Week 43: Collaboration Made Us Winners; Its Absence Will Make Us Losers—for the Next 200 Years

Dear all,

Unbelievable doesn't even cover the surface of what we are witnessing. Describing this situation as 'schizophrenic,' a term for a severe mental condition, might actually be fitting. On one hand, there’s the continuous extraction of oil and gas to fuel the economic engine; on the other, the world is heating beyond comprehension. Yet we seem powerless to change course, as if trapped in an endless cycle. Perhaps there comes a point where hope is counterproductive, and we must simply accept the inevitable decline—a natural process in which self-destructive civilizations ultimately succeed in destroying themselves. Some would call this doom and gloom, others alarmism. But what about realism?

Hardcore realism means accepting that we are unlikely to make the fundamental changes needed to address global warming at its core. Perhaps this acceptance will lead us to explore new dimensions of consciousness and capability. Yes, we may not 'make it,' and we may be at peace with that. Many will pay, many will lose, some will win, and millions will die—some quickly, some slowly, some painfully, and some violently. Many will survive as well, but the quality of life will likely depend on where they live.

In a way, it has always been this way throughout our history. Humanity has gone to great lengths to make life both painful and beautiful for each other. We possess this unique gift, a gift to both give and take life, and we are fully aware of it. Why would anything fundamentally change? Realistically, not much about human nature has shifted since ancient Egypt, Greece, or Rome—based on what records we have from these times. Our collaboration for survival has, in the past, made us winners. Now, our lack of collaboration may turn us into losers. And, as before, we may need to accept this reality for the next 200 years.