Sustainability and Politics

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Map of Polar Bear Populations: 12.18.14 Where They're Stable, Increasing, and Decreasing

Here Be interesting to track this over time. See if the population can stabilize. Or, if it continues to shrink curse at the darn scientists who tell us how many potentially very bad things affecting humanity are scientifically predictable and preventable.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Good data on December Storms & California Drought Status

Here. Need 6 more of these storms by April to relieve drought properly. These last two storms have helped. 8)

Friday, December 12, 2014

Lima climate talks: Final push amid ongoing divisions

Here Yes, let's hope to set the tone and intention before Paris.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Wow... artist's representation of sunken cities of the West Coast

Here

Friday, December 5, 2014

Why Elders Smile - New York Times

Here. Among other things, less anxiety about the future (funny).
Happiness is strong in 20s, hits bottom around 50s, and peaks around 82-85. Something to (hopefully) look forward to.

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Secretary General Expresses Optimism About Climate Meeting

Here And the 'good' news

UN predicting progress on the next accord. Hope so. Scientists still think it won't be enough. Such a beautiful world. Hoping we can pull out of the tailspin. Hoping strongly for the next generation's brilliance and mercy.

Holy sh*t "Melting Antarctica glaciers dropping Mount Everest worth of ice into sea"

Herehttp://www.inferse.com/20811/melting-antarctica-glaciers-dropping-mount-everest-worth-ice-sea-scientist-says/
"...scientists are growing concerned." Haha, but wtf. They've been concerned for decades. It's the petro-corrupt who need the growth.

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Most and Least Corrupt Countries in the World

Here Good for Denmark. Bad on N. Korea and Somalia.
Have heard really good things about New Zealand. Wish it weren't so far south.

Mediterranean Diet Keeps People 'Genetically Young'

Here

I've been thinking some about the Winter Solstice, the Mayan end of the 30,000-year-cycle on 12/21/12.

What if in fact the world did end? Even though this probably will not happen, to live consciously it is honest for us to take a bit of an inventory.

Am I happy with how I've lived my life? (Yesterday, I thought mostly yes, with some areas for improvement, as below.) Are there changes I would make?
Would I have tried to forgive those that were hostile or disappointing to me?
Would I spend more time with those I loved the most, telling them that, feeling that more?
Would I be happier, grateful for what I have, what I've experienced, the joy, the beauty in this world?

Maybe the answer is yes to all of the above.
So this time can serve as a point of rebirth for all of us. If we think about it.

Because somewhere along the line I realized I think maybe mankind deserves it. !
The way we are killing each other, killing the planet.
How selfish we are, and snotty to those around us. Petty, competitive. Why is this? Do we have to behave this way? (I say no, it greatly detracts and misdirects energy from the full-time celebration in which we could engage, the great multi-cultural, multi-rhythmic dance we can sustain here.)

Maybe God or the Great Universe is fed up, and will pull the rug out from under us.
Don't think I can say we could blame Him/Her/It.

But it probably won't happen. (Probably not! This time.)

Still we are finite on this ride.

It is a time to think, am I happy with how I've lived my life?
Hopefully most of us can say yes.

For the part of us that have a little worry, a little sadness....
This is the time to be present.
This is the time to be the person you want to be, that can die at peace, that can hope to every day be able to look yourself and the Universe in the eye and say, how beautiful, smiling, and thank you. Let's do that.