[themify_quote]Reflections of Robert J. Burrowes’ Essay: “Life on Earth is Dying”[/themify_quote]
Robert J. Burrowes’ article, “Life on Earth is Dying’” (Transcend Media Service, Dec 12, 2016) is one of the most important articles of our times. Burrowes writes with informed conviction of the disastrous consequences of humankind’s presence and actions on Earth. Humanity’s brief, but ruinous period of habitation, has been labeled “The Anthropocene Era.” In humanity’s (Homo Sapien Sapien) 200,000 years of presence on Earth, 50,000 years as “Modern Homo Sapien,” humans established hierarchical dominance among life forms (Although viruses contest this assumption!).
As one of many life species, humans rose from children birthed by our ancient mother, Lucy, in South Africa, to our present age. Today humans search the cosmos for ancestral ties and new planetary homes. Humanity’s ascent is indeed wondrous! Also wondrous is humanity’s descent! Humanity’s descent includes mass destruction of many life forms and life supporting contexts.
Clearly, nature is not free of the life destruction. Natural disasters transform the structure and process of life on Earth through natural “disasters.” Table 1 lists examples of major natural disasters.
Table 1: Natural Disasters
Acid Rain/Acidic Oceans
Asteroids/Meteors
Avalanches
Droughts
Earthquakes
Fire
Floods
Hurricanes
Insects (e.g., Locusts)
Methane Gas Release (e.g., Arctic Ice)
Mudslides
Secondary Disasters (e.g., Riots)
Sink Holes
Solar Flares
Storms (e.g., Rain, Ice, Hail)
Tsunami (Tidal Wave)
Wind Typhoons, Hurricanes, Tornados
Volcanic Eruptions
Nature has been responsible for the extinction of many life species and expressions through its powerful forces. “Extinction,” is a harsh term, meaning absence of presence. Humanity now competes with nature as a destructive force, abetting extinction.
Much has been written about extinction, including Elizabeth Kolhberts’ essential volume, The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History (NY: Henry Holt, 2012). The value of Burrowes’ article resides in its condensed presentation, making it ideal for worldwide distribution, discussion, and debate in education, religious, military, political, and economic forums.
In my opinion, Burrowes’ article could poetically be entitled: “Becoming Mars!” This refers to the “Dead Red” planet we see nightly in our skies, a reminder of the consequences of human destruction of life. Ironically, we seek to travel to Mars for possible habitation. Is awareness of our tragic footprint of destruction preparing us planetary desolation, and encouraging planetary exploration.
There is something “archetypal” here. Is something inherent in human nature, an intuitive sense alerting us to the challenges of survival amid diminishing resources? Ahhh, eros and thanatos! Magical, mystical, or an inherent quality of life — élan vital
Burrowes writes with obvious urgency, alert to the spectrum of past and present abuses. Lesser scholars might demonstrate more tolerance for destructive events and forces; Burrowes, however, has been documenting the savage assault on earth’s life for decades. He is, a reluctant Jeremiah! One senses earnest pleas throughout his comments. Sotto voce, I hear him say: “Change, I beg you!”
The human tragedy of this perilous situation is our immunity and resistance to warnings. Burrowes’ relentless warnings compel us to understand the role of the human hand and mind in ravaging Earth. It may well be too late; but it is not too late to mobilize human conscience, and to identify and respond with wisdom to the unfolding challenges.
Burrowes’ article deserves widespread posting and discussion in every forum: Issue: survival! Time: short! Possibilities: limited! Consequences: apocalyptic! The destruction of life on earth is happening on our watch. This amidst emerging global consciousness!
The phrase, “The whole world is watching,” once used to shame egregious military actions is appropriate here.
