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What do you think of what's said in the Culture Change Letter? Join the discussion! Email us at info@culturechange.org. Give your comments on U.S. energy & transportation habits, sustainable living, peace, climate change, Arcata... We edit letters for brevity. The most recent letters come first and are grouped into the specific Culture Change Letter and its topic. General and Arcata-oriented letters are at the bottom of this page. CCL #50 January 10, 2004 A nonviolent scenario: Ready for deep revolution? CCL #49 January 3, 2004 The masses: a cornered animal
Jan. 6 -
My
view of the future is that things will continue to get worst as people
continue to find excuses and reasons to let it be. Look at all the people
who have had cancer and/or have had people close to them die of cancer.
How many are denouncing the cancer society for only pushing cures rather
than looking or promoting cause avoidance? We know what causes cancer yet
people keep on giving money to drug companies and societies that support
them. If cancer is not a wake up call, what do you figure will be?
I'd
love to feel positive - to hear from you why you think people will act. I
know that 3 years ago when I heard that around 2007 there wouldn't be
anymore fin fish found in the seas of the world, I was shocked and wrote
to the studies author asking what could - should - would be done....I'm
still waiting for real actions to take place. It was on the news (in
Canada - CBC) for about one day.
So
ok Jan, Happy New Year. Although I can't figure how anybody can be happy
anymore, I'm still willing to use the word.
Huguette
JL responds: Thanks for wanting to take the discussion to
higher levels. My simple answer is that the animal is not yet backed
into the corner. As long as there is diversion and ample food, (even
what passes for food today) people will be willing to see just the smiling
facade of the system. But as soon as the critical mass occurs in
socioeconomic pressure, people will start looking and acting beyond the
television screen and the party line of their bosses and institutions.
Perhaps the end of plentiful oil will trigger the mass's ire, but then it's
going to be chaos. So, if the animal feels cornered somehow before
that, then we will see a rebellion and the chance for a more planned
transition to sustainability. Inevitably, though, collapse is
inevitable and energy use as we know it will not be possible on a mass
scale. Does this help clarify my analysis? Cheers, Jan
Along the way, I wonder how
China's rise and the dollar's collapse will change the dynamics.
Best,
John Schaefer
Jan. 4 - You have hit the bullseye again. Cornered animal is exactly how I am feeling these days. And for exactly the reasons you point out. Every trip in a car, every urban flood from buried creeks, every sound emanating from mass media TV and radio. My adrenaline induced panic state is surrounding me increasingly as I struggle to remain focussed and take care of daily life. Thanks for your insights. Keep it up. I wish I had a better idea of the way out of this mess. Organizing requires some inspired belief in others, which I am a little low on at the present time. My struggle currently is inward into my own sources of inspiration or lack thereof. Paul Richards
Jan. 4 - Hi Jan-
I note that the stridency
and urgency of your letters is increasing
approximately in parallel with the incoming
threats we both know too
well. I like the way you are leading
people along. Nice recent letter.
I told you a while back
that I had quit my job, sold my suburban home, and
joined an intentional community.
Anyway, I just want to
say, "Good Job"!
Regards,
Bruce Stephenson
Jan. 4 - Dear Jan,
Having made observations
much like yours, my husband and I started an
organization that is designed to address the
mental numbness induced by the
right wing/corporatist messaging machine, its
media collaborators, and
incessant advertising. You ask when we are
going to get started. We're
already working on it. Commonweal Institute
(no relation to the Commonweal
in Bolinas, CA, nor the Catholic magazine of
the same name) is still a small
organization, but growing. As far as we can
tell, it's the only one anywhere
in the country designed to deal both with
ideas and the need to use
sophisticated marketing & communication
techniques to move the public
agenda.
If you're interested,
check out the website of Commonweal Institute
(www.commonwealinstitute.org).
I'd like to hear your reactions.
Katherine Forrest, MD
Co-Founder
Commonweal Institute
325 Sharon Park Drive,
Suite 332
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Jan.
4 - Jan. 4 - Culture Change,
Jan Lundberg states what
should be obvious to anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear. We, in this
community, need no new impetus to organise. The main problem is the method of
change that has been humanity's bane. We never seem to look ahead. We see the
light in the tunnel, we hear the blast of the horn, yet we still play on the
tracks. It has always been after the train has passed, flattening everyone in
its path, after - fill in the blank - disaster, that we do anything.
Look at any major change in
history and you will see this pattern. A couple of prime examples are the
great depression and Minimata. We ignore all the warning signs, we let the
damage progress, and it is only when the damage is catastrophic that we do
something about it. The horse is out of the barn, along with the cows,
chickens, rats etc.
We knew back in the 70's the
oil would run out, but we did nothing to change the efficiency of the
combustion engine until OPEC forced the issue in pointed fashion. In fact,
almost any significant change or progress in humanity's condition has come at
a huge cost. And I am afraid that these times are no exception.
We must organize, but it must
be a post disaster capable organisation. It must look at what the collapse of
the oil economy will mean. It must be a repository of information that will
help the survivors rebuild without making the mistakes which brought them to
that point of no return.
We must be ready to see world
population levels crash when the environment implodes and then be there to
rescue as much of our life support system as possible.
