[OSList] Now What?

Tue Jan 24 21:35:40 PST 2017

Dear All,
In opening time/space, Harrison’s “Now What” returns much. For me I 
identify a key to the future, autonomy respecting co-creating 
production. So I offer the following for your thinking and doing.
Sincerely,
Tony Budak

*January 24, 2017*
*Day 4 of the First 100 Days,*
Administration of the 45th President of the United States of America
*_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _*
*
*
*Friends of the Great Transition,*

Global society has come unhinged from its political, socioeconomic, and 
ecological reality-moorings as we've known them. We're in the whitewater 
rapids of what could be a downward spiral toward system collapse, 
and/or the brink of an unprecedented opportunity for the evolution of 
human consciousness. In both cases we're headed into uncharted waters. 
Let's work smart, work together, and view whatever lies ahead as a 
pathway to deeper understanding.

The inauguration of the 45th President of the United States is four days 
behind us. The inauguration optics went a long way toward normalizing 
the surreal. We have choices.

*Let us STAY AWAKE, and determine NOT to normalize the continual 
distortion of reality and erosion of rights.*
*Do Something!*

  *
    Be part of an Indivisible movement chapter: Here's a practical guide
    on how to resist the new administration's agenda, with lessons from
    the Tea Party, put together by former progressive Congressional
    staffers,:
    https://www.indivisibleguide.com <https://www.indivisibleguide.com/>
  *
    Monitor the issues you personally focus on.Communicate and
    shareupdates with your networks.
  * Plan ahead
    .
    Systemic disruptions which have been gathering momentum for years
    are around the corner. If we plan ahead, environmental, social
    justice, and evolutionary culture-building networks can
    turn
      disruption
    s
      into teachable moments and organizing opportunities.

SNAPSHOT OF THE OIL STORY: A recent  HSBC Bank report (below) warned 
private clients that the long-term plateau in worldwide oil production 
ends in 2017. This will be followed by production decline of 5-7% a 
year. Replacement by new production is doubtful. These shortfalls in oil 
production will have complex, serious economic impacts. In other words, 
fossil fuel supplies are much more limited than we’ve been told. Despite 
industry PR and a temporary supply glut of unconventional (mostly 
fracked) oil and gas, over 80% of the world’s conventional oil 
production has already peaked and is now in decline. Soon, 
unconventional oil supplies will no longer be able to hide shortfalls in 
conventional oil production.

Stay informed. Help Usher in a Postcarbon World:

  * INSURGE intelligence:http://bit.ly/2ke9YAo <http://bit.ly/2ke9YAo>
  * Alternet: http://bit.ly/2iOtjI7 <http://bit.ly/2iOtjI7>
  * Richard Heinberg - Peak Oil President?:http://bit.ly/2iOhiCE
    <http://bit.ly/2iOhiCE>
  * HSBC Peak Oil Report: http://bit.ly/2jSJxiT

  * Build local environmental and economic resilience through inclusive
    movements that understand the intersectionality of class, gender,
    race, ethnicity, and deep self-awareness. Intentional _localization_
    of production and all life-sustaining activity is key to our future
    thriving. This important work is joyous when done in community.
    There are many pathways toward greater local self-reliance and
    resilience. Here are a few networks and movements:
      o Solidarity Economy:
          + Grassroots Economic Organizing (GEO): http://www.geo.coop/
          + Mid-Atlantic Transition Hub (MATH): http://bit.ly/1RANZZn
          + Mutual Aid Networks (MAN): http://www.mutualaidnetwork.org/
            <http://www.mutualaidnetwork.org/>
          + Timebanking: http://timebanks.org/,
            https://www.hourworld.org/ <https://www.hourworld.org/>,
          + New Economy Coalition (NEC): http://neweconomy.net/
      o Strong Towns: strongtowns.org <http://strongtowns.org/>
      o Eco-districts: https://ecodistricts.org/
      o Participatory Budgeting: https://www.participatorybudgeting.org
        <https://www.participatorybudgeting.org/>/
      o Agroecology
        http://www.groundswellinternational.org/how-we-work/agroecological-farming/
        <http://www.groundswellinternational.org/how-we-work/agroecological-farming/>
      o Permaculture: http://northeastpermaculture.org/
        <http://northeastpermaculture.org/>
      o Climate Action Network: http://www.usclimatenetwork.org/
        <http://www.usclimatenetwork.org/>
      o Intentional Communities: http://www.ic.org/ <http://www.ic.org/>

*
Let's bring our most resourceful selves to these first, pivotal 100 days...
*

/*Facilitating Regional Transition to Resilience*/
*/
/*

    Pamela Boyce Simms: The Mid-Atlantic Transition Hub (MATH) -
    transition.midatlantic.hub at gmail.com
    <mailto:transition.midatlantic.hub at gmail.com>

    Dan Miner: The New York City Transition Hub -
    transition.nyc.hub at gmail.com <mailto:transition.nyc.hub at gmail.com>

<http://books.wwnorton.com/books/The-Great-Transition/>

_The Great *T*ransition 
<http://books.wwnorton.com/books/The-Great-Transition/>_is a systemic 
framework for understanding how we might hospice outworn ways of living 
that no longer serve us and the Earth, and give birth to an emergent, 
more compassionate and resilient future. A broad spectrum of grassroots, 
citizen-led, community initiatives sustain the movement toward the 
Great/*T*/ransition against the backdrop of climate change, resource 
depletion, and economic instability. Purposeful groups of friends and 
neighbors mitigate these converging global crises by engaging their 
communities in environmental education and actions that increase local 
self-reliance and resilience. They catalyze relocalization of economies 
and low carbon lifestyles by innovating, networking, collaborating, and 
replicating proven strategies, respecting the deep, fractal patterns of 
nature, and diverse cultures in their localities. “Transitioners” work 
with deliberation to create a fulfilling and inspiring local way of life 
that can withstand the shocks of rapidly shifting global systems.

