Call to Action -

  - for sustainability policy at all levels of human endeavor from Wall Street boardrooms, to the halls of Congress, and the kitchens and cafes of every American. For example, policies with price guarantees such as those adopted in Europe have facilitated the development and deployment of solar farms. We really do face an extinction level emergency. Our leaders could be doing more sooner. They need people to tell them so. (also see www.cbc.ca and chicagocleanpower.org)

  - for development of decentralized point-of-use power generation with grid tie capabilities which would decrease fossil fuel use, and maximize solar, wind, and other non-CO2-producing technologies. The southwest US could easily generate power for itself and the whole USA with the proper will to do so. We can build war machines at a zillion dollars each. We should be building these instead. True Homeland Security means energy independence. (also see businessweek.com)

  - for conversion to electric vehicular travel with plug-in capability and utilization of existing and future renewable energy for transportation. This to decrease CO2 production and diminish the smog haze. Also for the conversion of existing vehicles to hybrid or electric using current and emerging technology such as electric wheel motors. We have had viable electric vehicular technology since the early 1900's. The major impediments have been corporate will (or lack thereof), and greed. (also see eaaev.org and wikipedia.org)

  - for development of solar furnaces for silica refinement. This desert is full of silica, which is the raw ingredient in silicon-based photovoltaics. We need as many of these as possible to capture the sun's energy and store it as electrical energy. Most roofs should be covered with photovoltaic panels. It makes little sense to use massive amounts of energy from carbon fuel sources to refine silica. Silica can be refined at greatly reduced carbon dioxide emission levels using the sun. (also see iop.org)

  - for development of novel, and improvement of existing methods of utilizing abundant low level heat in hot water as a way to generate electricity. (Minto wheels, heat engines, etc) Orville & Wilbur Wright made airplanes out of kites and bicycles. This problem deserves similar devotion. What would Ben Franklin do? (also see wikipedia.org)

  - for development of Mesquite and other existing native plants, as well as naturalization of plants for food and medicinal use. Native mesquite could be an agricultural commodity (utilizing a food source already adapted to the desert). This with the goal of providing a local sustainable food source. Re-aquainting the Oodham people with this high fiber/low glycemic traditional food would reduce the toll (measurable in millions of dollars) which it exacts on their lives through diabetes. (also see sciencedirect.com and food.oregonstate.edu)

  - for exploring methods for reducing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere by growing food and plants that remove carbon from the air. Plants fix carbon as biomass which can then be used for other purposes, like feeding goats to create milk and cheese, or providing structure and insulation for buildings as in cob and straw bale. We should probably be locking carbon up in this way rather than burning carbon in spinning fiberglass and foaming toxic materials to make hi-tech buildings. We all need to think about what we can do to minimize the amount of air bound carbon we produce on a daily basis. Life is full of choices at every moment...

  - for transmission of positive thinking, possibility generating, creative human software - to the hearts and minds of people with the goal of improving lives everywhere. - such as the Intention Process developed by Tony Burroughs, Wayne Dyer, and others. for the teaching of partnership models of relationship as outlined by Riane Eisler. we should at least be giving our children the tools to work together versus the old Competitive model paradigm we instill in them. The inclusion of communication models and methods for groups as tools in education would greatly enhance our collective productivity and creativity with regards to what we face ahead. The world is full of people who love to tell us why things can't be done. A great leader once said: "Some people look around the world and ask, 'Why?' I look at the world and say 'Why not!'" -JFK (also see intenders.com and rianeeisler.com)

  - for access and instruction world wide to fertility control. Population pressures are likely to promote further ecologic degradation and hunger. We should value highly our most precious resource, human life. Our children should not live in poverty and hunger, or lack for health care. Their well being and education should be our highest priority. Human life should not be treated as a commodity to be exploited by groups of other humans. Slavery was outlawed in the USA many years ago, but the magic and amorality of money merely exports economic slavery beyond view. Localizing currencies minimize the impact. The choices we make at the store every day help create the world.