BrianOLeary(www.brianoleary.info;http://drbrianoleary@wordpress.

com),June14,2010

ImaginelookingattheEarthfromtheMoon,orthroughatelescopefromMarsorVenus.What
wouldyousee?Theastronautstelluswecantakeinafeastfortheeyesandsoulfargreaterthan theseparatedgreenandblueplanetofstandardmaps,orCarlSagansPaleBlueDotasseenfrom deepspace.Instead,weseeavibrant,everchangingblendofturquoiseandwhiteonaliving, swirling,rotatingdisk.TheEarthfromthisvantagepointstilllooksalive,symbolizinghope.Its whenwezoominclosertosurveyfromtheland,waterandairthatthepollutionbecomesevident. Theabuseofourplanetcriesoutforamassiverestorationtohealthandlivingvitalityonevery scale,fromthelargestcontinent,oceanandairspacedowntothetiniestmicrobeandelectron. Humankindhascreatedasyntheticworldthatworksagainstnatureratherthanwithnature.Asa result,ourworldiswoefullyunsustainableinspiteofthebestintentionsofmanyofus.Wemust nowactdecisivelytoreversetheexploitationoftheEarthsresourcesifweasacivilizationareto haveanyhopetosurviveandthrive.Becauseofthedirtyextractionofcoal,oil,metals,water,food andforestsandthedestructionofourecosystemsthroughthepollutionofourland,air,and waterways,wearefastapproachingthetippingpointofdepletionwhilecocreatingforourselves andourbewilderedbrothersandsistersintheanimalandplantkingdomsapatheticallyravaged planet.Althoughthereareviablesolutionstothisdilemma,thesesolutionshavesofarbeen bannedfromwidespreaddiscussion,evenamongthoseofuswhoshouldknowbetterthe scientists,environmentalistsandprogressives. Iamascientist,environmentalistandprogressive,andhavebeentheseforalongtime.Ican empathizewiththoseofyousimilarlyinclinedbutwhoareimmersedinacareerwhereparadigm paralysisandpoliticalcorrectnesscarrytheday.Theresultiswidespreadignoranceaboutthefull rangeofpossiblesolutions.IknowthisbecauseIvebeenthere.Iconfessitstakenmealongtime toemergefromthelimitationsofmyowncareer,duringwhichIwasoblivioustosolutionsthatI nowknowwemustembrace,andsoon,ifwearetohaveanyrealhopeforthefuture. Duringmostofmy70yearsIvebeenanoptimist,believingthatradicalinnovationcouldbringusa betterworld.Butwhenexploringwhatitwouldtrulytakeforusscientists,environmentalistsand progressivestoleadthewaytosustainabilityinharmonywithnature,Irealizethatwehavebeen unabletoreachaconsensus,inpartbecauseoftheextraordinaryculturalresistancethatweare 1

 strugglingagainst.Wethepeoplehavebeendividedandruledbyaglobalcorporatesystemwith verydifferentgoalsfromours.Wehaventbeenabletotakeeffectiveactionduetoablendofsocial, politicalandeconomicpressuresthathavedisempoweredusinsuchasubtlewaythatweareoften notevenawareofit. Bynottakingeffectiveaction,webydefaultcooperatewiththepowersthatbeincocreatingthe worldwesee.Oursolutionssofararetoolittletoolate.Initiativessuchaswww.350.organdthe U.N.MillenniumDevelopmentGoalsprovideanexcellentcritiqueofthewaythingsareandset importantgoalstoundoallthat,buttheyaresurprisinglyineffectiveatexpressingthemeansof howwecangoaboutit.Innovativesolutionsareavailableforthosewhoarewillingtotakeoff theirblindersandlookforthem.Weignoreinnovationatourperil. Thesolutionssofarsuggestedbymainstreamscientists,environmentalistsandprogressivessuch assolar,windorbiofuelenergytechnologies;theuseofchemicalmaterialsandagriculturaland pharmaceuticalpractices;biotechnologiesandnanotechnologies;andgeoengineeringremedies suchasspewingparticlesintotheatmospheretocompensateforgreenhouseemissionsandglobal warmingcollectivelyhavetheirownhazardsandwillnotdothejobwereallyneedtodo.Atthe verybest,someofthesesolutionswillbuyusalittletime.Butwhenweconsiderfulllifecycle environmentalcosts,theseproposedsolutionswillnotnearlygiveusasustainableworld.For example,asolarcollectororwindmillmightproducerenewableenergy,butweusuallyignorethe impactofextracting,refining,transportinganddisposingofthematerials(e.g.,seeAnnieLeonards animatedTheStoryofStuff,http://www.storyofstuff.org).Wehavetobehonestaboutthis.Asa specieswemustbemoreintelligentaboutthechoiceswemake,andwemustlooktonatureforas manyoftheanswersaspossible. Wescientists,environmentalistsandprogressivesshoulddebatetheseissueswithinalarger contextsothatwecaneventuallyagreeuponacourseofactionfromapositionunbeholdento currentprioritiesandpractices.Theproblemissocialnottechnical,forthesolutionsexistwithin thefrontiersofourimaginationandexperimentation.Responsiblyappliedoutsidethebox innovationswaitinthewingsfortheirculturalopportunity.Wecanhaveatrulysustainablefuture ifwemovebeyondlimitedbeliefsinculcatedbyanaggressiveWesterntraditionandreinforcedby thepressuresofeducation,career,funding,vestedinterestsandfearofreprisalfordoinganything different.Havingspentthepastfourdecadesresearchingcleansolutionstoourenvironmental challenges,Iamconvincedthatwecansolvetheseproblems,butwescientists,environmentalists andprogressivesfirstwillneedtocometogetheranddecidewhichconceptsmakethemostsense inaddressingourplanetaryemergencyandhowtoimplementthem.Sofartherehasbeenlittle agreementabouthowtoproceed.Wecontinuetocomplainaboutthehorrendousstatusquoand agreeonlythatsomethingneedstobedoneaboutit. Bymerelysettinggoalswithoutanysignificantmeansofachievingthem,webecomeunwittingly complicitinmaintainingthestatusquo.TheApolloandManhattanprojectsweresuccessful becauseofboththestatedintention(specificgoals)andthesubstantialR&Deffortsauthorizedto fulfillthem.Tosurviveourcurrentplanetaryemergency,weneedtohaveasimilarcommitmentof substantialresourcestoachievecreativegoals.Ibelievewecansucceedagainwiththeright combinationofwill,intelligence,wisdom,support,teamwork,courageandcompassion. InthisessayIurgemyfellowscientists,environmentalistsandprogressivestosuspenddisbelief, evenforashortwhile,anddiscussamongourselveswhichoutsidetheboxideastoputonthetable andwhateffortitwilltaketoimplementthem.Therearemany,manysuchbreakthroughconcepts thatcouldbedevelopedbutfallundertheradarofmainstreamdiscourse.Whichideaswhetheror nottheyappeartobe100%feasible,andwhetherornottheyappeartobeathreattoexisting powerscanweconsiderthatwillbeethicalandgoodfortheenvironment?Thereisnomore pressingneednowthanthemandatetopursuetheresponsibleintroductionofcleanenergyforall. 2

 Iamcertainthatwecanreachthisgoalinthenearfutureifwetogethercocreatethemandate. TowardanEnergySolutionRevolution FormanyyearsIhaveresearchedthechallengesofourrelianceon hydrocarbonsanduraniumasourprincipalsourcesofenergy.Fortunately,a largenumberofscientists,environmentalistsandprogressivesnowsharean understandingofthefallaciesofthisreliance.Amoreintractableissue, however,isachievingconsensusaboutwhichsourcesofenergyand conversionsystemstoturntoasareplacementforhydrocarbonsanduranium. ThirtyyearsagoIwasimpressedbythevalueofalternativeenergysuchas