Evolution's Edge: The Coming Collapse and Transformation of Our World
224
Evolution's Edge: The Coming Collapse and Transformation of Our World
224eBook
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Overview
Gold-winner in the "Most Likely to Save the Planet" category of the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY).
"This brilliant book is a big-picture synthesis of the new curriculum for activists, educators, social and systems entrepreneurs, planners, and "community organizers" at all levels.
Evolution's Edge is vital reading for activists, educators, progressive thinkers, and anyone concerned about the state of our world. A visually pleasing book, its generous use of graphs and charts make clear concepts such as our evolutionary footprint, projected climate change impacts, world populations and economic growth." - Kolin Lymworth, The Vancouver Observer
"Evolution's Edge is simply outstanding - easy to read, inspiring, thoughtful. Its ability to integrate environmental challenges with spritiual issues, technological possibilites and systems evolutionary theory is fantastic. - Sohail Inayatullah, eidtor, Journal of Future Studies
It is now five minutes to midnight on the doomsday clock, reflecting the fact that we are closer to assuring the obliteration of our species than we have been at any time since the early eighties. We are rapidly approaching a tipping point, where we will either transform our violent, exploitative global system into a peaceful, cooperative one, or enter a catastrophic decline.
Evolution’s Edge shows that limitless economic expansion is impossible on a finite planet. Our growth-based global system will collapse as critical resources become scarce and major ecosystems fail. However, new ideas, values, and technologies can help us avoid disaster and create a better world.
Using evolutionary systems theory, Evolution’s Edge explains how societies evolve and why rapid, nonlinear change is not only possible but inevitable. It describes:
- Collapse—how cascading crises will soon provoke system failure
- Transformation—how emerging technologies, ideas, values, and social organizations are supporting the evolution of a sustainable system
- Analysis—how societies evolve into increasingly complex and conscious systems
- Action—how a common, cooperative vision can accelerate constructive global change
Evolution’s Edge is a practical guide to a sustainable future and is vital reading for activists, educators, progressive thinkers, and anyone concerned about the state of our world.
Graeme Taylor is a social activist committed to constructive global transformation and the coordinator of BEST Futures, a project supporting sustainable solutions through researching how societies change and evolve.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781550923810 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | New Society Publishers |
| Publication date: | 07/01/2008 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 224 |
| File size: | 4 MB |
About the Author
Graeme Taylor is a social activist committed to constructive global transformation and the coordinator of BEST Futures, a societal evolution research project designed to help communities develop sustainable solutions.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction: The Evolutionary Challenge
At the cutting edge
From tipping points to transformation
Changing the world
The design of this book
Part 1: Collapse — the dominant trend
Chapter 1: Overshoot
The debate over limits to growth
Growing populations
Growing consumption
Available global resources
Ecological footprints
Overshoot
Chapter 2: Growing Global Crises
Vital signs
Growing energy shortages
Increasing climate change
Growing water shortages
Growing food shortages
Accelerating rates of extinction
Growing crises
Rich world, poor vision
Spaceship Earth
Chapter 3: The Unsustainable Global Culture
The fundamental problem
Greeds not needs
Socially structured behaviors
Fear and addiction
Real and artificial scarcity
Structural inequality and structural violence
Selfishness and exploitation
Hierarchy and discrimination
Cultures of violence
War and domination
Cultural destruction
How much is enough?
Chapter 4: The Need for a New Model
The historical expansion of the industrial system
The evolution of the industrial system
The origins of the industrial worldview
The development of industrial social structures
The development of industrial technologies
Designed for constant growth
An obsolete model
Chapter 5: Cascading Crises and System Failure
Why earlier civilizations have collapsed
The causes of collapse
The loss of resilience
Parameters and perfect storms
The consequences of system failure
Why we can't see the dangers
Part 2: Transformation —the emerging trend
Chapter 6: Sustaining Development or Developing Sustainability?
What is sustainable development?
What are biophysical needs?
What are human needs?
