Signs of the Times

Collapse. It's a concept that a lot more people are pondering these days. And with good reason. Higher energy prices, higher food prices, higher resource prices, less to go around. These trends all portend an end to the "good times". Yet are we paying attention?

Only the most thoughtful and resilient human societies avoid collapse. They either take the steps necessary to power down their societies, going through small pains now to avoid larger ones later or they embrace the maxim: business as usual. If they go with the latter, collapse is assured. If they go with the former, collapse might still happen but at least you have a better chance.

Every human society stands on the foundation of all its members. We all rely on one another; this is ecological thinking. In human societies, some members are higher and have more power, though, than others. So it's easy for the powerful to ignore the warning signs rotting the foundation of their enterprises. When the poor and marginal suffer you either stare it in the eyes or you gaze rapt into the neon lights of your warm, protective bubble.

This disconnect between members is I think the strongest guarantee of human collapse. We've done such a good job building walls and fences that I think we won't be able to see the warning signs before it is too late.

As an aware individual there's only two things you can do: open your eyes to what's happening and build your resiliency. At a system level, collapse is actually creative. It removes, or at least reduces, unsuccessful species and behaviours and leads to new spaces for new, more thoughtful members.

Better late than never.