"Wake Up, Freak Out - then Get a Grip," an excellent video on global warming from Leo Murray on Vimeo.
See also: Wake Up, Freak Out – then Get a Grip Web Site
 

Beyond the Green Economy:
The End of Capitalism As We Know It

The latest world economic crisis is not just caused by: Greed and corruption at all levels of society; Irresponsible sub-prime lending; Lack of regulation of credit derivatives; Domination of governments by corporate interests; Excessive energy consumption; Unfair taxation policies; Excessive debt; Unfair global corporate competitive practices; Uninformed electorates; Destruction of local economies; and Social and economic inequality. Most of these are not so much causes as symptoms.

At the root of capitalism is the notion is that the world has infinite resources. That no human actions can fundamentally alter the environment and affect the planet’s health. That natural resources- air water, oceans, land, animals and plants are unlimited and are only negligibly affected by human actions.

This notion of infinite resources is fundamentally flawed. All of our collective and individual actions are interrelated. The crises we face now and in the future are global in scope. Air, water, earth and sky are not owned by individual countries- they are global interconnected resources with universal rights of ownership.

Fundamentally, global corporations, governments and individuals must be held responsible and accountable for the costs required to address and correct the damage they cause to the world’s ecosystems. Conversely, actions that renew and sustain the environment should be rewarded and incentivized. New policies must be shaped that renew the environment rather than destroy it.

Whether through taxation, a new form of global environmental currency, etc., every action that adversely affects plant and animal diversity- affects the drinkable water supply and quality of air; affects the ability of the earth to sustain long term agriculture; destroys old growth forests, etc. must come at a price proportionate to the damage caused. I will repeat- the full price of environmental destruction must be factored into the economic decisions of corporations, governments and individuals. When this takes place, actions that today are considered profitable will become extremely unprofitable and impossible to undertake.

Corporations, governments and individuals must be forced to think strategically about the best use of limited, finite resources and begin to act responsibly, factoring in human and environmental rights into their decision making and planning. Environmental costs can be determined by looking at the nature of the damage, its permanence, its effect on human health, climate change, etc.  Human  costs- lost lives, destroyed communities and cultures, economic and political dislocation, illegal imprisonment- these are only a few of the human costs of irresponsible corporate, military and governmental power.

New international bodies must be formed that can create the currency and regulating mechanisms to enforce full recognition of these costs and basic rights throughout the world economy. Fundamental to this recognition must be a respect for life and the interrelatedness of all life.

Inherent in this almost exclusive pursuit of profit is a fundamental disrespect for life. The notion of nature as the survival of the fittest is fundamentally false. While this belief may be at the root of capitalism- in nature there are cooperative systems that have evolved over thousands and millions of years to preserve and perpetuate diversity. Each form of life, from the smallest to the largest- serves a key niche in preserving the balance of the whole.

If collective global action does not take place, then environmental disasters will grow exponentially over the next 100 years- year by year- decade by decade. Once great economies will collapse and/or become even more militaristic in an effort to control remaining global resources. Economic inequalities will become more glaring and potentially world population will decline due to disaster and war- not self-regulation.

There is nothing more costly to life on Earth than war. Yet war could very well be the consequence of a failure to address global environmental issues. Restoration of environmental and human justice requires the abolition of war and a genuine respect for human life.

This is not a rich versus poor, developed versus less developed country issue. For example, if the United States decides to engage in more offshore drilling it should pay a steep economic price for the environmental impact. If Brazil or Ecuador chooses to preserve its rain forests for the preservation of world climate and indigenous life and wisdom, it should be rewarded. In fact, some of the world's poorest communities engage in some of the most sustainable environmental practices- and should be rewarded accordingly- not forced to adopt Western inspired exploitative practices that undermine local communities and deplete natural resources.

Also, an equitable and universal system will not result in one country or corporation paying a disproportionate share of the cost. Rather it will share the burden equally and shift the incentive from short term profits to environmental (aka human) sustainability throughout the world's economic system. Currently we have a system that rewards the almost exclusive pursuit of profit, power and exploitation. Regulation, at best, is inadequate and routinely circumvented over time. We need to restructure the system, so that rewards shift to the protection of human and environmental rights. With this change in incentives there will be a need for less, not more regulation. There will be less, not more economic dislocation. 

