to have a huge impact on ecosystem survival, which in turn will negatively impact human survival.
In addition to addressing these issues, we need to address the core features of what it means to be human living in various contexts. If we don’t address the “warm data,” we will not be able to affect change. We must take into account the emotions, aesthetics, values, beliefs, and other dimensions of being human in today’s world. We also have to short circuit our addiction to “finding one solution,” “finding the savior,” reductionism, mechanistic thinking, and so forth. There have to be multiple possible solutions that address all of the issues in different ways. It has to involve a change in the way we think. It has to involve transcontextual approaches. And, although governments, corporations, and various institutions can help, they can’t solve this crisis. They are too stuck in procedures, policies, and other inflexibilities. Wherever we work, we have to step out of the institutional mindset and join others to work in the liminal (in between) spaces where we can take action without the typical constraints.
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