The author surveys various measures about the state of the world which strongly suggests a suicidal course for humanity and other species. He also surveys methods of resistance used throughout history to cope with sources of oppression that range the gamut from non-violence to violence.
Mostly he focuses on Derrick Jensen's views and questions about what is to be done to avert catastrophe, and what it will take for people to realize that something must be done. Unfortunately, Jensen's only offering here is for "people to think for themselves" and to do something. I don't fault Jensen for this because no one has yet found a definitive answer, but he does pose the most critical questions for our time.
To his credit Jamail does occasionally point to capitalism as the culprit, or at least, more often than most observers do. But to be more consistent, his article should have been entitled, "Life vs. Capitalism". Derrick Jensen, whose views he quotes from extensively, often uses words like "culture" and "social structure" which I think tend to obscure the issues.
I have previously addressed this phenomenon: the inability or resistance to naming the problem--capitalism. I believe it is a result of the intensive indoctrination by capitalist ruling classes that all citizens have been thoroughly subjected to in their educational institutions and media. Because capitalist ruling classes have been so successful at doing this that, especially in the US, it has assumed the role of a religion without being identified as such. It is taboo to even speak of it. Yet capitalist values and beliefs inform nearly all of our thoughts and actions. This is a major problem that needs to be focused on first before we can make any progress in changing the system.
Also I think that it is necessary to wake people up from their apathy, their denial, the "learned helplessness, and their unconsciousness of the real issues. Jensen, McKibben, Jamail, and many others are trying to do this--and hurray for them! Once that happens, then I am confident that the human race will find the appropriate solutions. But it is a race against time. The outcome is very uncertain.
"Do you believe that our culture will undergo a voluntary transformation to a sane and sustainable way of living?" asks Jensen.
"For the last several years I've taken to asking people this question, at talks and rallies, in libraries, on buses, in airplanes, at the grocery store, the hardware store. Everywhere. The answers range from emphatic 'No's' to laughter. No one answers in the affirmative. One fellow at one talk did raise his hand and when everyone looked at him, he dropped his hand, then said, sheepishly, 'Oh, voluntary? No, of course not.'
"My next question: how will this understanding - that this culture will not voluntarily stop destroying the natural world, eliminating indigenous cultures, exploiting the poor and killing those who resist - shift our strategy and tactics? The answer? Nobody knows, because we never talk about it: we're too busy pretending the culture will undergo a magical transformation."
