I have heard of a great initiative where we can all help in helping the environment, and I wanted to share it here. Somebody has developed a search engine where 80% of their profits get donated into a tree planting program.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/zo93M_6Xl50?rel=0&autoplay=1&controls=1&showinfo=0&modestbrandingrel=0&autoplay=1&controls=1&showinfo=0&modestbranding
What do you feel about this and what other simple (and effective) initiatives do you know of or can think of?
Thank you in advance - tina
Going back to 1970s in terms of carbon emissions, greener life styles, use of non conventional energy sources , greed free green simple life styles and total shut down of coal ,diesel petrol pumps. Living vedik styles of living tools from ancient indian culture and lessons and predictiones of hindu saints on global basis.
Dear Dr Rajendra Soni,
greed free green simple life styles
Thank you for your contribution - this is certainly necessary - we are part of the problem and we are part of the solution.
Warm regards Tina
Planting trees is a good idea. It provides a direct solution to the problem by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. However, this intervention is not sustainable as the poor will cut down the trees for fuel-wood or as materials for constructing their dwellings or even for generating income. Addressing the problem of global warming due to carbon-dioxide emission lies on those who have means to support the poor through education and provision of skills so that this segment of society can provide for their means of livelihood from other sources rather than depending on natural resources like the trees as a source of energy, materials for building their dwellings, or income.
My small contribution, Tina.
Dear Saeed Mwaguni,
You make a good point - planting of trees has to be supplemented with other initiatives like education and providing skills for the poor. Proving access to alternative heating methods for cooking seems to be a priority. I am also not sure that the poor are always the culprits in cutting down forests - this is often done to increase grazing for cattle which are the preferred source of food for people in most rich countries. They have education but maybe little consciousness when it comes to working together as a whole to help the environment which in turn directly helps all of us.
thanks for you contribution - it is important - Tina
Thanks Tina for your reply.we need to prefer environment first than the development of all physical concrete iron technology industries etc.As i think in year 2050 and beyond we will have very few sectors of healthy human race and a large number of people will have badly depleted immunity and vital energy to live healthy...they might be partially or fully paralysed brain and bodies masses..not able to enjoy the benefits of so called any development. I am worried for the earth owned by my and your grand or grand grand babies.What we are going to gift them....disablity...diseases...pollution...contamination...toxicity of heavy metals and pesticides in foods etc.
Just worried for my and your grand children in 2050.do you think i am right TINA..?
Dear Dr Rajendra Soni,
Just found your question- yes like you, I too feel that people who do not start changing their habits could have a not so healthy future. Even people who do take care of them selves and the earth will be affected as we are one whole unit and every part affects every other part. I do want there to be a future for all child and their children but that depends on each of us pulling together to help the environment, and that also includes our inner environment. But they go together - as we choose to each more healthy food so more healthy foods that do not use pesticides are produced.
Thank you for your contribution- I know the future you have mentioned looks gloomy but it is in our hands and heart. I also feel the body of Nature is like us, as soon as we make steps in the direction of more health, so everything begins to change.
Warm regards Tina
Hello Tina
Do we have time to start......i think we are too late to start the way back to zero pollution and all types of contamination...?
Dear Dr. Rajendra Soni,
Put another way, if we do not start we will never get there. When a person is ill and decided to adopt life style changes,he or she does it little by little, but their body registers changes and reacts to them straight way, even though at first these changes are hardly visible . The body of Nature is no different - for each of us who start, we are helping the environment.
Don´t lose hope - concerned citizens like you are needed to inspire others ...
warm regards Tina
Hello TINA
Thanks for your positive comment.
I am trying my best to teach and make people aware of the process and the solutions.
With cordial regards
Dr soni.
Dear Dr Rajendra Son,
"I am trying my best to teach and make people aware of the process and the solutions"
I applaud your efforts - may you be truly inspired!
Warm regards - Tina
Consider that it may take 3-4 hours to cut down a 500 year old tree and 500 years to grow it back. So tell me where we should be putting our emphasis. hint, it's not planting trees.... it's stopping Industrial forestry, period.
True...yes..for next 100 or more yrs we need to cover the globe with green oxygen parks.
We have to move now before some big catastrrophy hits the globe.
We need not to go forward for year 2100 but we need to reverse back to year 1950s in terms of atleast carbon emissions..
Greenery is the only answer.
Dear Craig,
thank you for your valuable contribution - I agree. It is so sad when one sees an old tree cut down - it happens in towns which are expanding and the authorities do not seem to realise the gifts old trees give to all of us., nor our necessity of them. I also feel that to help the environment needs multiple initiatives - each person feeling called to act where they can be most efficient.
Warm regards Tina
Dear Dr Rajendra Soni
Greenery is the only answer.
Yes I too feel that greenery is one of our answers - we have a reciprocal relationship with trees and with the population growing we need greenery. Changing our habits are also necessary.
