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Here's a list of some upcoming online and Rogue Valley in-person eco-spiritual activities that may interest you. Check back, as this post will be updated during February 2026 as we get additional information, and a new calendar listing will come out in late February. Don't be intimidated by the scope of this list; choose to participate in just what calls to you. February 2, 2026 – July 2026 : The BTS Center  is offering a series of Chaplaincy Conversation Circles in 12 sessions over 6 months on: Being Chaplains in a Climate-Changed World. " The multi-faceted work of spiritual care is increasingly buffeted by the effects of climate change. In response," Applications are open until January 16th. More information  here . February 3, 2026 , from 10 a.m. to noon PST - Earth Literacies  is offering a four-week program, Thomas Berry: Spiritual Master of the Emerging Ecozoic Age , on Tuesdays, February 3–24, with Sister Kathleen Deignan. More information and registration here. February 3, 2026, at 1 p.m. PST - DeepTime Network (a global community exploring pathways to an ecological civilization) is presenting Being a Lotus in the Sea of Fire. Two leading practitioners of engaged Buddhism from  Beloved Community Circles , Coryna Ogunseitan and John Bell, will share a path that offers just that. " Beloved Community Circles  (BCC)   is a close-knit, decentralized network of people in various countries working towards climate and racial justice in their communities, grounded in nonviolence, emotional healing, spiritual practice, and mindful action." Zoom Link here . February 3, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. PST   - The American Teilhard Association  will be hosting its Annual Members’ Meeting 2026.  The topic for our discussion that evening is To See as Teilhard Sees. Before gathering in Breakout Rooms, they will listen to a few of our members who will share with us their answers to questions that we will be posing. After time in the Breakout Rooms, they will open the floor to a general discussion and sharing from members.  You  can   register here . February 3, 2026 , at 4 p.m. PST - The Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology presents The Rights of Nature . with Tyler Mark Nelson, Program Director of the Living Earth Community, a newly launched program at the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology. "The Living Earth Community is an evolving knowledge commons that fosters dialogue between science, law, spirituality, and humanism to evoke wonder and inspire action towards biodiversity conservation." February 3, 2026 , from 4-5:30 p.m. PST - Center for Christogenesis  is offering a webinar How Christianity Got Jesus Wrong   with Reggie Williams . " Throughout history, shifting social, political, and economic circumstances have brought new interests and anxieties to the surface, shaping the questions each era brings to the story of Jesus." More information and registration here. February 5, 2026  - Convergence  is offering   Leading with Spirit: Six Initiations into Soul-Grounded Leadership , a new 6-week online course co-taught  with Dr. Margaret (Meg) Wheatley and Rev. Cameron Trimble. The course will make reference to Wheatley's 2010 book Perseverance . February 7, 2026 , from 9 a.m.-12 Noon PST - Spiritual Wanderlust is offering Night School - a 12 Month Rhythm of Wondering, Wrestling, and Welcoming All the Darkness Has to Offer on Saturdays starting February 7th. These twelve live gatherings, with elders like James Finley, Barbara Brown Taylor, Christine Valters Paintner, and Ronald Rolheiser, will also include small group gatherings beginning 15 minutes after the presentations, from 10:45-11:45 a.m. February 7, 2026 , from 3-5 p.m. PST - SOCAN is offering a workshop to help folks who are interested in influencing legislative directions, but haven’t done it before, learn how to do it and compose an item of testimony for themselves to submit. in the Medford Public Library (Adams Room). If you have a laptop computer, please bring it to make life easier. February 10, 2026, at 9 a.m. PST   - Cameron Trimble will be launching The Commons - a Community of Practice on Tuesdays, starting February 17, for a free, four-week book group where we will read and discuss Life After Doom  (2024) by Brian McLaren. "This book feels even more urgent and timely now than when it was published two years ago. Whether you’ve read this book before or if this will be your first time, join Cameron and others as we explore what it means to embody wisdom and courage for a world that is falling apart." Feb. 10 will be an introduction. Register here. February 10, 2026 , at 11 a.m. PST - Garrison Institute  is having a virtual forum: A Conversation Exploring the Living Earth Community , with Garrison Institute cofounder Jonathan F.P. Rose and Dr. Mary Evelyn Tucker, cofounder of the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology, that helped create the Living Earth Community. February 17, 2026 , from 2-4 p.m. PST - Oregon DEQ Climate Protection Program Equity Advisory Committee Meeting. Meeting materials, including the agenda, will be posted on the  Equity Advisory Committee page   of the  Climate Protection Program  website.     Join Zoom Meeting    February 18, 2026, from 4:00–5:15 p.m. PST - Garrison Institute is hosting the first of five dialogues in their series, Conservation in China for Ecological Civilization . Other webinars will be on March 4, March 18, April 15, and April 29. "This conversation features conservation scientist and environmental anthropologist Gao Yufang in dialogue with Mary Evelyn Tucker of Yale University, moderated by Stephen Posner of Garrison Institute. This forum examines conservation in China as a “nexus” challenge—where ecological science intersects with social realities and cultural meaning, and where lasting success depends on trust, governance, and long-term stewardship." More information and registration here. February 21-22, 2026 , with t wo sessions daily: 7 a.m.-9:30 a.m. and 3-5:30 p.m. PST - Unity Earth is hosting Symposium V: Spiralling UP: A New Energy for Planetary Consciousness . featuring Robert Atkinson, Diane Berke, Ben Bowler, Roger P. Briggs, Adam Bucko, Jude Currivan, Riane Eisler, Tezikiah Gabriel, Charles P. Gibbs, Jeff Genung, Audrey Kitagawa, Mussie Hailu, Kristin Hoffmann, Kurt Johnson, William Keepin, Julie Krull, Rama Mani, Deborah Moldow, Omashar, Jon Ramer, Alexander Schieffer, and Anne-Marie Voorhoeve,  all members of: Evolutionary Leaders: In Service to Conscious Evolution of  The Source of Synergy Foundation . More information and registration here . February 24, 2026 , at 4 p.m. PST - Join Matthew Fox and the international Order of the Sacred Earth community on the last Tuesday of every month for an hour-long council meeting. Join the Zoom Meeting:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88665302478 February 24, 2026 , at 6 p.m. PST - SOCAN's Monthly Meeting the the Medford Public Library will feature a discussion of misinformation, disinformation, and how the credible media deal with it. Bert Etling, Executive Director of Ashland. News, will offer his perspectives on this troubling issue and share advice on how we can recognize this fraud when it appears. February 25, 2026 , at 10 a.m. PST - Project Drawdown Ignite is presenting a webinar: Emergency Brakes in the News: Is mainstream media under-reporting the most urgently needed climate solutions? In this webinar, Project Drawdown Senior Communications Manager Skylar Knight and Arizona State University doctoral student Cody Hays share the results of a recent collaborative research project analyzing the coverage of emergency brake climate solutions in three leading United States-based media outlets. February 26, 2025, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. PST - The Scientific and Medical Network is presenting a webinar: The Great Cultural Awakening: Key to an Equitable, Sustainable, and Harmonious Age with Paul Schafer. What If Everything We’ve Built for 250 Years Can’t Save Us – What Comes Next? Note: This is being broadcast on 25 February, 7-8:30 PM (UK) March 16, 2026,  at 11 a.m. PST -   IFTF   is presenting   Fast Futures: Foresight for Beginners   - a fast-paced, 90-minute, online learning experience taught live by Jane McGonigal about signals and drivers of change. $99   Rogue Valley Voice aggregates and curates information from many third-party sources and does not necessarily endorse all aspects of others' work. Still, we find their viewpoint provocative and interesting enough to encourage the reader to engage with and come to their understanding and actions, as they deem appropriate.