In an effort to raise consciousness, I prepared a visual display of the destruction of life expressions and processes. Chart 1 summarizes the “destructions of life” occurring in our Anthropocene Era. I imagine the chart being placed on refrigerator doors, the prime location for reminders and important events. “Remember to bake cookies for the cub-scout meeting.” “Remember to buy stocks.” “Remember to bet on the Colts.” “Remember we are destroying life!” Competing priorities! Wonder what we will say in 2030?
CHART 1: ANTHROPOCENE–ERA LIFE DESTRUCTIONS
We have failed to use our remarkable endowment for choice. We are content with comforts and rewards of indifference, apathy, passivity! We accept delusions: “It is someone else’s problem!” “I can’t do anything about it!” “I have no power to make a difference.” “Where is my remote?” So be it!
Burrowes notes “consumerism” contributes to the “death of life on earth.” The immediacy of our desires, fueled by devious advertisements, compels us to buy and buy, without consideration of the consequences. Consumerism is an ideology, a political economy, and a moral choice.
Advertising rules our lives! It does so skillfully and insidiously, over-riding judgment and evaluation. Have you noticed TV advertisement images and displays change every few seconds; this is done to capture and hold attention? Smart! The technology of behavior and mind control!
James Spieth (2012), in his visionary volume, America the Possible: Breaking the Chains of Consumerism (New haven CT: Yale University) and Lizabeth Cohen (2003, NY: Vintage Press) in her volume, A Consumer’s Republic: The Politics of of Mass Consumption, provide important insights into the historical courses leading to the present destruction of life summarized by Robert Burrowes. Spieth, in an article published in Common Dreams (September 10, 2012), notes Cohen’s trenchant words:
Referring to the era of postwar prosperity that lasted approximately from 1945 to 1975, she notes: “this period of unprecedented affluence did much more than make Americans a people of plenty. Undergirding the pursuit of plenty was an infrastructure of policies and priorities, what I have dubbed, for shorthand, the Consumers’ Republic. In reconstructing the nation after World War II, leaders of business, government, and labor developed a political economy and a political culture that expected a dynamic mass consumption economy not only to deliver prosperity, but also to fulfill American society’s loftier aspirations.” (http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/09/10-1).
If conspiracy is collusion to engage in insidious and secretive acts to benefit some at the expense of the others, we can consider consumerism an ideological conspiracy. Once established and supported by advertising mavens, consumerism now dominates the global economy. The Earth cannot sustain endless consumerism! Essential human needs are trumped by unneeded wants; unless, of course, we consider beer and a cheeseburger as non-essential. Difficult choices need to be made!
Robert Burrowes, and his partner, Anita McKone, map out a fifteen year effort entitled the Flame Tree Project to Save Life on Earth. “It may well be too late, but if we do nothing, then the course is sealed.” To some extent, indigenous people around the world offer models for harmonious living and life preservation. I do not wish to glorify indigenous life, but there is something to be learned about indigenous society accommodation to harmony with life. Some say this is spirituality.
Ignorance of Life’s Ecology
In the pursuit of profit at any cost, complex life ecologies have been ignored or denied. Destruction of life in one area, results in destruction of others. Fracking is a perfect example of this failure. Driven by oil, we destroyed water and land. We promote earthquakes! Whether natural forces are responsible for destruction is no longer an issue. Humans are an obvious source of causation, exacerbation, and continuation of life destruction. Climate change is real!
To a large extent, some fault can be traced to Biblical admonitions claiming “God made man the master of all things.” Gifting this erroneous assumption with Biblical status as God’s words has had tragic consequences. The Biblical quote, “God made man in his image, and ….” (Genesis 1:28) is a major source of human hubris.
Attributing these words to God is a mistake. They are human words, written by human hand and an enormous ego. In penning these words, and attributing them to God, humans are given guilt-free license to assault every form of life for their narrow self interest. We cannot ignore the reality of our responsibilities to all life forms and expressions.
