The Human Survival Podcast

Global poverty isn't just a result of history - it's an active system designed to extract resources from developing countries while keeping them in debt. Former economic hitman John Perkins reveals how corporations and wealthy nations impoverish the places with the most resources, and why this threatens humanity's survival. We explore the connections between inequality, environmental destruction, and our global economic system, plus what each of us can do to transform the "death economy" into a "life economy." John Perkins spent decades as chief economist at a major consulting firm, advising the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and Fortune 500 corporations on projects around the world. But he was actually functioning as an "economic hitman" - engineering massive debt that allows corporations to control developing countries' resources. Before that life, he lived in the Amazon rainforest studying with shamans, and he's continued that work alongside his career as an author, speaker and activist. His bestselling book "Confessions of an Economic Hitman" exposed how the global economy really works. His other books include “Shapeshifting”, "Touching the Jaguar", and most recently, the novel "Message from Pleiades." And he's a founder of the Pachamama Alliance, working with indigenous people to protect the Amazon rainforest and all of Earth’s ecosystems. TAKE ACTION: -- Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it -- Sign up for our email newsletter: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect You can also watch this show on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/I5YEqBTb0wU ABOUT THE HUMAN SURVIVAL PROJECT: The Human Survival Project combines two essential truths: humanity faces existential threats to our civilization, and these global threats require global management through a redesigned and much stronger United Nations. We're building what's never existed before—a global grassroots movement that creates the citizen pressure needed to transform global governance. While others develop policy solutions, we mobilize the public support to implement them. Connect with us: Website: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org Newsletter: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehumansurvivalproject Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehumansurvivalproject TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehumansurvivalproject LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-human-survival-project  This work is urgent. This moment in history demands action. Thank you for being part of this movement to protect humanity's future. RESOURCES: John Perkins’ website https://johnperkins.org  John’s latest book, "Message From Pleiades" https://johnperkins.org/message-from-pleiades  Pachamama Alliance https://pachamama.org/  Dream Change https://www.dreamchange.org/   The Divide, by Jason Hickel https://www.jasonhickel.org/the-divide   TIMESTAMPS: 0:01 - Introduction 1:02 - The Human Survival Project - latest news 7:01 - John Perkins introduction and background 7:52 - What is an economic hitman? 10:15 - Shelby's perspective shift on global poverty 12:30 - How the corporate empire system works 16:53 - Who's really doing the corrupting? 21:18 - Why infrastructure money never reaches local communities 22:45 - Historical context - 200,000 years of human cooperation 24:00 - Global forces overwhelming indigenous communities 25:00 - Texaco in Ecuador - the propaganda and the reality 27:40 - Amazon destruction and environmental tipping points 28:49 - Amazon soil and climate cycles 30:32 - Economics destroying millions of years of evolution 31:00 - Mayan civilization - a cautionary tale 33:39 - Solutions: What should we do? 34:10 - Death economy vs. life economy 36:51 - Corporate responsibility and policy challenges 39:00 - The five questions for personal transformation 44:20 - We're all collaborators in the system 45:35 - American Revolution analogy - critical mass for change 47:06 - Arthur Ashe quote: "Start where you are" 47:53 - How can the world help developing countries? 49:53 - China's economic success vs. US mistakes 52:00 - Fair deals instead of exploitation 53:02 - Final thoughts and what we've missed 56:05 - John leading tours to the Amazon 57:01 - We're evolving as a species  

The current ways we grow food for 8 billion humans are damaging the planet - and it’s harder to grow food on a damaged planet.  Industrial farming methods produce plentiful food, but also contribute to climate change, deforestation, pollution, soil degradation and water depletion.  Ironically, the systems that have brought affordable food to so many people around the world could lead to high food costs and starvation, as farmers try to grow food amid the unraveling of planetary systems. Some facts: Humans have replaced half of all Nature with agriculture.  80% of that agricultural land is used to grow meat. The expansion of land for agriculture is the leading driver of deforestation and biodiversity loss. Food systems account for one-third of greenhouse gas emissions and at least 15% of fossil fuel use. Our food systems leave 900 million people with food insecurity and over 3 billion people unable to afford a healthy diet. We need some big solutions.  And luckily, there are ways to grow food in harmony with nature and climate.  Many smart people are figuring this out.  One of them is today’s guest. Miranda Mertes is a final semester master’s student studying Agroecology at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.  She earned her bachelor’s degrees in Animal Science and Sustainable Food and Farming from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and focuses her current work on sustainable livestock systems.  She is passionate about regenerative agriculture and food systems justice, among other agroecological topics. ----- The Human Survival Podcast is hosted by Shelby Mertes. This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a global grassroots organization pushing for a redesigned and much stronger United Nations, so humanity has the global tools to manage its global existential threats. We’re working to protect the future of humanity and create a world we can be proud of. ** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org ** Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect This show is also on YouTube.  You can watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/RSVHCaKZB_Q  Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show. Find us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/thehumansurvivalproject https://www.facebook.com/thehumansurvivalproject https://www.tiktok.com/@thehumansurvivalproject https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-human-survival-project   RESOURCES: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences https://www.slu.se/en/ Agroecology Fund - What Is Agroecology? https://agroecologyfund.org/what-is-agroecology/  Global Alliance For The Future Of Food - May 2024 Cultivating Change: A Collaborative Philanthropic Initiative to Accelerate and Scale Agroecology and Regenerative Approaches. This report outlines public policy and funding necessary to transition globally to regenerative and agroecological food and farming systems. https://story.futureoffood.org/cultivating-change/index.html Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Agroecology Knowledge Hub https://www.fao.org/agroecology/home/en/ Agroecology Coalition https://agroecology-coalition.org/ United Nations Food waste awareness https://www.un.org/en/observances/end-food-waste-day Our World In Data If the world adopted a plant-based diet, we would reduce global agricultural land use from 4 to 1 billion hectares. https://ourworldindata.org/land-use-diets    TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Intro 1:15 Welcome Miranda. 4:30 How Miranda got into sustainable agriculture. 6:30 The large scale of agriculture-related environmental concerns. 8:00 Regenerative agriculture.  Soil health.   9:20 Climate emissions - fertilizer, machinery, methane 10:15 Runoff, nutrient leaching, dead zones in waterways 11:20 Erosion, loss of topsoil, soil degradation 14:05 Let’s talk about solutions!! 15:50 What is agroecology? 19:55 Farmers’ interaction with industry, economy, governments, etc. 20:55 Attitudes about “conventional” farmers.  Farmers’ struggles. 24:00 Corporatization of agriculture 27:15 Science-driven policymaking vs lobbyist-driven policymaking 31:20 How is agricultural policy handled globally? 33:45 Agriculture practice and policy in developing countries 39:50 Support for farmers 44:10 Agroforestry 46:30 More farming without killing forests 48:50 Challenges of transitioning to new farming methods 51:30 Most people disconnected from where their food comes from 54:15 Individual responsibility vs public policy solutions