Genuine Progress Indicators
The requirements of a sustainable societal system
Chapter 7: Transformative Material Technologies
New scientific paradigms
The emerging worldview
The promise of new technologies
Renewable energies
Conservation
Nanotechnologies, biotechnologies and biomimicry
Decentralized, distributed production
Computers and the Internet
Whole-systems design
Ecodesign
The limits of market forces
Planning for sustainable development
Flipping the paradigm
The evolutionary race
Chapter 8: Transformative Ideas and Social Movements
History is now
The process of social transformation
Growing awareness and rising expectations
Changing global values
The power of social movements
The emerging integral worldview
The spread of deep democracy
Chapter 9: Constructive and Destructive Responses to Crises
Forecasting the future
Probable responses to growing energy shortages
Probable responses to growing water and food shortages
Probable responses to growing economic crises
Probable responses to conflicts over scarce resources
Probable responses to climate change and the loss of biodiversity
Chapter 10: Future Scenarios
The two main trends — collapse and transformation
The three possible future scenarios
The strengths and weaknesses of the global system
Constructive and destructive interventions
Scenario 1: Business as usual
Scenario 2: Adjusting the existing system
Scenario 3: Transformational change
The dynamics of societal change
Possible time frames for future scenarios
The risks and costs of action versus inaction
Constructive change is possible
Chapter 11: The Design of a Flourishing Earth Community
Health is wholeness
Conscious self-organization
Governance and peace
Individual and societal health
The culture pattern of a sustainable civilization
Chapter 12. Tools for Transformation
The power of love
The moral imperative
Helping people become engaged
The Earth Charter
Building global agreement
Supporting constructive change
Include and transcend
Truth, trust and transformation
Courage and commitment
Supporting evolution: the magical formula
Love and faith: the gift of our ancestors
Endnotes
Index
About the Author and Illustrator
What People are Saying About This
"A convincing analysis of our predicament and an inspiring synthesis of new ideas..."
—Satish Kumar, founder of Schumacher College and editor of ResurgenceMagazine
"Thank goodness this is not another scary, hopeless book about the future. Graeme Taylor doesn't mince words in laying out the threats to our survival... But at the same time, he lays out the course we must steer to avoid disaster, and how each of us can jump aboard before it is too late. Read it and pass it on to your kids."
—Mary-Wynne Ashford, speaker, author Enough Blood Shed: 101 Solutions to War, Violence and Terror, and Past President of the (Nobel Peace Prize-winning) International Physicians for the Prevention of NuclearWar
"In placing the sun at the centre, Copernicus shifted humanity's frame of thinking in a way that made the modern industrial world possible. In Evolution's Edge Graeme Taylor cogently explains why humanity's survival now demands a shift to a systems frame of thinking and design. Essential reading for leaders, decision makers and those concerned with the survival of humanity."
—Richard Sanders, ecological economist
"There are many books being written about the negative impacts of climate change and impending global catastrophe.Not all of them couple the diagnostics with concrete proposals for transformation.This one does, so it succeeds in being both a cautionary tale and in providing grounds for optimism. I commend it to analysts and activists everywhere."
—Kevin Clements,Director of the Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies and Secretary General of the International Peace Research Association
"Evolution's Edge provides a timely and readable overview of humanity's predicament.Unlike other works, however, it summarises many existing 'seeds of transformative change' and thus provides grounds for informed hope and action.This is an inspiring book that should be read by all those who not only seek a better world but also want to be active in co-creating it."
—Richard Slaughter, educator, author, Past President of theWorld Futures Studies Federation, and Director of Foresight International
"For this...era no piece of writing on any topical developmental issue can surpass this masterly intellectual and practical work.This book...[is] an intellectual compass. Read it and you find your...direction."
—Owen Daka, international human rights advocate and governance consultant
"Evolution's Edge paints a poignant picture—Earth is teetering on the brink of the sixth mass extinction of species....Taylor writes as an optimist in the face of this scenario.He calls for a clear and urgent response from the people's of Earth to heed what scientists from many disciplines are saying and to act now.This book provides leadership to those engaged in the transformation process to a sustainable society...."
—GrahamWillett, geoscientist and Director, Corporation Technologies and Living Business Systems
"Evolution's Edge makes it clear that a transformation in our societies isn't a choice—our lives depend on it. The practical,moral and historical imperative outlined here compels us to put 'limits' at the heart of humanity's values, and to recognise that our societies and economies are subsystems of the environment."
—Helen Kersley, financial expert, Advocacy International Research Fellow