Warm regards Tina
Hi TINA
thank you for your valuable contribution - I agree that we are( too late) to start the way back to zero pollution, and help the environment, but we must strat
Regards
ALI
Hello dear Ali,
Yes we must start - and if all, or most of us start to make little changes in our lives, who knows what the result might be. Yesterday I saw a tree growing out of a rock - an almost impossible task, but it had succeeded. Life is amazing resilient. When we learn to work with the environment and with Nature, maybe we too can achieve the almost impossible
Warm regards the thank you for your contribution - tina
The environment is a deaf mother who has given us life and raised us with great care, giving us abundantly all our needs to enjoy life to the fullest. We can help our deaf mother by speaking for her, speaking vehemently against destructive environmental practices that she is constantly worrying of because it is killing her! We must be obedient and listen to her grievances by engaging in environmentally friendly activities while living in harmony with nature. We must support all forms of sacrifices geared towards the upkeep of our mother- the environment!
Dickson Adom
Dear Dickson Adom,
We must be obedient and listen to her grievances by engaging in environmentally friendly activities while living in harmony with nature.
Your sensitivity and concern shines through your answer. thank you -
Warm regards Tina
Dear Mutasem Z. Bani-Fwaz
Thank you for your suggestion - yes of course research into what helps is important - thank you so much tina
Dear Dickson adom
Yes we need to worry for her innocent and deaf sustainance.Lots is being done in lab but very little comes to the field where the need is unlimited.Politics corruption greed religion culture traditions are badly mixed with science worldover and there are killing knots which can not be separated now. We all need to keep all sectors in their own pockets and work for a happy pollution free globe.In developing countries like india SIMPLE VOTE BANK CORRUPT POLITICS GOVT AND SYSTEM is on killing instinct.We all needs luxurious life but never bother about what we are leaving on earth as a curse for future generations.Probably in yr 2050 and beyond we may be on a road to extiction of life supporting natural essential resources...and i am worried for that unseen but bleak future.
Hello Linda,
Among all species in creation, man has gained unimaginable dominance but sadly has pursued a destructive path that has not only trespassed on all other species and the environment but endangered the very element of life on this planet. The environment is not restricted to just the issue of trees but all natural resources and species. Earth, water, air, space, animals, flora and fauna have all been abused polluted and destroyed. Man has to realise that the relationship between man and the environment is symbiotic. We cannot hope to survive without the resources that we have been gifted with.
The source of the problem is (i) ignorance, (ii) disdain and disrespect, (iii) greed, (iv) technology.
But it is NEVER too late. All of this can be addressed by educating the mind of man starting with the little children for the Child is the Father of Man. Start small and grow eg. (I) tree planting,(ii) waste management, (iii) alternative energy sources , (iv) innovative recycling - eg. I recently learned that plastics can be used in road building. How wonderful! I would say that the world has understood the importance of 'going green' and various measures have been taken internationally and even science is pursuing this path in an economically attractive way such as electric cars, solar energy, green buildings, tax incentives for green methods etc.
So there is a lot of good work that is being done. It just needs more of us to join the movement by contributing in our own small way, - composting, 3 Rs -reduce, reuse, recycle. So there is ALWAYS HOPE.
Hello dear Gita,
Thank you for your positive and timely contribution. Yes an important issue is the education of children and getting them involved straight away. I like and appreciate you 3 Rs -reduce, reuse, recycle. I will use it ...
Have an inspiring week - warm regards Tina
Hello Tina
Thank you for your interest to reply your answer , So I agree on your ideas and I suggest to make adeeply work to help the Environment by this web research get through get a pictures to answer this question : what we do now to help Environment in our countries.
Regards
Ali
Hi Tina,
In an undergraduate and graduate class, we ran an environmental mindfulness session, where students could connect with the environment through a MindBody Wellness practice - explore how this felt and then complete an act of kindness for the environment. This encourages students to see their environment, feel connected to it, know they were a part of it and then use their own wisdom to help an area of need. Plating trees is great in some areas, but we also need to look at our fishing industries, the chemicals we use, what type of plants we are planting etc.
Dear Nicole,
I really enjoy your contribution and I feel connecting and expanding ourselves to become one with the environment (which ever method we choose) is a great way of raising our consciousness. As you said, the student or partitioner can then
"explore how this felt and then complete an act of kindness for the environment. This encourages students to see their environment, feel connected to it, know they were a part of it and then use their own wisdom to help an area of need".
For people working in this area especially with youngsters, this is a wonderful way to get them involved and also intuit how they can help.
Thank you - warm regards Tina
Hello dear Ali Alwaeli,
Yes lovely idea - may this platform can serve in a little way to come up with new ideas which can then be used to stimulate others on how they too can help the environment or to look for their own solutions. When creative ideas come from within or resonate deeply with us, maybe we are more motivated to put them into practice.
