WOW! Jeffrey Sachs: a voice of reason in a sea of outmoded western world hegemony REDUX

 The clip at the link below is so crucial to world events of today that I'm (in a sense) reposting it here slightly edited:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgMPIhBLp1I&list=WL&index=74&t=59s

Equally important is Sachs here:

https://www.democracynow.org/2022/8/30/wests_false_narrative_china_russia_ukraine

My primary interest in world affairs for many years has been ecology and sustainability.  Nevertheless, it became clear to me a long time ago that without a sane foreign policy in DC and elsewhere, the world would be facing continual eco-catastrophes.  Why?  Because Earth is one giant ecosystem, and overcoming eco-problems requires global cooperation.  Global conflict pretty much destroys any chance for those efforts.  If things don't change significantly, there will not be a sustainable planet for our grandkids.

Please listen carefully to Professor Sachs' presentations.  His life has been devoted to sustainability economics, mitigating poverty, and helping countries in crisis.  He works not only in academia, but also as an advisor to various world leaders.  This interview pulls no punches.  Plus, his grasp of modern industrial history is superb.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

An Editorial Review from Online Book Club

 https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/viewtopic.php?p=2237558#p2237558

If you truly want to be a positive force in the transition to a sustainable Earth, have a look at this Review of my first book.

Thanks, and be well.

Ecologist William E. Rees on: overshoot, carbon dioxide, cities, and human thinking

 In this short clip, Prof. Rees is interviewed by another comprehensive thinker, Prof. Nate Hagens (The Great Simplification, also on YouTube).  This is an excerpt from a longer talk.  If you wish to increase your ecological knowledge, don't miss this---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1vX03h7w9c&list=WL&index=67

It seems to me that too many of our public & private Powers-That-Be are stuck in reductionist (as opposed to holistic) thinking.  As a result, as a species we're not yet approaching the mitigation of the Eco-Crisis in any comprehensive manner.  Here are a few specifics---

1.  Why is there no U.S. Dept. of Sustainability, or same in any other country?

2.  Which of the Powers-That-Be is addressing the soil crisis, or the acidification of the ocean, or the massive pollution of the ecosphere by micro-plastics, or pollution by endocrine-disrupting chemicals, or biodiversity loss (there is a bit of progress with this one), or how all these and more are linked?

3.  Which of the Powers truly understands the need for economic  development which is sustainable, as opposed to mindless economic growth which perpetually produces more mountains of rubbish (thus overwhelming Earth's waste-neutralizing capacity)?

4.  How many of the Powers really grasp this concept:  if we don't address the human overpopulation problem, Nature will - via massive starvation, famine, disease, and untimely death?

5.  How many of the Powers understand that technological advances are one of the main reasons we are now in a socio-eco-econ-ethical Crisis of the Ages?  Why?  Because those Tech advances were almost blindly implemented, with little thought to possible unintended consequences, and even less thought to monitoring & regulating their implementation.  A prime example is the petrochemical industry.  It has brought us great convenience, and monumental damage to health and ecosystems.  It's folly to believe that Technology alone now will save us.

Holism v. Reductionism---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_kbt7h1YRw&list=WL&index=63

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

HOPE, from one of the greatest...

 conservationists on the planet---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH3VzkG8u2o&list=PLpCH1XIO3lYtRELTupGHOfrbylNlPhPKR&index=3

Here's an important snippet from this less-than-6-minutes talk:

"...the absurd idea that we can have infinite economic growth on a planet with finite resources."  Amen.

Unfortunately, probably 90% of our politicians believe in that "absurd idea".  We can change that, IF we have the desire & will to do so.

A few cardinal rules re our current Eco-Crisis:

1.  Ecological overshoot will not be mitigated enough by advances in Technology if we continue to pursue infinite economic growth.

2.  Earth's waste assimilating/neutralizing capability is being overwhelmed by our pursuit of perpetual growth.

3.  Healthy, natural ecosystems are crucial to our thriving on this planet.

4.  Economic development does NOT require constant economic growth.

5.  Yes, Earth does have a carrying capacity, and that applies regardless of technological advances.  While those advances can somewhat increase said capacity, such is true only up to a point.  Beyond that point, Nature tells us to back off, slow down, and cultivate some ecological sense.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

So-called "A.I." ALREADY is replacing humans in the workplace

Best guess:  the situation only will get worse. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9reoRGBydrU

The title of this piece reads "So-called..." because the original definition of Artificial Intelligence was:  a machine which recognizes itself as a separate being.  To my knowledge, we're not yet anywhere near that scenario.

Nevertheless, what we have now can be a bane to society, and potentially dangerous beyond the pale.  Politicians worldwide need to get a handle on the use of A.I.  What are they waiting for - the first disaster?  Even the creators of A.I. already are warning us.  Who would know of the dangers better than them?  Nobody.

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Not only my opinion.  Take Care

"12 Myths About Taxing the Rich"

 At the link below, Prof. Reich blows away the misleading statements and outright propaganda coming from the Rich and the Media pundits who favor them.  The short clip is four years old, but about 99.9% of it still applies today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnoLAMHwf2I&list=WL&index=68&t=5s

While a few of those myths most likely are known as such by Main Street, I'm guessing the majority of them are not.  Every voter (in particular) will be better informed after watching this piece.  The arguments used by the Rich against a "wealth tax" simply don't hold up under scrutiny.  Have a look, and see if you agree.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

"Oh-oh...who knew (???) besides UPS workers..."

Below is my latest email (greatly edited/expanded) sent to family and friends.

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 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4e8jI_qzro

I hope they get a good contract without a strike.  99.9% of the multiple, multiple packages I get from Amazon per month are delivered by UPS.

This scenario is a good example of how Big Biz sometimes screws its employees in order to shift wealth to the Upper Crust.  Kudos to Main St. workers for fighting back.

Yes, companies should make a profit, no question about that; but making obscene profits harms society in the long run.  How/why?  Because such profits usually are the result of not treating workers fairly, cutting corners re safety (think Deepwater Horizon in 2010, among many other examples), damaging or destroying natural ecosystems (thus harming what sustains us), causing workers incredible stress re job security and a substandard living, and more.

All the above is one more reason why the USA is circling the drain in the sink of "glory days", and one more result of the Oligarchy getting more and more desperate as the so-called "American Empire" declines.  One possible solution to this particular scenario is to begin a long conversion of our economy to worker co-ops.  There's no good reason for workers not being the owners of a company.  A few such companies already exist here, and are doing well.  Some examples:  

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/insights/051316/6-successful-companies-are-employeeowned.asp#:~:text=The%20largest%20employee%2Downed%20company,WinCo%20Foods%2C%20and%20Brookshire%20Brothers

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well