As we face the polycrisis of existential threats like climate change, nuclear weapons, pandemics and more, it’s common to feel difficult emotions like fear, anxiety, depression, guilt and anger. These feelings can make day-to-day life difficult, and can also keep our society from mobilizing public policies to solve these problems. Psychotherapists have seen a dramatic increase in clients struggling to cope with the state of the world. As more and more people face these issues, it could overwhelm traditional mental health systems and require new forms of peer support. Fortunately, there is a growing network of professionals innovating new approaches to these mental health issues. One of them is today’s guest, Eva Jahn. She is a licensed psychotherapist in private practice, and is also co-founder and executive director of the Climate Emotional Resilience Institute. CERI is a group of climate-aware psychotherapists, psychologists and other helping professionals around the world working at the intersection of mental health and our planetary crisis. ----- The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes. This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a global grassroots organization pushing for a redesigned and much stronger United Nations, so humanity has the global tools to manage its global existential threats. We’re working to protect the future of humanity and create a world we can be proud of. ** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org ** Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect This show is also on YouTube.  You can watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/LyYnUxPAW8Q  Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show. Find us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/thehumansurvivalproject https://www.facebook.com/thehumansurvivalproject https://www.tiktok.com/@thehumansurvivalproject https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-human-survival-project ----- RESOURCES: Climate Emotional Resilience Institute (CERI) https://climateemotionalresilience.org Eva’s website https://www.evajahn.com CERI Climate Cafes - Spaces to share experiences and feelings related to this polycrisis. Blog post about Climate Cafes: https://bit.ly/4gLRdgx Upcoming Cafes are scheduled January 30 & March 8 https://bit.ly/3DyHvz9 CERI's Thicket Course - Thicket is an eight-week online experiential training program for medical and mental health providers, educators, activists, researchers, public servants and others confronting this polycrisis in their work and beyond. This course offers support in emotional resilience through nature journeys, contemplative practices, community support and resources to engage with.  The next course starting in January will be running through the Bioneers Learning Platform. https://bit.ly/4iVo3g2 Climate Psychology Alliance North America - The umbrella organization for everything Climate Psychology. Find groups, resources, training, events, and other organizations on their website. https://bit.ly/3BUK79Z Good Grief Network GGN runs peer-to-peer 10-step groups https://bit.ly/4iRjtj6 Psychology for a Safe Climate (Australia) https://bit.ly/3ZPIdQ9 Resilience and Acceptance in the Face of Collapse This 9-week course explores the state of the world and how individuals and communities can be resilient in challenging times. It is educational and a chance for participants to support each other.  Shelby has done this course and highly recommends it. https://bit.ly/3VZM3VB 350.org Resources for Care and Resilience For use by individuals or teams/groups https://bit.ly/3VXyRjY New York Times Magazine Climate Change Is Keeping Therapists Up at Night How anxiety about the planet’s future is transforming the practice of psychotherapy https://bit.ly/3Pfgfse How to Find Joy in Climate Action | Ayana Elizabeth Johnson | TED https://bit.ly/3PfggfM Jem Bendell The Collapse of Ideology and the End of Escape https://bit.ly/49YziR8   TIMESTAMPS: 1:30 - Introduction 5:00 -  Why Eva started Climate Emotional Resilience Institute 9:20 - “Climate Hostage” 11:10 - Getting people to talk openly about climate change, instead of staying silent 13:55 - Overwhelmed by the hyper-object 16:05 - Why traditional psychology is not equipped for our new climate reality 22:00 - Dealing with uncertainty 23:40 - Peer support, climate cafes 29:45 - Emotional healing to support political activism 36:10 - Ecological self vs. consumer self 39:20 - Connection in nature / loneliness in society 45:00 - Managing anger 49:50 - Anxiety of future threats vs. anxiety of current threats. Pre-traumatic stress disorder.   54:45 - Overcoming hopelessness by finding purpose 59:15 - How to feel empowered while facing huge problems 1:00:25 - Joanna Macy, “The Great Turning” 1:05:25 - Social change can happen quickly. Tipping points. 1:08:25 - Emotional support for activists 1:12:45 - What should people know about CERI? 1:16:25- Hope 1:23:35 - “Polycrisis” - many interconnected crises  

In public conversations about artificial intelligence, we hear how AI will solve all of our problems and make us all happy and prosperous, or how it will destroy society or make humans extinct.  How do we balance these extremes, and figure out how to manage AI properly? Here on The Human Survival Podcast we have usually expressed alarm about the potential dangers of AI and other technology, and urged strong public policy to manage them.  But in this episode, we speak to someone with a more optimistic view on AI, and explore many ways AI could help solve humanity’s existential threats and strengthen our society. Sam Sammane envisions a world where the rapid advancements in AI and technology are harnessed for the greater good, leading to a new age of global prosperity.  He is a seasoned entrepreneur and has co-founded and led multiple successful companies in the life sciences, IT and real estate industries. He earned a Bachelor's and Master's in Applied Physics, a Master's in Digital Circuit Design, and a Ph.D. in Nanotechnology, and has authored several articles on high-order logic, symbolic simulation, and automatic theorem proving.  He is the author of the upcoming book, "The Singularity of Hope”, which aims to guide readers through the challenges and opportunities of the AI era, advocating for a harmonious fusion of human intelligence and machine capabilities. ----- The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes. This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a global grassroots organization pushing for a redesigned and much stronger United Nations, so humanity has the global tools to manage its global existential threats.  We’re working to protect the future of humanity and create a world we can be proud of. ** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/ **  Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect   This show is also on YouTube.  Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/4xefk47v5rE?si=G0y0Lm4ODnnKDfSN  Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show.  Find us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/thehumansurvivalproject/  https://www.facebook.com/thehumansurvivalproject   https://www.tiktok.com/@thehumansurvivalproject   https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-human-survival-project/     ----- RESOURCES: Sam’s website: https://www.sammane.com/ Buy Sam’s book, The Singularity of Hope https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CVNLBGSG 80,000 Hours Podcast #120 – Audrey Tang on what we can learn from Taiwan’s experiments with how to do democracy https://80000hours.org/podcast/episodes/audrey-tang-what-we-can-learn-from-taiwan/ The Human Survival Podcast Building the AI Pause Button: Joep Meindertsma - Pause AI https://youtu.be/PUdAysiU4_s?si=Em2k7aAv3oiP-rqu The Human Survival Podcast Keeping Technology from Breaking Society: Wendell Wallach - Carnegie Council https://youtu.be/PXAlbG7M3s8?si=iceQy3JX_tUZzqOf  

Immigration seems to be the biggest issue discussed in this year’s U.S. presidential campaign between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.  The United States (and the world) is struggling to handle the large migrations of people due to poverty, war, political turmoil and environmental catastrophe.  Trump and other Republicans are calling immigrants murderers, rapists, drug dealers and pet eaters.  Democrats are calling Republicans racists, and not really addressing their concerns about crime, jobs, housing and economic impacts.  And neither party is talking about the dramatic increases in migration that are likely in the coming years, and how to manage that.  Most people are just spewing anger at each other, without much problem solving. The Human Survival Project works to promote solutions to migration, among other issues, and prides itself on explaining complicated issues in ways that everyone can understand.  So in this episode, we get beyond the angry soundbites to address some misunderstandings about immigration, and offer real solutions that might actually work. This episode is based on a LOT of research.  We want you to see the resources we used, to verify what we’ve offered in this talk, and to support you in learning more.  You can find all these resources on our website here:   https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/post/immigration-what-we-re-not-talking-about-shelby-mertes-the-human-survival-project  ----- The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes. This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a global grassroots organization pushing for a redesigned and much stronger United Nations, so humanity has the global tools to manage its global existential threats.  We’re working to protect the future of humanity and create a world we can be proud of. ** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/ **  Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect  This show is also on YouTube.  You can watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/xgTfavIrWTc?si=P9lNHAVquDeqcE_G Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show.  Find us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/thehumansurvivalproject/ https://www.facebook.com/thehumansurvivalproject https://www.tiktok.com/@thehumansurvivalproject https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-human-survival-project/  Thanks for listening!

People in wealthier countries often see helping poorer countries as an act of charity, of “doing the right thing”.  Of course it’s good.  But overcoming poverty around the world should be seen as an act of self-preservation for all of us.  It’s a smart move to keep our global civilization from crumbling, since poverty keeps us from solving climate change, the destruction of nature, pandemics, war, and massive destabilizing migration.  Overcoming inequality is not just an issue of morality - we have no choice if we want to survive. To help us unpack this is Kim Thelwell, VP of Policy and Communications with The Borgen Project, a fantastic advocacy organization urging wealthier nations to address global poverty. Related to this topic, you may enjoy these previous episodes: – Where Is the Money To Save Humanity? Wealthy People Have It: Chuck Collins, Inst. for Policy Studies https://youtu.be/CP8iScGkewI?si=xqVTcbQsobFHMAcy – Re-Thinking Morality Amid Existential Threats: Old Issues Need a Fresh Outlook https://youtu.be/LM9rB4iCG1o?si=AvaGFhuOtDBjAm2X ----- The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes. This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a global grassroots organization pushing for a redesigned and much stronger United Nations, so humanity has the global tools to manage its global existential threats. We’re working to protect the future of humanity and create a world we can be proud of. ** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/ **  Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect  This show is also on YouTube.  You can watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/vMIQ0EXSOI4?si=9ZTMXEc6t5WhUQnb Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show.  Find us on social media: --  https://www.instagram.com/thehumansurvivalproject/ --  https://www.tiktok.com/@thehumansurvivalproject --  https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-human-survival-project/  ----- RESOURCES: The Borgen Project https://borgenproject.org/  

For years, politicians have told us we cannot afford important investments in solving climate change, poverty, pandemics and many other problems - even on issues that are critical to the survival of human civilization.  But it’s not true.  Wealthy people have Trillions of dollars (not billions, Trillions) that could be redirected toward solving our existential threats.  They even have Trillions of dollars that have not been counted because they’re hidden in offshore accounts and complex, opaque financial instruments in order to avoid taxation.  To save humanity, our society needs to use these resources in more helpful ways. Our guest today teaches us how this system of hidden wealth works, how wealth is used to influence politics and society, and how wealth can be redirected toward humanity’s important needs. Chuck Collins is Director of the Program on Inequality and the Common Good at the Institute for Policy Studies, where he co-edits Inequality.org.  He is an expert on U.S. inequality, authoring over ten books and dozens of reports covering climate disruption, philanthropy, the racial wealth divide, affordable housing, and billionaire wealth dynasties.  He is a founding member of the Patriotic Millionaires, and in 1995, he co-founded United for a Fair Economy (UFE) to organize, educate, and shift narratives to fight inequality.  Collins’ newest book is a novel, Altar to an Erupting Sun (Green Writers Press), a near-future story of one community facing climate disruption in the critical decade ahead.  His other titles include The Wealth Hoarders, Born on Third Base, Wealth and Our Commonwealth (co-authored with the late Bill Gates Sr.), and The Moral Measure of the Economy (co-authored with Mary Wright). ----- The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes. This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a global grassroots organization pushing for a redesigned and much stronger United Nations, so humanity has the global tools to manage its global existential threats. We’re working to protect the future of humanity and create a world we can be proud of. ** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/ **  Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect  This show is also on YouTube. This episode can be watched here: https://youtu.be/CP8iScGkewI Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show.  Find us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/thehumansurvivalproject/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thehumansurvivalproject https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-human-survival-project/  ----- RESOURCES: Chuck Collins’ website https://www.chuckcollinswrites.com/ This site includes info on his recent book Altar to an Erupting Sun, which Shelby has read and highly recommends. Institute for Policy Studies Program on Inequality and the Common Good https://ips-dc.org/ips-project/inequality-and-the-common-good/ https://inequality.org/ Patriotic Millionaires https://patrioticmillionaires.org/    