Warm regards - Tina
"Enlightenment isn't about imaging figures of light, but about making the darkness conscious" Jung... I feel the same way about tree planting. Sure it's a feel good endeavor but entirely not necessary IF we aren't acting outside the sustainable bounds of nature. We must stop Industrial forestry if future generations are to have a snow balls chance of survival. Tree plantings will NEVER compensate for the destruction of Nature.
There is no meaningful action that can be taken to address climate change in isolation of energy policy. We know (or can certainly find out) when peak fossil carbon will be if we just let things go, and what the CO2 levels will be at that point. Planting trees is nice, but futile without reducing production. We know it's going to reduce without taking any positive actions, so why don't we reduce production now and avoid the ecological damage?
Dear Douglas Nuttall,
Thank you for your contribution. When we all let ourselves be guided by inside, then we can all get down and do what we feel is necessary. As you feel inclined to address the issue in terms of energy policy and find out peak fossil carbon quantities I encourage you to go ahead.
Warm regards Tina
Dear Craig Patterson, I like your quote of Jung´s - yes certainly making our dark side consciousness is necessary for enlightenment. We have many dark sides and sometimes our dark side includes unacknowledged diamonds. As I said to Douglas when we can tap into our Higher Self we can get guidance and then each person can do how they feel best guided. This way there will be many people doing many positive things. I do not feel we all have to do the same thing.
Warm regards Tina
Action One: Scale Back Car Use
Action Two: Reduce Food Waste
Action Three: Use Less Food Packaging
Action Four: Eat Locally
https://greatist.com/happiness/ways-help-environment
I'd like to know where the roots are...
are we parasitic, is it lack of knowledge and naivety, is it plague natural selection, is it theocracy that allows us to think we inherit the right to abuse the planet?
Ralph
The root cause of the problem is anchored in greed. We have moved away from modesty to extravagance in the name of development. We now have to contend with sustainability challenges. We dug our hole; lets find ways of getting out of it.
Saeed
i don't think so Saeed
“To determine the ideal mitigation policy, a research team led by Princeton University, the University of Vermont and the University of Texas at Austin employed a climate-economic model to examine two ethical approaches to valuing human population.
Under one approach, the researchers assumed that society aims to increase the total number of people who are "happy/well-off." Under the other approach, the researchers assumed society intends to increase the average level of people's happiness/well-being. When using these terms, they are referring to an individual's overall well-being -- not simply a day-to-day state of being happy.
They found that the economic costs of climate change always increase if the population grows, and increase faster if society's goal is to maximize the number of people who are happy or well-off compared to the average level of people's happiness/well-being. Under both ethical approaches, a smaller population could save tens of billions of dollars or more annually on climate change prevention policies, especially in wealthier countries.
Either way, the researchers recognize that individuals' happiness/well-being is greater when they have more money, especially among poorer people. Society's well-being, however, is more complex. Society is certainly better off when people are better off, but existing research and perspectives disagree about whether society is better off when there are more happy people. This is why the researchers tried both approaches.
The findings offer insights into the influence of population growth and population ethics on climate change and human development policy. Investing in human development programs could result in avoided climate change mitigation costs enough to pay for the programs themselves, the researchers found. If society chooses not to value population size itself, then this would be another reason to implement these programs, in addition to the more well-known benefits like poverty alleviation, education for young girls and boys, and improved maternal and child health.
"With higher population growth, more people will be vulnerable to climate change. Understanding how much society values those future people should be an influential component of climate policy decisions,"
"At its core, the climate problem is about protecting the future against intolerable damages, so it's essential that policymakers think clearly about how much we value our descendants. Our goal is that our descendants will think back to this generation and be convinced that we carefully considered their interests [when setting climate policy],"
The paper joins other academic research focused on the social cost of carbon, a measure used in climate regulations that estimates the total cost of future damage from additional carbon emissions. It therefore can be used to set a carbon tax, thereby putting a price on emissions equal to the harmful effects of those emissions on society. "How governments set carbon prices today should depend on how they value the future and the people who will live in it," Spears said.
If society values the absolute number of people who are happy, it also has a significant effect on the world's optimal peak temperature. A higher population leads to a higher carbon price but a lower optimal peak temperature; this is because it is even more important to limit temperature rise when there are more future people who will suffer the damages.
"This might seem like a paradox," Scovronick said. "But the temperatures we are reporting are not the rise in temperatures that would occur if all those people were allowed to emit unabated. It is the temperature rise that is optimal after implementing the ideal level of emission reductions."
Whatever values society chooses, one consequence of a larger population is simply economic: More people means more pressure on emissions. As a result, a larger population will leave future generations at greater risk from climate-related damages, especially if policy does not respond to fast-growing populations.
