it might likely be the combined somewhat subtle, relatively unnoticeable effects …
of loss of topsoil, quality air & water, photosynthesizers & net primary productivity, connected biodiversity loss, and poor capture of daily solar energy
AND associated climate change from recklessness and use, directly & indirctly, of fossil energy for food, fiber, shelter, and stuff, etc. (and amking up for/masking of the aforementioned losses) by the dominant species
it might be the “natural’ and synthetic hormones and other chemicals in the water and food
or a pandemic
or it could be immediate with nuclear blasts
or it might be more “natural” through supervolcanic eruptons, asteroid impacts
other species exist to exist and mostly to exist to maintain the existence of that species
it does disappoint, frustrate, enrage me that it is most likely that “the demise”
will be “anthropocentric actions” … not to exist and maintain quality life for as long as possible …
but rather an arrogant modus operandi focusing on “me’s” rather than profoundly and holistically on “we”
in deep humility, kindness, and with empathy … and when needed … sympathy
equitably, credibly with integrity, helpfully, … generally necessarily messily
learn in solidarity toward sustainable livelihoods
that are profoundly and holistically good
with all who are “de facto ‘quaker’-friends” … and through some real and deep friendship … involved in sustainable unity
socio-ecological connections and true justice in a “Positively Ethical Apropos Community Ecology” of PEACEmakers … in unity in community
…………………
kindness isn’t always being kind
especially on this Eaarth
(Eaarth in the anthropocene, with an extra “a,” maybe for anthropocene … or artificial or agrilogistics … via ecological author bill mckibben [& timothy morton])
Eaarth of 2023 including here in clean seguin
a hot Eaarth of loss
losses of top soil, quality air and water, photosynthesizers and net primary productivity, biodiversity, and daily natural capture of solar energy
loss of a Low Input Sustainable Agriculture, of LISA, and loss of sustainable livelihoods and loss of a sustainable social fabric
all largely due to fossil energy; too much energy transformed artificially
and disrupting a dynamic homeostatic symbioses which includes Homo sapheads
Eaarth of 2023 including here in clean seguin where we worship at the altar of growth
when what we need is degrowth (and less energy transformation)
the Eaarth of seguin where we lack “positively ethical applied community ecology, or PEACE,” across curricula and campuses
kindness isn’t always being kind!
even here in clean seguin
on this eaarth of the anthropocene
kindness/friendship/unity/community must be Truth to power! and Truth to self-imposed ignorance!
Truth to hubris and smugness and complacency and apathy!
more and more, it must be tough love! a very, very tough love!!!
……………….
still … the most IMPORTANT thing we can learn
what we must learn from alice walker of “the color purple”
and tolstoy and gandhi and dr. king and dorothy day
and maybe even jesus of nazareth
is that War is NEVER a good idea!
we must abhor
any War
([whisper!!!:] and all those who directly or indirectly enable War and Wars)
CELEBRATE PEACE! NOT WAR AND ITS ENABLERS!!!
(at the seguin 4th of july parade … & at other times & everywhere else)
…………………….
([whisper:] “by the way seguin-family
i am happy to opportunistically and frequently (and well, maybe a bit disingenously and satirically)announce
as a working & spiritual member of this wonderful ecological community
‘i do love you seguin! even you folk of the very plastic world of h-e-b
and all of you who use those durn disposable plastic bags.’
… and maybe it is just effective propaganda from a sector of neoliberal capitalism/consumerism,
a pickup and trailer runs a stop sign in west Seguin and almost runs over me & my bicycle
(this type of scary encounter of my harmless light bicycle vs. monstrous automobiles occurs once or twice a year in my current life … after 76-plus years of living and bicycling)
then the pickup driver has the stupid audacity to holler, “ride on the sidewalk, damnit”
i quickly shout back loudly, “this is my damn road too you durn ignorant pendejo!” …
and my system is totally filled with: road rage, an overload of testosterone and epinephrine, and increased blood pressure.
………………………..
you automobile riders, “anti-bicycle-laners,” and gun-lovers who want no regulations of these people-killers are going to get me killed soon with your vehicle, a shooting, or a myocardial infarction …
you are going to get me killed through your durn worshipping at the altar of growth, especially for more cars, more guns, and more cosumerism & Eaarth-stress through neoliberal capitaism
(“Eaarth,” or Earth in the anthropocene, from Bill McKibben, environmental activitist and prolific author)
****************
Let’s begin to rid ourselves, immediately, of most of these cars and much of this automobile driving. Use the roads as walking and bicycle trails (and of course for mass transport).
