INDEX

1_PREAMBLE
2_POPULATION
3_FUTURE FORCES
4_SUPPLY ISSUES
5_LAND USE
6_WATER
7_CLIMATE CHAOS
8_NATURAL EVENTS
9_CONFLICT
10_WHAT ARE OUR ODDS?
11_MODERN LIFE SPAN

1_PREAMBLE

Steven Kotler, of Discover, science, technology and the future puts it this way: “We’re talking about an incredible synergy between technology and biology, about very simple improvements-pasteurization, a general reduction of pollutants, cleaning up our water supply, producing heritable effects across populations faster than ever before.

Think about this: Humans are a 200,000 year old species. When we first emerged our life span was 20 years old. By the turn of the 20th century it had become 44 years. We advanced by 24 years over the course of 200,000 years. But today it’s 80 years. These simple improvements doubled our longevity in a century.” On average, our kids will live longer and longer.

We can all imagine the good things we need, or want. We can also imagine the dark and scary things we don’t want. Que sara sara. Whatever will be will be. The futures not ours to see. Que sara sara. What does the future hold? Is it good to know some of the things you didn’t need to know?

There are billions of scenarios of how the future will unfold. Some see optimism, health, happy times and a productive life. Those with a love of life will continue to squeeze each moment into as much happy as possible, and seeking those humorous things about existence. A fearless existence. These people seek to believe what they see.

Some see hardship, despair or, a whats the use, so, why even try? existence. Each moment filled with worry about things, about others, about future, and about death. These people seek to see what they believe.

Still others are oblivious of their thoughts, and resulting actions. They will take any road that is convenient, for them.

The above arbitrary categories are totally a mind game. We all have similar equipment to believe in things, but under different sets of facts. This affects our entire being and our future outlook on our lives.

Well, what should we know, so that we can organise our thoughts into a happy, productive life with a purpose, each its own? Lets sort these into 3 categories: with a goal of obtaining a fearless inner and outer peace, enjoying a happy, productive existence.

Those thoughts required to obtain a certain happy outlook, and provide a reason to be. Call these ‘positive’.

Those thoughts that hinder our progress, causing undue worry and stress. Call these ‘negative’.

Those thoughts in normal situations that you deal with on a daily, monthly type basis. they would normally be called ‘housekeeping’.

We can look at some specifics that could affect you or your loved ones and you decide how you feel about them.

2_POPULATION

The world today is dealing with many different future scenarios. Many do not look particularly appealing. How many people could live on earth?

Many scientists have tried to calculate that number with widely divergent results. It was originally projected at 13.4 billion. Population modelers now say there is no single answer. The population that our Earth can ultimately carry, and the quality of life that those people have, will depend on political and environmental choices.

The Tellus Institute, a non-profit sustainability research organization in Boston has made some of the most sophisticated predictions yet. The report starts with United Nations predictions of population and economic growth and then analyzes hundreds of parameters including energy consumption, land use and pollution. The simulation outcomes show that, how we shape policy now will determine whether our children live in a pleasant world or one of degradation and scarcity. Possible Scenarios: Summary by Popular Mechanics.

The following is a summary of the above 4 scenarios:

In 2011 the global population reached 7 Billion people.

By 2025 population is expected to be 7.6 or as high as 8.1 billion.

By 2050 population is expected to be 8.1 or as high as 9.5 billion.

By 2100 population is expected to be 7.3 or as high as 10.2 billion.

Although there are a lot of variables built into the above graph, Population is what it is and there seems no easy solution to the increasing masses of more people. In my mind this is one of the physical cruxes of world problems. There are just too many people to feed and supply basic life necessities to. But, there always has been supply problems. This is a dilemma of first magnitude and does not appear to have any realistic solution. There are more people born each day than die from all causes including war. In addition we are living longer. Living longer is good news. I also noticed the graff is also showing that population rates are decreasing. Maybe a balance coming? Anyway not anything to worry your pretty little head over

3_FUTURE FORCES

1_ market forces. Business as usual-the economy grows, technology advances. Poorer regions build up industries, and environmental problems become more serious.

2_policy reform. Governments take rapid action to meet UN climate targets and other sustainability goals, but economic growth remains the strongest factor in developing new policies.

3_fortress world. Environmental, economic and social problems overwhelm current systems and government become authoritarian. The wealthy retreat to protected enclaves, leaving poor masses in a degraded wasteland.

4_great transition. Society’s values change radically to prioritize environmental preservation, social equality and cooperation.

