Letters to Ukraine – 25

Is humanity a lost cause? Our addiction to energy, to consumption, must eventually burn itself out; but whether or not humans will disappear with it… who knows? Perhaps humanity evolves naturally towards insight and richness, despite temporary setbacks. True, Peak Oil (the maximum possible global extraction of oil, probably already passed) hasn’t coincided with Peak Consciousness (which is yet to come); but the snort of industrial-strength energy-cocaine collectively indulged in since the Industrial Revolution is only a blip in evolutionary time. The “Information Revolution” is a blip upon that blip. However, whilst we’re caught within this micro-blip, we’ll need wisdom and steely resolve to kick the energy habit already so deeply institutionalized (rich nations) or, elsewhere, ardently desired (developing nations). Bad habits thrive when we choose the lesser of the two incarnations of knowledge. Inorganic knowledge is mere data: lifeless, insensate, irresponsive. Hooked on last night’s “in thing,” it doesn’t recall (or question) anything the next morning. Organic knowledge is profound awareness: it watches, listens, remembers. It’s alert even when it seems most dormant. While anyone, anywhere, breathes organic knowledge – and is breathed by it – there will be a life-giving cause and its vital effects. In that breath, humanity can never entirely be lost.

   
© Mario Petrucci, 2013