Many people will die. And many
people will focus on saving them all. This is our natural impulse as liberals
and good hearted people. But there is no way to save the planet with this many
people sucking the life out of the system. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the
ecosystem is not human and it does not care for us one way or the other. It
simply exists and if we decide to push the system so out of balance that is
kills off our species, then so be it. The ecosystem will just chug along.
We will not force people to
behave one way or another, that would be counter to our belief systems. So we
cannot sterilise most of the population to control out of control growth. Nor
can we implement even more horrific measures. What we can do is be ready for
the disaster and be ready to step in and explain what happened, why it
happened and how to survive with no chance of repeating the insanity.
Our best hope is that a
disaster will befall us that will simultaneously be big enough to change us,
small enough not to kill us all off and soon enough that it is not too late.
Here is to hope and luck.
Richard A. Davies
CCL #48 December 27, 2003 Curse of the well informed — Paying off in 2004?
January 1, 2004 - Dear Jan,
UntiI I came to this country 35 years ago I lived in the English countryside. As a child I lived in small villages, no electricity, no running water, a pump outside in the yard, no TV, no radio. Yet on reflection life was in many ways better than today. The villages were self contained and we had our own society. No elder or sick individual went without someone to help and look after them, everyone stopped and spoke when you passed them in the street. We had our football and cricket teams, and other groups that met weekly to play cards, make music and so on. We children walked to school a mile or so without fear, no one locked their doors.
I think that we will inevitably
have to return to the self contained villages or small towns when the oil runs
out. The talk of hydrogen cars and so on is largely hog wash. I am
not against technical advancement, indeed some of the items I was
responsible for are still sitting on the moon, but we have to look at these
things with a practical eye. Science can help us to make the best of our
resources but it cannot extend them or produce more. We must first
decide what standard of living we want for our people and then we can
calculate just how many we can support in that style. Of course none of
this will happen as there is no overall global planning for the future.
We will just toddle along and hope that we can take care of every shortage as
it occurs. Then we ultimately will find ourselves in an untenable
situation. To avoid this we must completely change our society from
being based on profit (greed) to being based on doing what is best for
society. This is unlikely to occur here in the US as there is this great
opposition to any national planning (Listen to the cries of "But
that's socialism").
Already the few countries that
have a declining birthrate are looking to ways to bring in more people and
here in NY state the cry is that we need more development to find more jobs
for the immigrants that are flooding in.
One of my books is called Fruitful Extinction, based on my experiences in third world countries which prompted me to consider the world's growing population. Please feel free to print out and give a copy to your friends. See CCL #47 December 18, 2003 Peace and the U.S. petro-city
Dec. 26 - j,
i live on the edge of a 62
acre forest. in windy periods, for example, dropping tree branches
can be quite dangerous. but when downtown san francisco quakes, for
example, there is little escape.
all health to you and your
family in these short days,
c
Dec. 19 - Dear Jan,
I agree with your assessment for the most part. Please keep in mind that there are cities that you would love if you were to visit. Have you traveled to carfree cities that were designed to be beautiful and charming? My passion is studying cities. Each year I travel to cities that are carfree or traffic free, mostly in Europe. Traffic free cities are starting to happen in the USA. To put it simply cities make nature and agriculture possible. Sprawl, a congratulation of single family houses, is the villain. When people build a cabin in the foothills or mountains its as if a tentacle of cancer or fungus is creping in to mother natures domain. Roads and cars are the villains. It's e-z to slip into the dark side of our personalities. People who live in cities and fight for there quality of life are the heroes. People who move from cities into sprawl or little cabins in the hills helter-skelter are the villains. Please see my www site www.villageat.org browse through the books page. Also go to www.carfree.com
Michael L. Hoag
Laguna Beach, CA
Dec. 19 - Dear Jan:
It is great to be able to
live in a redwood forest or a dramatically less populous
area like SW New Mexico as I do (although too many cars, traffic, and
DWI offenses abound despite or because of our rural character), but not
everyone can escape the "caged city."
The great "multiplier effect" strikes again!!
If folks could garner the resources needed for subsisting in even a simple
cabin in the foothills, they'd encroach upon forest/wildlife habitat
even bigger time than already shown during the
great fires of this past fall and summer
in the SW and especially California).
Or they'd strain small-town
resources in a high-desert town like Silver City (water, especially--the
drought persists and the Rio Grande in neighboring Las Cruces farm area is
DRY; the silver minnow is being moved to a "reservation" to
save it.) Commonly, folks build a nice place in the beautiful
but arid lands 5-10 miles out of town (no services!!), then drive several
times weekly into Silver City to work, volunteer, or get supplies. Our
little bus system seems relegated to poor or welfare folks or older folks
needing a ride to dialysis.
So what is the
solution?--small towns that somehow stay that way and stil develop in a
sustainable way may be the answer, leaving the forests to the wilder
species. A group of people in Silver City is starting something
called the hometown initiative that you could
find out more about by e-mailing Nick
Siebold, one of our own councilors at nicky@zianet.com.
Hope this proves helpful and hopeful--it is only in beginning stages. Can give you more e-mail addresses of organizers if you need them.