solar,windandbiofuels,andthepossibilityoflargescalemacroengineeringsolutionssuchas solarpowersatellitesthatcollectfulltimesolarenergyinorbitandbeamtheenergydowntothe Earthbymicrowavestolargeantennaarraysthatprovideelectricitysenttousersthroughgrid systems.Iwasalsooptimisticaboutthepotentialofcentralstationnuclearfusionpowerwith largeTokamakreactors. ButbeingafanofE.F.SchumachersSmallisBeautifulandhavingagrowinginterestindeep ecologyasaphilosophy,Ibegantoquestionmyownbeliefs.Forexample,Iwonderedwhetherthe abovementionedenergyconversionsystemsarereallyrenewable.Itbecamecleartomethatthey arenotrenewableifweconsiderthecostofmaterialsandlanduseand/orthegridsystem requirementsofeachoption.Sinceveryfewpeopletakethosehiddencostsintoaccount,we continueincineratingcarbonasourchosenoption,notrealizingthatwearedestroyingtheonly planetwehaveintheprocess.Inaword,humanityhasbecomegrossthroughourunconscious addictiontohydrocarbons.Ourchoicesofenergyandothersystemshavebeenpoorlyconsidered. Ifwearetohaveanychanceofsurvival,weneedtoendthehydrocarboneconomyassoonas possible.Itisessentialthatweacceptthisnecessityandbeginanewwithaprogramofsustainable practicesandinnovation,regardlessoftheeconomicconsequences. Afterrealizingthatthesocalledalternativeenergysourcesarenottrulyrenewable,Ineededto stepoutsidetheboxofwhathadbeenalimitedrangeofchoices,andIstoppedadvocating traditionalrenewablesasourmainstayenergysolution.Irealizedthatmypointofviewwas disappointingtomanyofmyscientist,environmentalistandprogressivecolleagues,butIfeltthatI hadtofollowthetruthasIunderstoodit,evenbeyondthiscredibilitybarrier.Inmyquesttofind asourceofenergythatwouldbetrulyrenewable,Idiscoveredawholenewfieldofbreakthrough cleanenergy,someofwhichwasbasedonthediscoveriesofTesla,Schauberger,Fleischmann, Pons,Mills,Beardenandothers.Theprinciplestheyvedemonstratedincludezeropoint(vacuum) energy,coldfusion,advancedhydrogenandwaterchemistries,andenergyfromthethermal environment.Ialsoinvestigatedreportsofcarsthatrunonwater.Awholenewscienceopenedto me.Duringthe1980sand1990sIbecameawareofproofsofconceptofnumerouselegant,clean andabundantenergyoptions.Ispentmanyyearsresearchingthesepossibilitiesingreatdetail, oftentravelingtodistantcountriestovisitandstudywithsomeofthebestandbrightestinventors intheworld. HavingbeennewlyliberatedfromtheconfinesofthePrincetonPhysicsdepartmentwhereideas suchasoverunityfreeenergywereheresy,myembraceofthisscientificimpossibilityclearly setmeapartfrommyformercolleagues.Butmynewinsightsalsoopenedupaworldofnew colleagueswhoweremostlyunaffiliatedwithanyestablishmentinstitution.Thesecourageousand unrecognizedinvestigatorswerestrugglingtobringforwardnewprinciples,theoriesand experimentsontheefficacyofanomalousquantumeffects,remotehealing,consciousness, paranormalphenomena,andenergyfromthevacuum.Anewphysicsofenergyandconsciousness 3

