"HOT MONEY"...

 with General Wesley Clark & his son, Wes, Jr., & directed by Susan Kucera ("Living in the Future's Past", narrated by Jeff Bridges).  Too bad Clark Sr. wasn't elected President when he ran awhile ago.  It's on Amazon Prime, not the best production for a doc, but the content is on the mark.  It shows precisely why:

1.  the global financial world is so fragile, & why mega banks should be broken up ASAP;

2.  there's so much economic inequality;

3.  most national gov'ts (including ours) are not seriously addressing Climate Change [only some cities & States in the USA are, & that's insufficient];

4.  mostly, the transformation to clean energy is going at a snail's pace;

5.  Climate Change already has started the destruction of the worldwide financial & economic systems;

6.  the new normal will involve mass human migrations never seen before;

7.  too many people apparently fail to recognize the paradigm shift in values which must occur if we are to survive & thrive in the future; and

8.  too many people are wrong when they believe that Tech will save us in time, therefore to them, there's no urgency about any of this, no need to drastically alter politics, the economy, or the financial system...much less our values.

..........

I imagine this documentary is found not only on Prime, but elsewhere online as well.  Look for it if you really want to understand what's going on currently, and what's required to avoid complete catastrophe.  Off & on, I've been studying this for 50 years (started in 1972 at Arizona State U.), so please believe this:  humans are facing the greatest Crisis in our history, and climate disruption is only a part of it.  The "experts" think we have until 2050 to mitigate the problem & thus avoid total societal breakdown.  In all probability, I believe that benchmark should be moved to the year 2035.  Why?  Because much more than climate is involved.  

It's time for all of us to take this seriously.  Much can be done on the micro scale, & much "lobbying" (of sorts) needs to be done on the macro scale.  Politicians will engage in window dressing efforts unless there's an outcry from the ground up.  History has proven such.

Best of Due Diligence to Everyone

p.s.  STEP 1:  stop believing the Edward Bernays style propaganda put out by most of the Powers-That-Be.  For example, it will take much more than Tech to avoid catastrophe.  Don't believe anyone who says otherwise.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

A Pioneer in Systems Theory and Sustainability for Spaceship Earth

Boulding's work goes all the way back to the 1960's.

 https://www.inspiringquotes.us/author/3917-kenneth-e-boulding

A sample of his thoughts---

“Anyone who believes exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a madman or an economist.”

-- Kenneth E. Boulding

“As long as man was small in numbers and limited in technology, he could realistically regard the earth as an infinite reservoir, an infinite source of inputs and an infinite cesspool for outputs. Today we can no longer make this assumption. Earth has become a space ship, not only in our imagination but also in the hard realities of the social, biological, and physical system in which man is enmeshed.”
-- Kenneth E. Boulding

“Physicists only talk to physicists, economists to economists-worse still, nuclear physicists only talk to nuclear physicists and econometricians to econometricians. One wonders sometimes if science will not grind to a stop in an assemblage of walled-in hermits, each mumbling to himself words in a private language that only he can understand.”
-- Kenneth E. Boulding

“Economics has been incurably growth-oriented and addicted to everybody growing richer, even at the cost of exhaustion of resources and pollution of the environment.”
-- Kenneth E. Boulding

...............

Not only my opinion.  Be Well

MULTIPLE APPROACHES and TOOLS are required to attain sustainability

The articles below propose that it may not be wise to focus on only a single approach when tackling the implementation of sustainability.  The complexity of a paradigm shift in this arena requires multiple approaches and tools.  Specifics are given.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800921002019

[Integrating the green economy, circular economy and bioeconomy in a strategic sustainability framework]

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2210422416300843?dgcid=raven_sd_recommender_email

Exploring the governance and politics of transformations towards sustainability

From watching/reading the Corporate Media, one would rarely ever be aware of the tremendous comprehensive work being done in the field of sustainability...for at least the last twenty years.  Some of it goes back forty years plus.  More writers and activists should spread the word.  Once in awhile, I get the feeling that some people think "Going Green" is simply a matter of passing laws.  Passing laws may not be easy, but it's a picnic compared to the research and implementation of sustainability for Spaceship Earth. 

