In order to create a better world, one that deals with the challenges of today, we are going to need to build new systems to replace the old - especially the financial system. Become part of the movement for a Common Good Bank. There are a lot of people behind it. Their “Hands-on Democracy” seems very well thought out, but they don’t yet know about DG!!

I’ll tell them right away!

I recently came across Roy Madron’s Gaian Democracy website. It looks like he is into many of the same ideas I am, so you know he’s at the leading edge of the wave of conscious global transformation. : )

Here is a great review for a great book that is about another system that has to change. I believe that changing our money systems won’t happen until we can change our power in governance systems, but, who knows, maybe it’s the other way around. We change our money systems, which changes our power structures, which allows us to organize with DG.

I ordered the book before it came out cause I have read Greco’s other books and correspond with him sometimes. I think if everybody knew what was in this book the world would be a much better place.

Read it!

De-Dollarization: Dismantling America’s Financial-Military Empire
The Yekaterinburg Turning Point

by Prof. Michael Hudson

Prof. Hudson basically says (I think) that nations like China (but many others as well) were collecting dollars because the U.S. was buying more than it was selling for many years now. In order for them to then not lose value they had to buy U.S. Treasury bills and finance the U.S. economy, which wasn’t very productive, but also pay for global military adventures. Not wanting to do this any more, they are creating a different reserve currency (the renminbi) that isn’t tied to any one country. A number of nations are meeting at Yekaterinburg to figure out how.

When they do, the United States will no longer live off the savings of others (in the form of its own recycled dollars) nor have the money for unlimited military expenditures and adventures.

US officials wanted to attend the Yekaterinburg meeting as observers. They were told No. It is a word that Americans will hear much more in the future.

A number of my friends are getting together in different groups to start small businesses that will make this world a better place. As I was researching ecopreneurial opportunities I came across this page and, since I’m figguring I might branch out a little and have my blog be not just about DG (that’s what I’m calling sociocracy/DSG now). So, of course there are so many animals that have gone extinct there could be many photos. Anyway, voila, 11 Extinct animals that have been photographed alive.

In my attempt to be blogging, and hopefully soon vlogging, I am deciding that I don’t need to write something deep, but can just point to good or interesting ideas that someone else has put on the web somewhere.

If you don’t know much about peak oil - the idea that we’re running out of cheap energy - check out these videos.

John Buck was recently on the Jim Rough Show out of Port Townsend, Washington. Check it out. For some reason I can’t put a link on here so click ‘Read More…’ to get to the link.

Just to make sure that we are all on the same page when talking about what direction we need to go towards in the future I would like to bring your attention to this article in the UK Guardian.

Here are some quotes from the article: “The International Energy Agency is to call today for an energy revolution and a “major de-carbonisation” of global fuel sources as the world confronts tighter oil supplies caused by shrinking investment.” “The IEA was founded during the oil crisis of 1973-74 and acts as energy policy adviser to 28 countries including Britain.”

“The energy watchdog is warning for the first time that oil output could pass its peak as power shifts from “super-majors” to national companies controlled by producer states. It highlights a potential oil-supply crunch.”

“It says the recent surge in prices to just shy of $150 this summer has highlighted the “ultimately finite” nature of oil and gas reserves.”

“The immediate risk to supply is not one of a lack of global resources, but rather a lack of investment,” the report says.

“It says that, on current trends, greenhouse gas emissions will rise by 45% to 41 gigatonnes (Gt) in 2030, with three-quarters of the increase coming from China, India and the Middle East as urbanisation there grows exponentially.”

I’ve been following Peak Oil since November 2001. What this refers to is that world oil production is now peaking an can only fall. The domestic US peak was predicted for 1970 and that’s when it happened. It was followed by the energy crisis of the ’70s. This new peak will be followed by a global crisis.

The investment referred to in the Guardian article is to extract oil faster so that the peak is slightly delayed, but, then, of course, the decline is that much more rapid.

Also, although we here in the US got energy use off to a big start, it’s not us who are going to be the ones who are going to be contributing the most from now (or, soon, more likely) on. It’s “China, India and the Middle East.” How am I going to mitigate that use?

They say the high price of gas is due to the “ultimately finite nature of oil and gas reserves.” This 35 year old energy policy adviser to 28 countries is confirming Peak Oil. Of course they’re very late. I remember when I first saw a national article about it. It was in National Geographic in August of 2004 and THEY were very late!

Imagine a bell-curve. On the left is a century ago - low production, but rising. When peak happens we’re in the middle, at the top of the bell curve. After decline we are on the right of the graph with low production once again. Some important points that aren’t immediately intuitive: One - The problems start when the peak happens - even though we still have half of all petroleum still in reserves. We cannot extract it at an ever increasing rate. We’re used to it and we then don’t have it. Also, supply and demand predicts rising prices! Two. We can’t be totally sure of how much petroleum is still in the ground, but if we double the amount of reserves we think might be a reasonable estimate, we get a curve that peaks less than ten years later! Many of the people I read believe that the World peak has already happened. I wouldn’t doubt it. Global warming is a problem that we must deal with. The consequences are the deaths of many people. Peak oil is a problem in which the consequences is the deaths of much of the world, since they’re dependent on conventional agriculture, which uses petroleum products at every stage of the process of growing, packaging, and moving food. But death isn’t the only specter rearing it’s ugly head in this scenario. With peak oil we have the possibility of the total collapse of law and order and THAT’S what I’m afraid of. If we don’t convert our culture to be sustainable, and do it as fast as we possibly can, we won’t be able to do it at all because it will take energy to make this shift.

Okay. Enough ranting, but I guess that’s what you’re supposed to do in a blog!

I was intrigued to receive an e-mail message from Paul Kervick of Living Well with the URL of a site called change.gov - office of the President-elect.
http://change.gov:80/page/s/ofthepeople

It looks like Mr. Obama is already soliciting our input. Can this be true? Will the administration actually read our ideas, evaluate them, and then implement the best ones?

Well, I told them about sociocracy. I’m now expecting a call from the president-elect asking me to come to the white house for vegetarian Greek lasagne with garlic soup, roasted roots, and, of course arugula salad and, for dessert, frozen anisette souffle - followed by a private chat with the by-then president over a bottle of Chateau Latour from 1942. Oh, yes, and we would discuss sociocracy, calling is dynamic self-governance, and the next day the US Center would walk away with a 30 million dollar grant.

Well, I can dream, can’t I? It’s either that or all the grants I am applying for will dry up and I’ll find myself working at comcast again. Kinahara, poo, poo, poo!

Anyway, go to that link and give the government your two cents worth. While you’re at it, give ‘em a plug for sociocracy or dynamic self-governance. Maybe we CAN change the world!

From the porch of Winchester, Virginia, in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, about two hours from me, come words of wisdom from the author of Deer Hunting with Jesus. I wish I could choose words like Joe Bageant does (and play guitar like him!). He talks about why the “working class” thinks and does what it does and points to a common denominator for all people. Check it out!