Some may feel that these ideas are unrealistic- however the necessity of our times dictates solutions on a global scale. The alternative is global disaster. Some may feel that these ideas would erode national sovereignty. However, this has already occurred. Global corporations care very little about individual nations and their workers- they will exploit wherever they have the opportunity and can gain temporary advantage. They already effectively control the world's governments and militaries. Still others may believe these recommendations require full nationalization of industry or would otherwise be unenforceable. However, there are benefits to retaining competitiveness and innovation in the system- two potential benefits of non-state ownership. Smaller companies in particular represent great potential sources of innovation. Again, some may feel that imposing environmental sustainability requirements will restrict economic growth. This may occur in the short run, however in the long term there would be more sustainable growth. Also, nothing precludes a phase in, where it is responsible.

No economic system is perfect and completely fair- however the current one is not merely less than perfect- it is unsustainable and self destructive. - Lowell Greenberg, 12/7/2008; See also: Calif. adopts sweeping global warming plan, 12/11/2008

A Wartime Mobilization

"There are many things we do not know about the future. But one thing we do know is that business as usual will not continue for much longer. Massive change is inevitable. Will the change come because we move quickly to restructure the economy or because we fail to act and civilization begins to unravel?

Saving civilization will take a massive mobilization, and at wartime speed. The closest analogy is the belated U.S. mobilization during World War II. But unlike that chapter in history, in which one country totally restructured its economy, the Plan B mobilization requires decisive action on a global scale."- Lester Brown- A War Time Mobilization, 12/3/2008

Comment: Lester Brown is founder of the Earth Policy Institute. The Washington Post called Lester Brown "one of the world's most influential thinkers." He is the recipient of many prizes and awards, including 23 honorary degrees, a MacArthur Fellowship, the 1987 United Nations' Environment Prize, the 1989 World Wide Fund for Nature Gold Medal, and the 1994 Blue Planet Prize for his "exceptional contributions to solving global environmental problems."  More recently, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Italy, the Borgström Prize by the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry, and appointed an honorary professor of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
 

A Time to Work Together & A Time to Fight

It is now time- and it has always been time- for groups and individuals committed to fundamental progressive change to band together. We must recognize that our challenges- environmental sustainability; human rights violations; minority, gay, indigenous, immigration and labor rights; children and woman's rights; unjust wars; animal welfare rights; consumer protections, etc. - are all interrelated. Fundamentally, our problems stem from a lack of spiritual awareness of our interconnectedness and a lack of respect for all life. As we elevate our spiritual awareness of our connection, we must also take the fight to the global corporate/governmental elites who support repression and the destruction of the individual and community. There is nothing radical in this notion. Rather it is fundamental to our survival as a species.- Lowell Greenberg 

The Global Economy

"...The idea of an economy based upon several kinds of ruin may seem a contradiction in terms, but in fact such an economy is possible, as we see. It is possible however, on one implacable condition: the only future good that it assuredly leads to is that it will destroy itself. And how does it disguise this outcome from its subjects, its short-term beneficiaries, and its victims? It does so by false accounting. It substitutes for the real economy, by which we build and maintain (or do not maintain) our household, a symbolic economy of money, which in the long run, because of the self-interested manipulations of the "controlling interests," cannot symbolize or account for anything but itself. And so we have before us the spectacle of unprecedented "prosperity" and "economic growth" in a land of degraded farms, forests, ecosystems, and watersheds, polluted air, failing families, and perishing communities."

"...In default of government protections against the total economy of the supranational corporations, people are where they have been many times before: in danger of losing their economic security and their freedom, both at once. But at the same time the means of defending themselves belongs to them in the form of a venerable principle: powers not exercised by government return to the people. If the government does not propose to protect the lives, livelihoods, and freedoms of its people, then the people must think about protecting themselves.- From, "The Idea of a Local Economy," by Wendell Berry, Orion Magazine, 2002

Beautiful Earth

Love is eternal.
Love is silence.
Always act from the heart.
Gentleness, Peace, Holiness and Light.
All creation is part of the tree of life.
Become dead to the world to be truly alive.
When free of all attachment, there will be compassion.
Knowledge and truth remain forever.
All is spirit. All is beautiful. Love all.

A Prayer for Peace & Awakening

May we awaken to the sea of love that immerses us- that engulfs us- removing fear from our lives and seeking peace- peace within ourselves, peace in our families, peace in our communities, peace within nations, peace in the world- in the universe. May we understand and experience our true selves and manifest in the world as beings of light and joy- learning how to end suffering, heal the wounds we inflict on ourselves and others and rediscovering our connection to all spirit and love.