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

Deconstructing "The Dasgupta Review"

 A controversial examination of "biodiversity economics"---

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14747731.2021.1929007

I believe the scholarly article found at the link above is right on the mark.  The commodification of Nature in general is fraught with serious problems.  More importantly, it appears to avoid what's really needed in order to stop and reverse biodiversity loss:  a paradigm shift away from neoclassical/neoliberal economics.

Putting a seemingly Green twist on such economics will not suffice.  Offsetting, creating "natural capital" financial MARKETS, etc., is still tinkering around the edges of the problem.  Such markets rarely, if ever, have been kind to natural ecosystems.

Above all else, two things are crucial to quelling our ongoing Eco-Crisis:  the natural, voluntary reduction of human population; and the complete shift away from neoliberalism and its failed economics.  The first can be accomplished through education and incentives.  The second, believe it or not, will be a tougher nut to crack.  Recent history proves it to be such.  Neoliberal economics should be long gone by now; however, ongoing Edward Bernays style propaganda and indoctrination keep it hanging on.  It will take persistent and consistent education to break it loose.  So far, catastrophes resulting from adherence to neoliberalism have not done the job, which I find baffling.

..............

Not only my opinion.  Be Well

Is Biodiversity Offsetting Working as it Should?

 Plus, what are the ethical objections to such practice?

https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cobi.13603

Commodification of Nature is a path requiring delicate navigation, and care must be taken to ensure an ethical, successful outcome.

Offsetting exploitation impacts seemingly is a great idea; however, certain problems need to be addressed.  The article at the link above, found in the journal, Conservation Biology, is a good start.  In particular, see the Abstract and Table 3.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

The real reason why we're still in Afghanistan...

and never will leave completely unless we undergo a paradigm shift in economics.

https://campbellmgold.co.uk/archive_blowing_in_the_wind/afghanistan_mineral_riches.pdf  [Article by James Risen.]

Almost fifteen years ago, the USGS and the Pentagon discovered the probability is extremely high that Afghanistan is awash in mineral riches totaling about one trillion dollars.  Not only common minerals such as iron and copper are buried there, but those crucial to modern day industry (e.g., lithium) as well.

The world is at a point where mineral resources - especially rare earth minerals - are more and more difficult to access.  Afghanistan has never been mined to any significant degree.  Done in 2007, the USGS used highly sophisticated aerial survey equipment in a study which shows the country is ripe for extremely productive mining.

World leaders who are not pursuing sustainability are prone to believe that when it comes to critical natural resources, it's a "dog-eat-dog" world.  Sometimes such thinking results in long-term planning involving resource wars, or financial wars, or best case - diplomacy.  For decades, we've had all the above on planet Earth.

One way or another, the richer countries are going to get access to needed natural resources.  That's especially true when the country is on an unsustainable path, which currently is the case in the USA and many other well-off nations.

Sustainability is one of the keys to a peaceful future.  Ecological economics is the best path forward.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

Solutions to Our Socio-Eco-Econ-Ethical CRISIS

 These all speak for themselves.  You may be familiar with some of them.  I'll bet my Stetson you won't be familiar with all of them.  😊

file:///C:/Users/abstr/Downloads/sustainability-13-01263.pdf

If the above link doesn't work, this one should - 

https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/3/1263/htm

https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/14/5548/htm

https://inequality.org/great-divide/the-pre-existing-condition-that-doomed-the-u-s-covid-response/

https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S0921800921000161?token=C6EB71D48606824B54E300D3D1CE7EFFEEABBC1397DEE469E7B9A17DCA4B40C417BDED2500C266EA7C44146B3E68EF38

https://researchportal.northumbria.ac.uk/files/20387227/Accepted_How_the_Rich_are_Destroying_the_Earth.pdf