In today’s world, there is so much technology at our fingertips that we don’t know how to manage it all. Technologies like artificial intelligence, synthetic biology, nanotech and chemicals have important benefits, but they could also destabilize society, destroy democracy, crash the economy, create the next pandemic or ruin the environment. And competition between companies and countries is driving advancement SO FAST. How can we reap the benefits of technology, while seriously managing the risks? And who should have the power to make these decisions? Wendell Wallach offers promising approaches to regulating humans’ use of technology. Wendell is a Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, where he co-directs the AI and Equality Initiative (AIEI). He is also a senior advisor to the Hastings Center and a scholar at the Yale Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics, where he has chaired Technology and Ethics studies for 11 years. Wendell has written several books on how to avoid misusing technology and the moral considerations that factor into those actions. By improving our governance systems, we humans can be more thoughtful, forward-looking, organized and international in our management of technology. In truth, the consequences of mismanaging technology are already here. But it’s not too late for positive change. If we act quickly and collaboratively, we can shape our future for the better. #technology #artificialintelligence #existentialthreats #ai #bioethics #governance #TechGovernance #EthicalInnovation #EthicalTech #FutureLeaders #CollaborativeChange #FutureReadiness ----- The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes. This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a global grassroots organization pushing for a redesigned and much stronger United Nations, so humanity has the global tools to manage its global existential threats. We’re working to protect the future of humanity and create a world we can be proud of. ** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/ **  Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect This show is also on YouTube.  Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/PXAlbG7M3s8?si=eJH7kjSDRUuIz38e Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show.  Find us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/thehumansurvivalproject/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thehumansurvivalproject https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-human-survival-project/  RESOURCES: Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs: https://www.carnegiecouncil.org/  Wendell Wallach Bio: https://www.wwallach.com/ AI & Equality Podcast: https://www.carnegiecouncil.org/media/series/aiei  Article - A Framework for the International Governance of AI: https://www.carnegiecouncil.org/media/article/a-framework-for-the-international-governance-of-ai A Dangerous Master: How to Keep Technology from Slipping Beyond Our Control by Wendell Wallach https://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Master-Technology-Slipping-Control/dp/0465058620  Moral Machines: Teaching Robots Right from Wrong by Wendell Wallach https://www.amazon.com/Moral-Machines-Teaching-Robots-Right/dp/0199737975  TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Introduction 2:53 - Description of Wendell Wallach. 5:01 - Where is humanity at? 7:16 - Problems with technology and governance. 16:15 - Seeing risks before they happen. 18:44 - Computers consume lots of energy. 20:52 - AI is worsening the unequal distribution of wealth. 22:37 - Humans mismanage their technological powers. 23:50 - Who should control the frameworks? 28:30 - OpenAI and commercialization. 30:14 - We need governments to put up guardrails. 35:55 - Salt March Moments, like Gandhi. 41:42 - Teaching citizens to create their own sense of meaning. 43:01 - Managing competition between countries. 44:55 - Acting with a global mindset. 49:50 - Short-term and long-term risks of AI. 53:22 - We need rules. 56:30 - Executive agency with multidisciplinary expertise. 59:34 - How do we enforce rules? 1:03:10 - Reevaluating our focus on other issues. 1:04:56 - America needs immigrants to fill jobs. 1:06:17 - Laws of armed conflict and unnecessary wars. 1:08:10 - We need a trustworthy system to enforce our agreements. 1:10:12 - Keep working and acting on opportunities. 1:15:21 - Direction of government funding. 1:19:50 - Responding earlier. 1:23:09 - Good change can happen quicker than we think.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s easy to think we won’t face another global outbreak in the next century. But viruses don’t have a schedule — the next pandemic could be tomorrow. And it could be much more fatal than COVID-19. So, how do we prepare ourselves? With us to explain the best ways to both prevent and face these outbreaks is David Quammen, an award-winning author, and journalist on science and humans’ relationship with the natural world. He regularly contributes to many distinguished news sources, including the New York Times, the NY Times Book Review, and National Geographic. His 18 books include two on pandemics. “Spillover,” in 2012, accurately predicted a major pandemic could happen soon. In 2022, “Breathless: The Scientific Race to Defeat a Deadly Virus” thoroughly analyzed the world’s reaction to COVID-19. Quammen has traveled the world extensively, allowing him to contribute to today’s conversation with his personal experiences in third-world countries and what he’s seen in the availability of resources for those communities. Luckily, the threat of viral outbreaks is rooted in something we can change: our actions. By regulating humans’ contact with animals, overconsumption of animal-based products, and the distribution of vaccines and education, we can act proactively on our planet. To save human and non-human creatures, we must adopt a future-oriented approach and find solutions now. If the next pandemic is tomorrow, we can be prepared. #virus #outbreak #pandemic #pandemicawareness #protectourplanet #publichealth #existentialthreats #grassroots #globalcommunity #unitednations #diseaseprevention #coronavirus #outbreak #overconsumption #biodiversityloss #vaccine ----- The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes. This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a global grassroots organization pushing for a redesigned and much stronger United Nations so humanity has the global tools to manage its global existential threats.  We’re working to protect the future of humanity and create a world we can be proud of.   ** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/ **  Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect You can watch this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/slmCOt5na3Y  Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show.    Find us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/thehumansurvivalproject/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thehumansurvivalproject https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-human-survival-project/   RESOURCES:   David Quammen’s Website https://davidquammen.com/    New York Times - 12/19/23 Mystery Amid an Anthrax Outbreak in Africa https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/19/health/anthrax-africa.html?smid=url-share   Grist - 4/27/20 Deadly Leaps: These scientists saw the coronavirus coming. Now, they're trying to stop the next pandemic before it starts. https://bit.ly/3ecYmIJ   Vox - 610/20 The meat we eat is a pandemic risk, too https://bit.ly/3xH2Qz3    Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 2:20 - Description of David Quammen. 5:38 - What is the size of this risk, and what drives it? 8:00 - The three big human-caused problems (“three rivers of woe”) on Earth. 9:07 - Human contact with animals leads to most diseases. 14:30 - Dangers of wet markets. 16:24 - Domesticated meat production and its risks. 21:01 - Leaks of diseases from labs. 24:36 - Adopting a future-oriented approach to find solutions. 26:16 - Communication of information and public trust in science. 28:57 - Science is a gradual and self-correcting process. 32:15 - The next pandemic could be tomorrow (and worse than COVID-19). 38:36 - Rapid development of successful vaccines. 40:41 - Making vaccines and disease education available to ALL countries. 44:12 - Public/private funding and partnerships. 46:45 - Proactive surveillance, containing outbreaks and predictions of viruses. 52:00 - Lack of capacity and resources in hospitals. 55:13 - What is the state of the World Health Organization? 57:19 - Inspecting labs and hospitals would be valuable. 1:00:16 - We need to have more conversations on these issues. 1:01:10 - Pandemic threats and biodiversity loss are co-equal to climate change. 1:03:06 - Losing the world’s creatures.