Please keep writing to us
and making us think. Cheers and a happy woodland holiday despite
everything,
Margaret CCL #46
December 14, 2003 United
Nations Climate Change Conference: Growth remains the strategy JL responds - The gases going into the atmosphere won't
affect climate for 50 to 80 years, so there is no comfort in running out of oil.
Climate change is getting out of control. -
Dec. 15 - Yeah, I suppose you're right.
I wonder what the elite class
is thinking..
What do they think is going to
happen to their grand-children? No
one will escape... well. Maybe not.
The very wealthy almost always escape...
unless the poor classes revolt and get
them first. I've often
wondered if that was one reason for the
elites' supporting the military: for
protection in extremis.
It has been ever thus, after
all. Of course, sometimes the
military joins the revolution,
cf. France, 1795 or so.
Charles
Los Angeles Dec. 15 - Pincas Jawetz made the comment "There you have the first shoe dropping: adapt to climate change because the economic elite refuse to reduce emissions sufficiently."
This shows a gross
misunderstanding. The greenhouse gases are already well
above historical natural levels. Climate change due to this fact is
already under way. This is irreversible so we do have no alternative
but to adapt. A reduction in the rate of emissions will only
reduce the rate at which the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
increase. It can only reduce the rate of climate change. That
is a very worthwhile object but it is not fostered by the misleading
statement above.
Denis Frith
Melbourne
JL reponds: We don't misunderstand that climate change is underway and may even be out of control. Nevertheless, the right thing to do is to slash all greenhouse gas emissions immediately. Perhaps this will happen when the rising tide of polluted sea water washes into Wall Street. Then the top dogs can get helicopter-lifted to work every day to their office building's roof-tops, using fossil fuels no doubt. Incidentally, I made the comment, not Pincas Jawetz. - JL CCL #45 December 2, 2003 Brain control of the masses via pollutants December 21, 2003 - Yo, CCL #44 November 25, 2003 Overpopulation's toll: Water privatization and the rising conflict
Nov. 26 - Excellent article. In addition to
activism against water privatization, all compassionate
landowners should be responsible for grabbing (and sharing!) the
rainwater that falls on their site. If everyone did this, the water
finding its way to rivers, lakes, dams, etc—the
sources tapped by corporations—would be
reduced. Collection systems can be very inexpensive, even
made from recycled components (55-gallon drums obtained from bakeries, etc.)
and simple earthworks, needing only a shovel, can also be used.
Many how-to books are
available. The best one (Rainwater Harvesting by Brad
Lancaster) is scheduled to come out next year.
Thanks for all your hard work
and research.
Kay Sather
JL responds - I agree that local approaches are
best. Here in northern California there are pot growers who take all the
water from their streams for their crops and don't leave much water for the
endangered fish species downstream, when some cisterns for example would be
more ecologically equitable. Lancaster is one of our readers, and is
expert at re-using building materials and permaculture.
Nov. 26 - Jan,
The letter about water
was interesting. Up here in Oregon, we're dependent on the snow-pack
for our summer water supply, irrigation, etc. In recent years, it's
been melting. Well, it's a Chevy Day. We're taking it out for no
other reason than to put the top down.
Later,
Charles
JL responds: You're a great kidder, you Chevy-less walker! Nov. 25 - Very excellent compilation
and timely, as usual. There will be many wars over this. JL responds: Thanks, John. Until I looked into this I sort of accepted the idea that yeah, there will be water wars. Now I see it more as one ongoing war that started a while ago and will go on until the foundation of civilization is changed.
Nov. 25
- Thanks again for your commitment to the realization of our traumatic
situation. I am honored to arrive at this site to read each letter that
embodies the only real effect of our lives, or rather, our mislifes. Sincerely, Timothy Dicks IT Professional http://illdill.org CCL #43 November 19, 2003 The corporado's life and its antithesis Nov. 21 - Too true - have just finally
gotten around to reading David Korten's "When Corpoations Rule the
World," and whereas I knew the general outline, it is always good to
refresh oneself with the nauseating details. But it is so scary that
people can't seem to wake up from consumeritis. JL responds: Thank you Paul. I think I was a little hard on the corporate execs, if you're right that they will join in community. Who knows. Yet, as you know, the planet is being trashed so badly that nature as we knew it may not recover. And yet the corporados keep up the aggression and techno-nightmare without changing direction. Larger forces are at work, for better or worse. Jan
Nov. 21 - WHAT
A BUNCH OF CRAP BASED ON STYEREOTYPES WRITTEN BY AN IGNORAMOUS!!!!!!!!!
Wake up and think!
RONIN CCL #42 November 12, 2003 Resisting nanotech, violence and the corporate state — They're coming for you
Nov. 15 - Dear Jan:
Did it ever occur to you that all those people are in jail because they deserve to be. And if they weren't, they would be creating mayhem even in remote places like Arcata.
You give corporations much
more credit than they are due. Nanotechnology? Honestly. The
reason none of your leaders has any following is that the message is merely
anti the establishment, not convincingly for an alternative. Yes,
recycling and driving a fuel efficient car are good things, but you can't
build a society on that cliche.
SPG Nov.
