The Hunger Project's last chance to actually end hunger.

Begging for "food sovereignty' in Africa?  Nice.  But no nation will never have 'food sovereignty' in a world that is irreversibly connected, interdependent, and vulnerable.    What's missing is ‘We the People’ mentioned in the Preamble of the US Constitution and the UN Charter demanding that our current global governance system (freedom of nations to do as they please without accountability for starting wars, committing genocide, allowing corruption, and violating any of the inalienable rights of their own citizens) codify the protection of all human rights and the environment -above the protection of every government's 'national sovereignty', which the UN system now does. 

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) remains a comprehensive list of humanities inalienable rights. But the UN was never given the power to enforce them. Now all we do, is inspire the capacity to buy most of them.... by funding the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

In the late 1970’s I enrolled in “The Hunger Project” in Seattle. I marked the box “I will create my own form participation”.  By 1981 I was on staff at the THP...verifying all the information in “Ending Hunger: An Idea whose time has come”. By the year 2000 I was elected to chair the United Nations Council of Organizations...and the major thing I learned during that inspired journey... was that those really in power of NGOs don’t listen to what was really need. Working together would create miracles.

 

The key to ending hunger was offered by three esteemed sources. The Brandt Commission, the National Academy of Sciences, and Carter’s 1980 bi-partisan Presidential Commission on World Hunger.  They EACH concluded that the ONLY things missing was the "Political Will". After leaving THP's primary commitment to education, I joined RESULTS which had creating Political will as one of two its primary goals.  But its leadership refused to follow the THPs "Shift in the Wind" interview with a congressman, who later became a Senator, Paul Simon. He said, “If there were just 10 people in every Congressional District...who really pushed on the issue of hunger...we could literally change the world”.   

It was my personal experience in organizing health professionals with the Alliance for Child Survival that it might only take 5 people per congressional district. A decade later Marshal Sanders, another THP volunteer had created the Citizens Climate Lobby and within a few years it had ten times the number of RESULTS stye groups – at least one in each of our nation’s 435 Congressional Districts.

If THP is now seriously committed to ending hunger (which we failed to achieve by the year 2000) you would promote funding the Sustainable Development Goals. And do so within the context of human, national, and global security, The SDGs can purchase most of the rights listed in UDHR, but only if businesses step up -- like Bank of America has. It’s Chair and CEO recently urged businesses “like the oil” industry to do this because indebted nations and charities can’t provide the $6 trillion annually to achieve them.   

I’m now a Rotary volunteer in Rockville MD and inviting a local college to host an event on Dec. 10th this year...the 75th anniversary of the UDHR.   This should really be an event in Washington DC - and hosted by dozens of US based NGOs.   It’s the perfect time to create the political will necessary to meet the SDG goal by 2030 -- but there is no urgency and their needs to be!

 

The world is now halfway to 2030 ...but as with the 1990 World Summit for Children goals and then the Millennium Development Goals, organizational leaders were not listening when progress was off track in achieving their target dates (2000 and 2015). That’s where humanity is now with the SDGs.  And it should be self-evident if one is keeping up with the news...that the trajectory of chaos on this miracle plant is accelerating. And we will likely not get another chance to set any achievable global humanitarian and environmental goals...if we miss our deadline. 

Every day 15,000 parents experience the most horrific of all human experiences. The loss of a child. That’s far less than the 40,000 daily deaths when THP started. But with even the fear of losing a child, the most terrifying of all human experiences. Deaths from preventable malnutrition, starvation, and related infectious diseases are still the primary driver of global chaos. And will increasingly be on the receiving end of that chaos unless all progressive movements come together as a “Movement of Movements” (MoM0 like Naomi Klien called for at the 2014 global ‘Climate March’ in NYC. 

Yet still, no organization has taken the leadership role in creating this MoM.  THP...what’s stopping you.

This is an issue of human, National, and global Security. 

 

Degrowth movement. How wise it it?

 

 https://degrowth.org/

The first thing I noticed in going to this new website is that 12 of the leaders in the group picture of two dozen followers had allowed their head hair to grow long. Ten let their facial hair grow.  And only two had no hair growth on top their heads.  Only three had obviously attempted to degrowth their head hair.  I’m not sure how many waxed the hair on their Netherlands or shaved their arm pits but it’s obvious that most allowed their hair grow - or wish it could. 

I’m hoping none of them have worst type of growth- cancer.  But I’m pretty sure most of them would like to have their income to grow so they can spend more time volunteering for their degrowth movement.  Unfortunately, like most people, they need to eat, probably like sleep indoors.  Perhaps even grow some children. And even grow their movement so their children will have a healthy and sustainable future.  I’m guessing they are focusing on their degrowth campaign on the 1% of humanity that makes over $40,000 a year because it is their environmentally destructive consumption patterns and lack of a consciousness about it that is most destructive to our planet’s life support system.  I’m hoping they will insist on degrowth of the world’s poor people who would also like their children to grow into healthy people instead of wasting away do to easily preventable malnutrition or infectious diseases - if their parent's income could grow.

 

I’m also assuming those who framed this clever name for their movement desire more growth in their membership, donations, and media attention.  Who can blame them?  I’m guessing they may also want local and global peace conditions to grow given the environmental unsustainable path of war, genocide, and poverty.   But that would require growth in the knowledge and investments in indigenous methods, new technologies, and the wisdom to use these -- in achieving the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals ASAP.  

I’m also hoping that this degrowth movement understands that the greatest barrier to their success – the biggest factor working against them is the degrowth of the human brain. 

 

Human brains actually grew in volume almost fourfold in the past 2 million years.  In the more recent past they’ve been shrinking. Scientists believed that brain degrowth began about 10,000 years ago when the growth of farming changed our diets.  New research based on fossils and modern brain research data suggests the shrinkage actually started between 3000 to 5000 years ago.  This may link the evolution as the driving force.  As humanity’s growth in the development of complexity of societies (religion, politics, economics, culture...) it meant humans started relying increasingly on collective intelligence rather than individual knowledge.   Humans became so social that we no longer had to know everything and learn everything about the complexity of nature which is our essential environmental life support system that our technological infrastructure is built upon.   So now our ‘modern’ species prefers to defend the mental concepts that have evolved within a global array of religious, cultural, economic, and politics tribes that are willing to kill and die for those concepts.  In the past that defense of ideas required an evolution of weaponry to sustain the dominance of each tribe.   A perpetual arms race that can end only to ways.   The end of civilization as we know it or perhaps our species extinction given the level of technological power modern humans have.  Or ‘we the people’ of earth unite and codify the genius of Thomas Paine’s pamphlet ‘Common Sense’ with Thomas Jefferson’s wisdom that he penned in the Declaration of Independence which followed.  Paine believed that because no man can live alone.  But we are not angles and needed some means to manage our differences – government.   He asserted that the only legitimate purpose of government was to balance human freedom and security.  Then Jefferson asserted that humanities inalienable rights are a product of “the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God” (the Golden rule?).  It’s unfortunate that the smaller brains of the other founding fathers could only agree on a constitution that ignored that wisdom.  A wisdom Jefferson confirmed when he said that every law and constitution should be “changed every 19 years.”   Because “the future belongs to the living.  Not the dead!”.

It should be a ‘self-evident’ truth because Abraham Lincoln called our nation’s Declaration of Independence our “Apple of Gold.”  And our constitution “Its Frame of Silver”.  

If one’s mind today can grasp the variety and growth of unsustainable trends posted daily in our newspapers and social media apps it would understand the degree of dysfunction in our government and our global governance system, it would see that ‘everything is connected, interdependent, and vulnerable.  And we need global solutions.  Our ‘whole of government’ approach isn’t comprehensive or holistic enough to resolve the interdependent problems every nation and human now faces.   ‘Independent’ governments may pass laws - and try like hell using ‘independent’ agencies squabbling between their ‘independent’ states, but debt will eventually crush it all.  Because of our smaller brains sparking reactionary impulses and emotional voting patterns, result in short term thinking.  Corporations might have quarterly thinking.   But both are unsustainable and a product of our mind’s evolution that lost touch with the minds original purpose.  Ensuring that the tribe survives and thrives.   All humanity really needed now is for our diminished brains to grasp the simple and obvious fact that our ‘tribe’ is now the entire human family.   That human variation is our genetic strength in an ever-changing universe.  And adaptation to change is more powerful than any weapon we can create.  And lastly, sovereignty belongs to individuals.  Not nation states, unless “we the people” give it equally to all of them.   And we need to do it soon.   The growing lethality of AI combined with the growing dysfunctional political governance and economic systems of various tribes.  All tribes have become unsustainable. 