Here's a list of some upcoming online and Rogue Valley in-person eco-spiritual activities that may interest you. Check back, as this post will be updated during March 2026 as we get additional information, and a new calendar listing will come out in late March. Don't be intimidated by the scope of this list; choose to participate in just what calls to you. March 3 - May 19, 2026 , Tuesdays from 12:00 Noon - 2:00 PM - Programs in Earth Literacies are offering 12 (or 6) Sessions on Tuesdays, Art Sparks' 2026 Cosmic Creativity & Well-Being Program with Imogene Drummond. Module 1 begins Mar. 3, 2026; Module 2 begins Apr. 14, 2026. Replays of Sessions will be available 48 hours after recording. Cost: $360 CDN (12 classes) or $180 for 6 classes. More information and registration here. For more information about Imogene’s art, visit her website ." March 5, 2026 , at 1 p.m. PST - Creation Spirituality Communitie s (CSC) is offering Engaged Contemplation with special guest Sister Kathleen Deignan, founder of the Deignan Institute for Earth and Spirit at Iona University . She is a contemplative teacher and spiritual companion, a composer of sacred song and Earth guardian. She is the editor of the Books of Hours for Thomas Merton , Teilhard de Chardin , and Thomas Berry . Register here for First Thursdays on Zoom. In rotating months, the time slot will include Global Kinship, Kosmic Vespers, and something entirely new: Global Dreaming hosted by Robyn Hubbard. " Creation Spirituality is about reawakening mysticism & protecting our planet. CSC is a network of individuals and communities who experience our own spiritual paths in connection to the evolving paradigms of the universe." March 5, 2026 - June 18, 2026 - Presencing Institute's u-school for Transformation is offering a six-session global journey: From Sensing to Actualizing Regenerative Futures. - " 90-minute live sessions offer a pathway from inspiration to action, weaving together inspiring stories, embodied practices, collective sense-making, and hands-on prototyping support." March 5, 2026 - Soil Health, Human Health, & Planetary Well-Being: Pathways for Regenerative Economies April 2, 2026 - Reclaiming Human Agency: Navigating AI, Social Fracture, and Polarization April 23, 2026 - Regenerative Futures Lab I - Cultivating Shared Awareness: Open Space Dialogue for Co-sensing Emerging Futures May 7, 2026 - Connecting to Source: Accessing Deeper Knowing May 21, 2026 - Regenerative Futures Lab II: Prototyping Workshop: Moving Ideas into Action June 18, 2026 - Regenerative Futures Lab III: A Festival of Prototypes: Transforming Local and Global Systems More information and registration here.  March 7, 2026, from 10 a.m. to noon, PST – The Work that Reconnects Network is presenting a webinar: The Unfixing: Loss as an Invitation to Map a Future of Resilience and Belonging. Participants will be guided through the Spiral of the Work That Reconnects with a series of practices inspired by the film The Unfixing , an award-winning feature documentary film, and led by Director Nicole Betancourt and WTR Facilitator and Weaver Frieda Nixdorf. Clips from the film will be shared, and participants will engage in writing and sharing in small groups.  More information and registration here . March 11, 18, and 25, 2026 - The Sophia Institute is presenting Darkness, Love, and the Advancing Consciousness of These Times with Matthew Fox and Caroline Myss. " Many recognize that the times we are living in are dark and dangerous. Humanity and the Earth as we know it seem to be on the brink, with wars raging and the Earth being threatened, with democracy being challenged by authoritarianism and fear, and cynicism and despair in the air. The mystics talk about the “dark night” of the soul, but there is also the dark night of society and of the Earth and of democracy. What can we learn from the mystics and from science about navigating this dark night and turning it into an opportunity for a new birth of consciousness and possibility for our challenged species? More information and registration here. March 16, 2026,  at 11 a.m. PST -   IFTF   is presenting   Fast Futures: Foresight for Beginners   - a fast-paced, 90-minute, online learning experience taught live by Jane McGonigal about signals and drivers of change. $99 March 17, 2026 , from 4-5:30 p.m. PST - The Center for Christogenesis will host a live webinar with the Rev. Dr. Hillary Raining: Trauma, Transformation, and Christ-wholeness, exploring “the intersection of faith, tradition, and intergenerational trauma, with special emphasis on the Indigenous connection to evolutionary spirituality." They will also consider the Christian mystical tradition (purgation, illumination, and union) as a spiritual and integral framework for healing and transformation. More information and registration here. March 17, 2026 - April 7, 2026 , from 4-6 p.m. PST - Convergence is hosting Visions for the Common Good , a four-session conversation series exploring how we might re-imagine the shared life of humanity when old moral, political, and religious frameworks no longer hold. Hosted by theologian and teacher Rev. Dr. Matthew Fox, and including influential voices David Abram, Lynne Twist, Randy Woodley, and Cameron Trimble, will convene every Tuesday for 4 weeks, live on Zoom. More information and registration here . March 24–27, 2026 - Garrison Institute is having a three-day Conscious Change Forum gathering for practice, connection, and wisdom-sharing—designed as an opportunity to deepen relationships, help our movement come into focus, and to explore our common purpose. If you feel part of this field, you belong here. This is an in-person event in Garrison, NY. More information here. Rogue Valley Voice aggregates and curates information from many third-party sources and does not necessarily endorse all aspects of others' work. Still, we find their viewpoint provocative and interesting enough to encourage the reader to engage with and come to their understanding and actions, as they deem appropriate.