Pray for peace, calm and wisdom in the Middle East- the averting war with Iran. The US and Israeli plans for a tactical nuclear or non-nuclear air strike against Iran would be an unmitigated disaster for the United States, the Middle East and the world. It will destroy the possibility of peace in the Middle East for a quarter of a century or more It will lead to a chain of events that will cause an untold loss of life in and outside of the region. It will significantly increase the likelihood of wars and attacks using WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) in the region and throughout the world. It will embolden the forces of fear and repression in the Middle East and the Western democracies.

Pray and work in solidarity for the people of Oaxaca, Mexico who are standing up to government oppression and seeking the ouster of Governor Ulises Ruiz. Work for the release of prisoners that are unjustly held. Pray for the work of organizations such as the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO), the Women's Commission (COMO) and CIPO (Council of Indigenous People of Oaxaca). Pray that they remain non-violent and that the cause of justice for the poor and indigenous people become a rallying cry through out Mexico and the world.

Pray and work to end the fear and exploitation of  immigrants that sometimes is tantamount to slave labor. Pray and work for immediate and unconditional amnesty for immigrants and open borders for people of all races and nations.

Pray and work for peace in Tibet and the end of Chinese oppression and corruption.

Pray and work for the end of the Israeli occupation of Gaza

Pray and work for the end of genocide in Darfur where more than 450,000 people have died and 2.5 million made refugees. Divest for Darfur; Save Darfur; Sudan Disinvestment Taskforce

Pray for the ending of civil war in Iraq. Pray for the Iraqi people, who over the last thirty years have experienced the loss of millions of lives, enduring a barbarous regime, three bloody wars, a long period of inhumane sanctions and a humiliating, deadly occupation. At least 655,000 Iraq civilians and almost 4,000 Americans have died as a consequence of the March 2003 invasion of Iraq. Pray for tranquility in Lebanon and peace between Palestinians and Israel and an ending of the atrocities in Gaza.

Pray that U.S. leaders be brought to justice for crimes against humanity, the erosion of civil liberties and other illegal acts that contravene international and U.S. law. Pray that the innocents imprisoned and tortured in Guantanamo Bay and elsewhere are freed. See: For His Treatment of Children in the 'War on Terror,' Bush is a War Criminal; 35 Articles of Impeachment against George Bush, 6/9/2008 & General who probed Abu Ghraib says Bush officials committed war crimes, 6/18/2008.

Free the San Francisco 8 and others the U.S. government is holding illegally and unjustly.

Pray that all peoples wake up to the threat of global capitalism whose goal is to maximize the wealth and power of its elites and destroy man's connection with spirit and life. Pray that the environmental devastation and suffering they wreak will end. Pray that together we end the global food crisis.

Referring to the Niger Delta in Nigeria, Sandy Cioffi, film director of Sweet Crude writes:

"Here, citizens of an oil-rich nation struggle to eat in a land that can no longer support them. The Delta’s water and soil have been fouled by the same oil production that accounts for more than 80 percent of the country’s revenue. Traditional fishing and farming livelihoods are all but gone. Potable drinking water is rare. So is electricity. With pitifully few clinics and schools, curable conditions go untreated and illiteracy is high. Families are broken up, as men die young or take off for the cities to find jobs." See also: Crude Times in the Niger Delta.

 "...People, who lost their love and forgot the respect for our mother earth. People, who love the money, they murder our mother earth..."- Don Casimiro Mamallacta, medicine-man/shaman from the comunidad Mariposa (community of butterflies) located in the upper Amazon basin. See also: Mariposa-Community of Butterfies

"...I would hope that the destructive results of the civilized world would result in some relinquishment of dominion and that those who destroy this way of life and continue to forbid it could find reason to begin to allow those of us who can to engage in a socio-environmental experiment to show once again how I and others can be effective in enlivening the natural world."- A letter from Finisia Medrano in jail...to the Lemhi County Court.

Pray and work for a 70%-80% reduction in global warming gas emission to avert worldwide climate catastrophe. Pray that this generation and future generations are spared the pain and suffering. May they forgive us for what we have done.

Pray that mankind awakens to the interconnectedness of all life and halts human- caused extinctions that could result in the loss of half of the Earth's species by the end of the century.

O Great Spirit
grant me a vision. Let it be good. Let it bless all people.