How to END War: John Reuwer - World BEYOND War   Historically, war has seemed natural for humans. It is everywhere. However, at its core, conflict always comes down to a choice. When making these decisions, we need to understand the right tools to respond to all conflict levels, from neighborly disputes to global warfare.   With the help of expert John Reuwer, we learn the value of settling wars with nonviolence and civil resistance. John is the treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors at World BEYOND War (WBW), a global movement that aims to abolish the institution of war. The organization currently has signatories to their two-sentence peace pledge in 194 countries. John has had many firsthand experiences with violent conflict as a retired emergency physician and has spent decades examining the benefits of nonviolence.   In this episode, we discuss ways to manage conflict on a global scale, including the enforcement of gradual disarmament, incentivization for countries, reallocation of military budgets, and the removal of nuclear weaponry. The dangers of war continue to grow with the advancement of artificial technology; this means that humans have the power to regulate our systems and weaponry to redesign our world for a better and more peaceful future. #betterfuture #hopeforhumanity #abolishwar #civilresistance #nonviolence #worldpeace #peacepledge #globalconflict #grassroots #globalsecurity #conflictresolution #nonviolence  ----- The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes. This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a global grassroots organization pushing for a redesigned and much stronger United Nations, so humanity has the global tools to manage its global existential threats.  We’re working to protect the future of humanity and create a world we can be proud of.   ** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/ **  Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect    This show is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/PUdAysiU4_s Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show.    Find us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/thehumansurvivalproject/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thehumansurvivalproject https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-human-survival-project/    Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show.    RESOURCES:   World BEYOND War’s Website https://worldbeyondwar.org/  TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Introduction. 4:26 - What is World BEYOND War? How does it work? What are its goals? 8:28 - War is not inevitable or “natural” for humans. 10:51 - Nonviolence and the Golden Rule. 13:49 - War/violence mainly keeps the powerful in control. 16:40 - Manipulation of citizens’ and soldiers’ perspectives in the Russia-Ukraine war. 19:45 - What would happen if we didn’t fight? Civil resistance. 28:03 - Enforcing nonviolent approaches. 32:35 - Redesigning the United Nations. 38:38 - Cultural violence to empower the people. 40:39 - Humanity making decisions for humanity. 41:14 - Making war illegal and gradually disarming everyone. 44:37 - Difficulties of having a representative voice in government. 45:50 - Disarmament in peace policies. 47:33 - Redirecting the military budget to non-military purposes. 48:59 - How do we help countries feel safe enough to disarm? 52:47 - Transparency in policies is a choice. 55:03 - Nuclear weapons and incentivization for disarmament. 1:00:08 - International courts. 1:02:37 - To what extent is warfare economic? 1:05:05 - Humans built nuclear weapons. Humans can take them apart. 1:08:26 - World BEYOND War’s peace pledge.

Recently, the development of artificial intelligence has become exponential. As more programs like ChatGPT have been released to the public, many people see benefits of continuing investment in this growth. Some believe it might even help solve our existential threats. But with its unregulated advancements, AI itself could be an existential threat to our world. From cybersecurity risks to autonomous weapons, artificial intelligence poses countless threats to the safety of humankind. How should we regulate AI development? With us to talk about managing our uses of artificial intelligence is Joep Meindertsma, founder of Pause AI. Pause AI is an organization proposing a worldwide pause in development of the most powerful AI systems, through the regulation of their training and publication, alongside the creation of an international safety agency. Joep is also the CEO of Ontola and of Argu in the Netherlands. As a software engineer, he has lots of experience with technology and has seen the dangers of AI firsthand. It’s comfortable to ignore the risks of artificial intelligence. And building a globally-functioning pause button won’t be easy. But the threat of AI has become urgent. We can’t afford to ignore its dangers to humanity any longer. Humans created artificial intelligence. It’s time for us to take responsibility and use our real intelligence to control AI before it controls us. ----- The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes. This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a global grassroots organization pushing for a redesigned and much stronger United Nations, so humanity has the global tools to manage its global existential threats. We’re working to protect the future of humanity and create a world we can be proud of. ** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/ **  Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect    This show is also available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/PUdAysiU4_s Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show.    Find us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/thehumansurvivalproject/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thehumansurvivalproject https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-human-survival-project/    RESOURCES: Pause AI’s Website: https://pauseai.info/  Pause Giant AI Experiments - An Open Letter: https://futureoflife.org/open-letter/pause-giant-ai-experiments/    TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Introduction 3:39 - What is Pause AI? 6:28 - Cybersecurity risks and rapid development of AI. 10:37 - Consequences of rushed decisions. 15:35 - Building an international pause button. 22:31 - Emotional obstacles to taking responsibility. 25:00 - Big successes are possible. 27:19 - Designing global governance. 35:50 - Urgency of regulating AI. 38:44 - Creating an executive agency, authorized to move quickly. 41:41 - When and what do we pause? 46:57 - Regulating hardware used for AI. 50:20 - Controlling AI democratically and open-sourcing. 53:55 - Problems of promoting AI. 57:03 - When would AI become necessary? 59:14 - Value of AI in solving existential threats. 1:03:51 - Possibilities of AI takeover. 1:13:12 - Optimists vs. pessimists. 1:17:39 - Enforcing policy measures. 1:20:41 - Solving environmental issues with narrowed AI. 1:23:19 - Approaches to different AI models. 1:24:34 - Importance of international regulation. 1:26:35 - Courage to implement treaties. 1:29:27 - Plan for the future. 1:33:06 - Every small action matters.