 wasbeingbornandwasemergingwithinthemindsofsomeofthemostopenandcreative researchers.Formostscientists,environmentalistsandprogressives,asformostotherpeoplein mainstreamculture,theseideasarestillbeyondthepale,eventhoughtheyhavebeenshowntobe profoundlyrealandrelevanttoourtime.Thescienceofphysicsitselfhasbeengoingthrougha majorrevolutionaboutwhichmostofusareunaware. Eventhoughmanyscientists,environmentalistsandprogressivesareunfamiliarwiththenew physicsofenergyandconsciousness,thefollowingquestionsarenonethelessrelevantand compelling:Giventhenumerousreportsofresearchonbreakthroughclean,cheapand decentralizedenergysources,shouldwenotsupportfurtherR&D,evenifwereinitiallyskepticalof theoutcome?Shouldntweleavenostoneunturnedinourquestforcleanenergy?Giventhe billionsspenteachdaytofillerupandtomaintainandexpandthemilitary,isitnotworththe risktospendafractionofthattoexploresustainablebreakthroughenergypossibilitiesevenif werenotsurethatanyofthiswouldeverwork?Whatistheretoloseasidefromthepossibilityof professionalembarrassmentforbeingwrongonewayoranother?Ifwedecidetotaketherisk,we mustthenaskhow,when,whereandbywhomcouldtheR&Dandproductionmosteffectivelybe done? Thesearethekindsofquestionsweneedtoaskinspiteofourpreconceivednotionsaboutwhats possible.Becausetheseideashavebeenpervasivelysuppressedinthepast,itisnowuptous scientists,environmentalistsandprogressivestobreaktheiceandactivelyconsidernewchoices thatcouldtrulygiveusasustainablefuture.Togetherwecanmakeabigdifferenceinintroducing profoundlyinnovativesolutionstothecrisiswearefacing.Butapartwecanonlyexpecttosee moretinkeringwiththeoldparadigm,whichwillresultinmoreenvironmentaldisasterslikethe BPGulfoilgusher. Someskepticswillarguethatwewouldhavefreeenergynowifitwerereal,thatthemarketplace wouldbeeagertoplayinthisarena.Buttheyarenotawareofthehistoryofnewtechnologies,and thewaypowerfulinterestsroutinelysuppressnewinventionsthatthreatenthestatusquo.For example,ScientificAmericanwroteaneditorialin1905sayingthataviationwasafraud,even thoughbythattimethousandsofeyewitnesseshadseentheWrightbrothersfly.Asdocumentedin the2006filmWhoKilledtheElectricCar,theoilindustry,automanufacturers,andtheU.S. governmentconspiredtolimittheadoptionofthisnewandpopulartechnology. Myresearchandthatofothersshowthatthereareliterallyhundredsofsuppressedsustainable energytechnologies,manyofwhichhavebeenproveninthelaboratoryandfield,andanyoneof whichcouldprovideasolutiontotheenergycrisis.(Arecentcatalogueofnewenergytechnologies anddevicescanbefoundatwww.freeenergyinfo.com;thetheoryisexplainedon http://www.scribd.com/doc/16893258/GermanScientistPostsCompleteFreeEnergy DocumentationOnline).However,whenanyofthesedeviceshasapproachedprototypingand manufacturing,invariablysomethinghashappenedtosabotagethetechnology,suchasrefusalsto grantapatent,bribestosellthepatents,theftofthedevice,threatstothehealthandsafetyofthe inventors,andinextremecasesassassination.Timeandtimeagain,innovatorshavebeen disempoweredbyvestedcorporateinterestsinconcertwithacorruptpoliticalsystem. Afterexaminingmanysuchpromisingapproachesandthedilemmastheinnovatorshavefaced,a numberofuswithexperienceinareassuchassustainableenergy,agriculture,forestry,and materials,waterandwastemanagement,decidedtoteamupandinviteinnovatorstocome forwardwiththeirconceptsforindependentassessments,freeofvestedinterest.CalledtheGlobal InnovationAlliance,wehadourfirstmeetingatMontesueos,ourecoretreatinEcuador,in February2010(seeinset).Sincethen,innovatorsofeverystripehavebeencomingforwardto presenttheirideas,manyofwhichifimplementedwouldmakeadramaticcontributiontowarda 4

 sustainablefuture.Whetherinregardtoclean,localenergy,purewaterorelegantlyrestored ecosystems,wehavetheabilitytococreateasustainableworld,andourworkhasbarelybegun.
