Re: GAS-L: Conquest of the Land Through Seven Thousand Years

[Peter Singfield <snkm@btl.net>]

At 03:51 AM 1/26/2001 +0900, Keith Addison <keith@journeytoforever.org>
 wrote:
>
>If you seek evidence of that, of course you'll find it, but there's a 
>lot more to be found too. The "law of the jungle", the ruthless 
>competition, the survival of the "fittest" - that's all there if you 
>seek it. But the real law of the jungle, and of nature as a whole, 
>including us and our societies, is not competition, it's symbiosis: 
>95% cooperation, 5% competition. We're not primarily selfish, 
>me-centred, materialistic. We do behave that way (as we're encouraged 
>to), but not only that way, Friedmann and Thatcher to the contrary. 
>Greed is not our main drive - and it's certainly not a "good".

*** Bush tries to ease power woes

WASHINGTON (AP) - Hoping to ease California's electricity crisis,
President Bush is prepared to let the state roll back its air
pollution requirements on power plants, administration officials
said Thursday. Senior advisers also are exploring ways Mexico might
increase electricity shipments into the state, although that might
not be possible immediately. California pollution control officials
said environmental restrictions have not interfered in power plants
operating at maximum capacity. They said the state already has made
some adjustments in air rules - when needed - to keep power flowing
and does not need a waiver. White House press secretary Ari
Fleischer said the administration was "reviewing a number of
options" that might be helpful to California. The state has been
reeling under high electricity prices, intermittent blackouts and
the threat of utility bankruptcies. He declined to elaborate.


Keith --

"President Bush is prepared to let the state roll back its air pollution
requirements on power plants"

The collective mind is certainly willing -- but the flesh is not.

I'll stick with plan B -- that is returning to stone age technology among a
well practiced group of humans. We'll compare notes -- say in 20 years.

I must admit -- it was fun while it lasted. But species survival revolves
more than around just fun.

You notice in that news brief above - absolutely no mention of solving this
problem by teaching people energy conservation?

My household here in Belize is a family of 8. My power bill is $25 (US) per
month. And that at 21 cents US per kwh.

I consider myself very power greedy for this village -- being that I have a
small (500 watt) freezer, 5 fans, electric lights and a deep well with
submersible pump.

Plus a computer that is on 16 hours per day.

The real solution is not trying to meet energy consumption needs with
alternative power production systems -- at this late date -- but learning
how to do without!

If you ever get the chance to see Escape from L.A. -- the ending is
spectacular. "Snake" Bishkin (spelling" pushes a single button that stops
all electrical power production around the world. And does this in the name
of saving our human species!

Some habits can only be shut down -- "cold-turkey" -- it seems.

I expect the intelligia to do what they always do during these style
events, theorize on how it can't be happening "here" (the line from that
very old Mother's of Invention "chant" -- "It Can't Happen Here!!") and in
the end -- find some one outside of their group to lay the blame on.

While you keep that chant running (It Can't Happen Here) I'll keep
practicing chipping a stone machete.

Peter Singfield -- in Belize -- close to stone age existence -- and living OK.
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