Here's a full-length book for your personal library on sustainability.

http://feineigle.com/static/books/2014/beyond_growth/Beyond%20Growth_The%20Economics%20of%20Sustainable%20Development-Herman%20E.%20Daly-(1997).pdf

https://steadystate.org/population-and-a-dose-of-common-sense/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959378014001368

https://media.rff.org/archive/files/document/file/RFF-DP-16-24.pdf

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800919312273

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344917303701

https://www.int-res.com/articles/esep/2002/E21.pdf

The above are but a few of the considerations we must take seriously if we are to have a sustainable future.

............................................

Not only my opinion.  Happy Trails

Transformations and Rethinking Development - Thanks to the Pandemic

 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X20303600?dgcid=raven_sd_recommender_email

From the journal, World Development Volume 138, February 2021, 105233 -

Article title: " Post-pandemic transformations: How and why COVID-19 requires us to rethink development".

SSDD simply won't do anymore.  Neoliberal economics, the Oligarchy & Plutocracy Era, and the days of Crony-Casino-Disaster-Surveillance Capitalism are all at the beginning of their end.  Most likely, the combination of democratic socialism plus Adam Smith capitalism*** (a Mixed Economy) - which most free countries now have to varying degrees - will become stronger.  That, coupled with a genuinely eco-ethical approach to Nature & its resources, will be the new paradigm.

[*** As I've pointed out before, Adam Smith was in favor of small business, not mega business.  He denigrated the concept of monopolies, and rather than support them, he decried the so-called "Masters of the Universe" - the Big Biz men who thought they ruled the world.  His idea was for small business to benefit common people.]

Perhaps then, more people will understand that when we damage ecosystems because of genuine necessity, we should take care to keep the damage as small as possible.  Why?  Because one of the many key services provided by the ecosystems of Nature is:  they are natural barriers to the spread of disease.

The article at the link above addresses the following topics re post-pandemic development:

1.  science and policy;

2.  resilient economies;

3.  the nexus between the citizenry and the State; and

4.  new ways of thinking & acting in relation to all the above and sustainability.

While the article is about world development, especially re the North-South (in general) global inequality, I believe its concepts can be applied more regionally and locally, and to more equitable "development" in "developed" countries.  These ideas, I think, should start at the grassroots level (county, city).  Then State or Province and National politicians will be more amenable to instituting needed support at their levels.  From the bottom up is usually (not always) better than from the top down.  Those at the top sometimes seem to be out of touch with the practical reality of the everyday/common people.

It's highly probable that many researchers and some politicians, policy makers, and a few private companies (& others) have been working on sustainability & equity (in the ethical sense) since at least the 2008 Crash.  Now we need to kick that into high gear.  A massive shift is on the horizon, and there's no time to waste in getting to it.

Tick-tock.

...........................

Not only my opinion.  Be Well

Five pillars for post-neoliberal development

 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X2030485X

Like Germany, Austria, Ireland, Portugal, Denmark, and several other countries outside North America, the Netherlands [with the journal article at the link above] demonstrates that it is light-years ahead of the USA when it comes to the concept of sustainability.  Kudos.

The article is right on the mark.  The full title is:

"Planning for a world beyond COVID-19: Five pillars for post-neoliberal development".

This is the type of thinking we need if organized human existence is to survive and thrive in the Anthropocene.

........................

Not only my opinion.  Be Well

A final word from a conservative on the criminal, plus - a commonly held reason by two opposites for ____________

 Here's my latest email to family and a few friends.  It contains must-see and must-read materials at the links provided.

........................