"At a time when the world appears increasingly turbulent something deeper is also moving — a maturation of awareness, responsibility, and relationship. The spiral is an ancient and universal symbol of evolution. It  honours both continuity and change ,  grounding and emergence. Rather than beginning again, we are integrating what has come before, moving forward with greater coherence, wisdom, and care." This past weekend (February 21-22, 2026), I participated online in Symposium V: Spiralling UP: A New Energy for Planetary Consciousness, hosted by   UNITY EARTH . I was impressed with the palpable love among the speakers and participants, the positive outlook, and no discussion of doom or the current President of the USA. My only disappointment was that the younger generations were largely missing from the event. Spiralling Up was a global broadcast gathering on Zoom and YouTube. It was a "moment of collective transition" that brought together voices from across cultures, disciplines, and spiritual traditions at a moment of profound planetary change." "Each year, the Unity Earth Symposium serves as both a contemplative space and a catalytic forum — a place to reflect, align, and re-orient toward what is emerging in human consciousness and planetary   responsibility.  In  2026, that emergence is clear — even if the pathway is not." "Spiralling Up featured Robert Atkinson, Diane Berke, Ben Bowler, Roger P. Briggs, Adam Bucko, Jude Currivan, Riane Eisler, Tezikiah Gabriel, Charles P. Gibbs, Jeff Genung, Audrey Kitagawa, Mussie Hailu, Kristin Hoffmann, Kurt Johnson, William Keepin, Julie Krull, Rama Mani, Deborah Moldow, Omashar, Jon Ramer, Alexander Schieffer, and Anne-Marie Voorhoeve,  all members of: Evolutionary Leaders: In Service to Conscious Evolution   of  The Source of Synergy Foundation ." "Spiraling Up speaks to e volution without erasure; growth without disconnection; progress rooted in memory, place, and relationship. There were three days of keynotes, panels, and live dialogue around: Planetary consciousness and collective responsibility Interspiritual wisdom transcending religious boundaries Cultural healing, reconciliation, and peacebuilding Inner transformation as a foundation for outer action Partnership, alliances, and collaborative futures" Day 1 – Feb 20, 2026 - Vision & Direction - UNITY EARTH as an organisation: reflected on purpose, learnings, and pathways for 2026 and beyond. Day 2 – Feb 21, 2026, was dedicated to Partnerships, Coalitions, Alliances, and Networks  — because no single movement can meet this moment alone. They explored networks, coalitions, and collaborative responses to global challenges with featured speakers: Jude Currivan , Riane Eisler, and Roger P. Briggs. "The morning session brought together leaders whose work bridges traditions, sectors, and systems. Dr. Julie Krull explored inner coherence as the foundation of outer collaboration. Ambassador Mussie Hailu and Sami Awad drew on decades of peacebuilding across cultures, demonstrating how alliances form through courageous relationships. Syed Salman Chishty embodies the Sufi tradition’s call to unity through service." "Yuka Saionji Matsuura , representing the global May Peace Prevail On Earth movement and the Goi Peace Foundation, demonstrates how shared intention can become living infrastructure — a worldwide network linking governments, communities, and grassroots leaders through a universal prayer for peace." From cosmology to partnership economics,   Dr. Jude Currivan , Roger Briggs , Rama Mani, Alexander Schieffer , Riane Eisler, and Jon Ramer illuminated how networks of cooperation — across governance, spirituality, and social innovation — are shaping a regenerative planetary future. Hosted by Ben Bowler , these sessions reveal partnership not merely as a strategy, but as a lived practice — the essential architecture of planetary consciousness. Day 3 – Feb 22, 2026, turned toward the maturation of interspirituality — how shared spiritual awareness becomes structured, embodied action in the world. From Awareness to Action dialogued with interspiritual pioneers, focusing on how insight becomes embodied, relational, and actionable. Featured speakers were "interspiritual pioneers." Hosted by Dr. Kurt Johnson and Rev. Deborah Moldow,   the morning opened with a keynote from Rev. Matthew Fox , whose Creation-centered theology and prophetic voice call us into a spirituality that serves justice, ecology, and cultural transformation. Morning :  Ben Bowler, Matthew Fox, Matthew M. Cobb, Patrick Carolan, Kurt Johnson, John Calvin Chatlos, Roger P. Briggs; Grove Harris, Jonathan Granoff, Jyotsna Singh; Jeffrey Genung, Diane Berke, William Keepin, Susan Belchamber. Find the session on YouTube here. Afternoon :  Ben Bowler, Sally Mahé, Charles P. Gibbs, Kay Lindahl, Victor Kazanjian Jr., Gard Jameson; Rory McEntee, Netanel Miles-Yépez, Alexandra Warden, Adam Bucko; Yanni Maniates, Deborah Moldow, Robert Atkinson, Karen Volker, and Kurt Johnson. Find the session on YouTube here. Three converging clusters on Day 3 demonstrated how this vision is being carried forward: Cluster 1 – Bede Griffiths Trust Matthew M. Cobb, Patrick Carolan, Calvin Chatlos, and Roger Briggs represent a contemplative lineage in dialogue with science, ecology, and systems thinking — spirituality expressed through institutional continuity and cultural evolution. Cluster 2 – Temple of Understanding Grove Harris, Jonathan Granoff, and Jyotsna Singh show how spiritual principles can influence diplomacy, education, and global cooperation — translating dialogue into structural impact. Cluster 3 – Holomovement & Prosocial Spirituality Jeff Genung, Rev. Diane Berke, William Keepin, and Susan Belchamber explored the integration of spirituality, systems science, and collective intelligence in shaping regenerative culture. In a dedicated segment, Rocky Dawuni shared reflections on the cultural dimension of planetary awakening, followed by one of his songs — embodying the movement from awareness into action through art. The Spiraling Up Symposium V was held in alignment with UN World Interfaith Harmony Week , held February 1-7, 2026. Sessions partnered with the discussion groups from: United Religions Initiative Bede Griffiths Trust Charis Foundation for Interspirituality Temple of Understanding Holomovement ProSocial Spirituality Find upcoming events from ONE World here . Find ou t about the Compassion Games here. Sign up for Compassion Game International here. Find out more about Light on Light' s historic two-volume publications here. Read Light on Light ISSUU here.

Bluesky is an open social network app that gives creators independence from platforms, developers the freedom to build, and users a choice in their experience. Bluesky isn't owned by the techbros at Meta or X, and there's no algorithm to fight, and no invasive "Sponsored Posts, "Suggested Post" that tramples over your feed so FB can make money. Jamais Cascio, in his 2025 book Navigating the Age of Chaos: A Sense-Making Guide to a BANI World that Doesn't Make Sense , notes that "social media is often an engine of chaos", but points to Bluesky as an example of "how organizations can bend and flip a brittle system" using AT Protocol (an open standard for distributed social networking services). Bluesky Social PBC owns the technology, but it has announced that it will soon transfer ownership to the Internet Engineering Task Force. " In 2021, former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey tapped Jay Graber to lead the Bluesky project, which was spun off as an independent public benefit company, just before Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter. Bluesky CEO Jay Graber has been banning people like Laura Loomer, Musk, and MTG within an hour of them joining. In September 2023, Bluesky only had around 1 million registered users, but this figure climbed to more than 20 million by the end of November 2024 and over 40 million a s of November 2025,  While impressive growth, this is still low compared with X's roughly 560 million users, but high in comparison to Truth Social's base, estimated at 2 million – 6.3 million monthly users . D S Shiffman  and J Wester wrote in 2025:   Scientists no Longer Find Twitter Professionally Useful, and have switched to Bluesky .  Research shows that " many scientists have abandoned it [Twitter] in favor of Bluesky" and that "for every reported professional benefit that scientists once gained from Twitter, scientists can now gain that benefit more effectively on Bluesky than on Twitter." Meanwhile, NPR reports in mid-February 2026, "Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stand in Los Angeles in a trial that could reshape social media. The plaintiffs are accusing platforms like Instagram and Facebook of being intentionally designed to hook teenagers, sparking a nationwide youth mental health crisis. The case hinges on whether the tech companies engineer “defective products” to   exploit vulnerabilities  in young people's brains." Find Rick Bonetti on BlueSky here.

View of Guiyang from Dongshan Temple "China’s emerging framework of Ecological Civilization is reshaping what conservation can mean—expanding the public discourse beyond protected areas and species recovery to include culture, livelihoods, and the ethical foundations of human–nature relationship." ~ Garrison Institute The Pathways to Planetary Health initiative at the Garrison Institute  and the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology are co-sponsoring a series of 5 webinars. " This forum examines conservation in China as a “nexus” challenge—where ecological science intersects with social realities and cultural meaning, and where lasting success depends on trust, governance, and long-term stewardship." Series Featured Topics: Roots of Renewal: Ecological Civilization in China and the Confluence of  Tradition and Modernity | February 18, 2026 Ecological Civilization: Thirty Years of Work in China  | March 4 , 2026 Reading the Chinese Classics for Self-Transformation and Social Reform  | March 18 , 2026 Daoism and Ecological Civilization  | April 14 , 2026 A New Ecological Civilization Hub for Learning, Teaching, and Action  | April 29 , 2026 Their speakers will explore "how on-the-ground conservation efforts in China—from protected landscapes to human–wildlife coexistence—are navigating the tensions and opportunities created by rapid modernization. What ethical approaches to conservation become possible when ecological values are treated as civilizational priorities? Where do the most difficult tradeoffs arise? What lessons might China’s experiments offer—or not offer—to leaders and communities elsewhere?" More information here . " Ecological civilization is the hypothetical concept that describes the alleged final goal of social and environmental reform within a given society. It implies that the changes required in response to global climate disruption and social injustices are so extensive as to require another form of human civilization, one based on ecological principles. It has become one of the tenets of the ideology of the Chinese Communist Party , often referred to as Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization ." This policy was established during the National Ecological and Environmental Protection Conference, held in May 2018. "The Chinese government views ecological civilization as linked to the development of the Belt and Road Initiative , where sometimes the term "Green Silk Road" is used. The government's view of ecological civilization is focused on cities, under the view that any solution for the climate crisis must focus on cities because that is where most people live, most energy is consumed, and most carbon emissions are generated. China has designated ecological civilization pilot cities, including Guiyang ." "The Belt & Road initiative (BRI) was launched by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) general secretary Xi Jinping in 2013 while visiting Kazakhstan. It aims to invest in over 150 countries and international organizations through six overland economic corridors and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road ." "The BRI is central to Chinese foreign policy, promoting trade connectivity and China's leadership role in global affairs. As of 2025, participating countries account for nearly 75% of the world's population and over half of global GDP, based on aggregated membership and international economic datasets. The initiative is widely described as having the potential to enhance global trade, connectivity, and economic growth, particularly in developing economies." The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. By harnessing the experience, resources, and reach of its more than 1,400 Member organisations and the input of some 17,000 experts, IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. Conservation Edgewalkers , launched in 2017, is an interdisciplinary initiative that inspires and empowers emerging conservationists to work across boundaries for sustainable coexistence in the common interest of all life. Robin Wall Kimmerer is the author of the international bestseller Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants   and The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World . Kimmerer is a 2022 MacArthur Fellow. She lives in Syracuse, New York, where she is a SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of Environmental Biology, and the founder and director of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment. IPBES performs regular and timely assessments of knowledge on biodiversity and ecosystem services and their interlinkages, which include comprehensive thematic, global, and regional assessments. The Nature Record is a national initiative bringing together knowledge, storytelling, and public participation to elevate the role of nature in the U.S.