While our brains have decreased about 10% in volume (roughly the size of a golf ball) it’s clear that size alone does not dictate intelligence or the capacity to survive.  Some scientists believe cockroaches will survive longer than humans.   Hopefully we humans still have enough intelligence to act wisely and virtuously.  John Adams believed that our Constitution was only fit for a virtuous people.  It’s unfortunate that our American culture values freedom more than virtue.  Virtue simply being the Golden rule.  And if we don’t choose wisely soon to live by the “Rule of Law” we will likely perish by the law of force.

 

 

Missed opportunities from Hitler's invasion of Poland to the failure of giving the UN sufficient power to globally enforce the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

 

15:  1939 Hitler invasion of Poland and the first use of Nuclear Weapons.   The Nazi invasion marked the beginning of World War II. Several key conditions and factors led to this event.  First were the harsh terms imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles after World War I.  It created a sense of resentment and economic hardship with most Germans who viewed the treaty as unjust and wanted to reverse its effects.  These hardships led to Hitler’s leadership role and his expansionist ambitions to create "Lebensraum" (living space) for the German people.  His remilitarization of Germany violated the treaty but there was no international system in place with the means to stop it.  And Chamberlin’s “peace at any price” led to another world war, genocide, and ultimately the use of nuclear weapons.

The invasion of Poland marked a critical turning point in history leading to the second portioning of the world into competing ranks that would ultimately lead to the Cold War and the global threat of nuclear Armageddon. 

US leadership was missing at the Treaty of Versailles.  This could have prevented Hitler’s rise to power and the possibility of creating a peaceful European Union after the horrors of World War I.   But after WW II too many Americans were fearful of communism and a ‘one world government’ so logical efforts to prevent another war were soundly thwarted leading to a prolonged Cold War which led to the GWOT.

 

14.  1945 The Anatomy of Peace book by Emery Reves was first published.  This book expressed the world federalist sentiments shared by Albert Einstein and many others in the period immediately following World War II.  Reves argued that world law was the only way to prevent war, and the fledgling United Nations Security Council would be inadequate to preserve peace because it was an instrument of power, rather than an instrument of law.  The UN Charter continues to put the protection of national sovereignty above the protection of human rights and the environment.  “I have read THE ANATOMY OF PEACE with the greatest admiration. Your book is, in my opinion, the answer to the present political problems of the world, so drastically precipitated by the release of atomic energy... It would be most desirable if every political and scientific leader in every country would take a little time to read this book. If this could be brought about, I feel it might avert the disaster of an atomic world war.”—Letter from Albert Einstein to Emery Reves dated October 29, 1945.  

 

13:  1945 Oct 24th - Creation of the United Nations:  The original intent of the UN was to establish an international organization that could promote peace, security, cooperation, and diplomacy among nations after the devastating events of World War II.

Its founders sought to prevent future conflicts and address global challenges through a multilateral framework. It was officially established on October 24, 1945, when its charter was ratified.

 

The Charter’s primary objectives included:

1.  Maintaining International Peace and Security:  But its system of international law and its structures were insufficient to actually prevent conflicts or peacefully resolve all disputes among member states.  These were primarily blocked the non-democratic yet permanent members of the Security Council which did have the authority to take actions such as sanctions and peacekeeping missions to address threats to peace.   But these rarely agreed to and worked poorly when they were.   It faced significant challenges in stopping the Korean War.

 

2. Fostering cooperation among nations in various areas including economic development, social progress, human rights, and humanitarian assistance.  But it had no sustainable source of funds or capacity to achieve much success in any of these.

 

3. Protecting Human Rights: While the UN was committed to upholding and promoting human rights worldwide. It only had established bodies such as the Human Rights Council to monitor and address human rights violations.  Again, no resources or police power to do this. And no workable mandate.

 

4. Providing Humanitarian Aid.   The UN has effectively coordinated international humanitarian efforts to provide assistance to people affected by conflicts, natural disasters, and other crises. But this remains inconsistent and insufficient.  The global eradication of Smallpox may be the greatest accomplishment during its existence.  The eradication of Polio however demonstrates a failure of nation’s to abide by the UNs intentions.