As has been written many times, humans are a part of life; humans are not the master! The delusion of the “master” role and status denied and limited “wisdom.” Were I back in the classroom, I would teach three things: (1) Humans are life creations, part of life, not masters (Lifeism); (2) Humans are destroying life, driven not by survival needs, but by consumerism ideologies; (3) Biblical myths and political economy systems have destructive implications for life’s survival.
Humanity is in need of a reference identity belief system and ideology which can better accommodate all life. To my fellow humans, I say learn humility, reverence, veneration, awe, and wonder, not for magnificent human achievements (buildings, flight, medicine, technologies), but for the obvious reality we are a form and expression of life, not the master.
We are creatures of life, akin to all forms of life, including plants, weeds, insects, and animals, rivers and mountain. See, for example, Lifeism (Marsella, A.J. [March 17, 2014. Lifeism: Beyond Humanity. Transcend Media Service (TMS.org).
If we continue to avoid this “basic identity,” in favor group, society, and national identities, we risk the remaining days of life will be lived in deprivation and extinction. Mars awaits us!
He is known nationally and internationally as a pioneer figure in the study of culture and psychopathology who challenged the ethnocentrism and racial biases of many assumptions, theories, and practices in psychology and psychiatry.
In more recent years, he has been writing and lecturing on peace and social justice. He has published 15 edited books, and more than 250 articles, chapters, book reviews, and popular pieces.
Select a WP Edit Snidget below to add it to your post or page. Yes, they can be used in content areas too!
is a retired physician who practiced holistic, non-drug, mental health care for the last decade of his forty year family practice career. He is a contributor to and an endorser of the efforts of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights and was a member of MindFreedom International, the International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology, and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.
While running his independent clinic, he published over 400 issues of his Preventive Psychiatry E-Newsletter, which was emailed to a variety of subscribers. (They have not been archived at any website.) In the early 2000s, Dr Kohls taught a graduate level psychology course at the University of Minnesota Duluth. It was titled “The Science and Psychology of the Mind-Body Connection”.
Since his retirement, Dr Kohls has been writing a weekly column (titled “Duty to Warn”) for the Duluth Reader, an alternative newsweekly published in Duluth, Minnesota. He offers teaching seminars to the public and to healthcare professionals.
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">Gary G Kohls George Monbiot[/caption]
Studied in Oxford University, columnist with The Guardian newspaper, also the author of the bestselling books The Age of Consent: A Manifesto for a New World Order and Captive State: The Corporate Takeover of Britain, as well as the investigative travel books Poisoned Arrows, Amazon Watershed, No Man’s Land, How Did We Get into This Mess? Politics, Equality, Nature and other.
Prof Johan Galtung was born in Oslo. He earned the PhD degree in mathematics at the University of Oslo in 1956, and in 1957 a year later completed the PhD degree in sociology at the same university.
Prof Johan Galtung received nine honorary doctorates in the fields of Peace studies, Future studies, Social sciences, Buddhism, Sociology of law, Philosophy, Sociology and Law.
State Councilor of St. Petersburg, Russia. Founding President, Global Harmony Association (GHA) since 2005. Honorary President, GHA since 2016. Director: Tetrasociology Public Institute, Russia. Philosopher, Sociologist and Peacemaker from Harmony. Author of more than 400 scientific publications, including 18 books in 1-12 languages. Author of Tetrism as the unity of Tetraphilosophy and Tetrasociology – science of social harmony, global peace and harmonious civilisation. Director, GHA Web portal “Peace from Harmony”. Initiator, Manager, Coauthor and Editor in Chief of the book project “Global Peace Science” (GPS).
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">Leo M SemashkoRobert C Koehler[/caption]
writes for the Huffington Post, Common Dreams, OpEd News and TruthOut. He considers himself a “peace journalist.” He has been an editor at Tribune Media Services and a reporter, columnist and copy desk chief at Lerner Newspapers, Chicago. Koehler launched his column in 1999. Robert Koehler has received numerous writing and journalism awards over a 30-year career in USA. He writes about values and meaning with reverence for life. He is praised as “blatantly relevant” and “a hero of democracy”.