14 - Hi, [regarding the Culture Change
Letter #42] I agree 100 cento per cento. It has to get worse,
before more people get pissed and something happens.
Nov. 13 - Jan, am definitely aware of this
Orwellian development but it's almost impossible to deal with on top of
everything else. What really disturbs me is your statement
"a little more time must elapse before mass interest is awakened on a big
enough scale" - not because you said it but because it seems to be true.
And I keep thinking, WHY will it take more time? What will it take to
wake people up?
The fact that books by Michael
Moore, Al Franken, Molly Ivins, and Jim Hightower that are highly
critical and informative about the insanities that are going on AND very
funny, so they get read - are at the top of the NYT best seller list is very
heartening. But Moore's books have consistently been at the top and he
has SRO audiences on his tours and sometimes has to perform twice a night.
SO - many people are getting the message - why aren't they staging
another Boston Tea Party? They just like
the laughs? They don't think they have to ACT on the info? I get
so frustrated.
However, I recently heard
historian Howard Zinn giving the historical perspective, that there have never
been so many individuals and grassroots groups rising up globally - certainly
the February protests against Bush's war, and vigils continue every week all
over this country and the world (I love it that residents of the retirement
center in my home town, Mill Valley, CA are out there every week, walkers,
wheelchairs and all.) Anti-war is not the same as anti-corporation, but
they're close.
Paul Hawken agrees with Zinn
and says the amazing thing is that all the different grassroots groups, while
they may be focused on different aspects, are not in conflict with, but
complementary to, each others' actions. Jean Houston, Starhawk and
others - all globetrotters - say similar things. I keep thinking
of the symbol of the weed growing up through the concrete.
I get very frustrated with the
environmental organizations - all groups - social justice, etc.- why they
don't coordinate and join forces. Am very irked at Union of Concerned
Scientists, whose latest magazine is all about more efficient cars, but
nothing about peak oil coming at us.
Wanda Ballentine Nov. 13 - Dear Mr. Lundberg:
You are right on target,
about the control of the human populace.
Nothing will destroy the
economy (here and worldwide) more, than the collapse of
the oil supply. This is going to shortly come to pass (<http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22Peak+Oil%27>Google
Search: "Peak Oil').
Oil is the most strategic
natural resource we have. Without it, society (particularly
the fly/drive transportation system) will collapse. I have warned
people about this, but they apparently don't
care. The collapse is shortly going
to commence. It will be irreversible. Brace yourself for what
is going to come.
I have been interested in
Bible prophecy for many years, and the coming Antichrist
is well on the way. He will control all of the world; so that no one
will be able to perform any kind of economic
activity, without his mark in the forehead
or right hand. I would suggest you watch two very important programs
(both of them on Trinity Broadcasting Network). The shows are
"Jack Van Impe Presents" and "International
Intelligence Briefing".
CCL #41 November 6, 2003 Tyranny of mediocrity — The opposite of tribal fineness
Nov. 10 - There are a lot of people in my
family that fit the "Bigman" description.
Tohellivisions in every
room, big extracab 4x4 pickups, big boats, lots and lots of guns, RVs,
power leaf blowers, pressure washers, the latest in home
entertainment. But they are not happy, nor are they physically
active.
They tell me that I need
to work more, get ahead. I must be sick or mentally ill. I
just don't think all those frivolous items are worth my time. I am
happy with what I have. I make enough money working two days a week
to consume what I need. My 18 year old Toyota is still running
great. And because I ride my bicycle around town a lot, that old
Toyota will last another 5 years at least. I would much rather spend
my time playing guitar, hiking, reading,
with my family, or working for a better world.
Great writing Jan, this is
one of your best CC letters.
Depaver Larry JL responds: Larry, it is a lonely life sometimes, to be an exponent of cultural change. I know you are in tune with the truth and nature, so I don't feel sorry for you. But it's so weird, isn't it, being in such a minority surrounded by pathalogical apathy and such complacency about consuming so much energy and other materials. Keep on eco-rockin', Jan
Nov.
7 - It's time to use the correct word for our present society: "Kakistocracy".
Look it up in a good dictionary and put it to work. Nov. 7 - A new mall was just completed here directly across from another mall - named appropriately, "Legacy." It boasts heated sidewalks and looks like Disneyland at night. It snarled traffic for months during its construction and continued to do so the weekend it opened as it was mobbed by people determined to be there at the beginning. Not enough parking places and cars backed out into the streets. Friend of mine who moved here from California a few years before I did commented that the main activity for Ohioans is shopping (also has one of the highest rates for obesity and smoking). Yet, this is supposed to be an impoverished area with high unemployment and jobs leaving in droves, so one has to wonder where are all the buyers are coming from? Charging as if there's no tomorrow, I guess, and thus insuring there won't be.
However, a mall proposal for
the West Side was defeated in the election this week - but by just a handful
of votes, so is being challenged for a recount... AND a statewide
measure for $500 million for more giveaways and subsidies to businesses for
'economic development' DID fail - mainly due to the rural areas - of course,
rural areas are generally very conservative and vote GOP big time, but this
time I guess they were tired of funding urban insanity.