We are all horrified by the wars in Israel-Palestine, and Ukraine.  And those are just the conflicts we hear about.  There are 21 wars in the world right now - most of them barely make the news.  We tend to feel hopeless as we watch the death and suffering.  But what if we didn’t have to feel helpless?  What if the world had ways to actually DO something, and SOLVE wars? The Human Survival Project proposes redesigning and strengthening the United Nations, so humanity can have the global tools to manage violence, and the many other existential threats humanity faces.  Today we talk about what might be possible if we had those tools. With us to discuss this are two members of The Human Survival Project Team - Ben Gavin and Sarmad Wali Khan. ----- The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes. This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a global grassroots organization to protect the future of humanity and create a world we can be proud of.  We push for the United Nations to be redesigned and strengthened, so humanity has the global tools to manage its existential threats. ** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/ **  Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect  This show is also on YouTube.  Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/zDI0BYklGTQ Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show.    RESOURCES: Wikipedia - List of Current Armed Conflicts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ongoing_armed_conflicts

With the growing conversation on climate change, many people are now helping the planet and trying to get rid of the damaging policies and products that are worsening climate change - which is great. But we need to widen our focus from not only getting rid of the bad, but to also pushing for the good. Our response to saving our world from this existential threat needs to pick up the pace, and in order to do that, we have to be more strategic about where we’re directing our time and resources. How can we change our approach to climate change? With us to share his thoughts on where we’re at and where we should be heading is James Jylkka, a natural resource specialist with the US Army Corps of Engineers. His work puts him at the nexus of flood risk management, recreation, and natural resource management. He began his journey toward environmental justice when he left the corporate world to embark on a solo hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. Since then, he has worked as an environmental policy analyst for the State of California and as a science teacher in underserved communities. He is passionate about issues of environmental equity and sustainability, which inform his daily life, both at home and work. With his help, we consider how we can cut back on consumption, help third-world countries make the green transition, redirect government involvement in climate projects, and promote a value system that’s more meaningful and productive than our culture’s heavy focus on money and technology. These things can get us closer to our goal for humans, animals, and ecosystems to all thrive in our shared world. ----- The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes. This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a grassroots organization helping the human race become an intentional and forward-looking species, with the global tools to improve ourselves and protect ourselves from global catastrophic threats. ** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/ ** Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.o... This show is also on YouTube.  You can watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/QnioxSXFnE8  Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show. Theme music by Moby: https://mobygratis.com/ RESOURCES: NY Times, 3/13/22 Government Is Flailing, in Part Because Liberals Hobbled It https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/13/op... OUTLINE: 0:00 - Intro 6:01 - Less focus on getting rid of the bad and more focus on pushing for the good 7:36 - Changes are not moving quickly enough 9:33 - But moving too fast could lead to problems 13:11 - Managing the complexity of having many involved agencies 14:51 - Solutions aren’t new and shiny; we already have them, but they just aren’t implemented 15:03 - Need to incentivize rooftop solar 16:39 - Carbon tax or heavy subsidy of green energy is important, not a complete solution 17:28 - Motivating change on a broad scale by setting standards in huge markets like California 18:19 - Charge what things actually cost 19:26 - Incentivize the good by making it more accessible/affordable. Competitive economies. 23:14 - Government should provide guidance, regulation, incentives, and financial support 26:42 - Government bureaucracy is a huge problem 28:15 - Wealth and opportunity gap 29:20 - One additional layer of agency to coordinate all the other agencies 32:37 - Different levels of government are not aligned 33:53 - U.N. model that comes up with codes and guidelines that can adopted all the way down to the municipality level would improve alignment 34:33 - International climate change agreement can level the global playing field 35:40 - Economic sanctions 40:18 - Poverty is an existential risk that hinders the fight against climate change 44:39 - Wealthier countries need to cut back consumption. 48:52 - Artificial intelligence is going to make many of us obsolete in the workforce 49:20 - Value system 52:44 - More money to be made in solving climate issues. Makes the expenses worth it. 54:13 - Liberal vs. conservative divide gets in the way. Make the government work better. 57:00 - Difference of opinions in current news outlets 58:06 - Advocacy organizations and nonprofits bridge the divide between the government and the average voter 59:46 - Redirection of funding and resources 1:01:50 - Caring about people you can’t see, instead of self-interest 1:04:33 - Life is complex. It’s hard to keep making perfect choices. 1:06:58 - Goal is for people, animals, and ecosystems to all thrive. Compromise. 1:10:29 - Be respectful of people, show appreciation for what people do well 1:13:20 - The Human Survival Project team’s summer goals  

The United States spends an astronomical amount of money on its military - more than any other nation.  In fact, more than the next 8 nations combined.  It helps fund 750 military bases in 80 countries.  It has quite an impact on the world. Last week, the U.S. Congress and President Biden enacted the National Defense Authorization Act of 2023, which increased military spending to the largest level since the end of World War II, even adjusted for inflation. Increasing technology makes war more dangerous.  And growing conflict between the United States, China and Russia (and of course Ukraine) is fueling an arms race between superpowers that could end up disastrous. Today, we consider what the United States actually gets for all this military spending.  Does it make Americans and the world safer, or put them in more danger?  What else could this money be used for? And I suggest we turn to world approaches to world security - like a stronger United Nations - rather than large nations slugging it out with each other. ----- The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes. This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a grassroots organization helping the human race become an intentional and forward-looking species, with the global tools to improve ourselves and protect ourselves from global catastrophic threats.  ** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/ ** Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect The Human Survival Podcast is also on YouTube. Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/eTHb_6kLNWE  Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show. Theme music by Moby: https://mobygratis.com/ ---------- Resources: ~ U.S. Department of Defense, 12/23/22 Biden Signs National Defense Authorization Act Into Law https://bit.ly/3YOZzv0  ~ Union of Concerned Scientists, 12/14/22 Defense Spending Reaches Record High as Pentagon Fails Its Audit – For Fifth Time https://bit.ly/3jEQyVv  Data on U.S. and international military spending… ~ Stockholm International Peace Research Institute https://bit.ly/3I7q7BV  Report on U.S. military bases around the world… ~ Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, 9/20/21 Drawdown: Improving U.S. and Global Security Through Military Base Closures Abroad https://bit.ly/3G5mMR2  ~ United Nations annual spending https://unsceb.org/total-expenses Other news articles about the recent military spending bill, both good and mediocre… ~ New York Times, 12/18/22 Military Spending Surges, Creating New Boom for Arms Makers https://bit.ly/3Gnv9sB  ~ Slate, 12/8/22 There Is No Good Reason for a Defense Budget This Large https://bit.ly/3PYBk9R  ~ CNN, 12/15/22 Here’s what’s in the $858 billion defense bill https://bit.ly/3vmC4vZ  ~ Reuters, 12/15/22 U.S. Senate passes record $858 billion defense act, sending bill to Biden https://bit.ly/3G22isy  ~ Fox News, 12/18/22 Ukraine aid opened the floodgates for more Pentagon spending as US eyes Russia, China https://bit.ly/3C8QDa6 

There’s a ton of conversation lately about inflation, and its effects on the economy and on people’s personal finances.  Lots of people are concerned.  BUT, could inflation actually be helpful? We are in a climate and environmental crisis that could ruin just about everything if we don’t get it under control - including the entire economy.  The planet is being ruined by people buying stuff, and when stuff is expensive, people buy less.  Could higher prices help us get our overconsumption under control? Further, as we destroy the climate and nature, there will be shortages of water, food, metals, oil and just about everything, which will drive up prices.  High prices are coming anyway, whether we like it or not.  So maybe we should drive up prices now while we still have some nature and manageable climate left to protect. Today, we talk about inflation, consumption and your future - and how we can manage our economy to protect us all from environmental danger. With us to talk about all this is one of my very best friends, Mike Jordan.  He is working with me to produce this podcast and to launch The Human Survival Project.  He is smart, interesting, curious and lots of fun to talk with. Thanks for approaching this controversial topic with an open mind. ----- The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes. This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a grassroots organization helping the human race become an intentional and forward-looking species, with the global tools to improve ourselves and protect ourselves from global catastrophic threats. ** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/ ** Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect  The Human Survival Podcast is also on YouTube. Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/JylIuAWXVWU  Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show. Theme music by Moby: https://mobygratis.com/   Resources: (5:15) Humans are consuming the equivalent of 1.7 Earths.  If all humans consumed like Americans, we would need 5 Earths. ~ Global Footprint Network https://www.footprintnetwork.org/ (8:20) NY Times columnist Bret Stephens, after years of downplaying the threat of climate change, changes his perspective after a trip to Greenland. ~ NY Times, 10/28/22 Where My Climate Doubts Began To Melt https://nyti.ms/3vjzqXX  (10:30) Mike mentioned fossil fuel industries receiving $11 trillion in subsidies each year, which he was pulling from memory.  It may be that he was remembering the figure of $11 million every minute, which adds up to $5.9 trillion annually.  Various analyses come out a little differently.  Any way you slice it, fossil fuel subsidies are enormous. ~ Yale Environment 360, 10/6/21 Fossil Fuels Received $5.9 Trillion In Subsidies in 2020, Report Finds https://e360.yale.edu/digest/fossil-fuels-received-5-9-trillion-in-subsidies-in-2020-report-finds (12:20) The world is running out of high quality oil, and now working harder and costlier to extract lower quality oil, which will result in higher oil prices in the future. ~ Nate Hagens, The Great Simplification Podcast - YouTube https://youtu.be/mVjhb8Nu1Sk  In our conversation, I wish I had mentioned this other project Nate Hagens is working on.  They are advancing proposals like what we’ve discussed in this talk - basically, taxing resources to reduce their consumption.  Please check this out - it’s terrific. ~ UnTax https://www.untax.org/ (21:55) The Affluent Society by John Kenneth Galbraith ~ Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Affluent_Society (29:30) Mike mentioned online advertising he received after shopping at a store.  He was not just being paranoid.  Retail stores use wifi and bluetooth to track customers and learn about their shopping behavior, and follow them beyond the store. ~ Vox, 1/29/20 Why you see online ads for stuff you buy in the real world https://www.vox.com/recode/2019/12/19/21011527/retail-tracking-apps-wifi-bluetooth-facebook-ads ~ RetailDive/SenSource, 3/4/20 Wi-Fi tracking: A data gold mine or privacy nightmare? https://www.retaildive.com/spons/wi-fi-tracking-a-data-gold-mine-or-privacy-nightmare/572937/ ~ New York Times, 6/14/19 In Stores, Secret Surveillance Tracks Your Every Move https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/06/14/opinion/bluetooth-wireless-tracking-privacy.html   