A guy who might just be a real conservative (not a neoconservative) speaks out re the criminal who no longer is in office.  Schmidt is well-versed in the Repub Party, & every person who still supports the dangerous buffoonish criminal should listen & watch this extremely short clip.  What he says is painfully obvious.

https://twitter.com/RealTimers/status/1360467985136193538?s=20

Then there's this: a common reason why some support the above criminal, while others support people like Bernie Sanders & Elizabeth Warren - https://www.noozhawk.com/article/randy_alcorn_its_time_for_america_to_defuse_economic_disaffection_20210207?emci=9ada8b01-a96f-eb11-9889-00155d43c992&emdi=5fc2ad15-c06f-eb11-9889-00155d43c992&ceid=6171896

Forget "White Nationalism" (even though there is some of that), forget "Socialism" (even though there's some of that) - here's the MAIN REASON why people support such disparate politicians.

............... Not only my opinion. Be Well

The King of the Ecological Wake-Up Calls

 Frontiers | Underestimating the Challenges of Avoiding a Ghastly Future | Conservation Science (frontiersin.org)

This speaks for itself.

.....................................

Not only my opinion.  Be Well

A Prediction, and How to Prepare for the Next One

 How to Prepare for the NEXT Financial & Economic Crash A Concise Pocket Guide by Scott Haley | NOOK Book (eBook) | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

I've been blogging for fourteen years.  Almost all of that time, the blogs have had zero ads.  Of my three blogs, this is the only one in which I'm posting new material.  I've decided that, once in a blue moon, I'll post one of my ads on Ecological Liberalism.  Am doing it because the writings for sale are, & will be in the future, related to the subjects I cover here.  Plus, I could use a few bucks.  😊  The first one is at the link above.

Our current economic woes are not due only to the effects of covid-19.  In the booklet (or long pamphlet) above, I delve into a bit of monetary & economic history which shows why there's a high probability of a severe Crash - over & above the covid Crash.  And it's coming relatively soon.  Then I detail specific steps every household can take to minimize the impact on you & yours.

While I'm pleased with the writing in "How to Prepare...", I must issue the following mea culpa.  Because I'm essentially a No-Tech person, and time constraints seem to be always pressing, I did not take the time to figure out how to correct the formatting errors which happened during the conversion (by a company that charged nothing for the service) from my text file to an eBook file.  As a result, there are page-numbering and other minor errors - such as splitting a page into two pages when that was unnecessary.  Despite the errors, the text is completely readable.  Nevertheless, in the interest of transparency, I felt any potential buyers should be aware of the flaws.

Thanks in advance for any interest and support regarding the piece.  I'm currently working on a full-length (but short) book - perhaps about 100 pages - with the tentative title, Notes on the Socio-Eco-Econ-Ethical Crisis, the Problems & the Solutions.  By the time it's finished, I should have the conversion/formatting problem figured out.

Be Well

Keynes, the Neoliberals, & Today's Crisis - Plus - the Power & Importance of a Narrative in Macroeconomics

 The new political story that could change everything | George Monbiot - YouTube

After relaying some crucial history, Monbiot presents his idea for a new "restoration story".  He may be on to something important here.  One thing's for certain:  presently re macroeconomics, the Powers-That-Be are engaged with pretty much same-ol', same-ol' stuff, or SSDD.  Given the worldwide socio-eco-econ-ethical Crisis upon us, that will never do.

We are in dire need of a new politics, and a new restoration story to promote it.  That doesn't mean we necessarily have to throw out capitalism; however, it does mean we must recognize that capitalism has become so distorted as to be unrecognizable.  Adam Smith certainly wouldn't recognize it, especially with all the mega businesses, the essentially monopolistic enterprises, the shrinking Middle Class, the gross inequality, the excessive damaging and/or utter destruction of ecosystems, the crony relations with government, and the perpetual wars waged in order to access or control natural resources.  That's not capitalism; it's plutocratic fascism pretending to be economics.

In addition to Monbiot's view, another possibility for a new narrative is found in Ecological Economics.  The two aren't that far apart.  Eco-Econ has been around about 30 years, but very few on Main Street seem to know anything about it.  The main reason for that is the past and present dominance of neoliberal economists in high places, both public and private.  Neoliberal economics has failed, but still rules the world.  Why?  Many reasons, but I suspect the primary ones are as follows.