Have you read Chalmer
Johnson's Blowback: The Cost and Consequences of American
Empire? I learned more from it about the whys and hows of
the insanity of the U.S. economic 'system' than from anything else. It
is simply stupefying how our so-called 'leaders' can be so totally blind,
deaf, short-sighted and incredibly stupid. Their greed for power and
money is insatiable - they never have enough. Clearly they have
Texas-sized holes in their souls which they try to stuff with things,
status, etc.
Wanda Ballentine Nov. 7 - The great, and rather irreverant Scottish poet, Robert Burns, wrote
Oh what gift the giftie gi'e us,
To see oursel'es as others see us.
In his day, the others weren't
the other species and the oceans and the
atmosphere. Objectivity is beginning to creep
into our culture, but it is
meeting grave resistance. The objective perch is
not a comfortable pew.
Unfortunately, there is still
enough coal and heavy oil available to make a
major change in the atmosphere even if it won't
flow as fast as the light
stuff we're addicted to at the moment. After the
Petroleum Age and the Coal
Age 2 play out, realistic sustainability will
take hold, but I can't see a
voluntary enlightenment taking hold. Fossil fuels
are the most highly
addictive substances on earth. Tell the smoker
that he has to choose between
smoking and driving; watch the fun. Personally, I
think we should ban cars
and take up smoking.
And we're worrying about Iraq?
And the Dow Jones Average? And the California deficit?
And about Jessica Lynch?
Salmon have arrived at Banks
Inlet on Banks Island in the Arctic ocean. The
native people don't have a word for salmon. They
also don't have words for
robins and other bird species that have arrived
within the last decade. From
their perspective, climate change already
happened, it isn't if or when.
But, by god they love their snowmobiles, too.
Hypocrisy begins at home.
John Park
Nov. 7 - SUV things are one thing, but
flag decals are another.
Oct. 31 - Hi; I now get your newsletter,
and am appalled by Plan Puebla Panama. However, being barely able to
support myself, I cannot contribute to the cause. I can only offer moral
support and encouragement in your efforts. I just wanted you to know
that my heart is with you and all the poor folks who will be adversely
affected. I do spread the word about capitalistic wrongdoings to
whomever will listen.
Peace, Mike B.
Oct. 31 -
"Free Trade", is a terrible mistake.
It lowers every involved
nation to the lowest common denominator...
Those nations that have
labor laws, environmental laws, etc.,
have higher costs for products and services.
"Free Trade" moves
jobs and manufacturing from those that
HAVE protections for people and the environment, to
those that refuse such protections.
FIGHT free trade.
Ronald Frederick Greek
Yuma, Arizona
CCL #39 October 21, 2003 — Modern perception's limitations and The curtain of materialist society's illusion
Oct.
28 - Jan,
As I cannot say I have not enjoyed one of your letters, I again, can say I
thoroughly enjoyed this one (The Curtain of Materialist Society's illusion).
I have seen the movies, and understand your metaphor. I believe what this
boils down to is choosing;
Love
and compassion,
"Or
if a form of Eden awaits us when the curtain crashes down, we could look
forward to living sustainably as we elevate love to the highest social
value."
Or
hate and fear,
"What
would life be like without the curtain? Without billions of people
living as materialists? Without today’s extreme social strife?
Without war, terror, and ecocide? Can
we imagine doing without the boxed-in thinking as practiced by all the
alienated individuals coping with survival in noncommunity?"
Thanks
again
Sincerely, Timothy Dicks IT Professional http://illdill.org Oct. 22 - Hi Jan,
I enjoyed your letter
about illusory curtain of Maya.
Charles T., Oregon CCL #38 October 14, 2003 — We came down from the trees, now we cut them - The new transition to sustainability
Oct. 16 - Geez, Jan, you make me wish I had
more time at the library to read the amazing
volume of great stuff Brian Willson has put out on the web. For
now I'll go back to my corporate job reminded
that there's one more soul
out there committed to resistance and plenty
of reason to keep up my urban
homesteading and putting aside surplus
earnings and seeking financial
independence.
Don M., Modesto, California Oct. 15 - It's an interesting statement about us as a species, our cutting down the forest.
For monkees like us trees
represent safety--our final avenue of escape.
It's interesting to reflect
upon.
Katuah Earth First!er Oct. 15 - i think this is one of the
best essays you've written. very good.
Oct. 15 - JAN! HEY! ALLRIGHT!
Dynomight, excelente,
brovado!
I take it back. This is one
excellent piece, though more than a 'tree-hugging'
piece implied by the title. Virtually no loose ends. Adequate
references to 'culture change', 'oil depletion', other issue inclusiveness.
Heavy duty material offered at climactic end. Neat! I printed it
out on 3 pages at 12pt. This can be distributed ANYWHERE, but honestly, I
think the title should improve: "Humans
evolved first as tree dwellers, now prefer
SUVs" I don't know, something that diversifies the title.
Something more implicative, because this
is excellent reading. Congratulations.
ART
Oct. 15 - Why do believe that a peaceful solution will work Jan? I too would like to think - like Brian Willson and you - that interconnectedness will prevail and that by talking, writing, giving the example, the billions will change.
