"the earth needs a new operating system" . . . by Paul Hawken . . .

[OneBlueSky]

Paul Hawken: You Are Brilliant, and the Earth is Hiring -
The Ultimate 2009 Commencement Address
By Allen Roland
Op-Ed News, May 19, 2009

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_18050.cfm

Paul Hawken is a longtime friend of CharityFocus, renowned entrepreneur, visionary environmental activist, founder of Wiser Earth and author of many books -- most recently Blessed Unrest. Last week, he was presented with an honorary doctorate of humane letters by University of Portland, when he delivered this superb commencement address to the class of 2009.

(snip)

When I was invited to give this speech, I was asked if I could give a simple short talk that was "direct, naked, taut, honest, passionate, lean, shivering, startling, and graceful." Boy, no pressure there.

But let's begin with the startling part. Hey, Class of 2009: you are going to have to figure out what it means to be a human being on earth at a time when every living system is declining, and the rate of decline is accelerating. Kind of a mind-boggling situation - but not one peer-reviewed paper published in the last thirty years can refute that statement.

Basically, the earth needs a new operating system, you are the programmers, and we need it within a few decades.

This planet came with a set of operating instructions, but we seem to have misplaced them. Important rules like don't poison the water, soil, or air, and don't let the earth get overcrowded, and don't touch the thermostat have been broken. Buckminster Fuller said that spaceship earth was so ingeniously designed that no one has a clue that we are on one, flying through the universe at a million miles per hour, with no need for seatbelts, lots of room in coach, and really good food - but all that is changing.

There is invisible writing on the back of the diploma you will receive, and in case you didn't bring lemon juice to decode it, I can tell you what it says: YOU ARE BRILLIANT, AND THE EARTH IS HIRING. The earth couldn't afford to send any recruiters or limos to your school. It sent you rain, sunsets, ripe cherries, night blooming jasmine, and that unbelievably cute person you are dating. Take the hint. And here's the deal: Forget that this task of planet-saving is not possible in the time required. Don't be put off by people who know what is not possible. Do what needs to be done, and check to see if it was impossible only after you are done.

- more . . .

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_18050.cfm

[villager]

1. yes, well, the problem is whether the hard drives are going to be wiped clean

...before a "new install" happens...

[meegbear]

2. OS/2! OS/2! OS/2! OS/2!

[cliffordu]

5. Well....

:rofl: :bounce::rofl: :bounce::rofl: :bounce:


I was and early adopter, early abandoner.....:rofl:

[The2ndWheel]

3. "This planet came with a set of operating instructions, but we seem to have misplaced them."

No, we burned it and wrote our own.

[lapfog_1]

4. And as with most operating systems ever written

this one, too, will have way to many programmers, many of them making random changes because they feel like it.

[cliffordu]

6. We are the virus to that operating system.

not the cure.

[ixion]

7. exactly n/t

[Oregone]

8. What language do humans program in?

Idiot++? Parasite Query Language?

[ThomWV]

9. What a load of condecending horseshit

I'd have got up and walked out.