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">Robert C KoehlerRobert J Burrowes PhD[/caption]
has a lifetime commitment to understanding and ending human violence. He has done extensive research since 1966 in an effort to understand why human beings are violent and has been a nonviolent activist since 1981. He is the author of ‘Why Violence?‘
He has been a radio producer (Earthstar Radio, San Francisco), organized and worked with the homeless, and is an advocate/activist in the nonviolent protest movement for safe energy, human rights, and peaceful solutions.
He is USA Vice President of the World Constitution and Parliament Association whose mission is to build a parallel world body to the United Nations, an emerging Earth Federation with a Provisional World Parliament under the Earth Constitution.
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">Roger Kotila PhDProf Richard Falk[/caption]
an international relations scholar, professor emeritus of international law at Princeton University, author, co-author or editor of 40 books, and a speaker and activist on world affairs.
Since 2002 he has lived in Santa Barbara, California, and taught at the local campus of the University of California in Global and International Studies, and since 2005 chaired the Board of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. His most recent book is Achieving Human Rights (2009).
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">Richard FalkDr Gray Corseri, PhD[/caption]
is a member of the TRANSCEND Network for Peace, Development and Environment. He has published and posted articles, fiction and poems at hundreds of venues, including, TMS, The New York Times, Village Voice, Redbook Magazine and Counterpunch.
He has published 2 novels and 2 collections of poetry, and his dramas have been produced on PBS-Atlanta and elsewhere. He has performed his poems at the Carter Presidential Library and Museum and has taught in universities in the US and Japan, and in US public schools and prisons.
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">Gary CorseriAntonio Carlos Silva Rosa, Editor, TMS[/caption]
born 1946, is the editor of the pioneering Peace Journalism website, TRANSCEND Media Service-TMS, an assistant to Prof. Johan Galtung, and Secretary of the International Board of the TRANSCEND Network for Peace, Development and Environment.
He completed the required coursework for a Ph.D. in Political Science-Peace Studies (1994), has a Masters in Political Science-International Relations (1990), and a B.A. in Communication (1988) from the University of Hawai’i.
Originally from Brazil, he lives presently in Porto, Portugal. Antonio was educated in the USA where he lived for 20 years; in Europe/India since 1994.
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">Antonio Carlos Silva Rosa
John Scales Avery is a theoretical chemist, Associate Professor Emeritus, at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. He is noted for his books and research publications in quantum chemistry, thermodynamics, evolution, and history of science. His 2003 book Information Theory and Evolution set forth the view that the phenomenon of life, including its origin, evolution, as well as human cultural evolution, has its background situated in the fields of thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and information theory.
He is an Indian citizen & permanent resident of Australia and a scholar, an author, a social-policy critic, a frequent social wayfarer, a social entrepreneur and a journalist;He has been exploring, understanding and implementing the ideas of social-economy, participatory local governance, education, citizen-media, ground-journalism, rural-journalism, freedom of expression, bureaucratic accountability, tribal development, village development, reliefs & rehabilitation, village revival and other.
For Ground Report India editions, Vivek had been organising national or semi-national tours for exploring ground realities covering 5000 to 15000 kilometres in one or two months to establish Ground Report India, a constructive ground journalism platform with social accountability.
He has written a book “मानसिक, सामाजिक, आर्थिक स्वराज्य की ओर”on various social issues, development community practices, water, agriculture, his ground works & efforts and conditioning of thoughts & mind. Reviewers say it is a practical book which answers “What” “Why” “How” practically for the development and social solution in India.
worked as a mediator for the church in Belfast; as faculty at The School of Peace Studies, University of Bradford, and as Executive Director, the Right Livelihood Award Foundation. He has founded several Indian NGOs, is an Officer of the Order of Canada, and a member of the TRANSCEND Network for Peace, Development and Environment.
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">Vithal RajanRene Wadlow[/caption]
is the President of the Association of World Citizens, an international peace organization with consultative status with ECOSOC, the United Nations organ facilitating international cooperation on and problem-solving in economic and social issues.
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">Rene WadlowBaher Kamal[/caption]
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Baher Kamal
Egyptian-born, Spanish-national secular journalist. He is founder and publisher of Human Wrongs Watch. Kamal is a pro-peace, non-violence, human rights, coexistence defender, with more than 45 years of professional experience. With these issues in sight, he covered practically all professional posts, from correspondent to chief editor of dailies and international news agencies.
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Credits :
">Baher KamalRosa Dalmiglio with Lama Mongolia[/caption]
She is a member of the China Council Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe (special art, culture and humanity), which touches the hearts of all people and portrays the strong willpower so encouraging to 60 million Chinese disabled persons.
Ms. Dalmiglio is Intermediary Agent of CICE, Centre International Cultural Exchange, a direct subsidiary of the Ministry of Culture, People’s Republic of China. CICE is a comprehensive institution engaged in cultural exchange programs, professional publication and presentation of cultural art works such as exhibits, receiving foreign art troupes and artists, holding international cultural research programs, and producing intercultural and interreligious documentary films.
She is a member of China Disabled Person’s Federation, CDPF. She is also a member of the International Women Federation, which is concerned with the financial ethics of women s enterprises in underdeveloped areas.
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credits:
">Rosa Dalmiglio
Director, Guru Arjan Dev Institute of Development Studies.
A recipient of Cultural Doctorate of Philosophy of Economics from USA. He is an active member of various professional bodies, namely -
He participated and presented papers in various International/national/regional seminars, conferences etc.. He remained member of the Academic Council of Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar. An unwearied researcher has about 200 research papers published in various international and national journals of repute and 15 research monographs to his kitty. Besides, he has authored/co-authored /edited 15 books which have been well received and highly acclaimed during his three decades of professional career. He was honoured by various national and international awards, namely, Guru Draunacharya Samman, Vijay Rattan Award and so on.
Dr Ron Paul served in U.S. House of Representatives three different periods: first from 1976 to 1977, after he won a special election, then from 1979 to 1985, and finally from 1997 to 2013.
During his first term as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Paul founded the Foundation for Rational Economics and Education (FREE), a non-profit think tank dedicated to promoting principles of limited government and free-market economics. In 1984, Paul became the first chairman of the Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE), a conservative political group founded by Charles Koch and David Koch 'to fight for less government, lower taxes, and less regulation.' CSE started a Tea Party protest against high taxes in 2002. In 2004, Citizens for a Sound Economy split into two new organizations, with Citizens for a Sound Economy being renamed as FreedomWorks, and Citizens for a Sound Economy Foundation becoming Americans for Prosperity. The two organizations would become key players in the Tea Party movement from 2009 onward.
Dr Paul proposed term-limit legislation multiple times, while himself serving a few terms in the House of Representatives. In 1984, he decided to retire from the House in order to run for the U.S. Senate, complaining in his House farewell address that 'Special interests have replaced the concern that the Founders had for general welfare.... It's difficult for one who loves true liberty and utterly detests the power of the state to come to Washington for a period of time and not leave a true cynic.'
He is known nationally and internationally as a pioneer figure in the study of culture and psychopathology who challenged the ethnocentrism and racial biases of many assumptions, theories, and practices in psychology and psychiatry.
In more recent years, he has been writing and lecturing on peace and social justice. He has published 15 edited books, and more than 250 articles, chapters, book reviews, and popular pieces.
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Credits:
">Anthony J. Marsella, Ph.D.Jason Hickel[/caption]
He is international consultant of the UN – FAO and international consultant for sustainable development and sustainable future of humankind of Universal State of the Earth - USE.