………………….
And … for more “sustainability ‘meat & potatoes'” …
o Quit using disposable plastic bags (and other plastics)!!! Make some “permanent” bags from old clothing, and use them.
o Keep that air-conditioning system at 80 degrees or higher … or off. (You do know it is an energetic positive-feedback mechanism for global climate change and warming??? … You do remember learning of the Second Law of Thermodynamics?)
o Growth, the buying and selling of big conventionally air-conditioned homes, and other artificial development exacerbates climate changes and the destruction of the natural resource base. … Support ecological movement efforts at degrowth.
o Conventional agriculture does so very much to faciltiate climate change, destroy topsoil, quality air & water, photosynthesizers, and biodiversity, and the effective/sustainable transformation of daily solar energy. … Put your ecological justice efforts behind transition to low-input sustainable agriculture.
Truly, “Less Is More” (from Economic Anthropologist, Jason Hickel).
Live sharingly & caringly in solidarity through sustainable livelihoods.
Live sabiamente, simply, smally, slowly, steadfastly, sharingly, sustainably.
Born in 1946 after my Marine Dad arrived from the Pacific Theater in the beginning of the neoliberal heyday and boom after World War II … my (paul bain martin’s) Vatican II-period upbringing and the civil rights, ecological, and anti-War movements of the 1960’s and 70’s resulted in a profound and holistic positive-ecological mindset and a search for socio-ecological justice and Truth.
In 2016 in a
beautiful park in the small town of Nindiri, Nicaragua, a flurry of mental
images in my mind … of what I call a process of “positively ethical applied community
ecology/PEACE” … moved me to begin work
that very day in mid-February sketching out illustrations for an applied
ecology book which I believed at the time would only be of illustrations. Subsequently, reviewers of early drafts recommended
that I add some of my stories and essays they had heard or seen as well as the
results of a new activity I had begun in about 2018, i.e., regularly writing
poetry. Therefore, during the four (4)
year period before Games We Play. More
Than 200, 000 Years of Living Truthfully and 5,000 of Searching for Truth
was published, the size and the eclecticism of this developing book steadily increased.
Games We
Play attempts to
stimulate readers to ponder on potential actions toward quality life for all,
including actions of realpolitik.
I propose that we might start this process by beginning to answer the Why?-,
What?-, and How?-questions of sustainability, but especially the How?
My simple
answer to the question of How? is sustainable livelihoods and living sabiamente/wisely,
simply, smally, slowly, steadfastly, sharingly, sustainably. I basically stopped at these seven words because “seven (7)” is a spiritual number for
sustainable indigenous communities.
However, I do often add other important words & concepts, e.g., “humbly”
and “in solidarity.”
One of my first
of major concerns elucidated in the book is the Truth of Disparity
(This has been a chronic problem for some time post-capitalism,
but by many measures, it is becoming
worse recently.).
Another major challenge is the Truth
of Overshoot of Limits to quality life for all (Human and domesticated population
number are over carrying capacity; Eaarth
is full and getting fuller. And the”
wants” via consumerism-capitalism are
greater and greater.). Intimately linked to the Truth
of Overshoot is the serious Truth of Drawdown & Destruction of
the Natural Resource Base (We continue extracting from an emptying bucket without
replenishment.) . Associated with this is our ignorance of
ecological principles, processes, and appropriate values. Moreover, first and foremost, for
sustainability and quality life for all, humans over the current world (or
McKibben’s Eaarth) must abide by the Golden Rule (We never have followed this well; nevertheless
we need to work at extending this very important rule for solidarity,
profoundly and holistically to all humans and other species.), the Precautionary Principle
(Actions always
have unintended consequences; always be cautious and tentative!), and the Second Law of
Thermodynamics (Whether we like it or not, this principle rules; the best way to deal
with it satisfactorily is lives of “Less Is More”/less artificial
transformation of energy.).
Finally, my
imperative is that I personally, and through others, pronounce and indubitably
leave the sacred message of the Why?,
What?, and How? of “positively ethical applied community
ecology/PEACE,” socio-ecological justice, and sustainability and quality life
for all, before I pass.
1. Some new slogans I will work on for “memes” to be used by a highly-respected local partner in crime:
a.
“First Do No Harm!!!” An admirable, righteous guideline for very focused or more profoundly holistic (Eaarth) health care folk.
But it is almost impossible to realize. (That is why it is imperative to be very cautious & tentative and abide by the Precautionary Principle and to live through a sustainable livelihood of “Less Is More!“)
…………………………………….
b.
Dynamic Homeostatic Symbioses
(i.e., Nature including humans)
is basically a Zero-Sum game.
If there is tremendous disparity (& overshoot), vs. equity, especially because of actions of one species (Homo sapiens … and various associated domesticated species … and the stuff/fossil energy they transform) then Nature and those connected within what could be a wonderful symbioses, … suffer tremendously.
We humans are all flawed and sinners. (I am lazy … and mostly state obvious Truths.)
Moreover, I do love this sorry-excuse for a human being, Donald John Trump. AND as a white, Land-Grant college-educated male, and descendent of European colonizers of Turtle Island from the 1700 and 1800’s and raised Catholic-christian and with a relatively comfortable retirement-bundle of resources, … I have, in the short term, benefited from a few actions of the Trump administration. Also, I realize a couple of his actions did help the downtrodden, perhaps even for the long-term. …
However, the antics and actions of this arrogant/narsissistic/reckless spoiled-brat (Trump) are definitely far outside (again, “lazily obvious”) of:
o an ethos/the values/a mindset of “positively ethical applied community ecology/PEACE,”
o real concern for quality life & socio-ecological justice for all, and
o normative (positive) values.
He is an extremely toxic and very serious immediate- and lasting-danger to a dynamic homeostatic symbioses including humans. (Of course, I equally question the sanity of and the values, morals, and ethics of those who voted for him and continue to support him and enable him. … Moreover, self-imposed ignorance is not a decent excuse for enabling him! … [This sick sector of human society who enable Trump and absolutely do not follow the Golden Rule! saddens and disappoints me greatly.])
I, like Pope Francis & all of humanity, am VERY flawed. But based on 50+ years of experiences in what I now call “positively ethical applied community ecology/PEACE,” I do what I believe I can & fervently believe I MUST! for socio-ecological justice.
I’m on this Health Care/Earth Care-Webinar with the Laudato Si’ movement now, the morning of July 6th, 2023. I am hopeful that this movement & other actions in which I am involved will perhaps make at least some small changes in Eaarth (from Bill McKibben) toward a neo-Earth. … (This WILL take radical global change in our lifestyles toward “Less Is More” [from Jason Hickel], degrowth & rapid weaning from fossil energy [direct & indirect addictions], earnest pacifism movements rather than militarism & soldiering and War, an immediate change from industrial ag [and the rampant destruction of effective photosynthetic communities– loss of: topsoil, quality air & water, biodiversity & photosynthesizers, and effective capture of daily solar energy], and rapid change from neoliberal capitalism/militarism! [As the speaker is emphazing now … through the Hippocratic Oath, “First do no harm!”])
Please join movements like the Laudato Si’ Movement … toward “positively ethical applied community ecology.”
“Plastics are on my mind, floods. Any pause in the conversation, I come up with some Sorry Business, Aboriginal term for mourning. Doleful, that’s me, no small talk, not unpleasant, but my idea of intimate is apt to be some terrible statistic. I can’t say Susan is feeling better or Eileen’s arm is mending without adding but she has a preexisting condition or but she’s got no insurance (as if getting the facts straight makes it all right). I’ve got no banter, I’m all judgement and edges, an edgy white lady wondering what to do, what to do next as in Jesus is coming, look busy.”
” The Banshees of Inisherin is an almost fable-like story of two friends experiencing a breakup. One totally closes the door to their friendship, while the other desperately tries to hold on to it. Desperation from both sides leads to bloodshed, ruined lives, and a civil war between them.” cinemablend.com
*********************************
In many situations, like Elizabeth Poreba, I too am not much of a small talker. It often has to be about:
o assisting have-nots,
o lessening our ecological footprints,
o banning plastics,
o anti-War activism, ‘
o transitioning from neoliberal capitalism,
o and such.
Because of this and other discomforting personal characteristics and habits, I am estranged from and/or shunned and banned by a few (“pretty much” only family members).
And last Thanksgiving (2022) (the day of my birth) and for about 10 days of the new year (2023), I avoided any family celebrations and did a water-fast in hopes that some of my estranged family members would recognize how serious I take efforts to communicate and develop some kind of relationship with all here on Eaarth. I hoped that these family members, dearly loved by me, might begin to communicate at least a bit with me after seven plus years of shunning and silience. (They did not!)
