Humans, education, A.I., technology, Nature, the loss of youth, and our meta-crisis

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFVoearUvP8

Dr. Zachary (Zak) Stein is interviewed on the Nate Hagens YouTube channel.  Dr. Stein is Harvard-educated in the fields of human development, educational neuroscience, and the philosophy of education.  His current work is in the area of mitigation of the meta-crisis.  The discussion is deep and wide-ranging, so put on your thinking cap and be as open-minded as possible.

Relative to the Crisis we're in (and in other ways), our educational system has failed us.  Stein explains how to fix it.  He also delves into how the current path of A.I. is going to make education even worse, and dangerously so.

If you can't watch the entire interview, then at least catch these two short segments:  from 1:20:25 to 1:36:01; and from 1:39:36 to 1:41:20.  Or, better yet, watch the whole thing in stages. It will wake you up to the depth of the Human Predicament, and how to mitigate it.  Too bad almost all our national politicians apparently are oblivious to all this.

It's embarrassing that the USA shortly will offer up Joe Biden and D. J. Trump as the (supposedly) best main candidates for the Presidency of the USA.  It's also shameful, and a testament to the power of propaganda, plutocrats, and the oligarchy.  So many people are much better choices.  Here are only a few:  more or less on "The Right"---anyone [is superior to Trump], including Mitt Romney and Rand Paul; more or less on "The Left"---Elizabeth Warren, Jill Stein, Bernie Sanders, and Cornel West [all are superior to Biden].

Our educational system also is to blame.  Too many people seem to be trained only for being a "Yes" employee, a work drone.  No open-mindedness, no critical thinking, no holistic thinking, little concern for ethics, and little foresight beyond job and family.  Add to all that, little interest in philosophy, history, and the biophysical basis of our existence - NATURE.  Such a scenario is a recipe for disaster.  If it is to survive and thrive, Civilization needs a lot more than only technocrats and Yes people.

Zak Stein is a comprehensive thinker with vision and a radical, but necessary, framework for building an educational network which enhances and enables human society to be its best.  His suggestions for navigating through the ongoing human predicament are an inspiring must-see.  Don't miss it.  [I recommend you turn on the captions.]

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Not only my opinion.  Happy Trails

The Earth System Treaty, a Positive Step

Anyone can take this step toward raising awareness of what scientists know about the current human predicament AND the known, scientific, potential solutions.  First, though, read the article at this link to gain perspective:  

https://mahb.stanford.edu/blog/mahbdialogues/earth-system-treaty-a-mahb-dialogue-with-julian-cribb-council-for-the-human-future/

If you agree with the concept, sign the Treaty.  After you sign, you're asked for a donation.  Should you prefer not to donate, there's something else which will help raise awareness.  You're given the means to post the "sign the treaty" link on social media.  Every little bit helps.  https://www.change.org/p/save-a-habitable-earth-for-our-children?source_location=search

Undoubtedly, several powerful forces are/would be/will be against the Earth System Treaty.  They seem to prefer the Status Quo:  ecological overshoot; exponential, infinite economic growth on a finite planet; the delusional belief that the Laws of Nature do not apply to humans; and the pipe-dream that Technology can solve any problem whatsoever.

Other people recognize the human predicament, but seem to feel there's nothing beyond what can be done in their own personal behavior patterns which will have any impact.  In other words, only the public and private Powers-That-Be can make any difference in the Big Picture.  There's some truth in such a view.

Here's the thing, though:  when massive numbers of everyday people make a statement, eventually those in Power pay attention.  The history of many social Movements supports that contention.  The need for an Earth System Treaty (or something akin to it) is obvious to many people around the world.  Make a statement.  Sign the Treaty, and promote the concept.  Join the Movement. Grandchildren everywhere thank you for your effort.

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Not only my opinion.  Happy Trails

ADDENDUM to: "After EIGHTEEN YEARS..."

 https://individualsovereignty.blogspot.com/2024/05/after-eighteen-years-this-state-dept.html

NOTE:  The piece above was posted just before Biden announced he won't ship certain bombs to Israel if they launch a full-scale attack on Rafah.  Good for Joe; however, all other munitions will continue to be shipped, just not the bunker-buster bombs.  

CHILDREN will continue to die from USA munitions.  If not that, then from starvation or lack of hospitals/health care personnel.  North Gaza is now officially deemed (by the World Food Programme) to be in a full-blown famine.  Netanyahu continues to restrict food aid.  People object, but don't worry, Bibi - Joe says USA support of Israel is "iron-clad, even when we disagree".  

[So, you can continue to starve those dangerous kids in Gaza, even the newborns and orphans.  Go Bibi!  Biden and the Republicans here give you their iron-clad support.]