Being positive is a good part of happiness and mental health.  And being supportive is nice and friendly.  But amid catastrophic threats to humanity, being positive and supportive is not just about being happy and friendly – it’s how we rally support for the ambitious policies that are bold enough to reduce death and suffering of billions of people.  Productive criticism is fine, but we can’t afford negativity anymore.  Today, I unpack some psychology of why it makes rational sense to be positive in these dangerous times. “Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the people doing it.” --  Chinese Proverb ----- The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes. This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a grassroots organization helping the human race become an intentional and forward-looking species, with the global tools to improve ourselves and protect ourselves from global catastrophic threats. ** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/ ** Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect The Human Survival Podcast is also on YouTube. Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/hkrWc_vaq-E Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show. Theme music by Moby: https://mobygratis.com/  

After decades of hard work, climate change activists have finally put the issue in the mainstream of public discourse and policy discussions.  But, the world’s response to this critical threat to humanity is far too slow.  We all need to be even better activists.  What can we improve? Dave Johnson has good ideas for us, brought from the field of design.  He is a teacher, lawyer, author and activist.  He teaches at the Stanford Law School and at Stanford’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (a/k/a “the d.school”).  He has extensive legal experience in litigation, negotiation and as general counsel, representing Silicon Valley tech companies, state governments, and others.  Dave is currently writing a book on applying design principles to climate activism. ----- The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes. This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a grassroots organization helping the human race become an intentional and forward-looking species, with the global tools to improve ourselves and protect ourselves from global catastrophic threats. ** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/ ** Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect The Human Survival Podcast is also on YouTube. Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/CApVuG36yyw  Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show. Theme music by Moby: https://mobygratis.com/   Resources: Dave Johnson website https://climate-activist.com/ Prof Cass Sunstein on how change happens, and why it's so often abrupt & unpredictable. 80,000 Hours Podcast with Rob Wiblin (If you don’t have time to listen to this whole episode, you can at least skim the highlights and transcript here) https://80000hours.org/podcast/episodes/cass-sunstein-how-change-happens/  

As nations of the world meet at COP27 in Egypt to negotiate next steps to address climate change, we desperately need to improve this international process.  Instead of vague promises that might be broken, we need enforcement systems to build trust between countries, so we can be sure everyone will follow through on their commitments.  Economic sanctions used against Russia after their invasion of Ukraine taught us a lot about what’s possible.  Now we need to apply what the world has learned.  Today, I explain.  Thanks for listening. ----- The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes. This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a grassroots organization helping the human race become an intentional and forward-looking species, with the global tools to improve ourselves and protect ourselves from global catastrophic threats. ** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/ ** Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect The Human Survival Podcast is also on YouTube. Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/D4bfo_NfQh8 Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show. Theme music by Moby: https://mobygratis.com/   Resources: Carbon Dioxide Emissions Increased in 2022 as Crises Roiled Energy Markets New York Times – 11/10/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/10/climate/carbon-dioxide-emissions-global-warming.html?smid=url-share Climate Pledges Are Falling Short, and a Chaotic Future Looks More Like Reality New York Times – 10/26/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/26/climate/un-climate-pledges-warming.html?smid=url-share Cop27 host accuses countries of making empty public pledges The Guardian – 11/4/22 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/04/cop27-host-accuses-countries-of-making-empty-public-pledges This is the United Nations detailed assessment of how the world is falling short on emissions reductions: Emissions Gap Report 2022 UN Environment Programme https://www.unep.org/resources/emissions-gap-report-2022 No sign of decrease in global CO2 emissions Global Carbon Budget – 11/11/22 https://globalcarbonbudget.org/no-sign-of-decrease-in-global-co2-emissions/ The above report states, among other things, “If current emissions levels persist, there is now a 50% chance that global warming of 1.5°C will be exceeded in nine years.” Why scientists are using the word scary over the climate crisis The Guardian – 11/7/22 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/07/why-scientists-are-using-the-word-scary-over-the-climate-crisis  

It can be difficult watching climate change and the destruction of nature.  It’s easy to fall into despair and worry about the future of humanity, and all the other species.  The Human Survival Podcast fell into hibernation, as I’ve struggled the past few months with anger, fear and hopelessness.  After wrestling with these feelings, I’ve emerged stronger and more motivated to keep doing the work of saving humanity (and everything else).  And this experience has taught me some lessons about effective public communication about these important issues.  In this episode, I’ll share with you what I went through, in case it helps you keep your head straight amid these challenging times in the world.  Cheers! ----- The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes. This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a grassroots organization helping the human race become an intentional and forward-looking species, with the global tools to improve ourselves and protect ourselves from global catastrophic threats. ** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/ ** Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect The Human Survival Podcast is also on YouTube. Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/XKTk5ZWNJiQ  Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show. Theme music by Moby: https://mobygratis.com/ Resources: Climate Change Enters the Therapy Room New York Times – 2/6/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/06/health/climate-anxiety-therapy.html?smid=url-share Got Climate Anxiety? These People Are Doing Something About It New York Times – 2/4/21 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/04/climate/climate-anxiety-stress.html?smid=url-share Good Grief Network https://www.goodgriefnetwork.org/ Joanna Macy https://www.joannamacy.net/ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) https://www.ipcc.ch/ Deep Adaptation https://www.deepadaptation.info/ Jem Bendell https://jembendell.com/ Job One For Humanity https://www.joboneforhumanity.org/ (This site uses a communication style very different from mine.  To me, their vibe often feels panicky and alarmist, rather than grounded and level-headed.  But I share it here because I think their analysis and key points are strong, and certainly worth considering.  This site is an interesting example of the challenge in conveying truly alarming information without relying too heavily on fear.  I appreciate the difficulty these authors face.) The Great Climate Migration New York Times Magazine – 7/23/20 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/07/23/magazine/climate-migration.html Global Footprint Network https://www.footprintnetwork.org/ https://www.footprintnetwork.org/2021/01/19/we-do-not-need-a-pandemic-to-movethedate/  

Meet Shelby and learn what the show is all about.   The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes ** Connect and learn more at https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org **