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
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