We have an overpopulation problem and in the face of that problem deniers and ‘business as usual’ enthusiasts often say cavalierly, “Have the courage to do nothing.” That ideas of this kind are ever associated with word courage is the height of dishonesty and duplicity. Such expressions are also the most profound examples of self-serving thought and individual cowardice I can imagine. That such a point of view is broadcast by the mainstream media is a sign to us of its wrongheadedness.

Let us not fail for another year to examine and report on extant research of human population dynamics/human overpopulation. The refusal of many too many experts to assume their responsibilities to science and perform their duties to humanity could be one of the most colossal mistakes in human history. Such woefully inadequate behavior by deniers, as is evident in the collusion of many too many experts, will soon enough be replaced with objective observations and truthful expressions from those in possession of clear vision, intellectual honesty and moral courage.

Why not acknowledge science regarding human overpopulation and, by so doing, take a path toward sustainability? If we keep repeating the mistakes made in the past by denying science, nothing new and different can happen. Without an open acknowledgement of the root cause(s) of what is ailing the human family, how are we to move forward to raise awareness of the global predicament? Once awareness is raised among a critical mass of people, it becomes possible to organize for the purpose of formulating policies and actionable programs. Denial has kept us and continues to keep us from gaining momentum needed to address and overcome the human-driven challenges that currently threaten human well being and environmental health.

Hi Ellen, sent a couple of messages but seem to be having trouble with the sending function on this site.

I wanted to check in to see if you would be attending the "Green Festival" in LA, CA. Oct 29-30th I will be writing about a couple of the speakers. 

Be well,

Chris

you may have better luck with my email: thefindingfiniteproject@gmail.com

Hello Ellen, thank you for your suggestion regarding a page for the Work That Reconnects. I was wondering how I might contribute to this Transition in Action Community and perhaps this may be a way. I strongly support you connecting with Anne and if a WTR page was started I am here to contribute. Blessings on you and your work, thank you.

Thanks. Yes, I was glad to receive the invitation. Went online to listen to some past interviews and he does a very nice job - mostly of staying out of the way and letting his guests talk. Seems like a lovely man!

Thankyou Ellen, I appreciate your prompt reply and details of your work.

Hello Ellen, Thanks for your kind offer - I may indeed take you up on that.  I have been away from the currency issue for a while, and am wondering if you are looking at the bnote.org page? If so, I'm afraid that page has not had much attention.  For some reason it doesn't display on the MS web browser, and I've not taken the time to learn why.

 

That intermediate length between a 250 word bundle of concepts and the extended text of a detailed exploration of an idea has proven difficult for me.  Perhaps we can work together on a way to introduce people to this deeper understanding of system function.

Gardening in Time

 

A garden is all the relationships between the people, plants and creatures in a place. It is constantly seeking balance but will never find it. That is because things are always changing . . . the weather, the seasons, the kinds of plants and creatures participating, and the stresses you place on it.

 

Any sense of control you have is an illusion. What you have is influence. You can certainly influence the balance toward fewer participants by doing things like spreading poisons. It is more difficult to influence balance toward more participants. That takes patience, observation, intuition, careful experimentation. If you are judging your garden success on this year's production you are already doomed to failure. That creature eating your plants is not a pest. It is food for the creature that would protect your plants.

 

Your garden does not have an edge. The only limit to its space is the extent of your influence. It will work toward balance of all the influences from all the factors playing out around and through it. If you attempt to control it you will fail. If you try to understand it, you will come to know great beauty and bounty.

Thank you for your offer to contribute to your blog and newsletter.  I immediately began to ponder which 1000 words :-).

 

Life, like a garden, is a set of relationships, a set of transactions, between the people, plants and creatures of a place.  The next comment is what I tell my gardeners when they experience stress about their gardens and a follow up to the Living in Place series and what I have developed as I have tried to convey these concepts to visitors to the Applewood Permaculture Institute.