May-June 2018

Here are three broad categories for consideration in the movement toward a more life-supporting civilization. Human Development Essentially, this involves supporting the full flourishing of the individual, which includes growth that leads beyond fixation on accumulative and object-identified tendencies and cultivates the development of expanded inner awareness and authentic engagement with the world. Much more…

Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim, Yale University, are offering four six-week online courses. Brian Thomas Swimme provides introductory comments. These are featured as a specialization under the title:  “Journey of the Universe: A Story for our Times.” They are available in English and in Chinese. This specialization includes two courses on Journey of the…

The Journey of the Universe project consists of an Emmy award winning film, 20 Conversations, and a book from Yale University Press. You may access the full Journey of the Universe Film: https://vimeo.com/36950412 Password: whowouldyoube619 You may access the 20 Conversations with scientists and environmentalists: https://vimeopro.com/yalefes/journey-of-the-universe-materials Password: JOTU2014 Curriculum materials for the 20 conversations are available…

“World Environment Day” takes place on June 5th of each year and is celebrated in over 100 countries. It is the United Nation’s most important day for calling for environmental awareness and for doing something about the environment. World Environment day began in 1974. Each year there is a different theme and different host country….

CES Contributor Malcolm Kenton has co-authored a major report on maintaining rail systems for public transport. The report titled Tools for a Smoother Ride; Managing Rail Assets and Leveraging Competition, was published on May 15, 2018, by Eno Center for Transportation, a nonpartisan Transportation policy think tank, and is available here. In introducing the report…

Thanks to Sharman Noguchi for referring to us this beautiful video presentation of Even a Leaf . . . a book about the gift of life by Shelly Hehenberger, a Chapel Hill, North Carolina, author, artist, and illustrator. Ms. Hehenberger introduces her book by writing, We all participate in the mysterious journey of life. We…

“Plastics,” National Geographic (June 2018) By Laura Parker Reviewed by Herman Greene   National Geographic magazine increasingly is paying attention to the state of our planet. The impact of plastics is the subject of the feature article of its June 2018 issue. This review covers some of the learnings from the article. When Thomas Berry…

The New Cosmic Story: Inside Our Awakening Universe By John F. Haught (Yale University Press, 2017) Reviewed by Herman Greene The “Book of the Year”? “Yes” wrote a reviewer of John Haught’s book, The New Cosmic Story: Inside our Awakening Universe. “Yes,” says this reviewer, “It’s the book of the year for me.” I highly…

Every environmental regulation that exists in law or policy came into being because people valued the health of humans and the planet above other considerations. Most of the rules were hard-won—the result of years of advocacy, and sometimes blood and tears. Probably none has ever received unanimous support before or after it was put in…

I believe music has a unique role to play in the development of our personalities and lives. While this is a personal belief, I have encountered many people in the world who share it. Furthermore, there is mounting evidence to support it. There is something about music that broadens, deepens, and enriches our personalities and…

Was there sorrow Layered within the Darkness deep Before the universe was born?   Invisible spirits – as yet unreal –­ Sighed when looking ahead toward Clashing with other tuggings of Longing The trees of longing Lofted imaginary Branches high – pulling Away from Newton’s stone-like grip Into thick multiplicity   Circling among great Mountains…

We will reach a critical mass where enough of us are aware of and understand the essence of the Universe Story that humankind will start pulling in the same direction:  Toward Becoming an Ecological Civilization. From Dreams to a Vision Our visions are manifestations of our dreams for the future Dreams originate in our unconscious…

Editor’s Note: Ann Loomis is the author of “Celtic Cycles: Guidance from the Soul on the Spiritual Journey” My vision for an ecological civilization is that we humans will connect with the trees, the creatures, and our own souls as we learn to perceive with Planetary Consciousness. It has been said that “You will protect…

Editor’s Note: Fred Lanphear died at age 74 from ALS. He wrote this article in summer 2010 just before his death on September 10. He lived with his wife, Nancy Lanphear, in Songaia, an intentional, co-housing community that he helped organize just north of Seattle, Washington. Once a professor of horticulture, he became a teacher…

 Accept what comes from silence. Make the best you can of it. Of the little words that come out of the silence, like prayers prayed back to the one who prays, make a poem that does not disturb the silence from which it came.       —Wendell Berry   Blue Ridge Mountains, Celo, North Carolina Around…