Handbook of Planetary Management
© 2003 Joseph George Caldwell.
All rights reserved. Posted at
Internet web sites http://www.foundation.bw
and http://www.foundationwebsite.org
. May be copied or reposted for
non-commercial use, with attribution.
(6 June 2003)
For
millions of years, during mankind’s hunter-gatherer phase, the human population
of Earth was on the order of five million people. With the development of agriculture and other technologies about
ten thousand years ago, the population increased to about 250 million at the
time of the Roman Empire. With the
advent of the fossil-fuel age on Earth in the late middle ages, the human
population began to grow very fast. It
now stands at just over six billion, and is increasing by about 80 million per
year. The human population now consumes
about 40 percent of all of the “current” solar energy usable by biological
organisms, and more than half of all fresh water. It is the most numerous mammalian species on the planet, and the
largest single species in terms of biomass.
Massive human numbers and industrial activity are causing the extinction
of about 30 thousand species per year and are thereby destroying the ecological
balance of the biosphere.
The large
size of the human population will not continue for very much longer. The world’s petroleum supplies have been
about half used up, and the remaining reserves will last for less than half a
century at current rates of consumption.
More significantly, the ecological balance of nature has been so
disturbed that ecological collapse is occurring long before the end of the
petroleum age. Most of the human
species live in abject poverty, misery, hunger, disease and squalor. Limits have been reached on agricultural
food production, and the world’s fisheries are now collapsing from overfishing
and pollution. The world’s
natural-growth forests are being destroyed at a rapid rate, and will soon be gone
from most parts of the world. Much of
nature is being destroyed by human-generated pollution and destruction of
natural habitat.
Although
appeals to stop this destruction have been increasing in urgency and frequency
for many decades, mankind as a whole has been totally unwilling and/or unable
to stop the destruction of the biosphere.
It is clear that human population growth will continue until the system
collapses catastrophically. There are
many factors at work in this process of destruction, including human greed,
ability to tap the massive energy stored in fossil fuels and thereby cause
massive changes to the environment, addiction to the material benefits of
industrialization, the stranglehold of the “religion” of economics on human
culture (i.e., greater industrial production, both overall and per capita, is
“better”), contempt for all other species, and the widespread belief that God
will remove (“save”) all “good” people from the ruined planet (“End Times”
concepts, such as Apocalypse, Armageddon, Tribulation, Rapture, etc.).
Dynamic
systems almost always fail catastrophically.
In the case of human industrial civilization, which is now causing
massive changes to the planet’s environment and will soon exhaust the energy
source (petroleum) that is enabling massive human numbers, it is obvious that
the catastrophic demise will occur very soon (at the latest in a few decades
when petroleum supplies exhaust, but more likely within the next few
years). The only real issue to be
resolved is how much more damage will be caused to the biosphere prior to the
collapse and whether the human species survives. If industrial society continues until all petroleum is exhausted,
a substantial proportion of all of Earth’s species will have been
exterminated. If industrial society
ends very soon (e.g., by war, disease, famine), the “Sixth Mass Extinction” of
the planet will end with the extinctions to date.
As noted,
the religion of economics has a very strong grip on human society. Although economic development and industrial
activity have been totally responsible for the ecological destruction that is
currently being wreaked on the planet, the myth that more economic development
and industrial activity will make things better is widely believed. Almost everyone believes that more
industrial development will improve the standard of living for himself and his
family, and that the associated ecological damage that occurs is not important.
A few
writers have shown very convincingly how mankind’s current global industrial
activity is analogous to cancer or other serious disease (in this case, a
disease that is destroying the biosphere), but few people are willing to accept
that mankind in its current numbers is a pathogenic or parasitic organism. Most people simply do not want to hear that
30,000 species are being made extinct every year by human activity. Collectively, human society is in a state of
mass denial that the biosphere is undergoing massive and irreversible change,
that the large human population is completely unsustainable, and that human
population collapse is imminent.