[Inset]

Global Innovation Alliance: integrating truly sustainable technologies

We are an international non-profit network of like-minded, competent and visionary innovators inventing, advancing and integrating sustainable technologies to facilitate independence from oil, founded at Montesueos-Vilcabamba in February 2010. We are a global organization seeking truly sustainable and exportable solutions at fundamental levels, free of vested interests. We seek sanctuaries that would support and protect the R&D of innovative systems that are self-sustaining in energy, water, waste management, and agriculture, both near-term and longer-term. We are facilitators, integrators and assessors of misplaced resources, ameliorating existing technologies, and designing solutions that provide return on investment. Co-Founders: Dr. Brian OLeary, Vilcabamba, Ecuador: Director of Ecuador Affairs, United Nations Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Organization; Fellow, World Innovation Foundation, former Apollo scientist-astronaut, senior consultant, U.S. Congress on energy, physics faculty, Princeton University; author of many books on the frontiers of science, technology, energy and the environment. Leonardo Wild, Tumbaco, Ecuador: President and co-founder, Logichem Solutions S.A., author, marketing consultant and industry advisor, director and co-producer of feature documentary on the Yasuni-ITT Initiative (to leave the oil in the ground). Trevor Osborne, Perth, Australia: Founder and Director, World Harmony Foundation and Director of New Earth Technologies, specializing in clean mining technologies. David Yurth, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA: Director, Nova Institute of Technology, inventor-integrator of new energy technologies; author of the Y-Bias model of scalar physics; R&D project administrator. Charles Blake, Brisbane, Australia: co-Founder of the Start Innovation Center, founder of Ambient Energy Pty. Ltd. and innovator of sustainable energy/water/waste management systems. Jerry Prus-Butwilowicz, Brisbane, Australia: Barrister-at-Law in independent practice in the states of Queensland and NSW. Practice predominantly, human rights, regulatory law, innovation and technologies; Adjunct Associate Professor at Bond University. Justin Gonzalez, Nevada City, California: President and founder of BonChem LLC, co-founder Logichem Solutions S.A., President and co-founder of Matrix of Life Technologies, co-founder of Imagin. Producer of film documentary on YasuniITT Initiative, and board member of A Better Tomorrow Foundation. Examples of projects: In Ecuador, assess alternative energy and water technologies and organic chemistry for bio-remediation (e.g., oil spills); Remediate contamination in existing mining tailings and sustainably concentrate the ores; Develop models to assess and select technologies that are scientifically sound, environmentally sustainable, economically and politically feasible, socially responsible, technologically and locally appropriate; Develop sustainable ambient biosystems for various localities assessed for their full-life-cycle environmental/economic impact in the production of sustainable power, water and waste management; Assess, test, verify and develop novel energy technologies to improve efficiency and cleanliness.

 TechnologyAssessmentsandEnvironmentalAssessmentsforSelectingSustainableR&D Inconsultationwithinterestedscientists,environmentalistsandprogressivesfromaroundthe world,theGlobalInnovationAlliancewillassessthemostpromisingtechnologiesforfeasibility, cleanliness,safeness,decentralizedpotentialandcosteffectiveness.Ourintentionistomove beyondexistingpromotionalbiasesforanyparticularconcept,andassessmanydifferent approachesfortheirlifecycleenvironmentalcostsandeconomicvalue.Wewillcompilealistof possibleprojectsforresearchanddevelopment,castingaswideanetaspossible,whichwill provideaservicetothosewhowouldliketosupportthemostpromisingtechnologies.Ouroverall goalistosupportinnovationsthatworkmostcloselywithnature,whichwewillassessbasedon