Greetings from
The Publisher . . .
Getting to The Truth and Almost Everything Else
Well, we definitely have a little of everything this month: the importance of water to our bodies from David Gersten, M.D.; former San Diego mayoral candidate Jim Bell questions SDG&E's proposed Sunrise Powerlink, and wonders why it can't be more beneficial for San Diegans; Quantum Success and drawing to us what we desire is offered by author Sandra Anne Taylor; Marlene Martin tells us the (final) results of her following the Nicholas Perricone diet for three months; and Jennifer Joe reports on food news and how the resurgence of gardens are recreating and renewing communities. Plus there are our regular features from Louise Hay and Carolina Eastwood.
That's water, electricity, successful thinking, and living, advice, the stars, food, and if you've had too much food—a diet plan.
With all we've been doing on biodiesel we skipped gas. Although I am wondering how much the record profits made by the oil companies last quarter will be dwarfed by the soon-to-be announced record profits from the one following. With Congress going through the motions of an investigation last time, can they get away with the same dance again?
If that doesn't cover about everything, then the “Update on the State of the Future” does. In 1998 I met Jerome Glenn and was introduced to the Millennium Project. Afterward we began a 16-part series in The Light Connection ( TLC ) based on the work of this ongoing, global think tank, which is part the American University of the United Nations.
The Millennium Project gave us international and national perspectives, and we looked for groups where people could get involved, find out more, and know what was happening on the local level.
The Project's purpose was “to assist in organizing futures research by continuously updating and improving humanity's thinking about the future and making that thinking available for feedback as a geographically and institutionally dispersed think tank.” Originally it involved about 200 people. Since 1996, over 1,500 futurists, scholars, decision makers, and business planners from over 50 countries have contributed their views to the Millennium Project.
They started by identifying the most important issues that people were concerned about in the world. This month we have an update from the cofounders, Glenn and Theodore Gordon based on their book, 2005 State of the Future .
The Study looks at world trade, environmental sustainability, hunger, poverty, having enough clean water, the global information culture, medicine and illness, peace and security, technology, energy, nanotechnology, pollution, population, how changing the status of women can help improve the human condition, and the types of leaders we need to face these challenges. Just about everything, and I left a lot out.
There are many good news/bad news scenarios presented. There is hope and there are problems yet to be resolved.
While many of our challenges have never been greater, so too are the opportunities for unprecedented shifts and global cooperation.
I enjoy looking at what is coming. This being the 21 st year of TLC, I have been writing more about how I define and am redefining what I am doing. I realize that, compared to 20 years ago when we started, there are infinitely more topics that are interesting and important.
It starts with being spiritual beings with bodies to care for. Knowing how important our environmental choices are concerns so many more of us today. A healthy body keeps us exploring, and that really is what I am doing—exploring and trying things on for size. Looking at new ways of looking at the world and what expands our abilities, personal effectiveness, keeps us healthy, improves our well-being, helps us interact with others and expands our awareness in many different arenas.
With many of the topics and articles we have—and often mine—I actually think our approach is more scientific than anything else.
When Einstein presented his views of relativity he changed science, and eventually his views influenced many people's thinking and views of the world.
Today we have the new discoveries of quantum mechanics as represented by physicists such as Fritjof Capra in The Tao of Physics and The Web of Life . The movie What the Bleep … is full of this new world view that is rapidly expanding our awareness, while blending science and spirituality.
I enjoy finding examples of this new way of looking at the world and seeing how our leaders—not readers—are often simply out of touch with reality. And I don't think that's a political statement.
When you apply these new laws of energy and physics to the world, multi-national corporations, and many governments, they aren't really embraced or understood yet. Each action, for instance, brings an opposite reaction. Want to control someone or something? Stamp it out? Did it work for the Chinese? They made an unknown monk from Tibet into an international figure by trying to remove his voice when he opposed their takeover of Tibet. Controlling and dominating others is like trying to hold onto Jell-O by squeezing it in our fist. But many in the world sure try.
As scientists understand and relate their new understanding of the world to us we begin also to find scientific support for many universal spiritual truths common to many spiritual disciplines. It's time to apply them in our world—not just our individual lives.
I have to think that more than anything the truth seems to be “here's what we know so far,” doesn't it?
That's the way I take it when research “proves” that low-fat diets don't work. I don't know, but I feel better when I eat less fat. Much of that truth is often modified a year later and includes a new piece or says “wait a minute.” They didn't distinguish between the types of fats, some are beneficial, is what Dr. Mimi Guarneri, co-director of the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine, told me last month when I interviewed her. We didn't have room to include that then, but will get into those topics more in another issue. But with this type of research, there is always more to come.
I think we have to say here's what we know so far and not get too attached to having The Truth, the only way or absolutes. Besides, how boring would that be, knowing everything once and for all with no opportunity for discussion or expansion? Plus that would contradict how the emerging science works. On a molecular level, we define it before it takes shape. On other levels, the answers already exist. We just haven't seen them yet.
One thing we didn't cover was Mother's Day. My mother is no longer on this plane, but she certainly exists strongly in my memory and heart. I still wish her Happy Mother's Day. And now I think everything (that can be squeezed in) has been included.
Have a great month,
Steve
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