4_SUPPLY ISSUES

• Projections by multinational firms indicate that: Crude oil will run out between 2034 and 2105 and Natural Gas will run out between 2047 and 2123.

• Natural resources are not infinite. Those we use to power our world will run out. What then? Unless a new and powerful energy source such as the nuclear fusion that created our sun and countless other stars can be harnessed quickly there appears to be few other viable alternatives, renewable or otherwise to the growing demand for energy. Fortunately nuclear fusion is now viable, but not yet reached more energy output than energy input.

5_LAND USE

In 2005: Forest 30% Grazing 26% Cropland 12% Built up 2%

In forestry simulations Forest and Grazing land use is reduced. Cropland is depleted and human build up rises.

Land use concerns our ability to produce food to eat and oxygen to breath. These two things govern our basic survival needs. Where we are, we seem to manage these issues quite well and well into the future.

6_WATER

In 2005. 27 percent of the world’s population struggled with water stress. By 2025 25 to 38% will be affected. Iran has NO water.

By 2050. 24 to 47% will be affected.

Up to 50 percent of the population will struggle with water stress by 2100.

Water is essential to life. Without drinkable water our lives would terminate in a few days. Enjoy a swig of that marvellous H-20 molecule. Feel it refresh your body. Know that it provides a meaning to your body and your life.

7_CLIMATE CHAOS

Random Sources: No time elements. Annual toxic waste could increase from 50 metric tons to 180 metric tons.

CO2 emissions could increase from 8 gigatons to 20 gigatons.

Energy consumption could increase from 450 exajoules to 1,200 exajoules. Human induced. Get a warm coat and a new air conditioner and enjoy the experience.

8_NATURAL EVENTS

There have been many natural disaster events recorded through our long and turbulent history. They include huge earth upheavals, massive floods, collisions with space bodies, plaques, droughts, climate chaos, brain disease, and rap music.

Fortunately, earthquakes, volcanoes, space meteorite attacks, and dinosaurs threats are very rare and not of any normal concern. We even have the potential to predict them and in many cases, reduce or eliminate them. Not something to even considering worrying about.

Most climate and other environmental concerns can be treated and if necessary, operating on Earth with loving care for our very being. Not something to worry about on a short term. There are other priorities in your expected life time.

9_CONFLICT

There is no end to human conflict. It has always been and one doesn’t have to look too far to see its effects all around our dear little globe. Conflict is everywhere, from the guy who claims you took his parking spot, to endless territorial, religious and ethnic strife. Many of these conflicts are instigated by a lack of understanding between peoples.

Just imagine a world where there are over 5,000 different languages spoken and culturally defended. In 1887 L. Zamenhof published ‘Unua Libro’, translated as ‘one who hopes’ or ‘one language’. Zamenhof’s goal was to create an easy-to-learn politically neutral language that would transcend nationality and foster peace and international understanding between people with different languages. As a German mathematician, Zamenhof created a language he called Esperanto.

Esperanto was based on mathematics with western language letters. He had hoped this would foster communication between nations and a better understanding between peoples. Because of its mathematical ability to precisely translate sentence structure it is used in international treaties, agreements and translations to help eliminate confusion to this day. There are about 2,000,000 Esperanto speakers worldwide and they offer world travel through their ‘trade your spare room’ usage for a few days, for the use of their spare room for a few days’. Cultural or scientific exploration may be provided by your host. There are about 500 facilities that teach Esperanto and of course the Internet. Great idea, but It doesn’t seem to have stopped much conflict. (Birdo captas insecton) Easy for western speakers.

It is such a terrible word. War. Why does war exist? There seems to be many reasons, or excuses for war to happen. Warfare did of course, have territorial, power, resource, sexual and religious aspects since the prehistoric period. Early warfare and organized religious cults arise simultaneously with the emergence of tribal structures. Warfare between cities was conceived of as warfare between other cities national gods. Certain gods seem to have acquired the quality of a god of war. For example; Ares, was the Greek god of war and Mars the Roman god of war.

The Trojan War is portrayed by Homer as a conflict between factions of the gods, fought out by proxy with the use of human armies. This can be equated with warlike gods encountered among other peoples. The crusaders (knights of Christ) engaged in a series of military campaigns in the 11th through 13th centuries to recapture the holy lands from the Muslims. In 1095 Pope Urban 11 raised the level of war to ‘Holy War’. The French ‘wars of religion’ in 16th century France were a succession of wars between Roman Catholics and Protestants. In the 17th century European states were devastated during the Thirty Years War between Catholics and Protestants. Warfare has been an integral part of Islamic history since the time of Mohammed. Religious conflicts are rampant around the world even today, in almost every country. Africa, and the Middle East currently taking center stage.

Factions of the same religions split into rival sects such as Catholics and Protestants, Sunni and Shia. You cannot listen to an hour of news and not be stricken by the constant death and tragedy surrounding never ending religious conflict, and that religion cause may not be evident The overriding theme, is that of conflict on a grand scale of atrocities.

There is a well known, and often repeated myth that out of the first four people on earth one of them was a killer. He killed his own brother in paradise. Cain slew Abel. This myth cannot be proven or disproven. Who was there to write about it? However, if taken as true this is a scary predicament. If we started out with one person in four as a murderer this story presents a whole new meaning to conflict. Can you imagine 25% of the people you know intimately as potential killers? WOW!

10_WHAT ARE OUR ODDS?

If only a percentage of these projections come true, our children are in big trouble. Major and multiple events can and will happen that will change these simulations dramatically, some for the better, some not.

The Canadian Dream is a Ponzi scheme. The haves have more, the nots have not. Ever heard of Madoff, Ponzi or Bob Cummings? These were Ponzi schemes, not viable businesses. They had nothing to do with real products,  services  or  prudent  investments.  The  idea  was,  people invested their hard earned cash with the dream of making big rewards based on more and more people investing their hard earned money into the scheme. As new people entered the scheme with their money the old investors were paid back a percentage from this new money, not out of any supposed profits. It looked like they were getting a good return on their money, and encouraged their friends to join the run of the lemmings. As it got bigger it relied more and more on new people fueling the fantasy. After time the new investors could not satisfy the needs of the original investors and the scheme collapsed, leaving all investors holding the empty bag. Long gone owners and promoters of course had bags full of money to throw on the beach of their tropical island or sit languishing in some deserving jail.

Not so lucky for our kids. Our operating system is dependent on people receiving more and more at the expense of our children. In order to change this we need to look at our demands. We demand more and more while the well is running dry in all of the above scenarios. One has to wonder, how do we help our children deal with and survive these future scenarios caused by our past activities?

We want to bring more children into the scheme which fuels the population gridlock.

We want more oil, more gas, more coal, to fuel our insatiable energy needs.

We want to have more assets, more buildings, more things. We fill up storage units, with stuff we will never use.

We want to squander our precious water. Today a liter of bottled water is more expensive than a liter of gas and we live in free water land.

We want our standard of life no matter the environmental consequences.

What is wrong with this picture?

First we need to recognize our culpability and responsibility for their predicament. We have caused these problems and many realistically cannot be solved. We need to know there are things we can do to alleviate some pressures on our children.

Theology is stuck in regurgitating the past, whereas science hos evolved.

11_MODERN LIFE SPAN

The ability to serve our health needs has multiplied every year. From ancient ‘Eye of newt’ or ‘ear of sow’ mixed with fear of damnation, to medications for: pain, bacterial and virus infections, maladies, subsistence, and comfort.

From lobotomies and amputations to X-rays, MRI’s, Gamma rays, behind the scenes analytical technology and operational precision.

From a healing stick waved over your head and a stick placed in your mouth to bite on, the shaman drills a hole in your head to relieve you of demons, to well trained professionals who know how to work with those demons of the mind through attention activities, anxiety mediation and meds. (some progress) Lots of progress in physical problems.

Some people indulge in the past. The reality is, the past wasn’t that great. You died younger, You died poorer, you seldom saw anyone new, you suffered more, you died painfully..

No one would like to go back to no internet or cellphone. No microwave, or television, or computor, or coffee maker. Forget about toilet paper and get your Sears catologue out. You would have to go about your business in days or weeks instead of minutes. You pay telephone calls by the seconds and a burnt out radio tube is hard to find.

You might get up to 3 channels on your 17” black and white tv. Ours was channel 2 – Vancouver. Channel 6 – Victoria and channel 12 – Bellingham. They only broadcast 6 to 12 hous per day. The rest of the time was an annoying test pattern. But we were happy, not knowing the future.

In Canada we had no organized health care system until Tommy Douglas and the NDP introduced their radical system to us. It has worked for Canadians for over 60 years. Not being able to afford American for profit healthcare many Canadians would be dead long before their ‘best before’ date.

Love what you have. It’s the best it has ever been.

Have a happy day and don’t forget to smile and have a giggle.