feasibility,effectiveness,cost,locale,interestandpotentialtobesustainable.Webelievethatour expertiseasagroupwillallowustoassessandrecommendthebesttechnologiesandprovidethe groundworkforacoherentR&Danddeploymenteffort. Idontunequivocallyendorsefreeenergyoranyothersystemicinnovationuntilwecanreacha consensusonhowthetechnologycanbeusedethicallyandresponsibly.Ifanyoneremains skepticalabouteventhepossibilityoffreeenergy,Iurgeyoutoexploretheliteratureaboutthese remarkabletechnologies.Whenyougrasptherealityofthisnewscienceanditspotentialto transformourworld,youwillinevitablyrecognizethatthetimeisrightforanenergysolution revolution.Ithinkwecanallagreethatsomethingneedstobedoneabouttheenergycrises, resourcedepletion,rampantpollution,climatedestabilization,warsandfalteringeconomiesand governments. Althoughmanyenvironmentalistsandprogressivesdistrusttechnologyingeneral,realitycompels ustoentertaindiscussionsaboutmanysustainabletechnologiesand,justasimportantly,to examinehowtheglobalcommonscanmanagethemwithfairnesstoall.Ourcollectiveexperience hasalreadyshownustheimportanceofavoidingthecorruptionandshorttermprofittakingofthe energy,agribusiness,pharmaceutical,weapons,chemicalandfinancialindustriesthatcontinueto thisday.Weneedsystemicchangeofoursocialsystemstowardresponsibleandethical managementpracticesthatcompelustodothingsverydifferently;weneedtostartorganizingour solutionsfromthebottomup(e.g.,Chomsky,HopesandProspects,HaymarketBooks,2010; OLeary,TheEnergySolutionRevolution,2ndedition,BridgerHouse,2009and http://www.brianoleary.info/message.html). Weinviteourfellowscientists,environmentalistsandprogressivestojoinusinmakingthe assessments,inbeginningadialogueaboutwhichtechnologiesaremostsustainable,andin publishingtheresults.Wealsoneedtoprovideinformationtorelevantpeopleinselected governments,mostofwhomareunawareofthepotentialforthesenewtechnologies.Itisintheir ownbestinterestintermsofsustainableenvironmentalandeconomicdevelopmenttoembrace innovation,butmanyofthemdonotknowthis,preferringinsteadtomaintainthestatusquo. Iaminauniquepositiontocarrythismessagetokeypolicymakersingovernment,havingbeen recentlyappointeddirectorofEcuadoraffairsfortheIntergovernmentalRenewableEnergy Organization,affiliatedwiththeUnitedNations,tohelpitfulfillitsMillenniumDevelopmentGoals. InmynewcapacityIamfocusingontheissueofoilprojectsintheAmazonjungle,themost biodiverseandpristineecosystemonEarth,whichisnowbeingthreatenedbymassiveroad building,deforestation,drilling,transportingandinevitablepollutingofthewatersandland.Many voluntarilyisolatedindigenouspeoplesarebeingdestroyedintheprocess,similartothe outrageousinjusticeperpetratedagainstanindigenouspopulationintherecentfictionalfilm Avatar.ThecontemporarynonfictionfilmsCrudeandYasunigraphicallydescribethe destructionofindigenouspeoplesandtherainforestduetotheexploitationofoilhereinEcuador.

 ThestoryofEcuadoristhefamiliarstoryofnumerouscountriesthathavedependedonthe temporaryexportofoil,gas,minerals,andlumbertosustaintheireconomies.ChevronTexacois responsibleforleavingbehindmassiveanddevastatingtoxicwasteintheEcuadorianAmazon, resultinginwhatisthelargestenvironmentallawsuitinworldhistory,withclaimsof$27billionin damagesforthediseaseanddeathofthepeoplelivinginthearea.Thethreattotheenvironment posedbyimminentoildrillingintheWesternAmazonregionisextremelyseriousandwidespread (http://drbrianoleary.wordpress.com; http://www.saveamericasforests.org/WesternAmazon/index.html). TherecentnewsoftheBPoilgusherintheGulfofMexicoisawake upcalltohumanitythatwecannolongeraffordtogamblewith sourcesofenergythatarekillingourplanet.Anyoilinsensitive environmentsshouldbekeptintheground. Therehastobeanotherway.SomeofusintheGlobalInnovation AllianceandothergroupsrealizethatthegovernmentofEcuador increasinglydependsonincomefromextractingAmazonianoil reserves.Currentlyonethirdofthetotalrevenuescomefrompetroleumexports.Weare proposingthattheserevenuesbereplacedbyincomefromnewenergytechnologies,sustainable agriculture,medicinalherbsfromtherainforest,innovativewatertreatment,ecotourism,health