Ecological Enlightenment June 20, 2008
Posted by Graham in : Health, Science and Rationaltiy , 5commentsRichard Heinberg has recently written about how our understanding of our place within ecological systems- the ability to see the “big picture” of energy flows and resource constraints on human activity- could be seen as a kind of “enlightenment”- a new vision of the world not necessarily obvious or intuitive but closer to reality than that which our immediate perceptions and experience tell us.
John Michael Greer has also recently written an interesting post discussing the legacy of science and rationality and whether they can or will be saved as we move through energy descent.
The scientific trial, including use of controls and blinding to avoid observer or experimental bias. is a recent human innovation that has revolutionized the way in which we investigate and gain knowledge about the world. The whole point of this process is that it provides a way of checking our own experience and seeing if they are indeed correct. Evidence is collected and carefully verified by independent parties carefully checking the experiments. Over time, with increasing confidence, testable, verifiable data is accumulated and knowledge about the world and the universe and the nature of Nature can be asserted with increasing confidence. (more…)
Woo-woo everywhere April 27, 2008
Posted by Graham in : Science and Rationaltiy , 13commentsHow can we expect people to understand peak oil and climate change, and formulate rational responses to the great issues of our day, when there is so much hostility expressed about “science and rationality” and when there is such a tolerance and even encouragement of unsubstantiated beliefs about the paranormal?
Bill Mollison, in his rambling but entertaining autobiography “Travels in Dreams” (Tagari 1996) writes on New Age beliefs and Permaculture thus:
“”As I have often been accused of lacking that set of credulity, mystification, modern myth and hogwash that passes today for New Age Spirituality, I cheerfully plead guilty. Unqualified belief, of any breed, dis-empowers any individuals by restricting their information.
Thus, permaculture is not biodynamics, nor does it deal in fairies, devas, elves, after-life, apparitions or phenomena not verifiable by every person from their own experience, or making their own experiments. we permaculture teachers seek to empower any person by practical model-making and applied work, or data based on verifiable investigations. This scepticism of mine extends to religious and political party ideologies”. (more…)
Back to Nature #5 Consciousness for Sustainabiltiy January 27, 2008
Posted by Graham in : Human Ecology, Overshoot, Permaculture, Science and Rationaltiy , 4commentsConsciousness for Sustainability
The discussion of the “Back to Nature” series has been looking at developmental models of human behaviour, with a view to seeing what light, of any, such approaches can shed on the perplexing question:
Why do so many people seem to be in denial, or to be unable to grasp the reality that the human ecological footprint has far exceeded the carrying capacity of the earth, and that energy depletion, climate change and general environmental degradation will inevitably result in the end of our current way of life?
In this concluding part of the series we will have a look at some of the general implications of this model for achieving sustainabiltiy and try to find an answer to the question: Can we really go Back to nature? (more…)
Back to Nature #4: The Trouble with Green January 13, 2008
Posted by Graham in : Geo-politics, Human Ecology, Science and Rationaltiy , 2commentsThe Trouble with Green
“Here’s the point: you look out there, at the environment, and with your senses you can plainly see the wonderful, glorious, empirical world of nature. And of course you want to help save nature from destruction, not only because nature is beautiful, but because your own existence depends in many ways on a healthy environment. So you say, stop doing those things that are destroying nature! Stop polluting the oceans, stop dumping toxic wastes into our rivers, stop using fluorocarbons that create an ozone hole, stop burning carbon fuels that pollute the atmosphere and cause global warming- instead let us live in accord with nature, let us adopt energy-efficient production, use renewable resources, practice natural capitalism’ and in all ways honour Gaia. “Congratulations, you have just bought into the world of Flatland. And it is flatland that above all else is destroying Gaia. And thus your very efforts to save Gaia are destroying Gaia”.
-Ken Wilber, Boomeritis (2002)
Last week we looked at the story of the cultural and psychological evolution of human consciousness through the Spiral Dynamics model.
We stopped at Green- the environmental stage that has emerged as a significant cultural form in the last few decades in many western countries, influencing politics, social movements and heralding a New Age of transformation and care for all people and All Beings.
Green however, although representing much advancement in terms of ecological and social awareness over the previous stages of Blue and Orange, has failed to recognize that these earlier stages are necessary for the emergence of green in the first place. The Green belief of the dawning of a new Age of renewal and Global Consciousness cannot be realized because to reach Green requires a developmental process that must include and value all the stages and all their values in some way. (more…)
Back to Nature #3 The Evolution of Consciousness January 6, 2008
Posted by Graham in : Geo-politics, Human Ecology, Science and Rationaltiy , 1 comment so farThe Evolution of Consciousness
Part 1
In “Back to nature #2” I explored Deep Ecology and the idea that the response to the environmental problems we face should be to in some way “go back to nature” because “nature knows best”. I questioned this idea on the grounds that some versions imply an anthropocentric stance, projecting human feelings, consciousness and motives onto the non-human world in a way that seems more intended to fulfill our own psychological needs rather than actually healing our relationship with nature.
