Most people are aware of bad things happening, but they think it’s someone else’s fault, and someone else’s responsibility to do something about them. And they are not always wrong. Mass consumer behavior is designed and engineered to support over-consumption. But the problems of micro plastics, PFAS, and other toxic wastes are created by industries trying to sell us things… Read more →
Breaking the Cycle: Toward an Evolutionary Leap
“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” —Arundhati Roy The world today feels precarious, on the edge of unraveling. The war in Ukraine grinds on. The devastation of Gaza continues with heartbreaking intensity. Iran is under siege. Everywhere, the air seems thick with fear, suspicion, and anger.… Read more →
Epilogue: A Universal Appeal (Enhanced Version)
Can We Speak to Everyone? Humanity stands, once again, at a crossroads. This is not a metaphor. It is the reality of our time. We can continue to deny the scale of the planetary crisis, as some governments and institutions still do—insisting that things are fine, that growth will continue, that nature will adapt to our needs. But pretending has… Read more →
Reforming Capitalism and the Global Financial System
Is it feasible to reform global capitalism and the international financial system? Perhaps. But as in the case of cutting emissions, it seems likely that intelligent action will be too little too late to prevent ecosystems from collapsing around the world. The idea of reforming the global financial system in time to prevent catastrophic ecological collapse may already be approaching… Read more →
Looking Ahead
Nate Hagens is a futurist for our times. In his podcast The Great Simplication he interviews a wide range of experts on energy, the environment, and economics, and occasionally posts “Franklys” in which he shares his own views of what is happening, and likely to happen as the polycrisis unfolds. In a recent episode he interviewed Rod Schoonover, a national… Read more →
The Ultimate Mystery
Of course, none of this addresses the ultimate mystery of Existence. Why are things the way they are? It’s of no help to say that God made them that way. Why did He (or She) make them that way? (Incidentally, isn’t it blasphemous to claim we know what God was thinking?) We need to keep asking this question, not only… Read more →
Chapter 13: The New Transcendentalism
“There are no unsacred places; there are only sacred places and desecrated spaces.” —Wendell Berry It seems almost too obvious to need stating: humans are Earthlings. We are not aliens to this planet, nor visitors to it—we are born of its dust, shaped by its waters, and nourished by its air. We belong to the ancient and ongoing colony of… Read more →
Asset-Based Community Development
Bioregionalism as a Pathway to Transformation: A Genesee Finger Lakes Perspective Bioregionalism may offer the most integrative and generative framework for imagining and building a better future, but it is not a simplistic or one-size-fits-all solution. Rooted in the recognition that every place has its own ecological, cultural, and historical identity, bioregionalism calls for deep engagement with the land… Read more →
Bioregionalism (Revised June 2025)
Bioregionalism: Reclaiming Our Place on Earth Bioregionalism offers a transformative vision for humanity, rooted in the understanding that our societies, economies, and cultures must align with the natural systems that sustain life. It is a movement centered on “living-in-place,” which means following the necessities and pleasures uniquely presented by a particular site and evolving ways to ensure its long-term occupancy.… Read more →
Earlier Versions & Additional Material
https://ppbook.atg-host.com/ (“https://ppbook.atg-host.com”) A Possible Planet The Book A Possible Planet: Preface A Possible Planet: Introduction Starting in the Middle Contents Introduction: The Earth in Our Hands Chapter 1: What’s Now Possible Chapter 2: Turning Points in Our Thinking about the Earth Chapter 3: Earth Awareness Chapter 4: Transforming Our Collective Subconscious Chapter 5: Abandoning the Dream of Modernity Chapter 6:… Read more →