What a Small Lake is Telling Us About Humanity
The Great Acceleration and Free Stuff
I heard something fascinating on BBC a few days ago and decided to do some research. Crawford Lake, a modest body of water near a Canadian suburb, has revealed the clearest geologic record evidence of how modern human systems and civilizations are transforming nature.
The lake’s unique chemistry makes it extremely effective at preserving thick sediment and the finely-deposited layers contain a thousand-year record of environmental history. They reveal the clear demarcation point in the middle of the twentieth century, the 1950s and 60s, when humanity began having a global and atmospheric impact on the planet. That flashpoint is being called the beginning of the “Great Acceleration” due to the explosion of human-made technologies, economic growth, and population increase that continues to this day. From that point forward the geological record shows, for the first time in Earth’s history, evidence of radioactive plutonium from nuclear weapons testing, industrial pollution, and flecks of fly ash resulting from burning fossil fuels. The sediments also show vanished species and trees changing dramatically as a result of a warming climate. Here’s a link to a Washington Post article with more info on the Crawford Lake research.
This caught my attention because as long as I’ve been in the business of pointing out the insanity of the limitless growth economic system, I hadn’t heard of the Great Acceleration as such a clearly defined point. In geological time seven or eight decades is not even an eye-blink, and yet, humanity has hit hard enough, in the span of one human life-time, to change the make-up of Earth’s crust and chemistry for all time. Those impacts are found in the geological record across the globe; they are just most clear in the sediments of Crawford Lake.
Around the same time I learned of Crawford Lake, I saw reports that the cargo shipping industry just pledged to reach net zero emissions by 2050. My first thought was big f____ing deal, that’s 25 years from now. However, the full agreement calls for a 20-30% reduction in emissions by 2030 and scales up from there. On the upside this shows that even the most fossil-fuel dependent, resistant industries are beginning to realize they are going to have to change. That said, the move is primarily a way to keep expanding the shipping of stuff all over the globe without receiving the ire of climate activists and regulators. No one is actually challenging the whole idea of growing the shipping industry even though the noise pollution, raw sewage dumped into the ocean, cargo containers lost at sea, and collisions with whales, dolphins and other marine life causes massive environmental damage.
Most humans don’t want to face the deep level of system change that is going to be required, but one way or another, we are going to come into a saner balance with the rest of nature. The planet is going to make sure of that. Over the years I’ve worked with a lot of thought leaders and experts in various fields who also recognize that the sheer scale of human impact will eventually be brought to check. There will in fact be, by choice or by force, a “Great Deceleration” -- and that actually gives me much more hope than trepidation.
In fact, as I previously reported, total human population is already on a trajectory to peak much sooner and lower than previously estimated. Intensifying weather and ecological disruptions are going to slow a whole bunch of industries and activities in the next few decades. It’s going to be a tough, bumpy ride, but will also give us a chance to redesign systems, norms and civilizations.
Whether we are willing to acknowledge it or not, the period of profound redesign is upon us. In fact, there are already millions of people (myself included) who are intentionally on the deceleration track. More and more people in the world’s affluent nations are choosing more minimalist lifestyles. Back in college, studying environmental science and sustainability, I became aware of the Voluntary Simplicity movement, which is about making a conscious choice to reduce material consumerism and break free from the marketing brainwashing telling us our worth is tied to the amount of stuff we have and consume.
Voluntary Simplicity or minimalism isn’t about glorifying poverty or robbing ourselves of pleasures. It’s about deeply assessing how we want to spend our time and money during this one human part of our journey. When I was serving as First Lady of Oregon, I got to live for a few years in the 10,000 square foot Oregon Governor’s residence. The old place is called Mahonia Hall and it is lovely and I loved living there for a time yet I always knew I wouldn’t want to own such a big place. When my stint there ended I was genuinely glad to be fully settled back in to my own simple and cozy 960 square foot home.
More recently, I helped an old friend move into senior living and she gave me a small trailer full of lovely yard art. Then, as I wrote about a few weeks ago, I took on the nasty job of getting my mom’s hoarder house cleared out. I only brought a few small boxes of things home with me (photo albums, an old stamp collection, etc) but I think it was a proverbial back-breaking stick because I have been on a declutter campaign ever since. I actually made a little list of drawers, garage and closet shelves to clean out and I created a sign that reads, “Free Stuff”. Each time I do a little more decluttering, anything useable goes out on the sidewalk under that sign. Nearly everything I’ve put out has been taken by someone. I love it! I love the feeling of a tidy, organized home where I know where everything is. I also love knowing that the things people have taken mean a few fewer things need to be shipped across the oceans and piled onto store shelves.
Somewhere along the way I learned the concept, “If it isn’t growing corn pass it on.” Gifting, bartering and exchanging are going to gain traction as we design beyond excessive materialism. Giving stuff away and shopping second-hand stores is a form of environmental activism.
We are living in a time of paradox. The Great Acceleration is still underway and the Great Deceleration has begun. Here’s to speeding up the slowing down.
Notes:
· I think it’s important to mention that redesigning for a more ecological society includes both reducing consumerism among the affluent as well as creating ways for more resources to flow to those trapped in involuntary simplicity.
· Voluntary Simplicity is still alive and thriving and if interested I’d encourage you to do a Google search.
I’d love to have (more of) your help! – Thank you to you who already have!
As I recently noted I’ve been invited to speak about “Sacred Economics: Creating a More Just World for All Beings” at the Parliament of World Religions in August in Chicago. This is the first time these concepts have been presented at this major conference.
This is not a paid speaking engagement but part of my mission and service. The travel costs are substantial and if you’d like to help cover those that would be just awesome! Thank you to those of you who have chipped in a bit already!
My “The ReThink Ministry” is a 501c3 non-profit so your contribution is tax-deductible. Here’s a link with contribution form at the bottom. Thanks so much for considering supporting this work.
The description of my program at the Parliament is as follows:
The global capitalist economic system, based on materialism, consumption and limitless growth, is wreaking havoc on Nature and keeping millions trapped in poverty or unsatisfying, dead-end jobs. There is a better way! The New Economy movement is robust and gaining momentum as more and more people, entrepreneurs, businesses and organizations say “enough is enough” and get busy creating healthier ways of making a living and doing business.
This session explores some of the current norms in status quo economic systems that need a change-up and dives into exciting emerging alternatives. Participants gain tools for becoming directly engaged in creating an economy that works better for all beings and making the shift from an economics of separation to an economics of reunion, respect and love.
Here's a link to the event -- https://parliamentofreligions.org/2023-program/
Much Love,
Cylvia