In this post, I want to explore an alternative: that rather than try to return to an earlier form of consciousness, that our consciousness itself – our way of understanding and relating to the world- is evolving.
What follows should be seen as a Story of the Evolution of consciousness. It is based on one particular model that has become popular in recent years- Spiral Dynamics, which I first came across in the writings of Ken Wilber. I do not endorse either the theory as a whole nor Wilber in particular, but see it as a tool that I think is worth consideration for anyone interested in the question: “Why aren’t more people interested in sustainabilty and protection of the environment?”
I am freely interpreting this version to make a story and adapting it . I am not claiming to attempt rigorous accuracy, but the basic idea does I feel have many different kinds of evidence to support it. The important thing is the implications such a view would have for seeking solutions to current global problems, and considering how it differs from the “return to nature” story.
In Spiral Dynamics, cultural “memes” or stage of development are colour coded, so I am referring to each stage with the same colours.
Enjoy reading it and make of it what you will. (more…)
Back to nature #2: Deep Ecology- Nostalgia for Eden December 10, 2007
Posted by Graham in : Environment, Human Ecology, Science and Rationaltiy , 6commentsNostalgia for Eden
A widely held belief amongst environmentalists, Deep Ecologists and other “post-modern” humans who yearn for a return to the idyllic world of an imagined Garden of Eden is that the struggle for sustainability is a new one: for most of human history, hundreds of thousands of years, people have lived in stable societies with minimal impact on natural resources, and have had the wisdom and respect for the natural world that is required to be sustainable. (more…)
The Great Magic Water Conference November 16, 2007
Posted by Graham in : Environment, General, Science and Rationaltiy, water , 4commentsAnatomy of a Scam
A few years ago I attended an extraordinary event in Co. Monaghan which I still refer to as “The great magic Water Conference”. Organised by local environmentalists to promote the “discoveries” of an outfit called Perfect Science, it drew together an extraordinary mix of council water engineers, environmentalists and water diviners, pendulum swingers and other purveyors of New Age religion.
I wont reveal the names of those involved in setting up the conference; some of them are old friends I havn’t seen for a while. Ill refer to the main organiser as “John”- not his real name. John had managed to gain the support of the County Council who opened the event and reputedly put up money to pay for it. (more…)
Crop Circles, Burkas, and the like November 3, 2007
Posted by Graham in : General, Science and Rationaltiy , 13commentsAnyone interested in crop circles -are they human-made hoaxes? or is there some other-worldy paranormal explanation? should check out this thread
The debate falls into two camps: on the pro-paranormal side, very detailed examination of the patterns and microscopic changes in the cellular structure of the wheat stems etc is presented as evidence that they could not have been man-made. A rather obscure alternative theory to do with plasma and the “universal subconscious” is presented instead. (more…)
Alanna Moore’s reply November 1, 2007
Posted by Graham in : General, Permaculture, Science and Rationaltiy , 1 comment so farJust read Graham’s blog….
He’s entitled to his opinion. But so are others entitled to have other ideas. Not everyone likes every article in a mag and no-one is forced to read them. (more…)
Permaculture Magazine Replies October 31, 2007
Posted by Graham in : Permaculture, Science and Rationaltiy , 3commentsDear Graham
I sympathise with your reservation about geomancy. Did you know, however, that all the major oil and water companies employ dowsers? It is far cheaper than using geophysical equipment and they find it effective.
Lastly, the study of energy in the landscape is being experimented with by the Austrian Traffic authorities. Let me give you some details:
In Austria, the highways authority has started using stone monoliths to prevent accidents at black spots. They are said to restore the natural flow of energy and reduce drivers¹ tiredness. On the A9 Pyhrn motorway in Styria the authorities erected two massive white quartz megaliths with the help a geomancer, Gerald Knobloch. They were located away from the road and the project was kept secret. Previous attempts at warning signs had failed to eradicate the problem. Over a two year period the accident rate fell from six fatalities per year to none. The 100% success rate cannot be disputed and the Austrians intend to use this technology in blackspots elsewhere. Knobloch explains that rerouted water flows, bridges and construction projects disrupt natural energy flows which affect drivers and create Œsleep zones¹.1
1 The Sunday Times, June 1 2003.
I do not think that this is a question of religion or faith, it is rather akin to our understanding of quantum physics and the consequent effects of energy in an interconnected field. It may be controversial but it cannot be ignored. Permaculture is an inclusive and broad movement and as an editor I give virtually no space at all for these type of views. I steer an uneasy path between the demands of all my readers but I am also sensitive to your views and the need to persuade the mainstream of the validity of permaculture. I will again review my editorial policy.
Yours,
Maddy