Present generations are impacted by future population growth, too. When looking at the high-population scenario, the economic costs needed to mitigate climate damage were 85 percent higher in 2025 and 120 percent higher in 2050 compared to the medium-population scenario. This increase is largely driven by future population growth in developing countries, with sub-Saharan Africa the greatest contributor.
"If there are going to be more people living in climate-vulnerable regions of the world, then the damage from climate change will be greater, so climate policy is a more urgent priority," Spears said.
The optimal climate policy also depends on the future of economic development. If development in countries like Somalia, Djibouti or India continues to be disappointing -- meaning that poverty remains common, fertility remains high, and technological progress remains slow -- then climate change is an even more important policy priority. More people will need protection. Significantly, poor people in climate-vulnerable countries will suffer more because they will not have the economic resources to cope with climate damages.
This spurred the researchers to wonder whether the cost savings that occur in lower-population scenarios from avoided climate policy expenditures could offset the costs of development policies that alleviate poverty and may also reduce fertility -- like educating young women and providing access to family planning and reproductive health programs.
Additionally, given the global temperature is expected to rise far beyond 2 degrees Celsius (or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) without intervention, the researchers looked at what would be needed to achieve the 2 and 3 degrees Celsius targets given different levels of population growth. Again, they looked at the results using two social objectives: increasing the number of people who are happy, which they call "total utilitarianism," or increasing the average happiness of people, known as "average utilitarianism."
Under both ethical approaches, wealthier regions would save the most in per capita terms. But if society's goal is to increase average happiness -- versus increasing the number of people who are happy -- the result is mitigation cost savings in the tens of billions of dollars annually.
"We have a responsibility to protect future people against unacceptable levels of harm from climate change, but how should we value them in our policy analyses?" said co-lead author Mark Budolfson, an assistant professor of philosophy at the University of Vermont, who received his Ph.D. from Princeton in 2012. "That's the essential question of this research, and we hope future research will investigate this further."
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1618308114
Ralph
Thank you for the detailed rebuttal. Unfortunately, I am unable to establish the link between what you are articulating, and what I presented. My answer and the subsequent rejoinder was that we plant trees and address the poverty challenge, then we reconsider our consumption patterns by being modest. Where do the issues of happiness etc brought by your reply integrate with my contribution?
Thanks again Tina for your thoughtful contributions. Here´s a list of things I´ve included in my life over the years, hoping that they might reduce my impact:
- Trying to buy local and seasonal food, going for brands that eliminate or simplify their packaging (also, glass bottles over plastic whenever possible).
- Reducing (or eliminating altogether) meat consumption. My diet is nearly vegan (I eat honey, pollen and eggs) for a non-violence reason, but it´s good to know that it has the lowest environmental impact, reduces the toll on endangered species and helps prevent various health issues.
- Reducing, reusing and recycling waste (composting organic leftovers, recycling the rest, keeping all useful items I can put to another use).
- Avoiding pesticides in the garden/plot.
- Unplugging electronics when they´re not in use.
- Choosing environmentally friendly brands. Avoiding plastic (switching to bamboo toothbrushes for example) unnecessary toxic products (such as commercial soaps and detergents) and switching to their friendly versions when possible -- we make our own toothpaste and deodorant, and avoid many of the products that at some point we thought were necessary, even important.
- Choosing the most efficient transportation (from walking to getting on a plane, encouraging the simplest and most environmentally friendly whenever possible -- for example, avoiding driving alone when possible, switching the engine off in traffic lights or longer than a few seconds stops and making sure tires are inflated, choosing public transportation when I am in cities, trains over planes for long distance travel...etc)
- Sharing this kind of information with people who have not taken the initiative yet, doing so in a way that does not make them feel urged to change or guilty. Being neutral, understanding and respectful of other levels of environmental awareness is important (this is actually easier said than done, still too many people become identified with their personal choices getting into arguments and encouraging separation—rather than togetherness—when considering other options or hearing about those they "can´t" understand or support).
- Keeping a contemplative practice that helps deepen my understanding of interconnectedness and its environmental implications.
- Becoming socially and environmentally active by joining and donating to organisations driven by making a difference in the world (I´ve put some links to resources and organisations) and teaching others about nature-inspired living.
- Educating myself (and others when possible) about biomimicry and nature-inspired design and regenerative cultures—I believe this can change the world and I´m hoping it will become the standard if we make the shift to a non-destructive take on life and the resources it gifts us with. It´s clear that we must learn how to tap back into nature´s cyclical, renewable and efficient wisdom. We´ve been obsessed with taming the natural world and have misidentified quantity as a value but it seems that quality innovation (and conservation) are driven by pursuing togetherness through planetary health, resilience and adaptability.