It is now
impossible that the situation will improve by peaceful means. Globalization (global industrialization at
high levels) has a stranglehold grip on human society. No world or national leader is willing to
propose, or promote, or even accept a decrease in either the gross national
product or the gross national product per capita. Global petroleum supplies will exhaust so soon that there is now
no way for human population to decline slowly to sustainable levels. The fact is that billions of people will
soon die – and not from old age! The
coming die-off of the human species will be the direct consequence of global
industrialization and our destruction of the environment -- global war, disease
and starvation.
The
significant issue facing the planet is not how to avoid catastrophic collapse,
since that is now inevitable. The
significant issues are what to do after it occurs, and how to prepare for the post-catastrophe
era (to minimize the destruction being caused by global industrialization and
to ensure the establishment of a long-term-sustainable system of planetary
management after its demise). The
Foundation websites have analysed and discussed this situation at length, and
have presented examples of long-term sustainable human populations and
organizations. One such population is a
synarchic (Platonic) government of a “minimal-regret” population consisting of
a single-nation high-technology population of five million people and a
globally distributed hunter-gatherer population of five million people.
The purpose
of the Foundation websites is to promote awareness of the human population
problem, suggest solutions to this problem, and to help bring about conditions
such that when the industrial world collapses, a better (i.e.,
long-term-sustainable) system of planetary management is set up. Much of the website material to date has
been concerned with description and analysis of the problem, and a general
discussion of solutions (see, e.g., Can America Survive?). Recently, more material is being presented
concerning specific approaches to planetary management, or to ensuring that a
rational (long-term-sustainable) planetary management system is established. The current article is one more step in that
direction.
Without
modern industrialization, the human population did not have much impact on the
Earth’s ecology. In a hunter-gatherer
mode (on the order of five million people globally), it had practically no
impact at all – it was just one minor mammalian species, living off the
land. Even with primitive agriculture
(on the order of 250 million people globally), it did not have a major
impact. The world’s tropical forests
and oceans remained pretty much as they had for millions of years, and
mankind’s use of natural materials caused little impact on the planet’s
biodiversity. The big change occurred
when mankind began to use modern technology, tap fossil fuels on a large scale,
and increase its population dramatically.
The world can support a few hundred million people living under
primitive (agricultural) conditions, or about five million living a
high-technology lifestyle. Examples of
long-term sustainable human populations are: about 5-20 million
hunter-gatherers; or about 250 million primitive-agriculture people; or about
five million high-technology people; or the latter together with a small number
of hunter-gatherers (e.g., five million).
In other words, the “carrying capacity” of the planet is from about five
million people to a few hundred million, depending on the level of technology,
and the greater the level of technology (energy use, pollution generation), the
fewer the people that can be supported long-term.
If mankind
is to be able to stop the ongoing mass species extinction, it is necessary to
dramatically reduce the level of industrial activity on the planet. Economic development and industrial activity
are the problem, not the solution. The
problem is how to bring about and maintain a reduction in industrial activity,
when almost everyone wants more.
Some see a
solution by means of war. Because of
all of the problems being caused by mass industrialization, the likelihood of
occurrence of global war and the magnitude of its consequences are
increasing. The main problem with war
as an approach to solving the world’s current ecological problem is that the
very people who would win are the ones in favor of global
industrialization! As long as most
people believe that industrial activity is the solution to the world’s
problems, and that more is better, the survivors of a collapsed industrial
world would simply rebuild industrial society, and the ecological destruction
of the planet would resume. It does not
seem likely that violence is a solution to the world’s ecological problem. Too many people are committed to large human
population and global industrialization.
If a small number of people tried to bring an end to this current world
paradigm by force, they would almost certainly fail. Furthermore, a small group of people cannot control a large
population against its will for very long.
Global war will likely occur as part of the demise of the global
industrial age, but it is largely irrelevant as a means of establishing or
maintaining a long-term-sustainable system of planetary management.
As long as
most of the world’s population is committed to (addicted to) global
industrialization, it is unlikely that a different system of planetary
management would arise. As Neale Donald
Walsch has argued forcefully, however, action follows belief. If the survivors of a global catastrophe
believe that a resumption of global industrialization will improve things, then
that is what they will seek to achieve.