This war needs to end, and Biden could end it.  Bombing hospitals, and killing children, and killing health care workers, and killing people standing in line to receive aid, and sending people to "safe areas" and then attacking those areas are all war crimes.  Stop ALL military aid to Israel, Joe.  Sanction and shun Netanyahu, et al.  Stop all Trade with Israel until the war ends.  Make all that "iron-clad".  Then, the probability is high that the slaughter and starvation will cease instantly.

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Not only my opinion.  Take Care

After EIGHTEEN YEARS, this State Dept. diplomat...

has resigned because of Biden's egregious, hypocritical Gaza policy.

https://www.democracynow.org/2024/5/3/state_dept 

Listen carefully to her reasoning; she's right on the mark.  Her name is Hala Rharrit.

Yesterday, Biden made things worse with his antisemitism speech.  Apparently, he doesn't know the difference between antisemitism and antizionism.  The difference is significant.  He also accused protesters of forgetting what Hamas did on October 7.  There's no basis for such an accusation.  No one has forgotten.  What Hamas did then does not justify what Netanyahu has been doing for months...with aid from the USA.  Biden is forgetting what the Israeli Leadership has been doing to Palestinians for about 75 years.

CHILDREN still are dying, health care people as well.  Reporters have been targeted, hospitals destroyed, and civilians have no safe haven anywhere.  In addition, the World Food Programme recently declared North Gaza is now in a "full-blown famine".  Meanwhile, Netanyahu continues to restrict food aid into Gaza.

Biden is turning into a hack politician.  No vision, no diplomacy, and dogmatic.  [By the way, Trump is even worse.]  Even more unacceptable, Joe is complicit in ethnic cleansing and numerous war crimes.  He has taken no significant actions to rein-in the criminal fanaticism of the current Israeli Leadership.  His puny protestations to Netanyahu are overwhelmingly being ignored.  Meanwhile, civilians are being shot, bombed, and starved while their infrastructure is reduced to rubble.

It's all unethical, immoral, and in many cases, criminal.  Scholars, diplomats, politicians, even Israelis, and others all around the world are saying so.  Biden's lack of comprehension of the situation is mind-boggling.  He appears to be in some sort of dogmatic rut.  It pains me to see that the few politicians in the USA with a notable amount of philosophical vision have been (to a large degree) effectively marginalized by the dogmatists.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

War, ignorant politicians, Eco-Crisis, famine, and what to do

Various wars around the globe are making the Eco-Crisis worse and placing more people on the path to starvation. One billion people already are on the brink of famine.  

Meanwhile, ignoramuses like Netanyahu, Biden, Putin, a bunch of minor tin-pot generals all over, and others ("The Establishment", including Trump) would rather pursue WAR than global common sense.  After all, war is great for the private war-machine industry, and such is a boon to the almighty secular god - an ever-growing GDP.

C'est la vie in an ecologically ignorant world.  Overall, anyway.  Here and there are some strong pockets of eco-ethics.  People in those areas will have a somewhat easier time of it when the 100mph freight train hits...which will be in large and scattered areas (in the beginning) most likely within ten years (or so).  Many places along latitudes closest to the equator probably will be the first to experience forced, massive migrations away from the heat and failing crops.  [Either from selling their crops or eating them, HALF the world's families get most of their food from subsistence farming on less than one acre per family.  At the same time, only twenty-six Super-Rich individuals have more wealth than that HALF of the world.]  

But, HEY, let's keep pouring $$$ into war machines, and electing politicians who think nuclear war is do-able, and the polluting & killing resulting from conventional war is required, eh?  That will help the Crisis soooo much.     [It's both tragic beyond belief, and hilarious in its total ignorance.]

So, what can we do?

1)  Stop drinking the Propaganda Kool Aid supplied by Oligarchs and their puppets.

2)  Be more tolerant of opposing views.  Stifle hate in yourself.  Hating each other is not helping anything.

3)  Stop electing to office those politicians who are divisive, or warmongering, or hateful, and lack compassion, civility, and statesmanship.  We need people in office who understand how great are the gifts of Mother Earth and humanity.  We don't need those who are bent on pitting one group against another, and who fail to grasp the sacredness of Earth.  Main Street is fed-up to the hilt with Leaders who have no integrity or vision.

4)  If you're short of knowledge in the following areas, educate yourself in the history of nuclear weapons, the principles of ecology, the history and/or the importance of nonviolent dissent, and Edward Bernays style propaganda.  [Yes, I know: that's a lot.  At least pick one topic:]

5)  Live an intentional, purposeful, peaceful life.  Don't be distracted by "bread and circuses", or consumerism and overconsumption.  Such only benefits the ruling Oligarchy.