Here´s a list of some I haven´t incorporated yet:
- Going off-grid
- Switching to composting toilet
- Going zero waste
- Buying an electric or at least hybrid car (I live in a village with cold and rainy climate and do need some kind of "personal" transportation)
- Carpooling (this is culturally challenging here, unless people do have a relationship and still)
- Shorting my showers (I make the hot water part of my showers as short as possible but indulge in my cold water rest of the shower for health benefits. I use the ocean when possible but I haven´t toughen up enoug yet for late autumn, winter and spring cold water immersion in the open, hence my daily cold showers)
- Going digital with books (unfortunately, I already spend too much of my reading time staring at screens and so continue buying physical books when I can)
- Use refillable containers
- Stop using plastic carrier bags altogether (by keeping cotton reusable ones or similar, having some always at hand)
- Switching to bamboo-based toilet paper (Spain is not very advanced yet in eco-friendliness so many options must be imported and are expensive)
https://www.ewg.org/meateatersguide/a-meat-eaters-guide-to-climate-change-health-what-you-eat-matters/
http://www.thetreevolution.org/
https://www.greenpeace.org
https://www.avast.com
https://zerowastehome.com/
https://biomimicry.org/asknature/
Dear Mohamed G. E. Gadallah,
Thanks for your suggestions - all good
Warm regards Tina
Dear Javi Otero,
Thanks for sharing the way you reduce your impact - you have some I have not thought of like the tooth brush! I also enjoy the respectful stance you take on this. I feel that is very necessary. As you said, Spain has a long way to go yet and also needs a green party which is neither right nor left - but whose aim is helping the environment,
I will also now go through the links you have added.
Warm regards and thanks - Tina
I agree with a green party earthy animal that overcomes the right vs. left wing trajectory issues ;)
The situation is really critical here...
Dear Saeed Mwaguni,
Thank you for your contribution - I too feel greed has a big role to play in this - one of the others might be ignorance brought about by our lack of connection and realisation that we are part of nature. ·
Warm regards Tina
Living with minimum but healthy and sustainable green leaving minimum waste or garbage producing units without show business and luxury may lead to happy living with world environment.we need to stop all which become unused in a short time but needs energy power fuel manpower natural resources in huge amount.
Big users may become huge loosers in future.we throw things unused after small time even if they are new or live so loosing or wasting each and every bit of energy power money time natural resources making the globe a big dustbin grave box of things.we on this earth may have to live and breath with lots of poision gases concrete plastic steel and dust from variuos outlets.we may loose human being from the globe or may leave a disabled human race not of any use for humanity and human values.
Dear Tina, I fully agree that there is a lack of understanding of our integral relationship with the environment. The Anthropic Principle, that we are in this environment, not of it, still prevails. Along these lines, have you read or seen any interviews with Brian T. Swimme? He articulates the continuum from us to the Cosmos very effectively, though he does not make the case for how and why we are one with the Cosmos physiologically, which I think is vital....
Nice discussions, many people have serious concerns about the environment. Thanks all !
Thanks Sushi - yes it is am important issue where we are part of the problem and also part of the solution.
Warm regards Tina
Dear Hijaz Ahmad,
Thanks for your suggestions - I too feel it is the small things that are done consistently that count.
Warm regards Tina
I agree that greenery is the best. We should help in any little way in our places where we live.
Dear Catia,
Yes thank you - this is about caring for the "other" and this includes Nature, other species, the earth and of course, the children of the future.
Kind regards - Tina
you can read the link below to reduce the pollustion
http://www.npi.gov.au/reducing-pollution
Awareness' the importance of environmental protection is still not done enough effort in the middle east within the war crisis and unstable conditions.
Dear Saad,
Thank you - the web page you mention gives several tips.
Warm regards Tina
Dear Fikrat,
Looking after the environment seems to require that we have certain of our needs met, and when there is a war crisis and unstable conditions, looking after the environment is not a high priority. And I can understand that.
Best Tina
We have to make people change their ways and reduce polluting, that is the hardest task yet. Can be accomplished by educating children of the importance of a clean environment.
How do you care for a member of your own (relative)? You ensure that such persons are cared for, provided for, respected and protected jealously.
The environment is one of our own (mother). We care for her by engaging in greening activities such as intensifying tree planting, using smart green constructions, green energies, desilting choked gutters/river bodies, and constantly ensuring good sanitations.
We respect and protect her by not engaging in unhealthy environmental practices such as indiscriminate felling of trees, throwing of industrial and domestic effluents into her water bodies, bush burning fires and other forms of carbon emissions that tears off her shield apart, and so forth.
The environment is our relative (mother). We will be cruel relatives (children) if we fail to show her love, care, protect and adore her!
I think if we tried to do so as individuals it is very hard, but as communities yes and it will be effective
I agree with Ahmed Mahdi that we could be much more powerful as sociaties. Anyhow, it is always a political question and decisions are taken only after financial calculations. Which often complicates reaching to some good solution.
