Viking Villages for Today

Viking Villages for Today Alton C. Thompson Let me begin here with some facts of utmost importance for all of us living today, facts pertaining to the global warming1 now occurring; first, a graph, though: The above graph depicts the global warming that has occurred since 1850 (source). Note that the trend has definitely been upward. Next, some important facts: 1. In early November of last year: More than 11,000 researchers from around the world on Tuesday issued a grim warning of the "untold suffering" that will be caused by climate change if humanity doesn't change its ways. The group said that as scientists, they have the "moral obligation to tell it like it is." Phoebe Barnard, one of the lead authors of the report and the chief science and policy officer at the Conservation Biology Institute, a nonprofit science group, told CNN the report makes it clear "there's no more wiggle room" for policymakers. * 1 * * * This term is preferable to “climate change;” see this for an explanation. * It's not the first time thousands of academics united to urge people to take action on climate change.[] More than 16,000 scientists from 184 countries published a letter in 2017, warning that "human beings and the natural world are on a collision course." 2. A United Nations report to be issued soon will argue that 1,000,000 species are likely to go extinct soon! 3. And this statement from 2017: When taking into account the many elements that are contributing to [global] warming, a potential warming of 10°C (18°F) could take place [by 2021], leading to rapid mass extinction of many species, including humans. [I added the “redification”!\ As the graph to the left (from that article) shows, the author believes that warming will be increasing at an increasing rate. Regarding the possibility of an 18º F (10°C) increase in the global mean temperature by 2021: It’s true that the claim that the global mean temperature could rise by 10°C [by 2026 in this case] has been called “absurd” by a Robert Walker; however, even if the projection that our species might be extinct by 2021 (or 2026) turns out to be incorrect, the lack of a sense of urgency regarding this possibility means that global warming will not only continue, but continue to not be addressed in any meaningful way2—so that eventually that possibility may very well become a strong probability! This raises the question: Why the lack of a sense of urgency regarding this problem, and here’s my answer: 1. That lack is fueled by a general lack of knowledge regarding global warming and its seriousness. 2. That lack, in turn, results from the media’s failure to inform the public about global warming. The media have, e.g., reported on Greta Thunberg’s recent speech at the United Nations; but given the media’s orientation to reporting “events”—and the fact that 2 Greta Thunberg, in her recent speech at the United Nations, said, e.g.: "You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words. And yet I'm one of the lucky ones. People are suffering [because of your failure to address this problem.] People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!” The knowledge and courage of this young Swede are most admirable! This article argues that one should not listen to the young Swede! Doing so amounts to playing with fire, however!! 2 global warming does not qualify as an “event”—global warming itself has received little “press.”3 Environmental scholar/activist Kristine Mattis has written this: We’re an egoistical, delusional lot, us humans. We’re the only species on the planet who despoils its own life support system and who does not live within biological limits. Does that make us the most intelligent or least intelligent species? which suggests that it is a lack of intelligence, rather, that is the cause of our inaction. I believe, however, that our inaction is directly explained by the fact that the media are not informing us adequately about global warming. For example, I don’t recall anyone in the media stating that it’s global warming that underlies the current wildfire problem in Australia. I should also add, in response to the “absurd” claim, that Earth is a system, thus “equipped” with positive and negative feedback mechanisms whose function is to retain relative equilibrium over time. Humans have, though—since the Industrial Revolution especially—been engaging in activities that have been disturbing that equilibrium: 1. Our burning of fossil fuels transfers carbon from below the Earth’s surface into the atmosphere, thereby increasing the “greenhouse” effect—this resulting in an increase in the global mean temperature. 2. Deforestation activities have reduced the “carbon sink” capability of forests, thereby contributing to increased warming of the atmosphere.4 The danger in continuing such activities is the possibility of “runaway global warming”: A runaway greenhouse effect is when there is enough of a greenhouse gas in a planet's atmosphere such that the gas blocks thermal radiation from the planet, preventing the planet from cooling and from having liquid water on its surface. The runaway greenhouse effect can be defined by a limit on a planet's outgoing longwave radiation which is asymptotically reached due to higher surface temperatures boiling a condensable species (often water vapor) into the atmosphere, increasing its optical depth.[1] This runaway positive feedback means the planet cannot cool down through longwave radiation (via the Stefan–Boltzmann law) and continues to heat up until it can radiate outside of the absorption bands[2] of the condensable species. That is, warming begins to accelerate (in the manner illustrated in the second graph above) and “feed on itself;” in other words, some of the consequences of global warming (e.g., the melting of permafrost) become causes of further warming. Once that process begins, it may be impossible to halt further warming—so that a point is reached when Earth can no longer support humans at any location! 3 There are also more sinister reasons! See this, for example. 4 Human numbers are also, of course, a part of this “equation.” 3 The possibility that runaway is on the horizon should be of great concern to us! And the fact that warming is "now accelerating suggests that “runaway” may now be in “progress”!—so that we should be accelerating our efforts to address this problem! The prospects for this occurring are, however, rather dim! (See my WhyWe Are Doomed! and A Theory as to Why We are Doomed for reasons why I am very pessimistic about the human future.) Despite the fact that noted climate scientist James Hansen spoke before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in 1988, and stated, e.g., that “the earth is warmer in 1988 than at any time in the history of instrumental measurements,” our government has done virtually nothing to address this problem! Because of that failure, it would be wise for private citizens and organizations to “grab the reins” on this carriage headed for catastrophe. A variety of actions should be taken, but I take my cue from this statement quoted at the beginning of this paper: More than 11,000 researchers from around the world on Tuesday issued a grim warning of the "untold suffering" that will be caused by climate change if humanity doesn't change its ways. The “change its ways” part of the statement in particular. For as my title suggests, what I propose here is (a) the creation of a modern Viking village and, then, work for a (b) proliferation of such villages. The rationale for this (from a global warming standpoint in particular) is provided in my 33-page A Road to Survival? I should add that I perceive my “plan” as simultaneously addressing global warming and some of our social problems—both to some degree, at least (a point that I mention on p. 24 of my A Road to Survival?) What I would add here is that the villages created should not only be ecovillages,5 but ecovillages with a Viking village theme. The reason: I see the residents of such villages as being pioneers, adventurers, thus like the Vikings; having a Viking theme should not only enable these villages to attract residents, but motivate others in the general population to begin thinking about the concept of “changing our ways” of living. My hope—as a grandfather with 5 beautiful grandchildren, whom I would like to have a future— is that my Viking village idea would act as a stimulus to thinking about how to address, by members of the private sector, the problem of global warming—not only in terms of “changing our ways” of living, but in other ways as well—so that the probability of our not going extinct is reduced considerably (ideally to the point of 0!). My hope here is that I have said enough to pique your interest in “saving” our species that you will then want to start thinking more seriously about my idea, and then help me act on it! I just turned 80, and am not in good health—thus you should not expect much from me! However, I’m “ready and willing “to do what I can to help you with this “project”! 5 A number of books have been written about ecovillages; see this, for example. 4