Human Identity Uroboros. Credit line: Nina McCurdy
I sure wasn't expecting to hear about how the daughters of the President of the United States might offer a novel solution for incentivising the climate justice movement last month when I attended a talk on "The New Universe and the Human Future: How a Shared Cosmology Could Transform the World."
But I have to say I was awed and inspired beyond expectation by the presentation in the planetarium of San Francisco's Academy of Science. The presenters, Nancy Ellen Abrams and Joel R. Primack, who co-authored the book of the same name, shared a concept of cosmology which catapulted my nuanced worldview into a light-bending projection through baryonic matter! Recasting my image of myself into that of a highly energized and participating elementary particle in an ever-expanding universe.
A universe which, in a blink of an eye, will no longer be visible to our descendants. And, should we decide to re-connect with it, a cosmos which innately connects us with a novel response to addressing the wounds we have inflicted on this planet. (Read Darkness at the Edge of the Universe. Brian Greene. New York Times. Jan. 11, 2011)
It may seem strange that there should be a practical connection between the vastly different timescales of cosmology and our present environmental challenges, but not only is there a connection -- it is crucial that people realize this very soon. By understanding how humanity fits into the timescale of the universe, we begin to grasp what is truly at stake for our planet and for our descendants in the political and economical decisions being made today.
We have, they suggest, the opportunity to utilize cosmological concepts to work on the issues which threaten our future. (the authors)
The Malia-Sasha Horizon
"So tonight, let us ask ourselves — if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?
This is our chance to answer that call."– President-Elect Barack Obama acceptance speech, November 4, 2008
The Malia-Sasha Horizon*
Projected Carbon Emissions Through 2100, and Actual Data So Far
The pessimistic red curve is business as usual (IPCC 2007 scenario A2) and the optimistic blue curve represents an aggressive reduction in carbon emissions (IPCC 2007 scenario B1). From U.S. Global Change Research Program.Source
Abrams and Primack maintain that if today's leaders -- political, cultural, religious, business -- and their supporters (which means each and every one of us) -- begin to envision the world from the perspective of the Malia-Sasha Horizon this would represent an enormous step towards expanding our consciousness of ourselves and our worldview within the 'boundlessness of cosmological time.' Still, even in the best case scenario, a scenario in which on an international scale, steps are immediately taken to address the root causes of climate change, the projected image of 2100 remains cause for alarm.
Optimistic and Pessimistic Temperature Scenarios
These correspond to the two scenarios presented in the previous figure. Images taken from U.S. Global Change Research Program
New Inertia Bg By DaRabman
"THIS STEP IS THE MOST IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT SETS THE DIRECTION AND OVERCOMES INERTIA."
Photo by kakiamagissa
By helping us come to terms with our place in a dynamic, evolving universe where time is measured in both billions of years and nanoseconds and size is measured both across great galaxy clusters and across the nucleus of an atom, the new cosmology gives us the concepts we need in order to begin thinking in, and acting for, the very long term. It lets us appreciate our significance to the universe as a whole. ... we have to think on a larger scale than the one we're acting on, if those actions are to be wise. To act wisely on the global scale, we need to think cosmically. (the authors)
Photo by rckent
The long-term success of our species may very well depend upon our becoming a cosmic society, capable of thinking on the grand scale while acting on the small. A cosmic society is not about zipping around the Galaxy visiting aliens—it's about expanding our thinking and trans- forming our actions right here on Planet Earth. It's radical but simple, and for the first time in human existence it's within our reach. (the authors)
EndNote:
Universe 3 By shellemybelle78
On the other hand, if humankind continues to approach its problems considering only temporary expediency, future generations will have to face tremendous difficulties. The global population is increasing, and our resources are being rapidly depleted. Look at the trees, for example. No one knows exactly what adverse effects massive deforestation will have on the climate, the soil, and global ecology as a whole. We are facing problems because people are concentrating only on their short-term, selfish interests, not thinking of the entire human family. They are not thinking of the earth and the long-term effects on universal life as a whole. If we of the present generation do not think about these now, future generations may not be able to cope with them."(excerpt from A Human Approach to World Peace. His Holiness the Dalai Lama)
So, what about you?
I 'm so there!
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