If, on the other hand, the survivors see clearly that global
industrialization was in fact the problem – the very source of the planetary
destruction, then they will seek to avoid a resumption of the industrial
age. And this is the key to the
solution.
Although
almost no one at the present time is willing to decrease industrial activity to
a low level, that attitude can be changed.
As observed above, the industrial era will end soon, and it will almost
surely end in a catastrophic collapse (global war, disease, famine, or
whatever). When that happens, the
survivors will see that large-scale industrialization has failed, and they will
experience first-hand the destruction that it has caused. They will understand the disastrous
consequences of a large human population and global industrialization, and they
will be receptive to change. It is at
that time that a significant opportunity will exist for significant and lasting
change.
In order for
the post-catastrophe surviving human population to be receptive to change, it
is very important that they be fully aware of the reasons for the collapse of
global industrial society when it occurs, and also aware of planetary
management approaches that will avoid a repeat of the destruction caused by the
present system. Establishing this
awareness is the primary mission of the Foundation websites – to disseminate
information describing (1) the state of the world, (2) the reasons why
large-scale industrial society must collapse and do so catastrophically, and
(3) planetary management approaches that will avoid further destruction and a
recurrence of the experienced collapse.
When most people of the world genuinely believe that global
industrialization was the problem that destroyed the world, then they will act
to prevent its re-emergence. It is at
that time that it will be possible to establish a planetary management system
based on synarchic government of a minimal-regret global population of ten
million people.
I observed
above that almost no one believes that global industrialization is the problem
and that it is destroying the planet. Almost
no one. There is a one group of people,
however, who are appalled by the level of violence in the world and the
destruction of nature by global industrialization, and who are also very much
convinced that a transformation to a better world is both possible and imminent. That is the group of people who are called
“New Agers,” or “New Spiritualists.”
New Agers have a vision for a better world. They are optimistic that a new world order can be established in
which people can live in peace with each other and in harmony with nature.
In addition
to their viewpoint that world peace and harmony with nature are possible, New
Agers possess another attribute that is very important – their large
numbers. There are literally millions
of people who are interested in New Age / New Spiritualism concepts. The only thing that is lacking is that,
although these people are optimistic that the world is about to enter a new
Golden Age of peace and harmony with nature, they (as a group) do not see exactly
how this will happen, or exactly how it can be brought about. Moreover, they are not generally aware that
they as a group are the key to solving the world’s problem. Many are convinced that the dawning of the
Age of Aquarius will bring substantial and significant change, and that this change
may even be turbulent and violent. Some
are convinced, nevertheless, that if enough people believe and hope for world
peace and harmony with nature, this will happen.
While the
New Age / New Spiritualism movement is a phenomenon of the last few decades, it
traces its beginnings in spiritualist and personal development movements from
ages past. There are many writers in
this field. Some of the more successful
or better-known ones are Neale Donald Walsch, Barbara Marx Hubbard, James
Redfield, Thom Hartmann, Marianne Williamson, Deepak Chopra, Gary Zukav, Daniel
Quinn, and Mikhael Aivanhov, just to name a few.
New Age /
New Spiritualism devotees will be strongly attracted to the synarchic
government / minimal-regret population movement, since it aligns perfectly with
many of their principal interests and concerns. The term “synarchy” was in fact introduced by the 19-th century
spiritualist, Saint-Yves d’Alveydre (although the concept was introduced much
earlier, by Plato). The goal of world
peace and harmony with nature is a common goal for New Agers. Except for the single high-technology
city-state, all human population will be organized tribally. Thom Hartmann (The Last Hours of Ancient
Sunlight) summarizes the five primary traits of tribal groups: (1)
political independence; (2) egalitarian structure; (3) get their resources from
renewable local sources; (4) have a unique sense of their own identity; and (5)
respect the identity of other tribes.
With an end to the sixth mass species extinction, the diversity of
species in the biosphere will be promoted.