On 8th October 2016 he was appointed as The Chairman of the Humanity, Nature, Space and Environment protection Committee of the USE, the Supreme Council of Humanity - SCH from Athens, Greece and London, UK.
He is researcher working on: Nature; the Nature, Space and Environment protection; the Climate change system; System thinking; Globalization and global studies; Networking, Complexity and Swarm research: Sustainable Development and Sustainable Future of Humankind. He was among the pioneers researchers (1986 – 1994) to apply nature, space, and environment protection in a local community by activities we call today Local Agenda 21 Processes – a holistic program for survival of our civilization under new challenges of the third millennium.“Commencing from Local Community Sustainable Future and moving towards Sustainable Future of the Global Community of Humankind”.
He is independent researchers with many domestic and international publications and talks. Together with many researchers in co-operation worldwide within philosophy, operational research, global studies, case studies and complex problem solving research, system thinking, requisitely holism, networking and complexity, swarm research, integration and disintegration of matter and energy and universal upbringing, education and lifelong learning. He is contributing a systemic, requisitely holistic and a better understanding of the present. His latest research within the system theory, system thinking, networking, complexity and swarm research may provide a possible answer enabling people to better understand our world of humans.
During 2014 he completed 50 years of research work (1964 - 2014). This year he completed 50 years of been Dr. Vet. Med. Since 1986 he worked on the protection of Humanity, Nature, Space and Environment and completed 30 years of research.
For research on the climate change system and the book “System Thinking and Climate Change System (Against a big “Tragedy of Commons” of all of us), Ecimovic, Mayur, Mulej and co-authors, 2002, he was nominated for the Nobel Prize 2003. His work on “The Information Theory of Nature” was his second nomination for The Nobel Prize during 2007 in Physics. His third nomination for The Nobel Prize in Physics 2010 was for “The Environment Theory of the Nature”, published in the book “Three Applications of the System Thinking”, Ecimovic, 2010. Within last 10 years he has contributed trilogies: “The Nature”, “The Sustainable Future of Mankind” and “The Life 2017” – please see at: www.institut-climatechange.si
I grew up in Chile, got my medical degree there, began an academic career in 1970, and left for the USA due to the military coup in early 1974. My first job in the USA was working as a public nutrition professor in the international programme of Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee.
I started to travel to Africa in 1975, and worked a year in Cameroun in 1980 helping to prepare their five-year nutrition plan. I then moved to New Orleans, to Tulane University’s School of Public Health, and taught in the department of nutrition for ten years, before moving to Nairobi where I was an advisor in the Ministry of Health. Seven years there got me into extensive consulting in Africa, often on nutritional issues. In 1995 moved to Vietnam where I worked for two and a half years in the Ministry of Health as a senior primary health care advisor.
Many years of touching the reality on the ground, in Latin America, then the USA, then Africa and Asia, has made me understand that the real challenge is in the social and political determinants of malnutrition. I have devoted my writings and teaching to that. Over the years, I have found an important shift in my colleagues’ attitude and understanding towards acknowledging the basic causes of malnutrition. But yet I see little happening as a result. I submit that it is our guild’s lack of experience in the political arena that explains this dichotomy. I devote much of my energy to bridge this gap, and am a fervent advocate of empowering claim holders to demand needed changes from duty bearers. Nutrition is a perfect port of entry for that. Equity, social justice and people’s empowerment in a human rights sense is what really will make a difference.
There is no alternative but to deal with nutrition problems as indivisibly linked to social, political and environmental problems. We need to address them as such. The question is: are we all prepared to do that? The answer, in my view, decides whether we are part of the solution or part of the problem. Travelling and living in different parts of the world has reinforced my conviction that we need to get down from our academic ivory towers, and need to change the curricula of our young and upcoming colleagues, to give them the tools to act in such a context. To me, public health nutrition cannot be anything but that.
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">Claudio Schuftan Dr MDProf. Ram Puniyani[/caption]
