in the time remaining, to help us understand how the man-made system of capitalism will lead to the extinction of our human species, and so many others.
We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Natural-Catastrophe Losses Rose to $37 Billion Last Year, Munich Re Says
With the exception of earthquakes, I think that natural disasters will increase due to climate instability. The world seems to have one extreme weather event after another. Witness the floods currently happening in Australia. Let us pray that we haven't yet passed significant tipping points.