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Not only my opinion.  Happy Trails

"Rattling The Establishment‘s Cage: Short Essays & Notes on Unorthodox Views of...

 Environment, Economics, Ethics, Politics, War, Spirituality, and More"

The hardcover format of my third book is now available.  Paperback version will be out within a few days.  I'll try to get the eBook up and running within two weeks.  This book contains many of the most-read posts from this blog.  Here's the book's Description on Amazon---  [there's a link below the Description]

My primary academic and practical interests in a relatively long life have been (and still are) in the subjects of ecology, agriculture, economics, politics, and ethics. For this third book - which is a fairly short and easy read - I've included secondary interests as well. See the book's subtitle for the additional subjects. Also take notice of the words UNORTHODOX VIEWS in the subtitle. For the most part, you will not find these ideas in the mainstream, corporate media. The "Establishment" seems to prefer to ignore such concepts. For example, are you aware of the following? Twenty countries (including the USA) have agreed to expand fossil fuel production for twenty-six more years. Details are in this book. Another example: Are you aware that in only the last thirty years we've used more energy than in the previous 150 years, and why we must transition from a high-energy-use society to one of low-energy use? You won't find that in the Establishment's public information output, but you will in this book.

For multiple decades, the Establishment (both public and private) has been wildly successful in influencing us to accept concepts, policies, and actions which favor the Upper Crust of society at our expense. But in the last ten years or so, everyday working people have decided enough is enough. Genuine change is in the Big Picture now, and education - both formal and informal - is the key. This short book can help to overcome the Establishment propaganda, and point the way to a sustainable and meaningful existence.

Many of these essays were written for a blog I’ve maintained since 2007, IndividualSovereignty.blogspot.com; others were penned this year, 2024, and are not on the blog as of this writing. All have been written by me (no A.I.), are some of the most popular on the blog, and all were edited for this book. Each essay is on its own page (some are two or three pages in length), and for context, I’ve included the year it was written.

https://www.amazon.com/Rattling-Establishments-Cage-Environment-Spirituality/dp/B0D258YK58/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2RHAX2MAHFJMF&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.wBx0AXWwliw6AIX3UriJ-Q.XKisvXnGAbI93CJd9U3zKaklPIVVI-fDNisvcLUmp0g&dib_tag=se&keywords=Rattling+The+Establishment%27s+Cage%3A+Short+Essays+and+Notes+by+Scott+C.+Haley&qid=1714283549&s=books&sprefix=rattling+the+establishment%27s+cage+short+essays+and+notes+by+scott+c.+haley%2Cstripbooks%2C134&sr=1-1

OR---

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D258YK58?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520

OR---

If neither link works, In the Search box at the top of any Amazon page, select the  category "Books", and in the box type "Scott C. Haley" (no quote marks are needed).  All three of my works should appear.

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Thanks for your consideration.  Be Well 

The Establishment is smothering opinion diversity and any sort of dissent, even if peaceful

At universities and in government halls around the world, and especially in the USA and Israel, free speech is being egregiously suppressed and often criminalized.  Some Professors (and others) have characterized it as Neo-McCarthyism.  See clip below.

https://www.democracynow.org/2024/4/18/columbia_university_israel_palestine

Academic freedom has been under assault in universities for many years, but now such has ramped up to a "bone-chilling" (from the clip above) level.  The attack largely (but not totally) is being led by people from the extreme political Right.  Whether they know it or not, they're exhibiting one of the primary characteristics of Fascism.  Dissent of any kind is not allowed.  Suppression of it is dressed up as "safety concerns" and/or "national security".

Liberal education is being suffocated.  Plus, at Government Hearings those being called in to testify are constantly being interrupted and attacked with little-to-no decorum or professionalism.  See the clip.  A liberal education is part of the concept of "liberalism".  So, what is liberalism?  What are its tenets?

Despite what the long-ago-hijacked Republican Party thinks, Liberalism is a moral/ethical philosophy and ideology based on the tenets of liberty, consent of the governed, equality before the Law, and tolerance.  Different forms of the belief sometimes depart from one or more of those tenets.  Despite that, the general definition is valid.  

Attention those who are extreme Right-Wingers:  except for Alexander Hamilton (who wanted a monarchy as our form of government), all the Founders of the USA were considered liberal in their political views and philosophy.

Peaceful diversity of opinion, dissent, and/or protest always should be allowed in a free society.  Suppression of such reeks of hubris and dogmatism, and even a whiff of totalitarianism.  Those who claim to be for "freedom", but then promote the suffocation of dissent are hypocrites to the Nth degree.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well