…………………………….
Nevertheless, I would never resort to cutting off my fingers to make my point and effect change. (Well … maybe!??!)
I must “retort” to “ugly” smug, hubristic, “Christian ameericuns” that:
o There were the toxic acts of turning-over Nicaraguan anti-enslavement laws and other disruptions of the shenanigans of U.S. imperialist William Walker, and the Filibuster War in 1855 … and other Yankee mischiefs before and after that time.
o The U.S.A. used Marine military-invasions and occupied Nicaragua from 1912 to 1933 and did a “good” job of continuing to screw up this good land and peoples, a mess which was started early on by Spanish & British colonizers.
o The U.S. supported the right-wing dictatoral Somoza regime in Nicaragua for ca. 45 years. (The Somoza family held most of the agricutural lands of Nicaragua, and impoverished the people of Nicaragua to the point that it is the poorest country in Central America today.)
o With his corrupt military and financial support of the Contras, Ronnie Reagan continued this disruption and devastation of Nicaragua. This legacy of Nicaraguan disruption and U.S.-induced turmoil continues to date (and detrimentally affected my good young friend, Deyling Rizo, and his wonderful family).
I would encourage our fellow ugly ameericuns to thoroughly study the history of poor Nicaragua, and talk to a diverse complex of Nicaraguans before passing judgement on this struggling nation which has to put up with the undeserved, tremendous power of the extremely parasitic U.S!
TRULY SEEING THE FORESTS VS. BEING MESMERIZED BY THE TREES. Flimflam artists and hucksters like Trump, Joel Osteen, Musk, Bezos, Greg Abbott … and even relatively honest “knowledgeable” scientific specialists can wrongfully manipulate our individual and collective minds away from the reality of our socio-ecological justice battles … with the diversity of information/misinformation/disinformation and negative (or neutral) propaganda about all of the various “trees” in the “forest.” Knowledge of key ecological principles and processes and values is essential for appropriate critical thinking & discussion and collective decision-making & planning and action and replanning.
Some measures more focused on “the forest” rather than the “trees” which are particularly important in an effective process toward resilient, sustainable ecological community are (especially those in bold):
o the Gini coefficient,
o ecological footprints & biocapacity,
o daily kilocalories transformed per capita,
o Net Primary Productivity and Human Appropriated Net Primary Productivity,
o carbon footprints,
o water usage per capita,
o top soil loss and organic matter in soils,
o biodiversity
o pollution indices for soil, air, water and biota .
(And “by the way,” too much of a focus on public health for individuals versus the health of ecological systems is detrimental to a sustainable health of Homo sapiens.)
DECENT (A COMPLEX MORAL TERM). To be decent is to be marked by moral integrity, kindness, and goodwill. (Merriam-Webster) … Decency IS a moral imperative. Of course, thusly ( because it is a human thing), its interpretations and reality are complex & nuanced.
o It is an easy call to say War and facilitating military & armaments are indecent.
o Most gun ownership in the U.S. is indecent.
o Luxury is for the most partindeeent.
o Many walls and fences are indecent.
o In general, professional sports, automobile-transport systems, industrial agriculture, neoliberal transnational corporate capitalism, and all human high-input/-throughput systems are indecent.
o Schools, churches, club, businesses, governmental entities including bureaucracies, and other huamn organizations which lack a learning curricula and learning campuses of postively ethical applied communiy ecology, PEACE, … are indecent!
o An attempt to totally shut off communication with family, friends, other humans and other species (and ecological systems) is definitely indecent, no matter the underlying cases of such actions.
o It is doubtful that Trump (or DeSantis or Abbott) will ever be trulydecent, and you are “indecently dreaming” if you have an idea that Trump will ever be a decent leader. (AND IN REFERENCE TO REINHOLD NIEBUHR’S WRITINGS, … IMMORAL SOCIETY REPRESENTED BY IMMORAL MAN TRUMP, TRUMPS MORAL MAN!)
o “Might” and/or simply being a complacent and apathetical part of the status quo, generally is an indication of indecency.
o (pbm is indecent to his youngest brother and others in his continuing, constant fight for socio-ecological deceny. [Nevertheless, he is not “in hell” and therefore, “he will not go to hell!” … It was very decent of his youngest brother to drop by and visit pbm recently. Sadly, others who disagree with what they consider toxic (socio-ecological, human) actions have absolutely no decency toward him.])