They won't. The
enemy in this case is not a bad guy. She's the new mother who is
buying nice throw away diapers for her lovely baby. He's the daddy
who's lobbying city hall to accept his water cleanup plan...it does NOT
include protecting water at source but a very expensive sexy new water
cleaning plan. She's the grandmother who's buying all these new
gadgets and appliances for her family...etc...You know what I'm getting
at.
Why do you think
things will change? through peace? why? everybody's comfortable.
Only people like me read you. Not them. No time. Shopping beckons...
As
much as I hate violence and love some people, I am convinced only (drastic
measures) will work. Only rattling the cage will scare people enough
to change. Changing requires thinking. If the obvious signs of
climate change don't do it (I live in the Okanagan where fires raged all
summer and yet nothing, NOTHING has changed) what do you think will? only
real threats to people's lives.
My
only question is how to do it.
Please
let me know if you have data I don't have. Such as why peace will
work. Otherwise I may stop reading you soon as although I really
agree with your premises I despair at your solutions.
H
Jan Lundberg responds: Dear H, I'm sorry
about the fires you had to endure. It is indeed dispiriting that
people don't get it and keep killing the Earth. Oct. 14 - Interesting essay, as usual.
I do not share your optimism
in the adaptability of the human race.
I am more convinced by
arguments that grow from the Tragedy of
the Commons...for instance, Jay Hanson proposes that if we
really care about the future of humanity, we should all go right
out and buy an SUV with the lowest possible gas mileage
figures (a Hum-vee would probably do nicely), and then
proceed to drive up and down the street in front of your house
at the most wasteful speed (or, better, spend every night for a
couple hours driving your Hum-vee on a nearby freeway, as fast
as possible...)....why do this?
Simple: for every drop
of oil we use now, one less child can be born later.
So, by using it up now, we actually save lives.
The rise of the human
population of the planet and the industrial-scale use of fossil fuels track
in tandem exactly. Without all that lovely cheap energy, we would
*never* have been able to reproduce so
rapidly. As you point out in your essay, this reproduction rate
will likely continue undiminished until
peak-oil passes...then, the end. The end of all growth as
we know it.
Until then, buy an SUV and
drive it hard! Save a life! Because humans will continue to
consume and reproduce until forced by necessity
to do otherwise...
I'd like to see an essay from
you discussing your sense of when peak-oil will occur, or if it has
occurred already (according to some observers, it may have passed in 2000 or
2001)... with additional discussion of how
the OPEC producers have been lying about their reserves for
at least the last 20 years now.
Charles Andrews
Los Angeles
Oct. 14 - It is people like you who
have been the cause of chronic wasting deisese, mad cow deasise, etc, etc. Why
don't you face the fact your kind serve no purpose in mankind. While I am
apposed to unnesseccary cutting of timber, it is neccessary to maintain liveable
units of wildlife. These feed the poor and underprivelidged. When was the last
time you helped a homeless person by giving them a job or a meal or a warm place
to sleep? I think you are a cowardly selfish son of a bitch who deserves to be
eaten by a bear. JL responds: There are many worse ways to go, than by a bear, in this mechanical and toxified world. - JL CCL #37 October 6, 2003 — I love nature so I sleep with her — Living outside the box
Oct. 13 -
Ok, I try to be a respectful citizen of
earth. I recycle, reuse, and
and try not to impulse buy, buy, buy.
But, the last article by Jan
Lundberg is over the top. Who are you
talking to these days? People
who don't work? I'm supposed to sleep
out in the woods and then get up
and go to work all day? What computer
do you work on? Are you
handwriting those columns with a pigeon
feather? I thought I was
sensitive to environmental issues, but
frankly, you're single-handedly
sending me into the opposite camp.
I'd still be laughing except that
you might really be serious about all this
nonsense.
Sincerely,
L. Norcross
Oct. 9 -
Thank you,
James
Oct. 8 - Thank you for this! Though it made me cry; I miss the erotic, blended smells in the woods... Thank you for the encouragement and motivation towards obtaining the lifestyle my heart desires for healing. Thank you for sharing the simple truth, the peace, power, and gentleness found there. I appreciate this sight beyond my ability to express. Peace & Blessings to you, as you pursue your work. My admiration is deep.
Namaste~
Amy Oct. 7 - Slept out for eight years, so I
couldn't agree more with you. Unfortunately, the cold, damp Humboldt winters
got into my lungs and now I can't sleep out when the temperature is below 50
degrees or so. My lungs fill with fluid.
Oct. 7 - "Wilderness is relative." Very
true. A great paper at the World Wilderness Congress said it's a continuum
with two axes: human modification and human control.
Michael J. Vandeman, Ph.D.
(author of What Is Homo Sapiens' Place in Nature -
From an Objective (Biocentric) Point of View?)
Oct. 7 - Hello, Jan CCL #36 September 28, 2003 — Dysfunction: more individual or societal? — Overcoming the BS
Sept. 30 — Jan-
MLT
Sept. 29 —Jan; Sept. 28 — Dear Jan Lundberg:
I must say that your essays
tend to be very depressing, and I think I will
ask that you please remove me from the e-mail list that receives them.
At least Molly Ivins does
this with some humor. Sorry, but I am just flat
out politically EXHAUSTED right now, and not feeling like reading much
of anything more in the bad news column. Give me some GOOD NEWS,
please.
Sincerely,
Eric R. Eaton
Dear Eric, We'll take you off the list, and since you ask for some good news, I am recently given to understand that the world average temperature will go up at least 15 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century, due to feed-back loops (that release more methane and CO2 hence heating up the atmosphere and hence releasing more gases, ad infinitum in an uncontrolled spiral). Never before have feedback loops been quantified. The good news is not that this minimum warming will happen, of course, but now that this finding has come to light, people will do something finally to cease burning fossil fuels and deforesting, I am most confident. Please check our website again and there may be more items for your use. - Jan Oct. 4 — Dear
Jan: Dear Margaret, It's great that you and your
cohorts help your community in sustainable living. Something I heard about
a forest-protection group: on the part of the successors there seemed to be a
fear that the founder would come back, and perhaps there was an ego-derived fear
of comparing poorly with the predecessor. Successors anywhere may feel
inadequate compared to the creativity and accomplishment of the founder, so they
want to make plain to any observer that things are now better than before.
In my family business in the 1980s my record was criticized on petty matters,
and I was even sued to stop using my own name and knowledge, as my business
acumen was a threat. This was after I handed over a fabulous entity with
healthy financials and the best reputation in energy publishing. In my
present affiliation with this website's group, one player in a take-over attempt
almost ten years ago tried to say it was axiomatic that I had to leave because I
was the founder and supposedly founders have poor skills at managing and
growth. Meanwhile, these detractors were busily assuring we would not get
funding and that their new group got the grant we'd earned. Artificial
schisms are sometimes created so people can make off with the group or a big
piece of it. Sept. 28 —
That is a core topic to discuss.
mark
see http://www.oilempire.us/denial.html
Sept. 28 — Jan, The dysfunction's basis (capitalism) has become societal; it has become deep rooted in our culture. However if the capitalistic credo/ philosophy/ belief structure/ intellectual operating system that has developed during our recent history (~10,000 years) had not been in tune with the mentality and the aggressive nature of most of the individuals in our species -- then the CAPITALIST modus operandi would not have developed in the first place and would have long since been rejected wherever it arose.
Thanx for being there.
Peter Salonius (author of Energy
Tax Made Easy)
Sept. 28 — To All in
Charge of "C-C""
Thank you for your
commitment and gentle spirits. Keep
the faith and strengthen the young ones with your knowledge.
God Bless U all.
With Love,
---Wes
Sept. 28 — While I'm sure it makes sense to relate your personal circumstances to the big picture, I doubt this is being perceived as you would hope - When you start talking about "them" and "those people," you come across as not only being paranoid, but superior. Accusing "others" of acting insanely invites scrutiny upon you, not "them." You're probably too close to the situation and your own writing to see it, but the language and contentions you make here seem self serving and not at all useful to the readership of culture change... JS JL responds: my exercise in understanding people in this dysfunctional culture was enjoyable to me and to others, but not to all, particularly when a nerve might be touched. Admittedly, this culture must have dished out some insanity for me to ingest and pass on too. Onlinejournal.com liked the essay enough to post it for their large audience, so there! -JL CCL #35 September 19, 2003 — The solidarity option — I get by with a little help from my friends
Sept. 19 - Very nicely written, Jan.
Thanks. Gives ideas even for those of us who have to
make a lot of compromises living in the big city.
ROY BECK
Sept. 19 - You're the BEST!!!!!
Sept. 19 - Hello
Jan,
Speaking of a community of
nature-based people, I thought I would mention Ken Kifer.
I don't know if you were ever aware of him, but his website, www.kenkifer.com,
has been a great boon to many people. His bikepages are extensive
and entertaining, his evaluation of Thoreau is wonderful, and his novel
about a new world looks promising.
Unfortunately, Ken Kifer was
killed by a drunk driver while biking six miles from
his house. (He has been carfree for a long time). He lived in a
small cabin in rural Alabama, and lived a
simple, carfree life in a place where it would
be deemed impossible by even the most idealistic of people.
You should check out his
website. I believe his son wants to keep
it going, but you never can tell. His death is a great loss to the
community of people who are trying to live a sane
life in this world.
Paul Cooley
JL responds: Thank you, Paul. We have put up a link to the site, and you're right it is a good one. CCL #34 September 12, 2003 — Chaos, collapse and survival - Birth of a culture
Sept. 15 - I found most of your
information email interesting and thought provoking. However you make use
of the term "Black" House, black meant in a negative context. I am
reminded of the subtle racism, the code words used to perpetuate the
oppression in this country. If you are truly progressive you will educate
yourself about what is actually the foundation of oppression and injustice...
racism. As for "closing our borders" to others... lets not
forget! European white man invaded this country stealing it from the
Native American people.
Signed, Kashia
Supporter of A.N.S.W.E.R (Act Now
To Stop War and End Racism)
As to our color of presidential palace in
the District of Crooks, the White House already has a terrible connotation,
to many. So, Black House cannot possibly be worse. Oil is black,
get it? As to your advice, "educate yourself about what is
actually the foundation of oppression and injustice...racism," any
thinking person continues learning. However, it is an historical fact
that there is often oppression, injustice and war that has nothing to do
with racism, and that other factor is usually greed and expansion--the story
of civilization. It was not racism originally that motivated the early
city builders of Mesopotamia to enrich themselves at neighbors' expense.