By avoiding deforestation, planting more trees, reducing the use of fossil fuels and protecting water bodies we can make some changes..
Dear Dickson Adom,
When we recognise our relationship to mother Nature - then we will look after her as you say in your lovely post. As you also say int is not only looking after her it is protecting her by not doing certain things.
Thank you- tina
Dear Ahmed Mahdi,
I think if we tried to do so as individuals it is very hard, but as communities yes and it will be effective
In some countries sustainable schools are being set up, these slowly give rise to a community around them - it just happens. Once the children start changing, they affect their family - also the farms close by to the school start changing their practices - I have seen this in Lyndoch in South Africa - so although it started from an individual who attracted a group to start the sustainable school - the project grew and has become new type of community.
http://www.sustainabilityinstitute.net
Warm regards -
Dear Joanna Gocłowska-Bolek,
In most countries if we wait for the politicians things will never change! It would be nice if this were so, but mostly politicians head lobbying groups and going green is not about money and status. As you say this "often complicates reaching to some good solution". Going green is about caring which is also long term. When enough individual care about the environment, then it will become a political issue and it will be possible to get certain issues legislated. In the Euro zone, there are countries that still do not have green parties. For me caring about the environment and the earth is a way of being, Once one takes a more holistic point of view, one recognizes one´s connection to everything. Then each one becomes more responsible for his or her own actions. But as I said earlier, we are part of the problem and part of the solution. It is a slow change.
Best regards Tina
Dear Salsabeel,
You have named the vital ingredient - culture we can "cultivate" - but LOVE - that is an opening of the heart -
With thanks Tina
By changing our hash attitude to the environment. Respect all that coexist as we need them to survive.
Dear Stanley,
Thank you for your nice answer and respect for all that co-esists.
Warm regards Tina
Encourage environmental discussion at home, early childhood institutions, primary schools, social media, tv, radio, socializing places and places of worship etc
I think that the source of the problems of the environment are linked to the consumer economy. Consumers spending is used for economic growth. To increase it, companies use marketing and advertisement to make us link hapiness to comfort and pleasures and spend the maximum for that. Credit cards are also responsible for increasing consumer spending. Many people become victims as impulse consumers instead of buying only what they need. The results of all this are the global warming because the necessary industrial energy is obtained by burning fuels and plastic and other material are now almost everywhere. For solutions, some people are trying to adapt minimalist life style. Unlike confort, Discomfort is also seen as the real hapiness. The last and not the least, charity can make us happier by helping poor people instead of overconsuming .
I want to activation this programs
Online carbon footprint or ecological footprint calculators to make people aware of their own environmental impact and show them how to reduce it.
Smart grid control software that enables more efficient distribution of electricity and better use of renewable energy.
Life-cycle assessment software to determine how exactly a product impacts the environment and investigate more environmentally friendly alternatives.
Routing optimization software to reduce the use of fossil fuels by delivery trucks.
Teleconferencing software to reduce the need to travel to business meetings.
If you'd like to know more, all efforts to use IT to improve sustainability or reduce the environmental impact from ICT itself are called Green IT or Green Computing. There is also similar question that was asked and answered here:
What can I do as a developer for the environment?
As other have answered tree planting program won't help the environment. But creating stuff can. I'm currently there are a company that develops a platform for controlling lights, ventilation, heating etc in large buildings. By controlling this in an energy efficient way, that building can save energy and in the long run helping the environment. So by using your programming skills to create systems of high quality in a certain business area can hopefully have an impact on the environment.
Dear Zin Eddine Dadach,
Thank you for your answer- certainly the consumer driven society where "Many people become victims as impulse consumers instead of buying only what they need" is an aspect to think about. And your solutions are also interesting. However I am not sure that "Discomfort" can be seen "as the real happiness".
Warm regards Tina
Dear Mohammed H. Musleh,
I am sure IT can be used to make to make local environments more highly efficient that eventually impact the environment. Each person must work how they feel inspired, and I honour that you are inspired by using IT.
I do feel that the newer technologies can help - for example solar cookers can do away with the need to cut down trees for cooking purposes. These technologies also need to be made available at little cost. And I am sure there are many more inventive ways people can think of -
Warm regards Tina
Dear Dr Tina Lindhard ,
1.We can plant more and more trees, mainly the indigenous species of the forest tracts.
2. We can find out the alternative of using polythene as packing of consumer goods in the shopping
3. stoppage of using fossil fuel is should be enacted finding the alternatives
4. Uses of CFC, Methane, SO2 oxide should be minimize
5. Research should be conducted how to minimize emission of greenhouse gases from the cultivation.
6. Cutting hilly areas, destroying the natural forest should be stopped.
7. All the flora and fauna of food chain should be ensured to maximize the ecological balance.
Thanks
Dear Md Zafar Alam Bhuiyan
Thank you for your list - all of them are important. The first one is an active one, and as I feel we have a reciprocal relationship with trees through our lungs, I feel it is very important. Of course this does not distract from the importance of the other things you have mentioned!!