 

5. Facilitating International Law but that is a joke given such ‘laws’ are no better than wishes.  A legitimate law would have a means ensuring justice and a means of enforcement and accountability when Laws were not followed.  Promoting “norms” and a “rules-based international order” simply doesn’t work.

 

6. Promoting Sustainable Development and the well-being of future generations may be central to the UN's mission but again, the lack of resources real power limits it solely to promotion of sustainability to agreeable partners.  

 

Over the years, the United Nations has played a role in diplomacy, conflict resolution, peacekeeping, and humanitarian efforts worldwide but rarely consistently succeeded.  Its primary bodies remain a global forum for organizing international cooperation and non-democratic/unenforceable decision-making.  The UN has made some contributions to global peace and development. But continues to face serious challenges and justifiable criticism. But critics fail to realize that its effectiveness depends entirely on the cooperation and commitment of its member states.  And until “We the people” of the world insist that our governments (all governments) put the protection of human rights and the environment above the protection of national sovereignty (which is the current UN system) it will not be able to ensure the maximum balance of protecting humanities freedoms to thrive and security to survive.

 

12. Creation and Enforcement of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:  The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a landmark document adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948.  It’s 75^th anniversary is this year.  Its creation and adoption were influenced by various historical events and factors:

Most importantly the Post-World War II context of global war, genocide and the creation of nuclear weapons. 

The horrific aftermath of World War II highlighted the need for a comprehensive framework to protect fundamental human rights and underscored the urgency of addressing these issues on a global scale.

 

Individuals and diplomats from different countries played pivotal roles in drafting the UDHR. Notable figures included former U.S. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who chaired the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, and René Cassin, a French lawyer and diplomat.  The drafting process involved representatives from various countries and legal traditions. The drafters drew inspiration from previous declarations and documents, including the U.S. Bill of Rights, the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, and the Atlantic Charter.

Its drafting was followed by an extensive debate then negotiations among the member states of the UN. Disagreements and compromises were common, particularly regarding economic and social rights versus civil and political rights.

Its finally adoption was on December 10, 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly with 48 member states in favor and 8 abstentions. This date is now celebrated as Human Rights Day.

Importantly the UDHR consists of 30 articles that affirm a broad range of human rights, including the right to life, liberty, and security; freedom from torture and slavery; freedom of thought, expression, and religion; and the right to education and work.

But its global impact has been minimal other than the development of international human rights laws that are virtually unenforceable if those involved don’t allow it.  International treaties are often ignored. Regional human rights conventions are powerless.  And national constitutions rarely adopt its idyllic human rights principles. 

While the UDHR represents a significant milestone in the history of human rights by emphasizing the universality and indivisibility of human rights, it remains simply a guiding document for the promotion of human rights worldwide. Simply because the UN was never engineered to enforce the protection of human rights or the environment.  It was only designed to protect national sovereignty.

National sovereignty is effectively defined as the right of any nation, to do whatever it wants, whenever it wants, to whomever it wants, within its own borders.  And, if it has nuclear weapons or believes it has a powerful enough military it can do crazy things within other nation’s borders.

While advances in technology are making it easier to monitor and verify violations of human rights and environmental treaties.  The same technologies are making it harder to track weapons development and resources for war, corruption, or misinformation.

And all humanity can rely on is the enforcement of human rights through diplomatic pressure, public awareness campaigns, and occasionally legal mechanisms with varying degrees of success in different regions and cases.

 

If the UN had been empowered to enforce the UDHR in 1948 within each nation the world would look significantly different today.  Some potential outcomes and changes that could have included:

1.  Stronger mechanisms in place to protect rights including freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, as well as protections against discrimination and torture.

2.  Reduced conflicts and civil wars, as oppression and human rights abuses often serve as catalysts for unrest.

3. Increased global cooperation on a range of global issues including the eradication of polio and measles, the effective outlawing of landmines, reduced motivation for violent extremism, improved environmental quality in air, water, and soil, prevention of some pandemics with better capacity to identify exactly how and where they emerge...given advanced warning and means of stopping it or slowing it down so efforts to develop counter measures would be more likely be found. 

4. Advancements in gender equality as nations would be compelled to eliminate discriminatory laws and practices that hinder women's rights.

5. Improved Labor Rights including fair wages and safe working conditions more consistently protected globally, reducing exploitation and inequality.