*//*

On 1/24/2017 5:09 PM, Harrison Owen via OSList wrote:
>
> Now What ....
>
> In the space/time after the Inauguration when all the marchers have 
> left town, The Question remains. Now what?
>
> Presumably, The Donald and friends will get on with the business of 
> doing what they promised. And it seems that in spite of an 
> embarrassing first several days, they are hard at work. Doubtless 
> others are working equally hard in opposite directions. Some day we 
> will find out the final result which could range from Planetary 
> Disaster to American Triumph (as in */Great Again!/*). Either is 
> possible, neither is probable – and assuming that we are still here to 
> pose the question: What Next?
>
> It might seem that I am treating the Trump Years as a trivial 
> interlude. Truthfully, when considered in the context of the evolution 
> of the species, that’s exactly what it is. Trivial. But somehow 
> significant. Trump is but a blip in the flow of human history – 
> however his significance lies in the fact that he represents one more 
> symptom of the ending of our familiar world order.
>
> We in the USA, to which I might add Western Europe, much of Asia 
> (including Australia and New Zealand), Southern Africa, and most of 
> South America – have lived in a blessed time. Not without the 
> occasional natural disaster, shootings, civil disturbances, or 
> whatever. But it has been good. Folks in the Middle East and Central 
> Africa will have a different view, but they are a painful, but 
> distinct minority.
>
> My children, and their children as well, have never fired a gun in 
> anger, missed a meal, or wondered if they had a place to sleep... 
> Always there. Maybe not what they wanted – but there. Called: The Parents.
>
> Charlie Kenny, writing in /The Atlantic/ (12/18/2015) said, “The world 
> is better-educated, better fed, healthier, and more tolerant – and it 
> looks set to get richer, too.” Yet The Donald Says: “The American 
> Carnage ends here.” – With his inauguration. The implication is 
> simple. Disaster is immanent and He is the Savior! But from what? If 
> Kenny is right, it looks like we are in pretty good shape. Lots of 
> problems for sure, but definitely headed in the right direction.
>
> It might surprise you to learn that I am more in agreement with The 
> Donald than you might suspect. But my reasons would not be his, and 
> any solution I can see would not include The Donald as Savior. I 
> believe we as a species are truly at a Transformational Moment in 
> which the world order as we have known it for the past 75 years or so 
> is dissolving. The institutions, processes, world views, ideologies 
> that we have lived by, with, and in -- are no longer sufficient for 
> our needs. And. Useful alternatives are not visible – and that would 
> include, The Donald.
>
> Such a view may appear extreme but it is not mine alone. David 
> Ignatius, writing in the /Washington Post/ (Jan 20, 2017), titles his 
> effort , */The world order is cracking up. /*He says: “Donald Trump’s 
> inauguration marks a global inflection point: He takes office at a 
> moment when many analysts see a transition to a new economic and 
> political order — one where the risks for the United States and its 
> allies are likely to increase.”
>
> Personally, I doubt that the sky will fall tomorrow. However,  I am 
> certain that whatever we may have taken to be “normal” will never be 
> seen again.
>
> This Transformative Moment may be unique in its qualities, but such 
> moments are by no means unique in human history. The people of Israel 
> found their world torn apart in 400 BCE (The so called, /Babylonian 
> Captivity/). It was a time of fear and terror. It was also a time of 
> massive creativity and renewal as chronicled, and perhaps led by, such 
> brilliant folks as the Prophet Isaiah (2^nd Isaiah). The Renaissance, 
> The Industrial Revolution – created havoc and innovation in the West, 
> and similar Transformative Moments have marked the lives of all 
> peoples on The Planet. I do believe we are at such a moment, one more 
> time.
>
> Once again, The Question – Now What?
>
> In all honesty, I don’t know. However, I think Albert Einstein may 
> assist our wayfinding with the thought, “Problems cannot be solved 
> with the same mindset that created them.” We cannot simply do more and 
> better of what we’ve always done and expect to arrive at a different 
> outcome.
>
> This really is Open Space –  in the best and deepest sense of the 
> words. Nothing here and everything possible. At once terrifying and 
> verging on ecstasy. But where to start?
>
> I rather feel that our common experience of opening space together may 
> give us some clues. Hardly the Answer, but maybe the beginning. I wish 
> you well on the journey, which you will take whether you wish to or 
> not. Frankly, I can’t think of anything more exciting!
>
> Harrison
>
> **
>
> Winter Address
>
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>
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>
> 301-365-2093
>
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>
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>
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>
> 207 763-3261
>
> Websites
>
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>
> www.ho-image.com
>
>
>
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