1.  Money buys influence and power.

2.  Plain old propaganda continues.

3.  Main street people are distracted to a point beyond the pale.

4.  Every so often, those in high places throw a bone to the rest of us.

It's an old, old story.

The good news is that things are beginning to change all around the world.  People are waking up, which means the plutocrats are doubling down.  Be aware.

...................................

Not only my opinion.  Be Well

Ever wonder why the Global South largely remains poor, and how the Global North perpetuates that? World Poverty, Inequality, Foreign Aid, and NeoColonialism

 Professor Jason Hickel, my favorite anthropologist & political ecologist, has superb bona fides.  In the clip below (only about 6.5 minutes long), he cogently and concisely explains how the global economy operates to the detriment of most of the Global South.

Here’s Why Foreign Aid Is a Scam | Doha Debates - YouTube

.....................................

Many Oligarchs in the North often promote the idea that foreign aid, foreign investment, loans, and neoliberalism (in general) - corporate globalization - all demonstrate sincere efforts to lift the South out of poverty.  Some actually may believe that.  As Dr. Hickel shows, the reality of the situation is quite different.

The Global South is more in need of justice than it's in need of charity.  It certainly doesn't need privatization of public services or loans with shades of the old IMF "structural adjustment" requirements.  Unfortunately, as the video depicts, neocolonialism dominates the world economy.

Via entities such as the WTO, IMF, & World Bank, as well as so-called Free Trade Agreements (which aren't "free" at all), the Global North guarantees the perpetuation of the old colonial transfer of wealth from the South to the North.  And it's all under the guise of compassion for the poor of the world.  [Again, some people may believe that it is such.]

How can this situation be remedied?  Watch the short video.

.........................

Not only my opinion.  Be Well

"Americans Are Now Getting a Mild Taste of Their [Our] Own Medicine"

 It has come home---

“Americans Are Now Getting a Mild Taste of Their Own Medicine" of Disrupting Democracy Elsewhere | Democracy Now!  

Short, informative interview.

Take note:  Nairn (an alternative, award-winning journalist & author) admonishes us not to embrace the Establishment because of Trumpism.  He's talking about the neoliberal Establishment.  That's what we've had for decades.  Utilizing Edward Bernays style propaganda, it's a softer version of Trumpism... more subtle, classier, and much more effective.  Presently, it's the dominant political & economic ideology in the world.  It's all about "atomizing" society, & having Big Biz be in control utilizing Crony-Casino-Monopoly-Disaster Capitalism.  Gov'ts will exist strictly as window dressing.  We're almost there... just a micron or so away.  Neoliberalism does not favor democracy at all.  It does favor the appearance of democracy in order to mollify the masses.

Notable people have recognized this for years, and they're all across the political spectrum.  Here are only a few of them:  Noam Chomsky, Paul Craig Roberts, Bill Moyers, Barry Commoner, Ron Paul, Rand Paul (to a lesser degree), Naomi Klein, C.W. Mills, Glenn Greenwald, Lori Wallach, Ellen Brown, Bernie Sanders, Ralph Nader, George Monbiot, Jason Hickel, and many more.

...........................

Not only my opinion.  Be Well

"Getting Back to Normal" is Not Where We Want To Be

Here's what "normal" has meant for decades---

 Neoliberalism, Climate Change, Migration: George Monbiot in conversation with Verso - YouTube

Trumpism is small potatoes compared to the scourge of neoliberalism.  Monbiot writes for The Guardian, & is one of my favorite writers.  In this short clip, he explains how neoliberalism is destroying democracy while claiming to promote freedom.  He also shows how a wannabe autocrat can rise to power in the current neoliberal environment.

At the link below is a review of Monbiot's book, Out of the Wreckage.  Not being one to only warn people of danger and disaster, in the book he offers beginning steps to correct the wreckage caused by neoliberalism.