Warm regards and thank you for caring - Tina
Dear Dr Tina Lindhard,
You are most welcome for your thanks . I forgot to add about noise and air pollution which are to be addressed as well.
Thanks
Dear Dr. Md Zafar Alam Bhuiyan
Thanks of adding these additions. You have inspired me to list more - one of them being pollution in Space - it has become polluted both through junk from space ships and stilettos etc , but also through vibrations through our internet activities. Not sure how to overcome the last one. Maybe out continual mind chatter is a "pollution" as far as the environment and Nature is concerned.
Warm regards Tina
Ban on materials causing pollutions and doing harm to environment -non degradable plastic
Please decrease the amount of heat coming into environment from air-conditioning / vehicles and all other types of engines
Dear Mahavir Balmukund Varma
Yes non degradable plastics are a big source of harm to the environment and banning them is a good way to go.
Thank you
Tina
Dear Sajda Taha Mahmood
I like the idea of recycling which converts materials used into new products. This requires creativity as well as protects the environment in the many ways you specify in your answer. It produces a chain of benefits
Thank you
Tina
Dear Satish Narula
"decrease the amount of heat coming into environment from air-conditioning / vehicles and all other types of engines"
Yes I agree with your answer. It would also probably increase our health and reduce medical costs as changing air temperatures artificially must affect us- I feel our body is naturally able to adjust to temperatures but our minds tell us another story, so we feel uncomfortable.
Regards Tina
How about doing what every study has shown?
Giving autonomy via money, grain, shelter, protection AND EDUCATION to all girls and young women!
Over and over again, every study proves, giving women choice over their future, rather than dependency has the benefits of…..
Lower birth rates; improved infant mortality; improved health and lower sickness; increased childhood intelligence;
And therefore reduced environmental pressures.
And yet…
Despite the many W.H.O. and U.N. and PewRC and University studies; still little change with Patriarchal female suppression by Toxic masculinity dominated cultures.
Dear Ralph Samwell
Thank you for your provocative answer. I agree with most of it. But and there is a but, Western education stresses the development of the thinking mind, often at the expense of the caring heart, which is the domain of the female principle - both genders have access to this level of consciousness, but mothers traditionally have easier access to this layer. I would like education to include the recognition of this layer so both men and women can tap into it. Then I feel education would really start to help the environment. Some of my publications are about this level of consciousness.
Warm regards Tina
Tina Lindhard
As much as I respect your many well thought-out and deeply considered contributions to highly diverse subjects on RG and the publication I’ve read you’ve published; and I am fully on board with agreement as to what is needed, and we are on very similar paths;
BUT on this one you may be missing a large piece.
First off, it’s only provocative to those that do not want change, reformation, evolution, development and learning. As was once said, the most frightening rational for keeping it that way is, ‘because we’ve always done it that way!’
It’s only provocative to those that want to keep the hierarchy the way it is.
Einstein puts it better, as usual, “No problem can be solved by the same level of consciousness that created it.”
I appreciate your ‘paralysis by analysis’ expense paradox but let Albert put it like this;
Only the Universe and human stupidity are infinite; and I’m not sure about the Universe.”
As we are discussing climate change; I refer you to James Lovelock’s “Humans are too stupid to prevent climate change.”
A few actively want The Rapture to happen, why care for a planet that is only a temporary stopping place to a greater consciousness? As some believe we are masters of this planet, rather than custodians, we have enslaved our planet to our greed. Am I wrong?
In terms of the caring heart; I refer to Prof. Robert Sapolski and Prof. John Gray’s work,
“The human paradox is, we are both a commensurate and tournament species. This is why we tear ourselves apart”
And
“All human progress is an illusion; we barely care about our children. Our deep caring comes from accumulation and the aversion of its loss.”
Of course there are many highly intelligent adults like yourself that are working behind the scenes, whilst the ‘children’ are in denial, but it is the aberrant children that are in power, that can and are preventing progress on this.
“The peaceful Majority were irrelevant” Brigitte Gabriel
As I used to be education, your conclusion is not what I recognise, education teaches children what to think and never how to think.
Dear Ralph Samwell
Again I am agreement with most of what you say - one of the many phrases that stand out is:
"A few actively want The Rapture to happen, why care for a planet that is only a temporary stopping place to a greater consciousness? As some believe we are masters of this planet, rather than custodians, we have enslaved our planet to our greed. Am I wrong?"
And in this you are right- but as you insinuate a greater consciousness will never be achieved through expanding this way - but learning how to care for what we have and learning how to live in harmony with others will expand our consciousness. Many ancient wisdom traditions were able to do this - certainly they lived in harmony with nature and knew how to care for the planet. Their way of educating their young was very different.
