So let's make sure that they all get this message.
Toward the end of
last week's SOS Memo, I alluded to a "gang of eight" American billionaires who, if they joined forces, would have the best possible chance of driving sufficient change, soon enough - that would be necessary to save humanity.
But in the past few days, I have added two more individuals to my list. So now there are ten - with enough wealth, knowledge, fame and talent to get the job done, but not so many people that it would be difficult, or even impossible, to coordinate.
But first, before introducing my list of nominees for the dream team of American billionaires, let me make the case for exactly why they're so desperately needed.
Situation. The IPCC (UN Panel on Climate Change) tells us that we now have just over eleven years to make huge global reductions in GHG emissions - or our civilization would be placed in severe jeopardy.
So what meaningful action is being taken? None, that I can see. A handful of journalists are writing about reducing emissions but I don't know of any prominent individuals who are even thinking about re-inventing our entire civilization - much less pulling together a consortium to actually launch the process of getting it done.
To me, it's like a
blinding flash of the obvious that we simply cannot continue to put
trillion dollar bandaids on crumbling infrastructure that was designed and built for a petroleum-powered global economy. So how do we quickly change the conversation on this crucial topic?
We know that we cannot depend on the world's most powerful elected officials or autocrats to re-invent our civilization. And the good people behind the "Green New Deal" may mean well but I'm afraid it would be a case of too little, too late and will never pass the Senate anyway.
So I think it's time to follow the money. Why not appeal directly some of
the wealthiest people in the world, particularly those with international name recognition, integrity, and reputations for embracing, supporting and leading broad humanitarian efforts?
We then challenge them to embrace the daunting task of completely re-inventing the way humans live on this planet - with a single overarching goal in mind: that the health of the natural Earth will actually
improve because of our presence.
Regarding
improve, I got that term from my favorite "big picture" scientist,
Dr. James Lovelock (turns 100 soon) who, at the age of 90, stated his conclusions about the prospects of long-term human survival in a 2010 BBC documentary:
"There is no morality about it; if the Earth improves as a result of our presence, then we will flourish. If it doesn't, then we will die off."
Why Americans only? Why not try to get all major countries (or at least the G20) involved at the beginning? Why limit the proposed dream team to Americans only?
Because re-inventing the way we live in the USA alone would be the largest and most challenging undertaking in all of human history. So, if we further complicate matters by trying to take on the entire world at the same time, it would no doubt lower our chances of expedient success.
And I fear that we're only going to get one chance to get this right.
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| The dawn of a new age of sustainable living on Earth can begin right here in America. |
Build it and they will follow. From a practical standpoint, I think it makes sense for a group of high-powered, globally-recognized, ultra-successful and highly influential Americans to oversee the process of creating a sustainable, nature-friendly economy in the USA, thereby providing a model for the rest of the world to replicate.
As for their stated mission, I see it as one of designing and building some kind of
"Gratola-like" way of living for humans that could be sustained indefinitely in complete harmony with nature.
If he were still alive,
Dr. W. Edwards Deming
would know how to coach them on moving forward with the complete re-invention of our living arrangement with nature.
Their S.O.S. (Saving Our Species) project would begin with extensive sustainability briefings conducted by the world's top scientists, futurists and a few well-informed mainstream journalists like
David Wallace-Wells and
Dahr Jamail.
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If you haven't heard about this phenomenal young woman yet, you've not been paying attention to some of the best news on Earth.
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The briefings mentioned above are essential to helping the SOS leaders develop a complete understanding of the unprecedented danger we face as a civilization and as a species if we fail to take decisive action soon.
These early sessions will enable the entire team to fully understand the unprecedented nature of what's at stake before they begin to tackle the huge issue of designing and building a new human living arrangement that can work in harmony with nature, indefinitely.
Then I see their mission as follows:
See it, design it, fund it, build it, bring in the first twenty million citizens and the world will follow.
Use the K.I.S.S. Principle.
Keep it simple stupid
and maximize the chances for success. All ten of these people live in the same country, speak the same language, have been ultra-successful in their careers and are among the wealthiest, most accomplished, most respected and most recognizable people on the planet.
In fact, they are all so recognizable, that their names don't even need to be mentioned. But just in case, I will include their names. The following list begins with science and ends with style.
American Dream Team for Survival
A fairly diverse group of ten, the youngest member turned 35 last week, the oldest will turn 89 in August and they have a combined net worth approaching a half-trillion dollars.
Jeff Bezos of Amazon and Elon Musk of Tesla, SpaceX, etc.
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Science, Vision and Wealth.
These two possess the uncommon wherewithal to accomplish almost any goal they might pursue. But in order to accomplish the ultimate goal, they must shift their focus away from colonizing space and begin urgently addressing the matter of saving humanity here on Earth.
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Warren Buffett with Melinda and Bill Gates
Wealth, Passion, Generosity & Management.
In a
ddition to
their
combined
wealth
of $180 B, these three individuals have great management skills and an admirable track record of supporting many worthy humanitarian projects all over the world.
Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook on the left and Michael Bloomberg, former 3-term mayor of NYC, on the right
Communications, High Tech, Finance and Governance.
From a personality standpoint, these two individuals may be complete opposites of each other, but they each bring essential experience, wealth, skills and energy to the project. As for getting the word out, did you know that Facebook now has 2.38 billion active users?
Oprah Winfrey and Ralph Lauren in Ralph's Jeep as they toured his Colorado ranch in May of 2011
Style, Grace & Charm.
These two self-made billionaires have the combined skills and influence necessary to make our newly re-invented and sustainable lives beautiful, cool and fun. Oprah is one of the world's greatest communicators and the name Ralph Lauren simply oozes style, quality and value.
James Cameron, filmmaker, environmentalist, deep sea explorer
Creativity, Imagination and Knowledge.
Finally, this creative genius could play a key role not only in designing our new way of life but also in leveraging the power of Hollywood to explain it to the world. He's also the only proposed member of the team who fully understands the absolute necessity of an urgent global shift to plant-based eating.
What's the next step?
It begins with each of us doing all that we can to ensure that each of these highly accomplished individuals are informed of their proposed inclusion in this process. I know two of them personally and will do my best to make sure that they see this message.
Then, after several of them have seen, read and digested this latest piece, maybe they will reach out to each other and plan what comes next.
Okay, I know what you're thinking. That this is a loony, totally impractical pipe dream that has absolutely no chance of success.
You may be right, but I choose to go on believing that anything that can be envisioned, has a chance of happening. And I believe this to be particularly true in the era of AI - with
global knowledge doubling every few years.
Best case scenario. My hope is that at least half within this group of ten will become intrigued by the ideas set forth herein and will manage to schedule an in-person meeting of the entire group as early as July. Then, maybe they would be ready to announce their new initiative to the world on Labor Day weekend.
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Labor Day 2019 and a Dream Team for Survival
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Just imagine the non-stop media coverage that would ensue once the news breaks regarding the formation of this dream team of ten Americans who have voluntarily joined forces in a never-ending collaborative effort to re-invent our entire living arrangement with Mother Nature.
Within just a few months, we could expect to have a steady flow of "good" news for a change. That's because everything this team says or does will be a must-read, breaking news story for the entire world.
The Bottom Line. Just to be clear, in imagining a human living arrangement that can co-exist in harmony with all of nature, it's intuitively obvious that we're going to need a brand new global economy that rewards individuals and organizations for consuming less.
And we're going to need a form of governance that ensures that we all live up to our agreement with Mother Nature as expressed in this preamble to a future constitution:
A form of
global commerce and governance that depends on a single
guiding
principle for the entire planet: our supreme need to significantly improve our relationship with the natural ecosystem that gives us life - a process that must continue in perpetuity.
As stated earlier, it now seems clear that we must strive to get this process started here in the USA, where we can effectively
leverage what Dr. E.O. Wilson calls the "intelligence, goodwill, generosity and the enterprise" of ten of the most capable citizens in the world.
And, in the process, maybe this "dream team" can figure out a way to address what Wilson calls our "dysfunctional" nature - and work toward truly optimizing the Earth "system" with billions of humans living in harmony with nature.
That's why I think that the idea of a relatively small, enormously powerful group joining forces to save humanity is such an uplifting and energizing way to think about our future.
And while this project might begin in the USA, I am highly confident that it would receive unanimous praise, support, and encouragement from hundreds of thought leaders from around the world - people like these:
In closing, I fully expect that this
envisioned dream-team (if it comes together) will eventually develop a far better solution than the "Gratola" one that I have been writing about for the last seven months.
And that will be just fine with me.
As I've said since the first Gratola post in September of 2018, perhaps this "one simple idea" for saving our civilization will resonate with enough powerful individuals who are equipped to take the idea to a highly advanced, futuristic level that is far above my pay grade.
The first of four envisioned corridors where only "green" lifestyle options exist and where 300 million people could live comfortably in an area the size of Oregon
For your convenience, here are links to three of the earlier postings about Gratola:
As always, I will continue to focus on all of the above - in my research, my writing and my speaking.
As for speaking, I am still looking for mainstream audiences who may have an interest in learning more about a realistically hopeful vision for our future - and their role in making that vision come true.
As such, I will travel anywhere for an opportunity to speak to one or more groups in each city that I visit. I only ask for travel expenses and a modest honorarium.
As for the specifics of my topic, I invite you to
contact me directly
about how I might tailor my presentation to best suit an audience you may have in mind:
Universities,
churches, think-tanks, legislative bodies, environmental
organizations, alumni associations, leadership clubs,
and/or civic groups who may appreciate a message of reality and hope for our future.
Or maybe we'll see you at the world's first Plant-Based EXPO next month. We'll be there under the 4Leaf flog and will be administering 4Leaf Surveys to the public. Click on this image below for more info:
What else can you do to help?
Three things:
