I am The 0.000000014%
According to recent news, world human population is now at approximately 7,000,000,000, roughly twice what it was when I was born. By chance, I have had the privilege of always living within close proximity to natural places, and I learned to appreciate the benefits of solitude and peace from an early age. These places of my youth no longer exist. That is, they are geographically still there but no longer possess the life, mystery and inspiration they once did. It seems I was destined to spend my life in constant need to keep ahead of the tidal wave of construction and “development” sweeping over the planet, leaving fewer and fewer places for one to find quiet beauty, room to roam, and the freedom to escape the malignancies of the synthetic worlds of the human hives.
It is clear to me that as a species we shall fail, like any before us, to make the transition from incessant growth to prosperous sustainability. And that such failure means that collapse is really just a matter of time. What a rude awakening it will be for pundits concerned with business, technology, employment, politics, media and other trivia when they wake up to realize they have to battle over allocating a limited and ever-dwindling supply of water, food, air and living space. What will they do then? Why, they will go to war of course. It is, after all, humanity’s go-to method to attempt to solve global problems. It is then that someone might be reminded of Einstein’s admonition that problems cannot be solved with the same thinking that created them.
There is an ironic comfort in accepting the humility of not being the pinnacle of creation. The more we learn about our universe and the nature of reality, the less significant we realize we are, and the more we are confronted with how limited our celebrated intelligence really is. It is frustrating to know that we will never know; to see solutions while at the same time knowing that, as a species, they are not attainable.
I am, however, grateful. Profoundly so. I am grateful to live at a time when freedom and wildness are still possible on this Earth. Some generations from now, the life that I live and the experiences that I celebrate will no longer be possible. I am grateful to have seen as much beauty as I have; to not have experienced the hardship and frustrations that make up the lives of most humans, even in these times; to have known great love and friendship; to have access to more knowledge and wisdom than I can hope to fully absorb in a lifetime; to be inspired and awed almost every day. And, I am grateful to not be alive to experience the horrors and violence that await our descendants as the planet’s capacity to sustain humanity and life is exhausted.
I am also sad. Sad that the art I produce will some day be but evidence of a life once possible but no longer; of things and places and phenomena knowingly sacrificed in the name of growth, greed and progress towards a far less appealing future. I fear that not too far into the future, my images will no longer convey beauty but a yearning for the “way things were.”
I have the rare privilege of looking back on my own life with almost no regrets; of tracing my journey to date and the road ahead with great satisfaction, hope and anticipation. I have seen, done and learned things most fellow humans never will and no one else has experienced in the same way. A life that made me the person that I am and unlike anyone else. Whether you believe it or not, so are you.
There are things that can only be achieved as a group, but a group is no more than a mindless emotionless mob without the individual sensibilities and unique contributions of each of its members.
Ironic as it may be, we are living beings with needs, abilities and desires extending far beyond any social or political affiliation. Don’t define yourself by the group you belong to. Instead, make any group you belong to define itself, at least in part, by you. In the end, the only thing that matters is that you used to its fullest your gift of life as a biological, emotional, creative intelligent being in a place of astounding beauty. As you go through life, you may be a character in any number of stories. Still, be sure to play the lead role in your own story first. Better yet, make it one worth reading.
Before allowing yourself to become mired in the social blunder du jour, remind yourself that there is still an incredible world available to you that is slowly disappearing; that you have the privilege of choosing a life of adventure, achievement and satisfaction despite the pettiness and greed of others; that you are an individual human being in a place full of beauty far greater than the miasmal cauldrons of over-crowded cities, corrupt politics, social injustices and mindless entertainment. Get out there and claim your gift before it is no longer available. Be the 0.000000014%.
Category: Featured, Thoughts and Musings
When I hear the “optimists” claim that we can solve the problems of population growth through technology I am reminded of a talk Dr. David Suzuki did on CTV (Canada) entitled “Suzuki Speaks”. In it he pointed out how we are all part of the Earth, not separate from it or above it. He told a parable of a test tube containing bacteria and the food to sustain it. At the start the bacteria were doubling their numbers every second and sufficient food to sustain the process for one minute. shortly before the last second some technologically clever bacteria figured out a way to double the remaining food supply but, because of the growth dynamic they hadn’t given themselves another minute. Since they would double their numbers again in the second after the minute they had only extended their existence for one second.
That is where we are headed. The resources of our planet are renewable if used with care but there are finite limits. No technology can create something from nothing. It needs resources and at the rate we are squandering our resources our future is looking dim.