The diversity of the human species, too, will be promoted, with the
re-emergence of independent tribes all over the planet. The likelihood of plagues, epidemics and
ecological disasters will be dramatically reduced, since the gross
intermingling of human beings and other species that characterizes
globalization will cease.
The
“evolutionary agenda” of Barbara Marx Hubbard (Conscious Evolution) will
be realized: (1) meet basic food and shelter needs of all people; (2) limit our
population growth; (3) restore Earth’s environment; (4) learn to coexist with
other species; (5) learn sustainable economic development; (6) shift the vast
military-industrial technological complex toward building new worlds on Earth
and in Space; (7) redesign social and economic systems to enhance human
compassion, cooperation, and creativity; (8) emancipate individuals’ unique
potential and life purpose; (9) explore and develop the further reaches of the
human spirit and the universe beyond the planet of our birth. Overall, “the planet makes its transition
from it high-technology, polluting, and overpopulating phase to a system that
fulfils its collective potential.”
The
unified-planet goals of Neale Donald Walsch (Conversations with God, Book
Two) would be realized: (1) an end to wars between nations and the settling
of disputes by killing; (2) an end to abject poverty, death by starvation, and
mass exploitation of people and resources by those of power; (3) an end to the
systematic environmental destruction of the Earth; (4) an escape from the
endless struggle for bigger, better, more; (5) an opportunity – truly equal –
for all people to rise to the highest expression of Self; and (6) an end to all
limitations and discrimination holding people back – whether in housing, in the
workplace, or in the political system, or in personal sexual relationships.
The world
vision of James Redfield (The Celestine Vision) would be realized: (1)
overcoming poverty and world hunger; (2) preventing crime; (3) protecting the
environment; (4) saving the forests; (5) an end to mass terrorism and warfare;
and (6) transformation of culture from planned obsolescence.
The vision of L.
Ron Hubbard (Scientology) would be
realized: A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war,
where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is
free to rise to greater heights.
One of the
fascinating aspects of the minimal-regret population proposed in Can America
Survive? is the fact that it allows for and promotes both a high-technology
society and low-technology societies on the planet. At the present time, the high-technology culture (Young Culture,
in the terminology of Thom Hartmann) is exterminating the primitive culture
(Older Culture). (It is also
exterminating itself.) In a
minimal-regret-population world, both cultures exist in harmony. The high technology culture (the synarchic
government) promotes the survival of the low-technology culture – that is its
primary mission, its reason for existence, its meaningful work (its secondary
mission is advancement of scientific and spiritual knowledge). The low-technology society preserves the
tribal community life that is so meaningful to human existence. Human beings are able to develop either in a
high-technology culture or a low-technology culture. Both exist on the same planet in a symbiotic relationship: the
high-technology culture protects the low-technology culture (and ensures its
own continued existence) by preventing the rise of mass (global)
industrialization. The low-technology
culture, dispersed over the planet and with limited intermingling, promotes
greater diversity of the human species and dramatically reduces the likelihood
of human-species extinction from catastrophic incident (because of geographic
dispersion and very limited intermingling).
When I said
above that New Agers as a group do not see exactly how world changes can
be brought about, I am referring to details, such as setting up a synarchic
world government after the global collapse of industrialism. The New Agers know exactly what
approach to use. It is the
long-established “secret” to success – meditation (prayer), desire,
visualization, planning, action, etc. (see Napoleon Hill for more on
this). All that is lacking is specificity
and clarity in setting goals and objectives. Once the New Age community has a clear understanding of the
nature of the global crisis (e.g., as described in Thom Hartmann’s The Last
Hours of Ancient Sunshine), it may set specific goals to bring about a
better world. Except for Hartmann, most
New Age writers (e.g., Walsch, Hubbard), seem oblivious to the severity of the
environmental crisis. As long as they
and the New Age community are unaware of the nature and seriousness of the
crisis, nothing will happen. Once they
are fully aware, nothing can stop them.
Action will indeed follow belief.
The forces
of global industrialization are very powerful.