Out of the Wreckage by George Monbiot review – the thrill and danger of a new left politics | Politics books | The Guardian

In addition to his suggestions, I again encourage you all to work toward the implementation of ecological economics, a la Herman Daly, et.al. [See previous posts on this venue, especially those in May - September.]

...............................

Not only my opinion.  Stay Well 

Modern Circular Economy - a Practical Study, AND - The Extraterritorial Commons, Corporate Responsibility, & Governance

 Sustainability | Free Full-Text | Modern Circular Economy: Corporate Strategy, Supply Chain, and Industrial Symbiosis | HTML (mdpi.com)

Published this month in the journal, Sustainability.

...........................

Sustainability | Free Full-Text | The Commons, the Common Good and Extraterritoriality: Seeking Sustainable Global Justice through Corporate Responsibility | HTML (mdpi.com)

Published this month in Sustainability.

This second journal article introduces the innovative concept of the "extraterritorial commons" in relation to corporate responsibility, justice, and extraterritorial governance.  It's a much-needed discussion.

...........................

Not only my opinion.  Be Well

Covid-19, Global Economy, Ecosystems, and Circular Economy Strategies

 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344920304869

Title:  "A critical analysis of the impacts of COVID-19 on the global economy and ecosystems and opportunities for circular economy strategies".

From the journal, Resources, Conservation, & Recycling.

At least read the conclusion.  The whole piece is a good analysis of a crucial situation.

Again, I don't believe that the Circular Economy approach is the full answer to the socio-eco-econ Crisis we're in, but it is popular.  Perhaps it's a good First Step toward a version of Ecological Economics which will truly address the problems of unlimited growth and overconsumption.

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Not only my opinion.  Stay Well

All Politicians Should Pay Attention to This

 https://www.uvm.edu/gund/news/can-regenerative-agriculture-save-american-farms

I've watched the number of family farms in the USA shrink for over sixty years.  Their replacement, industrial agriculture, is harming soil, water, air, plants, animals, and the ecosphere in general.  This has to stop if we are to thrive as ethical, sensible, and practical beings.

We humans tend to take air, water, and food for granted.  Fortunately, over the last half century or so, we've started to realize that's a mistake.  We're finally beginning to edge toward some version of ecological economics and sustainability.  Let's hope that continues.

At the link above is a brief description of a policy which should be supported and promoted by politicians everywhere.

............................

Not only my opinion.  Be Well

Watch the Moving Bar Graph (at the link below)

Here's an email I sent to family and friends.  We all need to get serious about this subject.  Tick-tock---

https://twitter.com/CarbonBrief/status/1120715988532629506?s=20

And that's not even considering methane emissions, which are increasing exponentially.  Methane is multiple times more potent than CO2 as a greenhouse gas.

Time for an attitude & lifestyle change.

Climate Change is now locked in for decades.  All we can do is work toward making sure it doesn't get TWICE (or more) as bad as now.

In the mid-1970's when I lived next to Puget Sound, the highest temp in summer was about 85 degrees.  14 yrs ago, it reached 100 degrees more than a few times during summer.

15 yrs ago, when I lived on 38 acres near Red Bluff, CA, 114 degrees during summer was not uncommon.  All the above was prior to the current, fairly rapid thawing of permafrost tundra in Arctic regions... which is releasing tons of methane into the atmosphere.

Bottom line:  if we (& that means all of us, not just tree-huggers like me:) don't change our lifestyle, our overconsumption, our agriculture, & industrial production, Nature will.  That's guaranteed.  If you truly care about your kids, grandkids, & their future kids, do all you can to support a shift to some version of Ecological Economics.

Trump & Crew will be gone before long.  It's time to repair the damage they've done to our habitat, and to our future.  It's also time to watch Biden like a hawk.  He's so much better than Trump, but firmly in the back pocket of the Financial Sector, and not exactly Mr. Sustainability.

............................

Not only my opinion.  Be Well