In the Conclusion of her 2020 book, Re-Enchanting the Earth: Why AI Needs Religion , scientist and theologian   Ilia Delio posits that space is “the knot that ties together the complex relationship of technology, personhood, and religion.” The Wholeness of Space  - In the pre-axial period, humans were part of nature rather than separate. “In the first axial period [which originated about 800-200 BCE], the space of nature’s wholeness was contracted into the space of the individual . Consciousness began to retreat from nature and focus on self, giving rise to competing spaces , which became a basis for conflict and violence. Over a long period of time, the first axial person gradually lost a sense of space within the whole ." "Religion unified space for the pre-axial person,  connecting the community to the sacred ground of the cosmic order, the axis mundi... but with the rise of monotheistic religions, the connection to the divine ground became conflicted and competitive. As a result, the space of God (where God dwells) became divided among the tribes. Religious fights became political fights, and political fights became territorial." "The price of evolutionary growth and expansion in the first axial period was division, which spawned urbanization, socialization, and technological development. In a sense, the first axial person developed by unraveling the cosmic whole.  One of the most significant factors in this unraveling was religion!” Sacred/Secular Space  - “By the mid-twentieth century, the world was fractured into a thousand pieces—by war, violence, hatred, nuclear weapons, and the many other tools humans invented to master the earth and one another. We ran out of space to be human; we could not breathe.” Science conquered space and, in doing so, displaced the human person from the center of the cosmos, creating a disorientation of personal identity in space .” The spectrum of space encompasses the cosmic and the quantum mystery and everything in between. It’s all about relationships. Cosmic space - Science has brought new awareness of the vast expanse of the universe beyond Earth, encompassing all matter, energy, galaxies, stars, and planets, representing the entirety of existence, pointing to the universe's grandeur and mystery. Our cosmological understanding is expanding as we attempt to grasp our place in the universe. Posthuman Space  - Human interrelationships are about boundaries as we live “in the splice.... "The posthuman is gender fluid, racially neutral, and interspiritual. The fluidity of boundaries and the recursive loops of ongoing identity construction mean that no category can adequately define personhood. Rather, the self is an ongoing discovery and a creative process; the soul, too, is a psychosocial process of ongoing construction. The soul as the core constitutive being of personhood emerges through growth and development of connections, as one seeks to live by the life of the whole.” "Ultrahumanism is not about perfection of being through artificial means; rather, it is invested with evolution toward more being through interconnectedness. Material can bring about well-being, but spiritual awareness and increasing consciousness bring about more being." "The ultrahuman has consciousness of relational being and so seeks to advance that wholeness in love." Heart Space  - We live in the midst of our whole body operating together in the flow of open inter-communication and participation among our entire being. We have centers of embodied knowing and being. In our collective mystical body, there is an inter-being and interflow among us. Interior Space - "The depth of interior space of mystics is understood both as a metaphorical, internal landscape of the soul and as a physical, cultivated environment that facilitates deep spiritual contemplation and union with the divine. It is characterized by solitude, stillness, and the cultivation of an inner sanctuary that serves as a refuge from the distractions of the outer world." Frederico Faggin sees conscious space in a CIP framework. Cyberspace - “a welcome renewal of nature, a vast, extensive space, a virginal endless exploration where one could create and bring to life things hidden and things unknown, a place where life could be art again." Artificial Intelligence - “AI is the science of nature in its chaotic, informationally driven openness to more intelligent life. It signifies that biological life stretches beyond the limits of bounded existence toward new collective wholeness.” Quantum Entanglement  - Quantum science is the study of atoms and subatomic particles, and how they interact with each other. It examines the very stuff we, and everything around us, are made of.   Quantum entanglement is the idea that particles of the same origin, which were once connected, always stay connected. If something happens to one particle, it affects all the others with which it’s entangled. It is “a phenomenon in which two or more particles become correlated, enabling the transfer of quantum information without physically transporting it. "Reality is nonlocal, and nature is not composed of discrete building blocks of 'matter”, but deeply entangled fields of energy. The nature of the universe is undivided wholeness, but it is constantly changing and evolving. Humans are part of the whole, and we share in this cosmic process of interdependence. Even our thoughts affect the whole."

The Recovery of our Oneness In 1993, Beatrice Bruteau (1930-2014) authored Radical Optimism: Rooting Ourselves in Reality , where she suggested that "by engaging in contemplative practices, we come to know ourselves more authentically, recenter spiritual values in our lives, and find more optimism about the world." Brutreau's book The Grand Option, The: Personal Transformation and a New Creation was published July 11, 2001. Written at the turn of the millennium, the book saw the world shifting to a global, interconnected, holistic community with a vision of a transforming, communion consciousness - a new creation - the evolutionary weaving of a new fabric of global unity. But then on September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked the United States. In the preface to this second edition of Radical Optimism ( published October 1, 2002, one year after 9/11 ) Beatrice Bruteau noted: 'There is a System in place in the world which, almost unnoticed, has gained control of the fundamentals of life; food, jobs, welfare, security, health and safety measures... We need, urgently, to consider all over again what our life is about and what values are important... We need to find our way back to the basic realities, truths, and values." Today, a quarter of a century later, her words seem even more relevant. "In 2016, Orbis Books  released Personal Transformation and a New Creation ,  a collection of essays by scholars examining the writings of Bruteau and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin . The collection was edited by Ilia Delio . " Dr. Bruteau has published twelve books and more than one hundred articles. Her essays have appeared in journals such as International Philosophical Quarterly , Cross Currents , American Vedantist, and Cistercian Studies . Cynthia Bouregeault referred to Bruteau as an " Interspiritual pioneer who loomed large in the contemplative universe."

While the current U. S. Administration is calling climate change a hoax, Columbia Climate School in New York City offers   7 Climate Experts on What We Can Still Do to Fight Climate Change : "We need more grassroots initiatives. Meet people old school–style in cafes or at local businesses or nonprofit organizations, spend time getting to know them, and come up with collective plans for sustainable living,” ~ Radhika Iyengar "The most important thing you can do about climate change is to talk about it." Join a climate group to magnify their impact... urge local news outlets to report on climate. ~ Katharine Hayhoe “Support local food systems and farmers,” ~ Cynthia Rosenzweig Work for clean energy locally - "Actively support wind or solar energy projects that are being proposed in your communities." Encourage local officials to pass pro-climate laws or consider running for office themselves. ~ Michael Gerrard "Attend the meetings of little-known state agencies or commissions that hold power over the energy transition." ~ Bill McKibben "Petition your legislators, your representatives in state assemblies, and your members of Congress and Senators. Write letters and emails,” ~ Bill Nye “We all have voices, and we must use them now. Speak up and speak out.” ~ Michael Mann Launched in 2020, the Columbia Climate School is taking bold action on climate change and related sustainability challenges. The Climate School’s vision is a healthy planet that enables just and prosperous societies to thrive. Center for Climate Systems Research , Center for Sustainable Development , cs highlights , Cynthia Rosenzweig , Michael Gerrard , Radhika Iyengar , Sabin Center for Climate Change Law

