A two-minute video from the UK on "Nature"

 This is "tongue-in-cheek", but certainly right on the mark regarding the importance of the natural world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhlMWK7GysA

Of course, there are several more benefits of Nature in addition to those mentioned in the clip above.  Here are just a few---

1.  Healthy forests stabilize and fertilize soils.  Such happens both in the forest and downstream from it.

2.  Both macro green plants and microbes have provided us (and continue to do so) with life-saving/life-affirming  medicines.

3.  Billions of friendly bacteria exist in our gastro-intestinal tract.  Without them, we would not survive.

4.  Wetlands filter water and help reduce flooding.

5.  Birds, bats, some insects, and several other animals (e.g., frogs and toads) eat crop-destroying insects.

Too many neoliberal, mainstream economists and technocrats believe our economy is above, beyond, and superior to Nature.  The same is largely true of most people in Wall Street Finance and Banking.  They all are dead wrong.  All human activities are a subset of, and embedded in, the natural biophysical world.  The opposite view has resulted in the current Meta-Crisis.

We must stop electing people to political office who are Ecology-Blind.  If we don't, their blindness will continue to threaten organized human civilization.  Further degradation of the natural world will negatively impact our health, our food, our water, our air, our economy, and our overall well-being as never before.  Time is running out to reverse that course , and there's no greater priority.  Many people (on the micro-scale) are acting responsibly and getting on board.  We definitely need that, so KUDOS to them; however, too many politicians (on the macro-scale) and private Powers-That-Be in too many countries (including the USA) are stalling, and kicking the can down the road.

There is no comprehensive Plan to convert to a sustainable society in any country on Earth.  Bits and pieces, yes, but no holistic approach anywhere.  At least, I've not seen any, and I've searched diligently.  In my next post, I'll show you a Plan which could be a good starting point.

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Not only my opinion.  Take Care

Kirkus Reviews, the Meta-Crisis, Trump, and More

 Kirkus has been around for decades, is number 2*** in the USA for quality book reviews, and is known for being tough on authors.  They have reviewed my second book, 

CHOICES & CHANGE ON THE PATH TO A SUSTAINABLE EXISTENCE -

BEST CHOICES FOR NAVIGATING THROUGH A MONUMENTAL CRISIS.

It's a pretty good review, fair and insightful.  

[***Publisher's Weekly is number 1, but their waiting list is way too long.]

"A straightforward and useful guide to better living.

Haley offers a short handbook for more ecologically sensible living..."  

~ Kirkus Reviews

The full review can be found here:

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/scott-c-haley/choices-change-on-the-path-to-a-sustainable-existe/

My three books can be found here:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BVJMMWLG/about

At the link, click on "All Books" (above my name, near the top of the page).

Please hear me:  I don't care one whit about the piddly revenues received from book sales.  If I could afford it, I'd pay for any purchases myself; but I live very modestly (by Western World standards), and can't do that.  What I do care about are these two things:  1) the crucial concepts in the books (and elsewhere) have been rigorously researched by expert scientists in their respective fields (not by me, I'm just the messenger), and need to be spread far and wide if humans are to survive & thrive; and 2) gaslighters and serial liars like Trump are poo-pooing those concepts, and too many people seem to be believing the lies.  That must change quickly.

The Meta-Crisis we're in is real, and the threat is existential - the very existence of human civilization is under grave threat.  The key to navigating through the Crisis is SOCIO-ECO-EDUCATION, and then peacefully pressuring the Powers-That-Be to take significant mitigating action.  Without such, I fear for the quality of life my grandchildren and all younger generations will have to endure.  Help out:  become an informal educator whenever and however possible.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

As A.I. begins to take over human artistic functions, such as...

writing books and creating images, let's pause and take a look at why human endeavors in Art have more depth, meaning, and metaphysical properties.  Here's an Art tutorial website for beginners which shows not only beautiful images, but also empathy for the viewer being tutored, and a bit of humor along the path---

https://youtube.com/@matchesclashes?si=GTvvr76sSQKKgSM3

In particular, see this clip from the above website---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W__cmNHi5kY

A.I. might be able to approximate the content of the above video, but I don't believe it could capture the human spirit of it.  Nor could it share any mistakes made along the path to a completed landscape.  Long story short:  A.I. is a poor substitute for a live, dedicated human when it comes to creative undertakings.

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Not only my opinion.  Happy Trails

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