6. A stronger focus on freedom of the press and expression may have led to greater transparency and accountability in governments worldwide and reducing corruption and flawed elections.

7. Minority rights might be better safeguarded, reducing ethnic and religious tensions in many regions or preventing genocides.

8.  There may have been more robust international cooperation in providing refuge and asylum to those fleeing persecution, conflict, or natural disasters.

9. Perhaps most importantly extending human rights to include the right to a healthy environment and protection natural resources.

10.  Prevention of weapon systems in space and more time to find solutions to massive change coming from the application of Artificial intelligence by a species that lacks the commitment to abide by wisdom instead of short term interests.

Essentially there would be a global commitment to principles of universal human rights that transcends political and cultural differences representing a profound departure from the current suicidal international system.

Opportunities missed after Civil War, pre-WW1 peace movements, and WW1 Pandemic era.

 

19.  Wisdom ignored after the Civil war:  After all the death and destruction of our nation’s Civil War we haven’t learned much.  There is growing fear among Americans that we may be on the verge of another civil war.  This one could be sparked by any domestic or international group with access to the many increasingly affordable and powerful technologies that can effectively give any individual the WMD capacity of a superpower.  

The Gettysburg Address may have been Abraham Lincoln’s greatest speech.  But his most unknown yet profound words compared our Declaration of Independence to our Constitution.  He said our ‘Declaration’ is our “Apple of Gold” and our Constitution its “Frame of Silver”.   Yet to this day our elected officials still swear an oath to protect the Constitution.  Not our freedoms and security!  According to Thomas Paine’s ‘Common-Sense’ pamphlet protecting human freedom and security are the only legitimate purpose for government.  With government being a necessary evil because humans are not angles.  

Nearly a century before Lincoln’s words Thomas Jefferson argued that argued that any Constitution must be renewed every 19 years if it is not to become “an act of force and not of right”.  He said “the earth belongs to the living and not to the dead” and “no society can make a perpetual constitution, or even a perpetual law”.  “The only ‘umpire’ between the generations was the law of nature.”

 

The founding fathers even engineered into our Constitution four means of amending it.  Persistently however, our polarized two-party system (which the founders warned us about) makes any significant amendment virtually impossible.  

 

What lesson should have been learned after the Civil War (1861 to 1865) which was a pivotal moment in US history.  One key takeaway would have shaped a more equitable and sustainable post-war society.   The abolition of slavery did recognize the inherent value of all individuals and our need to work toward racial equality and justice.  The post-war era of Reconstruction was intended to be a comprehensive plan for rebuilding war-torn societies by spurring greater efforts to address the economic, social, and political needs of formerly enslaved people.  This could have contributed to a more equitable and enlightened transition.   Unfortunately, some of the struggles for civil rights during Reconstruction - and later in the 20th century - still persist today.

Our Civil War left deep scars and divisions within the US. Efforts to promote reconciliation, understanding, and unity between North and South were not smooth and the institutional changes needed were often rejected.

Expanding access to voting rights for all citizens remains a challenge today.   As well as the goal to dismantle systemic racism and promote social justice.  These are essential if we desire a more equitable, peaceful, and sustainable society.

Preserving the history of the U.S. Civil War might help prevent another.  And the greatest lesson may be the importance of promoting justice, reconciliation, and the protection of civil and human rights globally.

 

18.  Pre-World War I peace initiatives:   Few who are alive now are aware of several global peace movements and initiatives in the years leading up to World War I. These movements were responses to the growing militarism, nationalism, and tensions among European powers that ultimately contributed to the outbreak of the war.  

Some notable peace efforts and organizations during this period included:

The Hague Conferences (1899 and 1907):  These aimed to address issues of disarmament, arbitration of disputes, and rules of war and led to the establishment of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. An institution for peaceful resolution of conflicts.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) founded in 1889:  the IPU brought together parliamentarians from different countries to promote dialogue, diplomacy, and arbitration as alternatives to war.

The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) was established in 1915.  This organization was formed by women activists from around the world who sought to prevent future conflicts and promote social justice and women's rights.

The International Peace Bureau (IPB) founded in 1891.  The IPB worked to promote disarmament and peaceful conflict resolution. It organized international peace congresses and advocated for arbitration treaties between nations.

And various pacifist movements:  Pacifist and anti-war movements emerged in different countries, with individuals and groups advocating for nonviolent solutions to conflicts and opposing militarism.