Segments of Dr. Suzuki’s talks can be found on You Tube and “Suzuki Speaks” is available on DVD. IMO it should be required viewing in every school.
Thank you again Guy for a touch of balance and sanity and especially inspiration to be oneself.
As usual, your words eloquently express an aspect of the modern human condition. It is a shame, and also most likely inevitable, that this beautiful and ugly, chaotic and serene, and at times, jaw droppingly beautiful orb that we call home will one day destruct under the choices of its inhabitants. Thanks for helping to define our individual roles, not only to ourselves, but also to Mother Nature.
A few weeks ago I was privileged to spend a few hours of solitude in a canyon where the history of the natural world exists in the many layers of the earth. From ice age, to tropical ocean, back to ice age, to great rivers of water, dinosaurs, and the countless species since (and maybe even before). It was all there written in the visible layers. That great changes have occurred would make it seem ridiculous to not expect great changes to continue. We are but a layer in this continuing history…a side note to be discovered (or not) by some future species.
That we are on the declining cycle of our existence is obvious, not just by our consumption of resources, but by our very attitudes and ill-will towards each other. I think our future will be more brutal than anything in our past, and like you, I know my life has been a gift that future generations will never get to have.
Your words and images always awaken me.
Well spoken, Guy. Your clarity of purpose shows not only in your photography but in your words and actions as well. It is encouraging, to say the least.
“In the end, the only thing that matters is that you used to its fullest your gift of life as a biological, emotional, creative intelligent being in a place of astounding beauty.”
I once caught myself thinking, “So long as I have a camera in my hands, I will not be bound by helplessness.” What we do matters, now as much as–if not more than–it ever did.
Great post and wonderful motivation to live right now in the present moment. However, I submit that *anticipating* brutality, doom, or finite limits exhibits or is a product of the same limited consciousness that brought us to this point…
We just don’t really know, do we?
Thanks, and carry on!
Actually we do know, John, at least to a very high degree of probability. We just keep pretending that we don’t.
Guy: for a realistic/positive opinion…
Our species’ march to 7B has been a success story if measured in terms of ability to extract or develop resources for self-perpetuation. To reach this level of success we had to rely on a certain level of ‘group consciousness.’ This expresses itself in both positive patterns of behavior such as ‘altruism’ (individuals voluntarily putting the good of community above their own well-being), and negative, such as ‘nationalism’ (a community exploiting individuals and preying on other communities, to secure its own welfare).
To redefine ‘success’ and move toward sustainability and improved quality of life for both individuals and groups, we need to develop ‘planet consciousness.’ But this essentially, involves ‘central planning’ and action on a global scale. Will we ever get to that point? Like you, I very much doubt it, as, even in writing these words, suggestive of a “one-world-government” I know that there will be many readers cringing, in a response conditioned by generations of ‘trust no government’ rhetoric.
So… what do I think will actually happen? Well, just like in the issue of e.g. global warming, I think things will continue as they are, getting worse by the day in some places… but better in others(!) To put it in grossly simplistic terms… when it gets hotter those who have A/C will crank it higher, and the devil may care. What may be happening in sub-Saharan Africa as a result will not be of concern to those in the developed North who may not be conscious of it. It is all happening outside the community…
But of course we can only turn up the filters of selfish indifference so high; there is still a chance that a planet-wide catastrophe will create just the right level of discomfort and urgency to force a higher level of global consciousness in time for us to respond. I know this is asking a lot, but… lotteries are being won every day, and if hope is one of my options then I’m willing to bet on it.
Insightful and thought-provoking, as always, Guy. And this is a topic I do give some thought to. Everything has an end, and we are no exception. I ponder the implications of current policies and activities for the future of my grandchildren, and of their grandchildren after them. It’s a bit of a strange feeling, trying to look down the generations and wondering about their fate – at what point does you give up caring about your super-extended family, and the super-extended families of those you know and care about? Sadly, I get the feeling that too many in power don’t spend much time worrying about such things…
– Jack
Mr. Tal,
Correct me if I am wrong. We’re on schedule for a cosmical “reset” in a little over a year. There will be plenty O’ uncrowded natural places for um, well, nobody, in the near future. As you know, this has happened dozens of times before And, until the sun’s temps drop below earths life producing threshold, in 4.6 billion years, we’ll simply be discussing this point again, as we did, 4.54 billion years ago.
Good day sir.
We have the means and technology to avert catastrophe, but unfortunately, as a species we do not have the will. Mainly, because it doesn’t pay double or triple digit share holder dividends. I hate being pessimistic, but I doubt I’ll see any change in my lifetime. I keep my fingers crossed for the generations who come after me.
Very well stated, Guy. As a younger person I believed that the only way to happiness and success was to earn as much as possible. But that is only perpetuating the problems in modern society. Now, I enjoy nature, freedom and using only what I need to live a good life on a low income. Photography has been sustenance, since it gets me out in nature even more. Thanks for sharing your insights.
Guy, you are a true master of words, as well as grand-master of imagery. You have inspired me from the moment I ran upon your fine work. To have your skill of verbal eloquence is a true gift, and benefits all. THANK YOU!
“Get out there and claim your gift before it is no longer available. Be the 0.000000014%.” Fabulous ending ! What a read Guy. Deep and experienced.
Hi Guy: Your piece is both sad and beautiful.
We 0.000000014% may be the most materially poor, yet our spiritual richness is profound. My wallet is always light and my expenditures are always carefully considered, but when I head into the wild I am the richest man alive.
Wall Street and the financial markets are goners. Occupy Nature and Wilderness….
I’ll second Michael’s comment. Another wonderful post Guy, and I thank you for another reminder of just how fortunate I am.
Reading these great words again finds me in the mental conflict between two notable quotes:
“We are the universe trying to understand itself.”
“Humanity (and our self-centered ego) is growing like a cancer across the planet, and once gone, the planet will barely blink at our brief rise and passing.”
Between those two; I know when I enter my own special wilderness, I am reminded of the title of the Ram Dass book, “Be Here Now.”
I was thinking along these same lines not too long ago — but in my case, the thought was “How cliche to be thinking about how glad I am that I have spent time slowing down, enjoying life”.
I’ve come to realize, though, that the cliche is just that – a cliche! It’s overused to be saying that we should be slowing down.
Sadly, it’s a true cliche.
I am so glad that my interest in photographing the natural landscape has taken me out into the wilderness. It is this interest in photography that has provided me the greatest benefit of my life; it can benefit anyone else, too, if they’ll just … get out and enjoy nature; slow down.
Guy,
A very prophetic and telling post for sure. Watching the headline news channels and media outlets lead with this story last week made me cringe at the actual thought of what is quickly unfolding right before our own eyes. As is typically the case with our news sources, there was little to no discussion about what this dire event foretells for our future on this planet. Of course the media outlets were more concerned with the location and the country in which the seventh billion person was born into this world and not what the event signals for mankind.
As someone who has recently become a new father, I can relate to the joy of bringing a new life into this world. This joy can become sadness when I think to myself how our unsustainable ways will most likely leave my daughter with a world in which experiences and opportunities I have known will not be available to her and even less so to her children. Furthermore, there is a subtle guilt that exists in me knowing that, as much as my wife and I are thankful for our daughter, we are also contributors to the problem.
Math was never my strong suit, but Dr. Suzuki very eloquently explains the inherent problem with exponential growth in limited space. Attempting to achieve limitless growth from limited resources is both futile and arrogant, but in many way’s that’s humanity in a nutshell. For now, I’ll take both yours and Michael Gordon’s advice and appreciate what we have today, because it’s likely to be gone by tomorrow.
Thank you, Tom! And, you should not feel guilty. Research shows that if average birth rates were kept to 2 children per family, global population size will decline through attrition and ultimately stabilize. I am not suggesting for one second that this should be mandated by law, but we can motivate people towards it through education, financial incentives for meeting sustainability goals (for both individuals and corporations,) etc.
Great post as always. Here’s a twist, I’ve heard and read in a good number of places that the powers that be, as in the economic-military-oil-industrial elite, are doing something. They are doing it right now. We are in a managed collapse as we speak. Or haven’t you noticed? Expect more of the same for the next 20 years while we are in transition to a clean and different type of economy. I’ve always said, there is no conspiracy, just follow the money. They say, it will take the whole civilization running on about 30 percent of the energy it does now to operate it sustainably. That means that we have to take about 70 percent of the fat out of the economy. So, when you hear people complaining that everything is going down the tubes, remember that we are right now learning to live with and use less. Everyone has to cut back and the time is now.
Interesting perspective, David. Not sure I believe there’s a conspiracy at work but ultimately if we don’t do something, something will be done to us. Natural Selection is a ruthless judge.
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Two words: exponential growth
One word: extinction
Zero words
Thank you, Guy, for this chilling and thought-provoking article. Often my mild disappointment over the fact that I’m never going to have grandchildren is tempered by the realization that I am not producing descendants to experience the horror that the world will inevitably become. Keep up your good work.