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Welcome to our Main Page

From the evidence of scientists, philosophers, and the reports we all hear, see, and read about in the media, the future of humanity is in doubt. A central problem is overpopulation, coupled with a large and growing per capita environmental impact. Another inescapable conclusion is that the current structure of industrialized society is incompatible with human survival.

Click here to read a short new June 2008 assessment by Richard Heinberg of our challenges as well as Peter Salonius' May '08 essay about our 10,000 year mistake.

Fortunately, a great deal of work has been done identifying what is wrong, how it came to be, and what we might do to avoid participating in the Sixth Great Extinction Spasm (as E. O. Wilson calls it), initiated by humanity in the last couple of centuries. Many authors offer hope for and many visions of a sustainable future with greatly improved quality of life for nearly everyone.

This site spotlights two books and a sprinkling of other writings that address these issues head on. The first book is an original textbook and the second is a collection of essays by prominent environmental writers from Aldo Leopold to Thomas Berry and Daniel Quinn. For more detailed information about the books, including the first chapter in each one, see www.sunpinepress.com.

This site also provides additional information, supplementing the books and providing additional details.

Click here for Dr. McCluney's new essay on "What Our Leaders And The Media Are Not Telling Us" and here for his article on "Renewable Energy Limits" excerpted from The Final Energy Crisis edited by Andrew McKillop and Sheila Newman. Click here for a new report on Great Transitions, describing the opportunities and possible cosequences for humanity of the great transition we have recently begun.

Click below for Dr. McCluney's slide shows on

"The Fate of Humanity"

"Justifications for Energy-Saving Technology"

The books:

Humanity's Environmental Future: Making Sense in a Troubled World (HEF)

Getting to the Source: Readings on Sustainable Values (GTS)

by Ross McCluney, Ph. D., SunPine Press:Cape Canaveral, 2004

Where on Earth are we going?
And what can we do about it?

These two questions lie at the heart of the Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposium, which examines three interconnected aspects of our planet’s well being: environmental sustainability, spiritual fulfillment and social justice. Real sustainability, based on a high level of planetary cooperation, seems elusive, but is now required for an amicable survival of humanity. The symposium was presented at the Florida Solar Energy Center on June 11, 2006. Many more are being presented around the country. For a schedule, visit www.pachamama.org. See also the report Great Transitions.

Peak Oil and the Collapse of Civilizations

As Jared Diamond, Jeremy Leggett, and others have pointed out, there seems to be a proclivity inherent in humankind to do very well at addressing short term problems but very poorly at preparing for and avoiding huge, culture-destroying long range problems. A new slide presentation and radio interview with Peter Lloyd of New Zealand makes the case very well. Both are now available for download from this site. Go to the Slide Shows page for the links to download.

Check the links in the left menu bar for more information about these topics.

See books at www.sunpinepress.com

©2008 William Ross McCluney ============= Last update:08/20/08