Learning From the Collapse of Earlier Societies

Peak Moment 112: According to Professor Guy Prouty, every civilization rises, evolves, and then collapses to a simpler structure -- and this will include our own. Comparing America with the Western Roman Empire, Prouty notes the over-reach of our military, the unsustainability of capitalism, peak oil, and climate change. And, this time, we may see a global collapse. Transitioning to a simpler society will require us to change behavior and consciousness: decrease energy, get out of debt, decentralize, de-consume, grow our own food, build community, see ourselves as connected to the planet. Collapse is not the end, he says. It's part of a natural cycle.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• collapse
• sustainability
• education
• civilization

[zsezse215]

Poverty and/or primitive culture is the natural state of the world. The first world countries in the modern world don't make any sense. They all suffer from an advanced case of affluenza and managititis. We are so removed (disconnected) from the basics ie food shelter and clothing, we are losing our humanity. philipnute com

[peakmoment]

@zsezse215, I love your great phrases -- 'advanced cases of "affluenza" and manage-itis"'! How true!!

I think tribal cultures don't live in poverty, really, but rather by subsistence. Directly supplying their needs for food and shelter themselves -- and staying in balance with their environment so their peoples can continue. I think poverty is a term that comes from civilization...which is living way beyond the carrying capacity of the earth.

[Hadro2008]

"We" are all over extended?? Are you serious?? No one on the planet has destroyed other cultures or the environment like the USA. Speak for yourselves, that's part of the problem!

[peakmoment]

@Hadro2008, yeah but unfortunately the long hand of the US and other imperialist countries are taking what they want, destroying native cultures and lands.

[postpeakman]

Many people who own properties have guns, either for protection, hunting, or shooting pests.

Anybody who thinks they can make a living by robbing ranchers and farmers will not last long.

The sooner we, as individuals and as a society, plan for the future, the less of a doomer descent scenario we will have to live through.

[faszika]

sounds good but i need my internet :(

[gemini4177]

@peakmoment, The same is true with businesses. What the governement is doing is insane. It's like people going out into a forest and proping up dead and dying trees.

I often feel powerless and overwhelmed by all our societal problems. It's heartening to see people rising to the challenge and becoming independent with their suburban farms. I've found your videos, and those you filmed, very inspirational.

Such ideas are considered liberal but ironically it's what conservatives want as well.

[gemini4177]

@peakmoment... something that it was never meant to do. The governement giving out subsidies to underperforming farms like those that grow corn and to oil companies or bailouts to compaines as well as banks is a corruption of our system. Businesses that adopt poor practices or businesses that provide unwanted goods or services are supposed to be allowed to fail. Failure is fundemental to capitalism. Even in the healthiest of forests trees fall, and when they do, new trees take their place.

[gemini4177]

@peakmoment, I would have to disagree. It's not so much as countries but certain corporations that are polluting the environment, and these corporations do so by taking advantage of a lack of regulation from these countries. The US compared with many other countries is regulated to death. However, in some instances there is too little regulation. I believe much of the problem is too much government involvment with its top down approach with everything, basically choosing the winnners, ...

[vlada881]

Thanks for video

[1gallienus]

Just another doomsayer.... What a shame he is right. I'm 55 now and I know I will see the beginning of the end. I hope we face it with strength and wisdom. Looking at humanity on TV news night after night I fear we will face it with violence and ignorance.

If you are young now and reading this I am very, very sorry for you.

[riverlioness]

What's the goal here?