Newsgroups: sci.environment

/ hpindda:sci.environment / worldpeaceu@igc.org (World Peace University) / 10:54 am  Apr  4, 1992 /

>     Most personal, social and environmental problems result from the
>difference between the workings of the natural world and our extreme
>indoor programming.  The natural world survives by organizing, preserving
>and regenerating all of itself, including natural people.  This globally
>creates an optimum of life and diversity without pollution, crime, and
>war; insanity, excessive stress and violence.  In contrast, we survive by
>believing a false cultural story.  That story says "To survive, conquer
>nature.  The more you grind it into grist for building an artificial,
>overprotective indoor world, the better off you are."  Since we are
>biologically a seamless continuum of the natural world, as we culturally
>separate from, conquer and hurt it, we do the same to our biological
>selves.  

Which is why the really consistent technocentrists want to replace 
humanity with robots. Then nothing whatsoever (they imagine) would stand 
in the way of absolute conquest -- everything could become the 
"indoor world" of a space colony. Even the Earth. There would be no
need for a biosphere. The Heavenly City could be built, and populated by
electric angels.

>In the process, we silence many biological senses that normally
>prevent ecological irresponsibility from occurring.  This vicious circle
>is the core of our problems.  Our social and environmental degradation
>conclusively demonstrates that our cultural story has misled us.
>
>     To to survive responsibly, we must learn to sustain ourselves by
>sustaining the whole of life.  In magnificent ways, the natural world
>within and about us knows how to do this.  We need only to safely detach
>our bonds to our closeted indoor ways and learn to wisely re-bond to our
>origins in the natural world and people.  People(s) so bonded don't
>create our runaway problems, nor are they apathetic to them,

To survive responsibly, we need to take a stand on what our human future 
is to be. Those who want to replace humans with electric angels will 
care nothing for detaching themselves from indoor ways and getting
into the woods because there aren't any power outlets or phone jacks
in the woods. The rest of us will need to learn to re-bond, and will
need to learn to live within the limits of the biosphere, limits imposed
by the need for the persistence -- even resurgence -- of the Earth's 
entire capacity for life.

So long as we outnumber the would-be electric angels (and we do) there
is hope for the planet, and for humanity. We must plan to achieve a
sustainable future, but we must expect opposition from the ever-growing-power 
hucksters (e.g. John McCarthy). Above all, people must be made aware of 
the biological price of ever-growing human power, the cost it has in the 
very existence of other species, and ultimately even of our own -- unless 
of course we become electric angels, "saved" from life :-). 

>     PNC empowers people with the know-how to help themselves and others
>intimately touch the natural environment and gain responsible long-term
>affinities, motivations and directions.  It translates sensations and
>feelings into useful concepts and language.
>
>     We invite inquiries from persons interested in PNC as an educational
>tool or livelihood.  For information send a self addressed stamped
>envelope to Project NatureConnect, Box 4112, Roche Harbor, WA 98250.
>(206)378-6313.

You could also just go for a walk in the woods with some binoculars and a 
field guide or two. Why wait for the self-addressed, stamped envelope to 
come back with the answers?

It is most important to teach children to bond with nature, and this
must become a major goal of the educational system. Parents, however,
shouldn't wait for that to happen, but should work at it themselves.

----------
Alan McGowen

"Whatever you are doing, stop and ask yourself "Is this going to diminish
the capacity of the Earth to support life?" and if the answer is "yes",
don't do it." -- Roger Payne