Racial harmony and equity is not always achieved by tolerant representation
in getting a piece of the toxic American Pie, and recail harmony will not
have helped when it's a dead planet. George W. Bush has two
African-Americans in his cabinet and they are both tainted by war
association.
Do keep educating people on these issues. Thanks - JL CCL #33 September 6, 2003 — Party on, Babylon - Civilizations do end
Sept. 7 - You are so right. The problem is how
can we reach the pleasure people.
I think you are awesome!
I have been reading your writings and allowing it to
become a part of my consciousness for some 10 years now.
I felt the need to respond
to this message because of your question - I am having
(sometimes too much) fun in Babylon - tearing it down. I am one of
those who feels that to make the needed
cultural change you have to be a
full participant in the culture then change the
'self''. In doing my work for
cultural change I have as much fun as I can. If it's not fun I avoid
it. When your having fun people will join
you. When people join you - you have
a movement. A movement based on fun and being a "model" for
others to go by. I even frequent
the state capitol spreading my witchy laughter through
the halls. It scare the begeebers out of them. Hee Hee I
can write a letter that rocks the house
for weeks.
That's fun!.
I own nothing! I have
an income of less than $7,000 a year - but boy do I have
some fun! I feel like a Queen Goddess manifesting all I need.
I am building wild sanctuaries
everywhere I go. I get presents every day (I was even
given land!), then I give them away.
The masses will not embrace
culture change if it is offered by threat or by shaming.
It must be offered as fun. It must be offered as chic. It must
be offered not pushed to become a reality.
By the way I have seen much cultural
change occur in my universe. Keep up the good works.
Life is a Joy!
Much Love and Gratitude,
"Bear"
Sept. 7 - It takes a lot of courage to resist
the social norm enough to live sustainably.
As a college student, I try to consume within the limits of
my conscience, but it is often difficult to overcome the pressures to buy
"nice" clothes and have food around that my friends will want to
eat, and to buy cheap because I don't have much
income. It's difficult for me to
align myself with radical groups because I feel inferior to them
for not doing a better job of living sustainably. I want to hang out
with the Peace and Justice org people at my college, but it seems sometimes
that I need to follow some mainstream trends in order to have a
social life and maybe get a date once in a while. I want to be brave
and confident and feel beautiful and like I
"fit in" while being conscious
of the environmental and global-social consequences of my actions.
I'm working on it. Hopefully this letter will give hope to others
like me who are afraid to become "one of those granolas". I
admit my weakness, I yearn for the day when the
normative civilization is one of responsibility to all of humankind and to the
earth.
Sept. 6 -
I am enjoying reading the
columns you send via your Culture Change e-newsletter.
Keep on keeping on, that's what I'm doing. Do what you can,
with what you have, where you are.
Robert Waldrop, Oklahoma City
http://www.oklahomafood.org
(sustainable-food service)
CCL #32 August 30, 2003 — Ration oil during war — Or is this a War on Conservation?
Sept. 5 - Jan Lundberg's article was
interesting and obviously ambitious. I don't believe however, that he
was harsh enough in judging our society's readiness for such a
measure. On the surface, rationing of oil during wartime seems like it
could be clever in the political sense because it would satisfy many
different groups. But much of the War on Terror is fought in secret
and has so far not proven to make us safer. I am doubtful that many
positive gains are being made, and if they are, they are not made
known publicly. Basically Americans will not support rationing for
very long when results from this secret war fail to materialize.
Concrete victories garner
support, but our current battle lacks any kind of transparency.
Propaganda from the European and Pacific theaters was ubiquitous during the
second World War. News from the front was tracked here at home
closely. The entire country was supportive of our military efforts and
we all felt we were in it together. Today's American knows nothing of
sacrifice or collective effort. The average consumer (not citizen) is
ill informed about our activities abroad and often about domestic issues as
well. Life is judged to be good or bad based on the stock
market's daily numbers and the square footage of our suburban boxes.
Joe
Sixpack will not tolerate riding a bike to Wal-Mart, where his DVD player
will have doubled in price, unless Don Rumsfeld presents bin Laden's head on
a platter on CNN. Even then, I question whether people would give up
the standard of living to which they have become accustomed in order to help
fulfill our stated goals in the War on Terror. Jan stated in his
article:
"Somebody
wants a big motor vehicle regardless of fuel economy, and the powers-that-be
want that car-buyer to succeed in that want!"
This
is 100% true. Politicians want us to keep getting high on consumerism
because it keeps us happy and voting for them. I believe that the Bush
administration likes it because it keeps us distracted, but imagine how
quickly attention would be turned on them if the economy really
went south. More economic breakdown would be the logical result of oil
rationing, as GDP growth is tied directly to energy use. Our current
batch of leaders will have thankless jobs because they will soon find
themselves in a Catch-22. They'll be blamed for hard times because of
voluntary conservation, and they'll be blamed for worse times when real
shortages occur.
Eric
Ameigh, Buffalo, NY
Sept. 1 - Jan, |