Research-driven scenarios demonstrate how foresight tools can help communities imagine and design a more equitable and sustainable future—one that works for both people and the environment. ~ Rachel Hatch, Chief Operating Officer, IFTF On December 11, 2024, the Institute for the Future (IFTF) published a study: Oregon 2035: Four Alternative Scenarios on climate change . This alternative futures project was a collaborative effort involving policy advocates, community members, and partners from 1000 Friends of Oregon with futurists and creatives at IFTF. Each of these four alternative scenarios touches on the economy, technology, transportation, environment, society, and politics. IFTF summarized their scenarios in four brief but spectacular YouTube videos. They are neither forecasts nor predictions of the future, but provocations for engaged discussion. Click on the underlined hyperlinks below to view these thought-provoking videos: A Growth Future : INSATIABLE ( A future driven by the desire for continued economic growth, even at the expense of equality and sustainability.) A Collapse Future: SCRATCH ( A future ravaged by climate, economic disparities, and breakdown of core systems.) A Constraint Future: PRUNING ( A future driven by difficult choices and the acceptance of fewer individual freedoms for the benefit of all.) A Transformation Future: LIMINAL ( A future accelerated by technological breakthroughs and a re-definition of reality.) Download the IFTF document, Oregon 2035: Four Alternative Scenarios Prepared by Institute for the Future for 1000 Friends of Oregon here. What future do you think is most likely? How can we best prepare? What future would you like to see happen in Oregon? What can we do about it? 1000 Friends of Oregon is now over 50 years old. It was founded by Henry Richmond and Governor Tom McCall in 1974. The previous year, Governor McCall had signed Senate Bill 100 into law, creating Oregon’s iconic land use planning system. He and a young attorney named Henry Richmond realized that the fledgling legislation would need a champion – or rather, 1000 champions. The non-profit organization's current Executive Director is Sam Diaz . Our mission is to promote healthy working lands, great communities, shared prosperity, and a strong democracy with and for all Oregonians. I am not a scientist, so I asked Google Gemini: "What are the specific impacts of climate change in Oregon, and what is the forecast for the next 10 years?" Gemini replied: "Oregon  is already experiencing significant climate impacts, which are projected to intensify in the next decade, primarily characterized by  increased heat, severe wildfires, and altered water resources .  Specific Impacts of Climate Change in Oregon Extreme Heat:  The frequency, duration, and intensity of heat waves are increasing significantly. The 2021 heat dome event, which caused numerous deaths, is projected to increase in frequency to as often as once every six years by the end of the century. Wildfires:  Warmer temperatures, reduced snowpack, and drier summers are leading to more frequent, larger, and more damaging wildfires. The area burned by wildfire each year has increased over the past 35 years, threatening communities, infrastructure, and air quality with smoke pollution. Water Resources: Reduced Snowpack:  Warmer winters mean more precipitation falls as rain instead of snow, leading to significantly reduced snowpack in the Cascades. This is expected to decline by as much as 40% by 2040 in early spring. Drought and Flooding:  The state is facing longer, more severe summer droughts interspersed with more intense winter precipitation events (atmospheric rivers), increasing the risk of both water scarcity and major flooding/landslides. Coastal and Ocean Impacts:  Sea levels are rising, increasing the risk of coastal erosion, storm surges, and saltwater intrusion into freshwater supplies. The ocean is also becoming warmer and more acidic, impacting commercial fisheries like Dungeness crab and salmon. Ecosystem and Health Impacts:  Climate changes disrupt natural systems, leading to shifts in plant and animal distributions, increased pests and diseases in forests, and public health issues such as heat-related illnesses and respiratory problems from wildfire smoke.  Forecast for the Next 10 Years (through ~2035) In the immediate future, these trends are expected to accelerate. Temperature:  Average annual temperatures are expected to continue rising, with summers warming more than other seasons. The number of days above 90°F will increase in many inland areas. Precipitation:  Winters are likely to be slightly wetter, while summers will continue to be drier. Extreme precipitation events in autumn and winter are projected to increase in intensity. Wildfire Activity:  From 2035 onward, projections for the western Cascades suggest wildfire activity could be at least twice as intense as in recent decades. Water Management Challenges:  Reduced snowpack will continue to challenge water supply management for irrigation, municipal use, and maintaining streamflows for aquatic species.  State agencies and researchers are increasingly confident in these projections, emphasizing the need for robust adaptation strategies across various sectors, from energy systems to public health infrastructure. "

I am reading Dr. Federico Faggin's 2024 book Irreduc ible: Consciousness, Life, Computers, and Human Nature , in which he " explains his theory of consciousness and the nature of reality and shares his profound insights on the classical and quantum worlds, artificial intelligence, life, and the human mind." He elaborates on an idealist model of reality, "produced after years of careful thought and direct experience, according to which nature's most fundamental level is that of consciousness as a quantum phenomenon." The classical physical world consists merely of evocative symbols of a deeper reality. Federico’s theory explains the relationship between the body, mind, and consciousness. Everything is interconnected - there are no parts. “Quantum fields” may possess consciousness and free will as fundamental properties. Meaning, not information alone, is the foundation of reality. Cooperation and love, rather than competition, emerge as the natural organizing principles in this framework. Consciousness is an irreducible phenomenon; it exists only in C-space. Faggin developed the CIP framework (acronym formed by the initials of C onsciousness, I nformation, and P hysical). "The nature of reality consists of two complementary and irreducible aspects: the semantic space of conscious experiences, called C-space , and the informational space of symbolic forms, called I-space. Symbols are created by conscious entities to communicate and explore their inner meaning for the purpose of knowing themselves even more. Physical space , called P-space is a virtual space experienced by those conscious entities that control living organisms. Federico Faggin is an Italian-American physicist, engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur. He is best known for designing the first commercial microprocessor, the Intel 4004. He led the 4004 project and the design group during the first five years of Intel's microprocessor effort. In 1990, Faggin experienced an awakening that "consciousness is fundamental and beyond matter." In 2011, What I am reading resonates with what P ierre Teilhard de Chardin explains about consciousness and matter, as interpreted by Ilia Delio and others.

This Image was generated by ChatGPT and has errors in only showing 6 Ages (missing the Ocean Age 1,500-1,800 BCE and using a wrong image for the Industrial Age). It is shown here to illustrate both the potential power and problems with AI technology, which has accelerated since Sachs' 2020 book! Jeffrey D. Sachs' 2020 book T he Ages of Globalization: Geography, Technology, and Institutions grew out of three lectures given in 2017 at the Oxford School of Geography and Environment. The book was published as the COVID-19 epidemic was emerging, adding emphasis on our current accelerating globalization. Sachs emphasizes the need for new methods of international governance and cooperation to prevent conflicts and to achieve economic, social, and environmental objectives aligned with sustainable development. " Today’s most urgent problems are fundamentally global. They require nothing less than concerted, planetwide action if we are to secure a long-term future." The book traces the Seven Ages of Globalization - distinct waves of technological and institutional change shaped by geography: Paleolithic (70,000 - 10,000 BCE) Neolithic (10,000 - 3,000 BCE) Equestrian (3,000 - 1,000 BCE) Classical (1,000 BCE - 1500 CE) Ocean (1,500 - 1,800 CE) Industrial (1,800 - 2,000 CE) Digital (The 21st century) As a geographer, I love the book because it is full of maps and presents a visual history of humanity's interrelationship with the natural environment as it has evolved and is now facing an uncertain future. It is the book I wish was written 60 years ago during my college and university studies because it integrates cultural evolution, economics, politics, technology, institutions, and ethics/religion. It is consistent with the most recent understandings of science and cosmology of the universe. Sachs' book reminds me of the Human Energy Project's 30 short YouTube videos narrated by Brian Thomas Swimme about the 3rd Story of the noosphere - a planetary mind, an evolving living organism, the unfolding of a mind-like universe with a common sense of meaning and purpose. We have stumbled into the twenty-first century with our "Stone Age emotions, medieval institutions, and godlike technolgy." ~ E. O. Wilson Jeffery Sachs  is an economist, the Director of The Earth Institute's Center for Sustainable Development   at Columbia University, President of the United Nations   Sustainable Development Solutions Network , and UN Advocate for the   Sustainable Development Goals  (SDGs) , - a set of 17 global goals adopted at a UN summit meeting in September 2015. Sachs' other most recent book is A New Foreign Policy: Beyond American Exceptionalism (2020), where he says: " The American Century began in 1941 and ended on January 20, 2017 [when he was sworn into his first Presidency]... The current turn toward nationalism and “America first” unilateralism in foreign policy will not make America great. Instead, it represents the abdication of our responsibilities in the face of severe environmental threats, political upheaval, mass migration, and other global challenges." Sachs also authored three earlier New York Times best-sellers The End of Poverty (2006), Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet (2008), The Price of Civilization: Reawakening American Virtue and Prosperity (2011). In addition, Columbia University Pres s has published several books by Sachs: To Move the World: JFK's Quest for Peace (2014), The Age of Sustainable Development (2015), Building the New American Economy: Smart, Fair, and Sustainabl e (2017), and A New Foreign Policy: Beyond American Exceptionalism (2020). Sachs is also a contributing editor in Ethics in Action for Sustainable Development (2022), Against Happiness (2023), and Escaping the Resource Curse (2007). #JefferySachs #globalization #Sustainability #SDG #UnitedNations #ForeignPolicy #HumanEnergy #BrianSwimme