tourism,andtheacquisitionofconservationlandtruststhroughcarboncreditsandgifts.Wefirmly believethatanopenacceptanceofinnovationhasthepotentialtogeneratesufficientincomeso thatEcuadorcanleavetherainforestanditsindigenouspeoplesalonewhilecreatingeconomic sovereigntyforitself.Weproposethatinnovationsanctuariesbeestablished,protectedbythe government,toallowresearchersandentrepreneurstodoR&Dontheirtechnologies,themost promisingofwhichwouldbeimplemented.Weproposethatthevariouscandidatetechnologiesbe assessedfortheirpotentialbeforeadecisionisreachedaboutenteringthemarketplacethrough opensourcingandproductdevelopment.Thisprocessshouldinvolvewidespreaddiscussion, debate,andsupportfrominterestedscientists,environmentalistsandprogressives. Ifwearetodeveloptheinnovativetechnologiesthathumanitysourgentlyneeds,somescientists, environmentalistsandprogressivesmustventureoutoftheircomfortzonetolearnmoreabout whatispossible.Onemodelforassessingnewtechnologyandverifyingwhatispossibleisthe OfficeofTechnologyAssessmentintheUnitedStatesCongress.Establishedin1972asanobjective advisorygrouponthehealth,environmentalandcostimplicationsofvariousexecutivebranch initiatives,itbecameanemptyshellintheRepublicandevolutionof1995.Ourcollectivechoicesin technologyhavesincebecomeentirelytheprovinceofeconomicvestedinterestsandpartisan politics,andtohellwiththehealthandtheenvironmentalimplications.Congressneedsan independent,impartial,noaxetogrindtechnicaladviserunderitsownroofandresponsivetoits uniqueandtimelyneeds,RalphNaderrecentlywrote(www.commondreams.org/print/56665). HethenurgedthatCongressrevivetheOfficeofTechnologyAssessment. Approachingthesameissuefromaglobalperspective,Iproposethatweestablishaworldwide bodyofscientists,environmentalistsandprogressivestoexpandtechnologyassessmentsbeyond particularinstitutionsandsharethemwiththeglobalcommonsasasensiblemenuofoptionsfor ourconsideration.Thereisreallynothingtostopusfromdoingthisbesidesourowntimidity,or ourfailuretojoinforcesandadvocateforwhattheworlddesperatelyneeds. IalsobelieveweshouldcreateanEarthCorpstoprovidejobstothosewholosethemasaresultof thetransitiontoanewculture,thefundingforwhichcouldderivefromareducedmilitarybudget andfromtaxesonpollution.Becausethereissomuchtodoinrestoringourravagedenvironment, itshouldnotbeaproblemtoprovidesufficientjobsforanyonewhowantstowork;theresources 7

 forthesejobsshouldcomefromaneconomythatcanfairlyassesstherealvalueofnature,notthe contrivedvaluesofexploitation,pollution,growthandgreed. TheTurquoiseRevolution:AnIntegral,HolisticVisionforSustainability Foritsmorethanfortyyearsofexistence,theGreenmovementhasnever managedtobepoliticallyeffectiveinachievingitsgoals.Incontrast,the onlypervasiveforceinmodernagricultureistheGreenRevolution,with itsintensivemechanisticfarmingandsoildamagingmonocultures wrackedwithtoxicpesticides,chemicalfertilizers,andgenetic modifications.Thishasjustifiablyattractedmuchcriticismfromsome Greenswhofocusondeepecologyandauthenticsustainability.Butwe rarelyhearfromtheseindividuals,whodonotengageinpoliticsandmedia.Thereisagrowing consensusamongmanyofusthatthemainstreamenvironmentalmovementitselfhasatrophied intoanincremental,politicallytimidandboughtoutforceinsociety.Someofitsfundingeven comesfromtheoilcompanies!Ithasbecomehostiletomorefundamentalscientificandintegrated approachestoissues,andasaresult,theGreenshavebecomeeffeteincontributingtoany significantchange.ThisdeclineoftheGreenmovementhasbeendiscussedbytheauthorsofthe SpiralDynamicshumandevelopmentmodelandfurtherelucidatedbyphilosopherKenWilber (http://wilber.shambhala.com/html/books/cowokev7_intro.cfm). MostscientistsandprogressivesagreewiththevaluesoftheGreensbutdonotseetheiraction plansasboldenoughactionsthatare,asMarkMorfordwrote,merelytheequivalentoftryingto watertherainforestwithaneyedropper(SanFranciscoChronicle,Nov.28,2007).Manyscientists, environmentalistsandprogressivesagreethatthereneedstobeatopdowngovernmental component,onewhichadequatelyreflectsagrassrootspassionforsustainabilityandsovereignty, ifwearetoachieverealchange. TheGreenswillcontinuetoworkwithintheirownsetofassumptions,butitmakessensefor