What you have brought home to me in this phrase is the total ignorance of people regarding consciousness - ie that a greater consciousness is achieved through non stop expansion in the outer environment. I am writing a paper on the education system in Ancient Greece and the advancement into intellectual pursuits can be seen as a sublimation of their warlike and competitive nature - and I feel this is the basis of our Western Educational system and what is being expanded through out the globe. It is inherently patriarchal. What I feel is that learning to master this way of being by women as well, is not the solution although it might bring birthrate down. But sociologists tried that one thinking that moving people into towns would achieve the same, Now we have a problem with pollution in the towns and falling birthrates in towns - but people are still not happy and mad schemes of leaving the planet have become the next dream.
For me the only way forward is exploring our own consciousness - this helps us experience its different levels and immense joy. It also helps us tap into the wisdom of the universe and through this the surface mind becomes the faithful servant of the deeper mind.
Summing up Einstein's thoughts, Samples [82] says: "the intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honours the servant and has forgotten the gift" [83, p. 26].
Thank you - I enjoy our conversations -
Warm regards Tina
Tina Lindhard
Nearly all you say is correct, “it really is all about harmony” if we could, our consciousness is unlimited within the laws of physics of this universe. And not just ancient wisdoms. In my travels I’ve found the Scandinavians to be the closest modern culture to move towards harmony, with Canadians and New Zealanders a close second. You are right, Sufi’s, Shamans, Buddhists, etc have discovered, “it’s an inward journey, never an external one.” A journey where one discovers, you were already there at the beginning. Only then can it be an outward expansion. Which explains why most of our Abrahamic attempts at full harmony have completely failed in this regard and are now part of the problem. Their roots are based in war-like competitive subjugation.
The problem is, you risk ‘rose tinted glasses’ within the limits of research from Dawkins & Hitch, to Gabor Mate or Steven Pinker; we are BOTH the solution and the problem. But the majority of our belief systems are based upon us being neither. And worse as Sapolski proved, “othering”; it’s always someone else’s fault rather than our own. We externalise the problem to ‘Good’ verses ‘Evil”. Or “Mad dreams of leaving the planet”. (as Prof. Jonathan Haidt showed, the pursuit of happiness is an illusion). Humans will never be happy if they externalise their happiness. We are told, we are merely pawns whose job is to choose sides, a tribal, tournament, hierarchal, ultra-negative competitive theology. I suspect Jainism is the only truly peaceful theology.
I’m afraid, despite yours IS a correct solution, it requires internalisation. Self-reflection, self-responsibility, self-accountability. It requires that there is something way more important than ourselves and an acceptance, we are not the centre of the universe. This requires honesty rather than denial. Or more importantly requires good science.
“It also helps us tap into the wisdom of the universe and through this the surface mind becomes the faithful servant of the deeper mind.”
If I am understanding you correctly, then I completely disagree with this statement. It seems to me it is the other way around Tina:
The deeper mind is the emergence of the Universal wisdom. Prof Roger Penrose (my paraphrase). There is no servant nor slave. it is all just "ONE". Individuality is just a microcosm of the macrocosm. Universal consciousness by definition is everywhere and everything; surely? Therefore, no hierarchy, no subjugation. no servant, nor master. Once we accept this, if true, we realise we are only harming ourselves, then harmony ensues for all those that do not want self destruction.
As a scholar of Grecian culture, you are fully aware of Socrates being forced to suicide as the government couldn’t cope with the reality that they had caused their own destruction. Correct me if I am wrong but ancient Grecian scholars allowed the military to make the decisions regarding international affairs? I look forward to your paper.
Dear Ralph Samwell
Again I enjoy our interchanges as I feel we both are explorers where the art is not to win or convince but to expand each others views.
"If I am understanding you correctly, then I completely disagree with this statement. It seems to me it is the other way around Tina"
I would love to answer to you about this now but it is the next paper I shall write after I am finished with the one on Education. It has taken me a long time to get to the clarity and underlying biological basis through which I can back it up. Although it is certainly easier to follow if one uses a heart-based method of meditation, I am sure others will also see the importance of the lens through which I am looking. And all we can do is look a this wonderful mystery through a variety of lenses, starting with our own lens. We can never explain it all.
Re "The deeper mind is the emergence of the Universal wisdom". I would not quite phrase it like that - I would say from the deeper mind (or maybe when we can tap into the deeper mind), universal wisdom arises. If you look at my papers I talk of the 6 Main levels of Consciousness which can be experienced as one explores one's own consciousness. We have promoted the thinking mind to top position, however when we humble our thinking mind we can go below it and tap into something much greater. Then the mind become the way through which this deeper layer can expresses itself. For me this is the meaning of the phrase of Einstein.
Hope that clears some of the points -
Warm regards Tina