The real danger to responsible journalism, free speech, and democracy comes from within the United States, rather than from foreign intruders and social media technology. And we're not talking about the Google search engine bias or Facebook’s partnership with the Atlantic Council to suppress disinformation threatening democratic elections! The 2018 book, Network Propaganda: Manipulation, Disinformation, and Radicalization in American Politics by Yochai Benkler, Robert Faris, and Hal Roberts, “finds that the right-wing media ecosystem operates fundamentally differently than the rest of the media environment,” promoting “disinformation, lies, and half-truths.” For an overview of the book, read the August 28, 2018 article by Jeffrey Toobin in the New Yorker , where he says “The book’s message is almost simple. The two sides [Fox News vs. MSNBC and CNN] are not, in fact, equal when it comes to evaluating “news” stories, or even in how they view reality. Liberals want facts; conservatives want their biases reinforced. Liberals embrace journalism; conservatives believe the propaganda.” Toobin says the authors conclude that “something very different was happening in right-wing media than in centrist, center-left and left-wing media.” Accordingly, they wrote the book “to shine a light on the right-wing media ecosystem itself as the primary culprit in sowing confusion and distrust in the broader American ecosystem.” And there is a self-reinforcing feedback loop between right-wing media and the current President, who increasingly rely on cable news hosts and commentators to make decisions and determine which issues to highlight. When longtime analyst Ralph Peters left Fox News in March 2018 , he sharply criticized the network, denouncing the outlet as a “propaganda machine” devoted to the President, and saying that it was “wittingly harming our system of government for profit.” When the President tweeted on Tuesday morning that Google searches were “rigged: against him, he was probably reading PJ Media, a conservative news site, which published a piece with the headline, “ 96 Percent of Google Search Results for ‘Trump’ News Are from Liberal Media Outlets. ” So who is the puppet - the media owners, the President, or the gullible public? And who is really pulling the strings? And by the way, who still watches cable news channels or reads print media to get their news? At the other end of the spectrum stand the print and digital media bulwarks, The New York Times, respected for reporting depth and integrity, and The Washington Post, owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos. Several other regional newspapers, including the Minneapolis Star Tribune, The Boston Globe, the Los Angeles Times, and the Las Vegas Review-Journal, have been purchased by very wealthy men. Why do billionaires decide to buy newspapers (and why should we be happy when they do)? “If the [Washington] Post is like Amazon, happy to sell individual slices of its vertically integrated whole, the [New York] Times is perhaps more like Apple, bringing its ethos and voice to a more diverse array of products.” ~ Austin Smith. #FreeSpeech #democracy #responsiblejournalism #NetworkPropaganda #rightwingmediaecosystem

"It’s time for a comprehensive national civic uprising. It’s time for Americans in universities, law, business, nonprofits and the scientific community, and civil servants and beyond to form one coordinated mass movement." ~ David Brooks David Brooks wrote in the New York Times on April 17, 2025: What’s Happening Is Not Normal. America Needs an Uprising That Is Not Normal . He said: A civic uprising has to have a short-term vision and a long-term vision. Short term: Stop the current President. Foil his efforts. Pile on the lawsuits. Turn some of his followers against him. The second is a long-term vision of a fairer society that is not just hard on the current President, but hard on his causes — one that offers a positive vision. Brooks cited  Erica Chenoweth   and Maria Stephan 's 2012 book: Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict , which found that "campaigns of nonviolent resistance were more than twice as effective as their violent counterparts... Successful nonviolent resistance movements usher in more durable and internally peaceful democracies, which are less likely to regress into civil war." Listening to Timothy Snyder is an experience of being dazzled by a creative genius and an intellect of the ilk of Ilia Delio. His April 1, 2025, lecture at the New York Public Library makes an argument about the state of our political world. He makes the point that "if resistance and opposition are all tedium and repetition, then it won't happen!" - "As we are resisting, it cannot be just in the name of against, but in the name of for ... we need to have a clear vision of what we are resisting for ." "The way that authoritarianism is progressing in America is pretty generic. This is not the first time it has happened in the world. It behoves American institutions to get advice from places like Ukraine, Poland, and Slovenia, where there has been progress and regress, but where there has also been progress in coming back ." Institutions need to work together or they will be picked off one by one. You break civilization by breaking one part of society at a time. You have to preemptively band together, and you have to be prepared that "somebody is going to take a hit," and when that happens, be prepared to help. Realize that you never, ever persuade people in a one-off conversation. Try to find a way in the conversation for them to remember that you are a human being - that your concerns have to do with something normal, human, everyday. #DavidBrooks #TimothySnyder #Resistance #Non-Violence

Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility is a combined wind/solar/battery power generation facility near Lexington, Morrow County, Oregon. It is owned by Portland General Electric and NextEra Energy. On July 4, 2025, the President signed the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill into law. JPR reports that passage of the President's OBBB "will impact Oregon with fewer funds to fight climate change . Oregon had been promised nearly $200 million in federal funds to fight climate change through the Inflation Reduction Act, but the OBBB will eliminate much of the federal government’s involvement in climate change response. It stops federal tax credits for people buying electric vehicles or making homes energy efficient, and it restricts programs that seek to limit carbon emissions from industry. Tracking climate change could become more difficult; the bill claws back funding for greenhouse gas reporting programs. Even the Inflation Reduction Act renewable projects that are already in the works could be penalized if not completed by 2027." Oregon will see more logging, less timber money going to local communities, and less support for private forest owners. And renewable energy projects planned for federally owned lands could cost much more to develop and run. OBBB calls for the U.S. Forest Service to boost logging by 75% over the next decade, and a dds new fees for solar and wind projects on Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management land, and introduces new taxes on the energy generated by those projects. “It’s the most anti-environment and anti-climate bill in history,” ~ Lindsey Scholten, Oregon League of Conservation Voters The New York Times gives a national perspective on How the G.O.P. Bill Will Reshape America’s Energy Landscape . Meanwhile, the New York Times also reports that "In China, more wind turbines and solar panels were installed last year than in the rest of the world combined. And China’s clean energy boom is going global. Chinese companies are building electric vehicle and battery factories in Brazil, Thailand, Morocco, Hungary, and beyond."

