Before it was
reduced to a pathetic marketing buzzword, sustainable
was one of the most powerful words in our language. It described a healthy and intelligent ideal,
a mode of living that could continue for thousands of years without causing
irreversible wreckage — a way of life that had a future. In an era when many “well educated” people
still refuse to acknowledge the reality of evolution, or the human contribution
to climate change, almost none have a competent understanding of ecological
sustainability.
Mainstream society
has taken us on a loony joyride in magical thinking; if we simply call something
“sustainable” enough times, then it is!
In the blink of the eye, forest mining becomes Sustainable Forestry™ and
soil mining becomes Sustainable Agriculture™. In a barrage of oxymorons, business as usual
is kept on life support, by any means necessary, for as long as possible, while
the planet is mercilessly bludgeoned — the eco-blitzkrieg of Sustainable
Development™.
In the last century,
specialists have learned a great deal about ecology, environmental history, and
“primitive” low impact societies. This
body of vital information exists, but it has barely trickled down into
mainstream society. Our education system
largely remains stuck in the consumer era, training students to study hard, get
good jobs, climb the ladder of success, and shop till they drop. The consumer world remains paralyzed by a
pandemic of chronic ignorance, a curable pathology. A highly effective remedy is a bubbly elixir
called learning. It stimulates long,
beautiful, mind-expanding trips.
Humans are the proud
owners of legendary big brains, and some have special gifts for thinking
outside the box, and asking questions that really matter. Where can they find answers? The neighborhood library or bookstore is
unlikely to have a wide variety of books on ecological sustainability,
environmental history, and environmental anthropology.
Understanding
Sustainability is a collection of 74 short and readable reviews of
sustainability-related books, including a number of classics. It’s a gallery of thinkers, scholars, and
ideas intended to explore important notions that are routinely swept under the
carpet. It’s a book for pilgrims who are
critical thinkers hungry for stimulating ideas.
It’s a tool catalog for those who feel a calling to learn and help
others.
Understanding
Sustainability provides no quick and easy cures for the mega-disease,
but it boosts our immune system, so we are less likely to be infected by
pathological beliefs or daffy nonsense.
It exposes us to other possibilities.
It affirms our uncomfortable suspicions that our culture is terminally
ill, and assures us that we are not crazy, our culture is.
Understanding
Sustainability is available as a modestly priced paperback, or as a bargain
priced Kindle download. At the Amazon
page for this book, the Look Inside feature is enabled, which allows you to
examine the table of contents, and view sample sections. Kindle downloads can be read on your
computer, tablet, or phone using free software — you don’t need to buy a Kindle
gizmo. Amazon Prime members can “borrow”
the Kindle version from Amazon, free of charge.
The paperback should be available via most independent booksellers. Approved booksellers can buy books at
wholesale prices via CreateSpace
Direct.
Enjoy!
6 comments:
Hello I ve known you for, rather from q
1973? And when you lived at village stemrret and Harvey hall at Western Michigan hall with people like Bill geibe.
The excerpt you provided comes from a specific archival blog post written by blogger Richard Adrian Reese on October 29, 2013, detailing themes of spiritual warfare, demonology, and angelic influence.
The quote reflects a traditional, literal interpretation of celestial conflicts often discussed in certain theological or spiritual circles:
• The Premise: It argues that real-world "incidents" or unexplainable negative phenomena serve as visible proof of an invisible spiritual reality.
• The Mechanics: It asserts that fallen or "evil" angels actively attempt to manipulate human thoughts, actions, and environments to exert their influence away from the divine.
• The Theological Context: This viewpoint strongly aligns with the concept of spiritual warfare, where unseen dark forces (demons) are believed to constantly battle for control over human lives.
If you are looking to dig deeper into this specific discussion, let me know if you would like to explore other writings by this author, theological breakdowns of how demonic influence is defined in scripture, or historical perspectives on spiritual warfare.
wordpress.com oct 29, 2013 — this incident is illuminating, it proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that evil angels do seek to influence. demons seek to manipulate and ...
The quote you provided comes from a 2013 blog post by blogger Richard Adrian Reese on his WordPress website.
The quote reflects his thoughts on spiritual warfare and demonic manipulation:
"this incident is illuminating, it proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that evil angels do seek to influence. demons seek to manipulate and ..."
Reese frequently writes about theological topics, spiritual entities, and personal observations on his blog. If you are trying to track down the exact "incident" he was referring to in that specific October 2013 entry, please let me know and I can help you dig deeper into his writings.
WordPress.com Oct 29, 2013 — This incident is illuminating, it proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that evil angels do seek to influence. demons seek to manipulate and ...
Why was Thomas Jefferson so close to John Adams, but not as close to James Madison and Alexander Hamilton?
John Adams was a terrible president in terms of getting along with others. He proved vindictive, uncompromising, and uncooperative. He failed to win reelection. (He would have failed to “graduate” kindergarten.) The Federalist Party that he represented ended to abandon the process logic of Alexander Hamilton, and began several decade of “over-reaching” in its politics. The Federalists became a minority party nationally (barely keeping its influence in New England) and made a brief resurgence by opposing the War of 1812. It then collapsed with its last presidential candidate in 1816 to be replaced by the Whigs.
The Alien and Sedition Acts were four laws signed into law by Adams in 1798. These acts made it harder for an immigrant to become a citizen, allowed the president to imprison and deport non-citizens who were deemed dangerous or who were from a hostile nation, and criminalized making false statements that were critical of the federal government (Sedition Act of 1798). The last was an early form of political correctness codified in law (modern PC fans take note). Critics correctly argued that these acts were primarily an attempt to suppress voters who disagreed with the Federalist Party and violated the right of freedom of speech and due process in the Constitution. The Acts were highly controversial at the time, especially the Sedition Act, and were denounced by Democratic-Republicans and ultimately helped the Jeffersonians to victory in 1800.
The egregious Sedition Act and the Alien Friends Act were allowed to expire in 1800 and 1801, respectively. The Naturalization Law of 1802 restored the residency and other immigrant friendly requirements of the previous Naturalization Act of 1795. A revised Alien Enemies Act, however, remains in effect. The Alien and Sedition Acts were never appealed to the Supreme Court, whose power of judicial review was not clearly established until Marbury v. Madison in 1803. Subsequent mentions in Supreme Court opinions beginning in the mid-20th century have assumed that the Sedition Act would today be found unconstitutional.
The Federalists called for a strong national government, which has never been a popular view of government with the “leave me alone” American electorate and led to their demise. Modern politicians take note.
See:
Antebellum America, Cultural Connections through History, 1820 – 1860 (Traditional American History Series Book 10
Thinking about you and your history of living in Kalamazoo, when you moved in to village Street,you took the last open bedroom in the Michigan basement. When your parents visited, they were agast.
Then Nelson Street where you lived in the attic, uninsulated, but rent was cheapest,
Then to a upper apartment over a stor on main street. Yes your time as a student at Western Michigan University and finally getting to the world, and working as a writer.
Now in your 70'd+ ,
Riding a bike everyday and everything is good news.
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