They are committed to and addicted to the complete destruction of the
planet’s biosphere. Stopping them will
not be easy. The war against global
industrialization will not be easy to win.
The battle to establish world peace and a stable biosphere will involve
much hard work, commitment, and sacrifice.
And it will involve much faith.
As noted in the Bible, “Prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare.”
In order
for the New Age community – or any other community – to work enthusiastically
and effectively on a particular program for achieving the ultimate goal of
world peace and harmony with nature, it is necessary that they be aware of the
problem, understand its nature, and believe in the program (i.e., believe that
it is an effective and desirable way of achieving the ultimate goal and
generally superior to other alternatives).
The
Foundation websites propose a synarchic government of a minimal-regret
population of ten million as a feasible and desirable means of achieving a
long-term-survivable human population and biosphere. To encourage the adoption of this planetary management paradigm,
the Foundation websites present detailed information on the nature of the
crisis and the proposed solution. They
also present suggestions for additional steps that may be taken to increase
awareness and acceptance of the proposed solution, and that will increase the
likelihood that the solution will be attempted and successfully
implemented. These steps include the
following:
A few
remarks about the above items…. The
information presented at the Foundation websites is intended to accomplish
awareness of the nature of the planetary environmental crisis, and to describe
means for ending the crisis. The
purpose of The New Age Society of Solitaire, Namibia, is to promote the
development of grass-roots organizations that will help disseminate information
on the Foundation proposals, and acceptance of a world synarchic government of
a minimal-regret population after the collapse of the industrial world.
The purpose
of the Synarchy novel is to reach the large segment of the population
that may not be reached by the Foundation websites (i.e., either does not have
access to the Internet, or may not have come across the Foundation websites on
the Internet).
The purpose
of establishing Departments of Planetary Management at universities around the
world is to promote rational analysis of the current planetary crisis, review
of the proposed Foundation solution by educated people, and identification and consideration
(evaluation) of alternative solutions.
The results of their studies and analysis will either support the
Foundation approach or identify a better approach. In either event, the likelihood of a satisfactory solution is
increased.
The purpose
of establishing regional Centers for Planetary Management is to increase the
likelihood of having in place the core of a synarchic government (a “shadow”
government), following the collapse of the industrial world. It is likely that global war will accompany
the collapse of the industrial world.
In this event, many of the world’s cities and population centers will be
destroyed. If the Foundation is
successful in disseminating knowledge of planetary management to all geographic
areas, then the likelihood that the survivors of the collapse will be unaware
of the concepts of synarchy and minimal-regret populations will be low. The likelihood of survival of the Centers
will be enhanced by locating them outside of large cities. The Centers will be located in cultures /
nations that are tolerant of and supportive of the goal of a world of peace and
respect for nature (and, obviously, interested in playing a leadership role in
the post-industrial world). It is
planned that there will be at least one Center located on each of the seven
continents. At least one Center on each
continent will be public; other Centers may exist that are secret.
It may be
noticed that there is no central organization coordinating the movement to
establish a synarchic government of a minimal-regret population. There are several reasons for this. First, it is anticipated that at some point
the national governments of the world will move against the synarchic-government
/ minimal-regret-population movement, since it is antithetical to all they
stand for (i.e., the industrialized world, globalization). (There is substantial precedent prompting
this belief – both France and Germany moved against Synarchy early in the
twentieth century.) The vulnerability
of this movement is substantially reduced by the lack of a central
organization. Second, it is considered
advantageous from the viewpoint of credibility and acceptance if the Foundation
/ synarchic / minimal-regret movement has no commercial interests, motives or
basis. As long as the movement is a
“grass-roots” one, and there is no central organization or headquarters, there
is no need for large amounts of money to accomplish the movement’s goals. The “organization” exists only as an idea: with
no physical or financial assets, there is nothing for the industrial world to
attack or destroy. Nothing is more
powerful than an idea whose time has come.
The movement has no need for monetary funding – it is the power of
conscious evolution that will enable it to come into being.
To be continued….