How do the policies of Project 2025  reflect the published RNC Platform? How does the Heritage Foundation's blueprint for changing the Federal government, if the Republican candidate is elected, compare with the RNC Platform? Shouldn't objective science be viewed independently from political policy? My July 23, 2024, Rogue Valley Voice blog post  Drill Baby Drill?  focused on how the RNC convention made clear Republican policy intentions to abandon serious efforts to reduce the causes of man-made climate change in favor of fossil fuel interests. The July 19, 2024, edition of Scientific American takes a broader look, spelling out What to Know about Project 2025’s Dangers to Science.   The Republican Platform On July 8, 2024, the Republican National Committee (RNC) Platform Committee adopted the former President’s 2024 Republican Party Platform. That day's press release lists " 20 GOP Principles, Roadmap to Make America Great Again ." Republican "America first" priorities regarding the economy favor a smaller federal government; fewer restrictions on fossil fuel production; stimulating American manufacturing growth and American job creation; protectionist international trade policies; strengthening border security, fighting immigrant crime; and an isolationist foreign policy of dominance through increasing armaments (an iron dome missile defense shield). Conservative social policies emphasize traditional binary gender and family identity; an anti-abortion stance; controlling school curriculum; resistance to gun control; and reversing current voter rights. Appeal to Christian nationalism underpins support for this agenda. Project 2025 Although the 2024 Republican Presidential candidate now attempts to distance himself somewhat from Project 2025, " in 2022 the former President said the Heritage Foundation—the think tank that authored Project 2025—would ' lay the groundwork and detail plans for exactly what our movement will do.'" "Although Trump is not among its 34 authors, more than half are appointees and staff from his time as president; the words “Trump” and “Trump Administration” appear 300 times in its pages. At least 140 former Trump officials are involved in Project 2025, according to a CNN tally . It’s reasonable to expect that a second Trump presidency would follow many of the project’s recommendations.' " ~ Scientific American Project 2025 - Presidential Transition Project - Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise is about "taking the reins of government" with proposed changes of specific Federal governmental Departments in common defense, general welfare, the economy, and independent regulatory agencies. Their " goal is to assemble an army of aligned, vetted, trained, and prepared conservatives to go to work on Day One to deconstruct the Administrative State." The 2023 book of 878 pages is a conservative blueprint for "creating policy solutions... based on the core principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense. The closing word is"onward", but many Americans believe it is actually "backward." On July 9, 2024 PBS News offered A look at the Project 2025 plan to reshape government and Trump’s links to its authors Resources Here's a link to the 2024 Democratic Party Platform (note: although this was released August 18, 2024 , references in the document are primarily to President Biden rather than Kamala Harris.) Our Economy from the Bottom Up & Middle Out Economic Progress Investing In America Good Jobs Small Businesses Agriculture Fighting Poverty Ending Special Interest Giveaways 2. Rewarding Work, Not Wealth Cutting Taxes For Working Families Making The Wealthy & Big Corporations Pay Their Fair Share 3. Lowering Costs Health Care & Prescription Drugs Child Care, Home Care, & Paid Leave Gas & Groceries Corporate Greed Housing Education Social Security, Pensions, & Medicare 4. Tackling the Climate Crisis, Lowering Energy Costs, & Securing Energy Independence Producing Cleaner, More Affordable Energy Lowering Energy Costs Creating Clean Energy Jobs Reducing Pollution & Making Polluters Pay Environmental Justice Building Climate Resilient Communities Conservation Global Climate Leadership 5. Protecting Communities & Tackling the Scourge of Gun Violence Gun Safety Policing & Public Safety Criminal Justice Violence Against Women 6. Strengthening Democracy, Protecting Freedoms, & Advancing Equity Judges Voting Rights Stopping The Influence Of Special Interests Reproductive Freedom Women’s Rights Racial Equity Lgbtqi+ Disability Tribal Nations Combating Hate & Protecting Freedom Of Religion Freedom Of The Press Arts & Humanities D.C., Puerto Rico, Territories 7. Securing our Border & Fixing the Broken Immigration System Securing The Border Expanding Legal Immigration & Deterring Illegal Immigration 8. Advancing the President’s Unity Agenda Beating The Opioid Epidemic Investing In Mental Health Protecting Kids Online, Strengthening Americans’ Data Privacy, & Promoting Competition Ending Cancer As We Know It Meeting Our Nation’s Sacred Obligation To Veterans And Military Families 9. Strengthening American Leadership Worldwide Europe Indo-Pacific China The Middle East & North Africa Western Hemisphere Africa Strengthening The U.S. And Global Economy Leading With Diplomacy And American Values Strongest Military In The World PBS News offers a broad perspective on What is a Party platform? Here’s how they’re made and what you should pay attention to. CNN offers an annotation of the 2024 Republican Party platform, noting it is their first new platform since 2016, which "mainlines the former president’s policies and makes Trump himself a focus of the party. It is a fraction of the length of the 2016 platform and written in Trump’s voice." Trump’s signature motto, Make America Great Again," is now the official tagline of the Republican Party. The Non-profit and non-partisan American Presidency Project hosted at the University of California, Santa Barbara has an analysis of the 2024 Republican Party Platform (as of July 8, 2024) and the 2024 Democratic Platform (as of August 19, 2024). Although now out of date, Diffen attempts to catalog recent differences between Democrats vs. Republicans. One still relevant reader comment is that "The Republican Party is  not conservative. The Republican Party has no platform anymore. The platform, since 2020, is whatever Trump says it is. It has become a cult, not a political party."

I write about the current U.S. trade war with China in order to try to make sense of the incomprehensible. Will we ever again have an amiable agreement? Will a standoff lead to a global recession? Will tariffs lead to an economically stronger China globally as Moira Weigel suggests? In 2000, as the People’s Republic of China (PRC) prepared to enter the World Trade Organization (WTO), the U.S. Congress voted to extend China’s Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR). This meant that the Chinese state-run economy received preferential tariff treatment under U.S. law, opening the door for the mass influx of products made in the communist nation. A quarter of a century later there is a complete reversal The United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission was created in 2000. The Commission’s 2024 Annual Report to Congress Summary states: "Under the leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continued to pursue a technology-focused strategy to drive rapid military modernization, expand internal political surveillance and suppression of dissent, and assert China’s political and economic agenda in the international arena.... Although Xi has consistently emphasized the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises in providing jobs and accelerating innovation, the data show that the CCP’s post-COVID policies have strengthened the position of state-owned enterprises (SOE)s." "China is reinforcing its longstanding, market-distorting approach of massive subsidies to targeted industries, this time focusing on high-tech manufacturing in order to unleash “new quality productive forces” and generate more earnings through its exports and traditional dumping approaches. Designed to strengthen self-sufficiency and achieve global dominance in key sectors - including but not limited to advanced and legacy semiconductor chips, aviation, advanced batteries, robotics, and artificial intelligence - China’s strategy is also intended to integrate it more deeply into global supply chains and continue to increase every other country's dependence on it for a wide array of goods and materials." "As the United States and its partners move to further curb access to military and dual-use technologies and address China’s blatant disregard for global norms and international agreements, China is shifting production overseas to circumvent restrictions while expanding its own access to critical minerals, markets, key enabling technologies and tools, and labor. Because its subsidized goods undercut foreign competitors, China’s approach comes at the expense of both advanced and emerging economies." The 2024 Report recommended that " Congress repeal Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) for China. The PNTR status allows China to benefit from the same trade terms as U.S. allies, despite engaging in practices such as intellectual property theft and market manipulation." Instead, by executive order, the President entered into a trade war on "Liberation Day" (April 2, 2025), imposing and quickly escalating tariffs on China, which retaliated in kind. Meanwhile, some smaller countries were trying to make a deal with the current President. Later that week, the stock market plunged. The New York Times quoted Trump saying on Tuesday night, April 8, 2025, that global leaders were coming to him “kissing my ass” in search of deals. . But " a rapid rise in government bond yields, caused Mr. Trump to blink and on Wednesday afternoon pause his “reciprocal” tariffs for most countries for the next 90 days leaving a 10 percent tariff rate in place for most countries while increasing tariffs on China to 125 percent. The current President met with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent , Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick , and Kevin Hassett , the director of the National Economic Council . 'They discussed with the president the 10-year Treasury yield, emphasizing concern about the health of the broader U.S. financial system.' Robert Reich explains the importance of the rise of Treasury note rates. New York Times global economics correspondent Peter Goodman notes on April 13, 2025: " Shocked by Trump’s trade war, foreign investors are selling U.S. government bonds, long the world’s safe haven. Investors buy U.S. Treasury bonds on the assumption that, come what may, the federal government will endure... Last week, the yield on the closely watched 10-year Treasury bond soared to roughly 4.5 percent from just below 4 percent — the most pronounced spike in nearly a quarter century. At the same time, the value of the American dollar has been falling, even as tariffs would normally be expected to push it up." US stocks got crushed on Thursday, April 10, 2025, pulling back from the previous day's historic rally amid concerns that the President's broad trade offensive has become a direct confrontation with China. Next , cell phones, chips, and laptops get a reprieve from tariffs as China hiked its tariffs on US goods to 125%. What a ride the first two weeks in April 2025! Inflation and stagnation are likely to be part of an uncertain future. This video below gives a perspective of U.S.-China Relations two years ago under the Biden administration. by Foreign Policy Association.

