Host Model Discussion Group

Bringing the ecological battlegound home

Admin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:03:17 GMT

You will have gathered from reading my posts that I believe two aspects of our ecological dilemma must be confronted together. On the one hand we must endeavour to develop cleaner technologies, but on the other hand we must endeavour to reduce the burden of human numbers on the rapidly deteriorating environment.

For as long as we attempt to solve our ecological problems by attacking only the technological side of the equation it will be too easy for people to displace the burden of their responsibility. People will say "Oh, it's a technical problem. Well, that's your business. You sort it out!" The apathy we see displayed by participants in the various Climate Change forums around the world is the inevitable result of our inability to face up to the role which human numbers play in our predicament.

If people were encouraged to realise that their reproductive behaviour is a significant factor in the development of climate change then everyone having children would be able to feel personally responsible for contributing to the problem.

If people were able to realise that our future survival is going to be decided in kitchens, dining rooms and bedrooms, rather than in parliaments, convention centres and boardrooms, then each and every one of us could struggle with a deep and personal stake in the outcome.

Mike

Forum: General Discussion Area

The adaptation of sexuality to environmental practicalities

Admin — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:24:04 GMT

You may have noticed in another thread the point I made about being able to infer the planetary host's collusion in our present environmental dilemma. I believe we have been cultivated by this being so that we may acquire cosmically significant information on its behalf, and the ecological cost of technological development has been the sad but unavoidable corollary.

On the basis of this thinking I suggest that human reproduction constitutes an ecological factor which is more vulnerable to criticism than our industrial behaviour which has so obviously led us to the precipice of ecological disaster. This is, of course, by no means incontrovertible. Both factors are involved, and we should work on both fronts in order to ensure our survival.

But the discussion of reproduction is complicated by the delicate sensitivity with which we view our sexuality. While some have pointed out the significance of growing human numbers to our prospects for future survival, very few have ventured to open our sexual behaviour to much discussion in this context. At least in the public domain where the treatment of such delicacies is subject to a consideration of the community's feelings.

But this is not to say that people don't think about the impact of their sexual behaviour on the environment. Because it is an ecological factor about which people will feel most vulnerable the adaptation of their behaviour to environmental needs will be somewhat furtive and surreptitious.

While it may be a sensitive matter for some of you I feel encouraged by the proliferation of sexual imagery in society today. While it may expose our most vulnerable feelings to an unwelcome degree of public scrutiny at least it offers the hope that fundamental change is possible. I am also inspired by the pace of this proliferation. I remember what sexual mores were like when I was a teenager some 30 or 40 years ago, and I am astounded to observe how differently teenagers feel about their sexuality today.

The proliferation of sexual imagery is without doubt becoming an issue of grave concern to the community, but it is an issue about which we should not feel particular alarm. It threatens to transform social relations in ways which have never before been possible, but I doubt that any one of you believes this sort of change is not absolutely vital. We live on a knife edge of alternative ecological outcomes. Human numbers are crucially involved in any serious ecological considerations, and while we try to believe in the suitability of ecological measures which are ultimately cosmetic, hope is very quickly fading.

It is encouraging to see the human spirit respond spontaneously with exactly the sort of adaptation which is necessary. Good luck to those young revellers who are willing to relish their sexual experimentation.

Mike.

Forum: General Discussion Area

Deeper implications of the significance of the shape of Italy

Admin — Thur, 08 Jan 2009 02:30:52 GMT

In Chapter 4 of The Host Model of Earth I suggest that the planetary being has been watching our evolutionary development over the course of many millions of years because, in terms of its geological antiquity, the Italian coastline would have to be this old at least. I felt uninclined to elaborate on this point in Chapter 4, however, because there was the more urgent issue of how my interpretation of the significance of the shape of Italy would affect the reader's senses, and I felt that complicating their feelings at this point would have been brutal and unsympathetic.

If I may take this opportunity to elaborate, and to simply open this subject to conversation within the group, I suggest that more than simply observing our behaviour on this planet the planetary host has been actively involved in our cultivation as a species, both in the practicalities involved in the selective breeding of future generations, but more importantly in the development of the social and intellectual skills required by a group whose intention has evidently been to dominate the entire planet.

An interesting inference of this is the feeling we may get that we have been set up, so to speak. We have been 'framed' in the crime of our ecological delinquency by the planetary host herself, and that our frustration with the dilemma of our environmental responsibility is understandable.

Have no fear! We are not wasting our time on this Earth in the pursuit of a self serving technological mastery. I believe that our development of technology brings the entire solar system closer to an acquisition of the knowledge we obtain, and that this is the ultimate purpose for which we have been genetically groomed over the course of so many years.

In spite of the implication of industrial development in our ecological quandary, I believe that reforming our reproductive behaviour would be easier to achieve than casting doubt on the wisdom of our technological advances and returning to a simpler technological society.

Mike.

Forum: Discussion of the Host Model theory

Welcome to our discussion of the Host Model of Earth

Admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:09:34 GMT

Welcome to our discussion of the Host Model of Earth. If you've read The Host Model of Earth which is Host Model Research's first discussion paper then you will know that some urgent and very disturbing ecological issues have been raised. I doubt you will be alone in the view that it raises some issues which many will find controversial, and so I hope you will feel free to entertain a discussion of such issues in the various forums of this message board. My personal belief is that we are in urgent need of ecologically adaptive behaviour and that the discussion of such controversial views is warranted. You may, of course, differ in this regard and I look forward to hearing your opinion.

If you are otherwise inclined to credit the views raised by this paper then there is much important work to be done which may begin with your modest contribution to this discussion. I bid you welcome to this discussion group, and I wish you good luck with your adjustment to the disturbing new world which is the motive for its formulation.

Please take this chance to introduce yourself to the group. I am Mike Beckwith, and I am the administrator of Host Model Research.

Forum: Welcome to the Host Model Discussion Group