A Plague of People
5/5
()
About this ebook
There are great threats to modern civilisation, which are now becoming evident. Past forecasts suggesting a global collapse around 2030 are proving robust. This book follows the development of understanding of the global predicament, building on a considerable body of research, to conclude that the collapse is now inevitable and that there has been, and will continue to be, an absence of preventative action. The subject is extremely important and of wide interest.
The topic of the future of civilisation requires consideration of many subjects, of a number of interacting trends. A considerable body of information, from many sciences, many scholars and many collective enterprises, provides a description of the overshoot of global capacity, and a forecast of the collapse of modern civilisation. The major question has been whether mankind would change and avoid the catastrophe. Consideration of human behaviour, culture, political systems and social control explains why there has been no adequate response for the past forty years and why the destructive pattern will continue. Similarly, an analysis of long waves (Kondratieff cycles) in economies includes reference to the denial of any such fundamental instability by mainstream economics.
The scope of the discussion is comprehensive, covering the interaction between many key issues such as overpopulation and climate change, resource shortages (including water, food and oil), with input ranging from computer models to the history of mankind. Dr Robinson has dealt with every question raised by the global picture, including the power of corporate fascism (the oligarchy or one-percent) in a controlled consumer society.
This description will interest those with growing concerns among the general population, the many in voluntary organisations who desire a better understanding of a troubled world, and schools and tertiary institutions whose task is to educate the new generation in an understanding of the complex world.
The challenge facing us all as humanity fills every ecological niche on earth demands a fundamental change, of political and economic organisation, as well as individual values – a global revolution. There have been a number of books dealing with such concerns, many of which are discussed here. The great majority fail to face the need for a significant change of culture, a paradigm shift, and thus conclude with hopes that the system that is the very cause of the challenge (including capitalism with its dependency on growth) can be tidied up, or that a universal acceptance of a beneficial religion or community effort can save the day without any challenge to the now dominant oligarchy. This book stands out for its brutal honesty and refusal of unrealistic hopes. It tells the true story of failure rather than presenting any unrealistic hope. The next generation will be best served by a robust presentation of a distressing situation, and this is a story of that coming collapse based on an extensive scientific analysis. The challenges ahead are best faced with clear understanding with our heads fearlessly held up, out of the sand.
John Robinson
Dr John Robinson was born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1940. He has a BSc and masters degrees in mathematics (MSc) and physics (DipHons) from the University of Auckland and a doctorate (PhD) from MIT. He has lectured at several universities and worked as a research scientist – initially applying mathematics to physical problems, before moving to wide-ranging interdisciplinary studies for international organizations, combining information from global models with historical accounts and inappropriate cultural continuity at times of great stress. While at Applied Mathematics Division of the DSIR in 1974 he began a career in futures research. Subsequent wide-ranging interdisciplinary work has included contract work for DSIR, OECD, UNESCO, UNEP, UNU, the New Zealand Commission for the Future and the USA Foundation for the Future as well as contacts with the Club of Rome. Despite the lack of official interest in an overview of global developments and the challenge to the growth model in New Zealand since 1984, John has continued his research. His analysis of long waves in capitalist economies (Excess capital, 1989) forecast the current depression and he has described the New Zealand situation during the coming global crisis on in NZ 2030, the world’s lifeboat (2009). Since 1986 another part of his work has concerned Maori socio-economic issues. The considerable change of culture of Maori society when over three millennia of separate Polynesian culture ended with the coming of Europeans provided an example of the problems of a comprehensive culture change (or paradigm shift), as would be required if modern global society were to survive in a overpopulated and overstressed world. In each case a completely new situation arose. In each case the old culture persisted during a period of considerable disruption – now moving to a storm peak for global civilisation. John has published scientific articles in international journals, written many reports on global issues, edited a couple of books and written several books: Excess capital (1989, Technology Monitoring Associates, $25), Rebuilding New Zealand (1994, Technology Monitoring Associates, $15), Destroying New Zealand (1996, Technology Monitoring Associates, $15), New Zealand 2030, the world’s lifeboat (2009, Island Bay World Service), Cars at the end of an era, transport issues in the New Zealand greenhouse (2011, Friends of the Earth NZ, $20), The corruption of New Zealand democracy, a Treaty industry overview (2011, Tross Publishing, $20) When two peoples meet, the New Zealand experience (2012, Tross Publishing, $40), and Twisting the Treaty, a racial grab for wealth and power (2013, co-author, Tross Publishing, $40). Much of that research and experience has been made use of this book. The first 3 are available from me. New Zealand 2030, the world’s lifeboat is out of print. Cars at the end of an era, transport issues in the New Zealand greenhouse is available from Friends of the Earth NZ at PO Box 5599, Wellesley Street, Auckland 1141. The last 3 are published by Tross Publishing, website www.trosspublishing.co.nz, email address trosspublishing@hotmail.co.nz. Go well. It’s a beautiful world.
Related to A Plague of People
Related ebooks
Junglenomics: Nature's Solutions to the World Environment Crisis: a New Paradigm for the 21st Century & Beyond Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCome On!: Capitalism, Short-termism, Population and the Destruction of the Planet Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAn Appeal to Reason: A Cool Look at Global Warming Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLimits and Beyond: 50 Years on from The Limits to Growth, What Did We Learn and What’s Next? Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPeak Everything: Waking Up to the Century of Declines Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A User's Guide to the Crisis of Civilization: And How to Save It Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hubris: The Troubling Science, Economics, and Politics of Climate Change Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsExtinction: Evolution and the End of Man Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Under a Green Sky: The Once and Potentially Future Greenhou Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Unquenchable: America's Water Crisis and What To Do About It Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Flying Saucers are Real Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsClimate Coup: Global Warming's Invasion of Our Government and Our Lives Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGlobal Warming Fun 4: They Taste Like Chicken Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Future Humans: Inside the Science of Our Continuing Evolution Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5National Security Through a Cockeyed Lens: How Cognitive Bias Impacts U.S. Foreign Policy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAn Epidemic of Rumors: How Stories Shape Our Perception of Disease Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAustralia's Amazing Kangaroos: Their Conservation, Unique Biology and Coexistence with Humans Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Extreme Life of the Sea Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPaleoclimate Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Putting People Back in Politics: A Manual for the Disgruntled Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLyme: The First Epidemic of Climate Change Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Death in the Marsh Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Deep Future: The Next 100,000 Years of Life on Earth Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Lukewarming: The New Climate Science that Changes Everything Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Break Through: Why We Can't Leave Saving the Planet to Environmentalists Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Visioneers: How a Group of Elite Scientists Pursued Space Colonies, Nanotechnologies, and a Limitless Future Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFrozen Earth: The Once and Future Story of Ice Ages Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Plows, Plagues, and Petroleum: How Humans Took Control of Climate Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Social Science For You
The Art of Witty Banter: Be Clever, Quick, & Magnetic Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5My Secret Garden: Women's Sexual Fantasies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5All About Love: New Visions Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Come As You Are: Revised and Updated: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why It Matters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Weapons of Mass Instruction: A Schoolteacher's Journey Through the Dark World of Compulsory Schooling Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Get Ideas Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Just Mercy: a story of justice and redemption Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Like Switch: An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide to Influencing, Attracting, and Winning People Over Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A People's History of the United States Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Verbal Judo, Second Edition: The Gentle Art of Persuasion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5King, Warrior, Magician, Lover: Rediscovering the Archetypes of the Mature Masculine Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dumbing Us Down - 25th Anniversary Edition: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row (Oprah's Book Club Selection) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything About the World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for A Plague of People
1 rating0 reviews