In the YouTube video above, Project Drawdown Executive Director Jonathan Foley, Ph.D., discussed the importance of putting our energy toward new approaches and finding the right levers to solve climate change. He shared information on new leadership and new approaches, including: Steering away from a top-down geopolitical approach Prioritizing emergency brake solutions Geographically focusing action Enhancing health, well-being, equity, biodiversity, and the economy while also pursuing climate goals Here are the top takeaways from the webinar: Although we are already beginning to see setbacks for climate change action in the United States due to recent political changes, there are other levers we can pull to ensure we are continuing to reduce emissions and advance climate solutions. We need to combat misinformation and greenwashing so that we can direct resources to the most effective solutions currently on the market. Smarter, faster, and more targeted climate action is essential to meet global targets. Collaboration across sectors and geographies is key to accelerating progress.  We must consider (and prioritize) human well-being co-benefits when choosing climate solutions.  Hope is vital to making sure we reach our goals. The future depends on committed, inclusive efforts that are guided by science and data. Key links : Drawdown Foundations Drawdown Climate Solutions Library   To get back on track, we need new climate leadership and approaches Project Drawdown   New York Times climate journalists Lisa Friedman , Coral Davenport , Brad Plumer , Rebecca F. Elliott , and Eric Lipton regularly help unpack the impact of the President's executive orders regarding climate change, explaining what can be accomplished without Congress changing existing laws and what cannot be easily undone.

David Korten , in his 1995 book When Corporations Rule the World , tried to make a case for the unworkability of current economic systems on several grounds: Impoverishment of the majority of the population Need for indefinitely expanding credit, leading to the debasement of the currency The finite limits of energy and material resources Korten critiques current methods of economic development led by the Bretton Woods institutions and asserts his desire to rebalance the power of multinational corporations with concern for environmental sustainability and what he terms "people-centered development." Korten started the quarterly Yes magazine  in the summer of 1996. Korten's 2006 book The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community argued that "the development of empires about 5,000 years ago initiated unequal distribution of power and social benefits to the small portion of the population that controlled them. He also argued that corporations are modern versions of empire, both being social organizations based on hierarchies, chauvinism , and domination through violence." "The rise of powerful advanced technology , combined with the control of corporate as well as nation-based empires, is described as being increasingly destructive to communities and the environment. Korten postulated in 2006 that the world is on the verge of a perfect storm of converging crises, including anthropogenic adverse climate change , post-peak oil production decline , and a financial crisis caused by an unbalanced global economy. This will precipitate major changes to the current economic and social structure." Korten believes that these crises will present an opportunity for significant changes that could replace the paradigm of "Empire" with one of " Earth Community . " Although recognizing the potential that the opportunity may not be seized, Korten hopes that this opportunity will result in the emergence of an "Earth Community," based on sustainable, just, and caring communities that incorporate the values of mutual responsibility and accountability, and he advocates for that. In 2015, Korten's book, Change the Story, Change the Future: A Living Economy for a Living Earth , was published, calling our current story "Sacred Money and Markets" - money being the sole measure of all worth and the source of all happiness, while inequality and environmental destruction are unfortunate but unavoidable. We need a new guiding story that aligns with our deepest understanding of the universe and our relationship to it. 2015 was the twentieth anniversary republishing of Korten's 1995 book, in which he shared insights from his personal experience as a participant in the growing movement for a   New Economy . A new Introduction documents the further concentration of wealth and corporate power since 1995 and explores why our institutions resolutely resist even modest reform. A new Conclusion chapter outlines high-leverage opportunities for breakthrough change. In Ecological Civilization: From Emergency to Emergence (2021), Korten says: "The drive to grow money imperils the human future. Money is a number that has value only when other people offer something to sell that we need or desire. Useful as a tool, money becomes dangerous when embraced as a purpose. Making the growth of monetary exchange and financial assets the defining purpose of society is an act of collective insanity. The majority suffer, so the few, mostly those who already have more than they need, can grow their financial assets. The process leads ultimately to human self-extinction. There are no winners on a dead Earth." In March 2024, David Korten wrote on his website: “ Eco-nomics for an Ecological Civilization ,” warning that society must eliminate financial extremes.” Korten's January 27, 2025, post: When Billionaires Rule the World asserts not only are "for-profit corporations surpassing democratic governments as society’s most powerful governing institutions,, the world is now witnessing  an alliance   of tech and financial billionaires that has taken control of the administrative, judicial, and legislative branches of the world’s most powerful government. We have a billionaire problem." In April 2025, President Trump unleashed global economic chaos through his executive order Regulating imports with a reciprocal tariff to rectify trade practices that contribute to a large and persistent annual United States goods trade deficits . Meanwhile, on April 5, 2025, Congress passed H.Con.Res 14 - "establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034." According to PBS News Hour - Politics: News Wrap , "This is a Republican bill that advances the President's proposed tax and spending cuts....The bill lays out a possible $5 trillion in tax cuts, raises the debt limit, and calls for $350 billion to fund mass deportation efforts and to build up the military. Democrats argue the bill will lead to cuts in social safety net programs. The measure now heads to the House, where Republicans are taking a different approach, including $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and envisioning changes to Medicaid, food stamps, and other programs.” April 5, 2025, on Bloomberg , Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, said " most CEOs he talks with think we are in a recession," offering buying opportunities long term . Robert Reich also believes we will have a recession and "Trump and his billionaire buddies — the American oligarchy — have a plan... a recession is not necessarily bad for Trump and his billionaire buddies. America’s oligarchy depends on periodic recessions. Recessions are opportunities to buy up real estate, companies, and shares of stock at bargain-basement prices. Recessions also give political cover to Trump, Musk, and Republican efforts to reduce labor and environmental standards." Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim , authors/producers of the Journey of the Universe book and film, are currently on tour in China showing the JOTU film and engaging in discussions about how China is building an ecological civilization. China is widely considered by many in the United States to be an economic and political enemy. This is complicated because of our economic supply-chain ties and the President's raging tariff battle. In a post-Cold War environment, many politicians find it convenient to focus on threats to justify larger military budgets and other actions. Americans used to be champions of democracy and fear autocracy and a surveillance state. Now the real threat is internal as well as external. The Institute for the Postmodern Development of China ( IPDC) is "a local non-profit that serves as a bridge between the US and China, focusing especially on process thought and ecological civilization. The leaders, Meijun Fan and Zhihe Wang, organize conferences locally (like the annual International Forum on Ecological Civilization at Pitzer College), and bring leading thinkers from China to Claremont, CA as visiting scholars." Current United States politics is not moving us toward an "Earth Community," but other nations will readjust alliances and economic ties. What can Americans do to regain a positive balance toward the common good, which has been lost in the current administration? "If we want a society in which the sense of belonging is strong, people are concerned for one another, and there is strong commitment to the common good, we need a metaphysics that shows that we are in fact part of larger societies and have no existence apart from our relations to others." ~ John Cobb # people-centereddevelopment #EcologicalCivilization

“Almost all of the technologies China manufactures now were technologies we invented in the U.S., What is likely to occur if this [U. S. House Reconciliation Bill] passes is all of our best technology will again go to Asia or other countries to get scaled up. This could be called the ‘transfer technology to China’ bill.” ~ Jigar Shar , former Director of the Energy Department’s Loan Programs Office during the Biden administration. “If this bill [the President's so-called 'One Big Beautiful Bill'] becomes law, America will effectively surrender the AI race to China, and communities nationwide will face blackouts,” said Abigail Ross Hopper , president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, The Washington Post says that "the bill [as passed by the House] would remove $522 billion that is scheduled to be injected into local economies across the country. The Washington Post noted on October 28, 2024 , before the National election, that " Not a single Republican lawmaker voted for the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022. .. But red districts have emerged as the climate law’s biggest winners... Of the top 10 districts that have attracted the most clean energy investments, nine are led by Republican lawmakers."