They propose a “fewer-and-less” future in which fewer people consume less energy, though they “don’t pretend to know” what a stable global population number might be. This is utter neoliberal nonsense, an excrescence of the technological fundamentalism that will (not) save us.

An Inconvenient Apocalypse - Notre Dame University Press

Imagine two deer living on an island that can support a total population of 130 deer, where the population doubles every two years. The common feature of these suggestions is that they all involve a radical shift in our values and ways of thinking about ourselves and the natural v=by5L8iFN70Q She argues Doughnut Economics is necessary among other observations and the most emphasized is systems thinking, placing human activity into the larger context and subsuming economics into ecology. Though these massive challenges can feel overwhelming, Jackson and Jensen weave a secular reading of theological concepts – the prophetic, the apocalyptic, a saving remnant, and grace – to chart a collective, realistic path for humanity not only to survive our apocalypse but also to emerge on the other side with a renewed appreciation of the larger living world.In conversation, Jensen showed more vulnerability, offering some of the feelings that his vision for humanity raised within himself.

An Inconvenient Apocalypse: Environmental Collapse, Climate

Kind of, in the chaos of a revolt, everyone ends up pointing at the top General and saying, ‘put him in charge!

For a book predicting the mass death of most of humanity and the end of life as we know it, An Inconvenient Apocalypse is chillingly cerebral. Jackson and Jensen’s thesis is that post-industrial civilization has far over-reached and is beginning its inevitable contraction. It is based strictly upon household needs, and it purposefully de-emphasizes everything that isn’t required to run the household, including military, power-projection, bling, status-seeking consumption, financialization / rent-seeking dissipation, etc. Plus, Simon completely fails to recognize that the concept of carrying capacity applies to humans just as it does to any other animal in the ecosphere (5).

An Inconvenient Apocalypse by Wes Jackson, Robert Jensen An Inconvenient Apocalypse by Wes Jackson, Robert Jensen

Here is a quick description and cover image of book An Inconvenient Apocalypse: Environmental Collapse, Climate Crisis, and the Fate of Humanity written by Wes Jackson which was published in September 1st 2022. William Gibson’s “Jackpot” doesn’t push as many buttons as “apocalypse” does, nor does it have have the same baggage.Through kindred reflections and incisive analysis, they boldly enlighten readers of the probable and the possible in the decades to come. The other part of it is that I’ve always found hopelessness to be one short step down from swallowing bile. But the fact that there aren’t easy and obvious solutions doesn’t mean that you can ignore the issue’ … An Inconvenient Apocalypse. Confronting harsh ecological realities, this book explores the roots of social injustice and offers a down-powering path to “fewer and less. I’ve wrestled with what this means in everyday life,” and Jensen, “and these are distressing questions.

An Inconvenient Apocalypse” by Wes Jackson An Excerpt from “An Inconvenient Apocalypse” by Wes Jackson

According to Jackson and Jensen, there’s no averting this collapse – electric cars aren’t going to save us, and neither are global climate accords. Jackson and Jensen insist they aren't nihilists, and indeed they offer plenty of suggestions for constructive action. How would stopping abusing the land and growing local sustainable food crops instead of animal feed and corn et al for processed food ‘kill people’?

But the overriding goal of our society–economic growth with the benefits flowing almost entirely to the billionaires–must end be dropped now. I have no say in dealing with any of the “multiple cascading crises” or transcending the “growth economy”. Some of the most vibrant times in my life have involved living communally and working co-operatively. See how quickly the nasty problem of theodicy disappears when we quit projecting human emotions and morality onto the Universe? The first step is admission of information into one’s brain for contemplating “the truth”, which is why blogs such as this one are so worth reading and supporting.