scientists,environmentalistsandprogressivestoincludeGreenthinkingwithinamoreintegrated, holisticsecondtierworldview.AccordingtoWilber,Theadvantageofsecondtiervisionlogic awarenessisthatitmorecreativelyhelpswiththesolutionofthesepressingproblems.Ingrasping bigpictures,itcanhelpsuggestmorecogentsolutions.Itisourgoverningbodies,then,thatstand indireneedofamoreintegralapproach.Itisoureducationalinstitutions,overcomewith deconstructivepostmodernism,thataredesperateforamoreintegralvisionItistheleadership ofdevelopingnationsthatmightappreciateamorecomprehensivevisionoftheirownpossibilities. Inallthesewaysandmore,wecouldindeeduseanintegralvisionofaworldgonemad. ExamplesofthisnewthinkingincludeGunterPaulisTheBlueEconomy:10Years,100Innovations, 100MillionJobs(ParadigmPublications,2010;www.zeri.org).Paulilists100carefullyselected innovationsthatworkwellwithnaturewhilecreatinglivelihoodsforentrepreneursandover100 millionmoreworkers.AccordingtoPauli(p.xxix),TheGreenEconomy,inspiteofmuchgoodwill andeffort,hasnotachievedtheviabilitysogreatlydesired.Ifweshiftthespectrum,weseethata BlueEconomyaddressestheissuesofsustainabilitythatgobeyondmerepreservation.ABlue Economyengagesregeneration.WemightsaythattheBlueEconomyisaboutensuringthat ecosystemscanmaintaintheirevolutionarypathsothatallcanbenefitfromnaturesendlessflow ofcreativity,adaptation,andabundance. AnothernaturefriendlyintegratedapproachisSachaStonesGreen2.0and ExemplarZeroinitiatives,whichwillcommitgovernmentstochangingtheir prioritiesfromdecimatingtherainforestandincreasingcarbonemissionsto innovativeapproachestosustainability(www.humanitad.org).TheEcuador InitiativeIamproposingisyetanotherintegratedapproachtosolvingthedire 8

 situationintheAmazon,whereanacreofrainforestisdestroyedeverysecondandhydrocarbon andmetalsextractionareincreasingatanalarmingrate. WhenweconsiderthenewintegratedandholisticapproachofWilberandSpiralDynamics,what seemstoemergefromabigpictureperspectiveisaBlueGreenEconomyaTurquoiseEconomy thatcombinesthebestattributesofPaulisBlueEconomyandStonesandothersnewerGreen visions.Thecolorturquoisealsorepresentsthesecondtiervisionlogicofanintegrated,holistic worldviewfromwhichonecanseethebigpictureandactonit. MostofwhatweseewhenweviewtheEarthfromspaceiswater,whichisthebasicstuffoflife. LiketheEarthssurface,weare75%water,thewondroussubstanceuponwhichwerelyforour survival.Insteadofkeepingwaterpuretoensureourhealthandthehealthoftheplanet,wehave treatedourbodiesandwaterwaysastoxicdumpinggrounds.Butitisimportanttorememberthat purewaterisalsothebridgetohealingandhigherconsciousnesswithinandaroundus. Recentresearchsuggeststhatwecanhealourselvesandourplanetthroughthemediumofwater (whichcouldbeconsideredanessentialblueelementtoourgreenthinking).Researchershave demonstratedthatwecanpurifyandenergizewater,bothinsideandoutsideofourselves,through positiveintentionandthroughthevortexscienceofViktorSchaubergerandothers.This relationshipbetweenconsciousnessandwateristhebasisforanewscienceofconsciousness(e.g., seeWater:TheGreatMystery,aRussianmadefilmavailableontheInternet). Thewondrousrelationshipbetweenconsciousnessandwatersuggeststhatwearefarmore intimatelyconnectedtoourworldandoneanotherthanweeverdreamedofintheoldparadigm. Thisistheworldweveinherited,theworldwecanreinheritinanewway,ifwecanopenly discusswhatitwilltaketorestorewhathasbeensobadlyabused.Toachievethegoalsof sustainability,radicalinnovationincooperationwithnaturemustbecomeourpriority. WeneedaTurquoiseRevolutiontorestoreourlands,airandoceanstotheirnaturalstatebefore itstoolate.PerhapstheravagedwatersandlifeintheGulfofMexicoandthecrustbeneathitare cryingoutforustoworkwiththeEarthanditswatersthroughaBlueGreen(Turquoise) movementthatwillbefarmoreinclusiveandeffectivethananyenvironmentalmovementinthe past.ThetragedyintheGulfrepresentsalastdesperatecallfromNatureforushumanstocurbour addictiontohydrocarbonsandfocusourcreativityondevelopingatrulycleanandfreesourceof energy.Dowescientists,environmentalistsandprogressiveshavethewilltoleadtheway? IthankChuckMillarforhisexperteditingandfeedback.