Sunday, June 29, 2008

I last made an effort to begin a co-Operative effort to build sustainable community in 2002. Now six years later, maybe it time to try again. From the 2002 SynEARTH Archives. ... I have recently exchanged letters with a Mr. Dean Robertson. He is deeply concerned by the Fossil Fuel Depletion Crisis and America's inaction in response to it. He wrote:

"My background is in the field of Physics and Energy, and so, I am constantly aware of how in-efficiently we use the supplies we have, and the (fact) that they are finite. In response to this awareness, since about 1980, I have researched and studied the works of many people, as it applies to our energy resources base, and most positive solutions. And, studied the best of potentially useful alternative ways, of significantly reducing our energy use, through the needed changes in our basic structures and their logistics.

"As you probably understand, this World is a 'physical place', and is governed by physical laws, which operate, independent of, our (questionable) economic structures, regardless of their (type)."

I invited him to write an essay for CommUnity of Minds. The following call to Action was his response.

No Time for Rhetoric!

Dean Robertson

I would like to make a few comments, about what I see happening, in the United States, and the direction that must be taken, if we are to make the future, one in which our children and grandchildren will survive, in a much stronger society, that has done away with (adversarial) rule, and is using only renewable energy resources, at a rate, much less than they are made available by Nature, allowing all other species their supplies, including increased wild habitat.

First, the United States, is heading at almost full steam, toward the biggest calamity of it's entire history, due, in part, I think, in the very poor structure of our current government. It would be much better, if it really was a democracy, but alas, it is not. I could quote ream on ream of various rhetoric, that has defined our current state of affairs, but it would change nothing.

Second, someone with substantial charisma, and a following of people, say 10,000 individuals, with many many dollars, must build a sustainable community, from the ground up. My home state Iowa, would be a good place, since there are some older communities that are slowly disintegrating, as people move to larger communities, making them larger still.

In doing so, they must exceed all building codes, that are in place, in any community, that currently uses building codes. [ I know that, ( inroads ) have been made, in the Universal building codes, by various builders and city engineers, that are beginning to allow (off normal designs), that do exceed existing code ] At the present time, NO SUCH COMMUNITIES EXIST. And, NO amount of RHETORIC will make it happen. Some people must actually make it happen.

Third, there is NO WAY that we can modify any of the existing structures and their logistics, in existing towns and cities, to make them sustainable communities. Serious changes in Land Ownership Laws, and Community Properties, must be enacted into Law, so that the ( true intent of ) the private property concerns, in the U. S. Constitution, are put fully in place.

The U. S. Constitution, is a good document, but is not fully appropriate for current times, in some of it's aspects. I believe we need far more than ( Two Parties ) to allow people with much broader levels of concerns, a voice, in the society. Lobbyist, are an example, of voices, that do not actually represent that PEOPLE, but the (existing) two parties, listen to them, and then make laws, and set appropriations, to their benefit. This is NOT fair.

Fourth, a complete reversal of how land is used, and how wild animals have access, must be part of the changes. A diversely organized, open wilderness must become a reality, in every state and region.

There is much much more.. of course.

If this does not happen, soon, it is all over, but the gnashing of our teeth. Those who believe we have plenty of time to change, are completely mistaken. The coming social collapse, will be like nothing the Americans, have ever seen before, in their country.

Again, No amount of Rhetoric will change enough minds, soon enough, to change anything. And, when the price of, or the lack of energy, is fully apparent, it will be too late.