Despite these efforts, the growing rivalries, and tensions among major European powers, along with a complex web of alliances, ultimately led to the outbreak of World War I in 1914.

 

17. World War I and the 1918 Pandemic and:   The global connections between this lethal duo are not always understood.  After the devastation of World War I and the 1918 influenza pandemic several key lessons could have been applied that may have contributed to a healthier and less violent world to follow.   The war's global impact led to renewed interest in international organizations and diplomacy, culminating in the establishment of the League of Nations.  Its creation was intended to prevent future conflicts.  Unfortunately, because an absence of major nations like the US and the Soviet Union it lacked a global reach or any effective means of enforcing its decisions.   So instead, the League relied heavily on moral persuasion, economic sanctions, or collective military action by member states that were slow to respond or reluctant to use force.   The great recession caused economic struggles which also strained the League’s resources which also spurred a rise in nationalist sentiments which further undermined international cooperation.

The League’s failure to prevent acts of aggression by Italy and Japan further eroded its credibility.  And along with the rise of militarism and aggression by authoritarian regimes these all posed a direct threat to international cooperation and peace that failed to prevent World War II.

Overall, more American soldiers died from the flu than the war. The 1918 pandemic highlighted the importance of robust healthcare systems. Greater investment in healthcare infrastructure, research, and disease prevention might have better prepared us for future pandemics that could have accelerated advancements in medicine, the eradication of Smallpox, and polio as well as disease prevention. Together the aftermath of War I and the pandemic revealed the need for better social safety nets and social welfare programs might have also reduced inequality and political instability.  The pandemic highlighted the importance of scientific research and boosted commitments to evidence-based policymaking.  Unfortunately this didn’t lead to more effective responses to other various challenges like environmental protection.  The war and the pandemic didn’t really result in more value for human life or empathy for those affected by war and disease.  And both nationalism and protectionism in the aftermath of World War I contributed more to global tensions.   Huge opportunities missed!!!

The most influential factor in leading up to the second World War however may have been the Treaty of Versailles ending World War I in 1919.   It imposed harsh economic, territorial, and military terms on Germany, including substantial territorial losses, disarmament, and heavy reparations payments. These terms led to economic hardship and a sense of national humiliation among Germans as their nation struggled with economic instability and hyperinflation during the 1920s.  Reparation payments required by the treaty didn’t help.  This turmoil created discontent and social unrest, which Hitler exploited to gain support and fuel nationalist foster a deep sense of resentment among many Germans who viewed the treaty as unjust and humiliating.  Hitler tapped into this anger and his Nazi Party used anti-Versailles rhetoric effectively in propaganda campaigns portrayed themselves as the saviors of Germany, promising to restore its honor and territorial integrity.  Fundamentally, the treaty created a power vacuum that Hitler exploited to gained support from various segments of society, including disaffected veterans, the unemployed, and conservative elites who saw him as a means to restore order and national pride.  Sound familiar? 

In summary, the Treaty of Versailles created the conditions in which Adolf Hitler could rise to power by exploiting economic hardships, nationalism, and resentment.  And effectively used propaganda and political maneuvering to gain widespread support and eventually become Germany's dictator.

FYI:  The 1918 flu was highly virulent.  Its mortality rate was especially high among young, healthy adults, a demographic typically less vulnerable to influenza.  And it occurred during the final year of World War I, from January 1918 to December 1920, which coincided with the ongoing conflict involving large-scale troop movements, with soldiers from various countries traveling between their home countries and the front lines facilitating the virus’s rapid spread globally.  Many soldiers on both sides became ill with their close quarters in military camps and trenches allowing the virus to spread rapidly. In some cases, the virus decimated entire units and strained healthcare systems in combatant and non-combatant countries alike.  Hospitals were overwhelmed with influenza cases, leaving fewer resources available to care for wounded soldiers.

The pandemic's devastating effects on both sides was a factor in the decision to seek a cessation of hostilities, thus contributing to the eventual signing of the armistice agreements in November 1918.

 

In conclusion, the 1918 influenza pandemic was one of the deadliest pandemics in human history, with an estimated 50 million deaths worldwide. Its impact on World War I highlighted the interconnectedness of global events and demonstrated how a health crisis could intersect with a major conflict, shaping the course of history.   History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.  Now a century old, this earlier turn of the century era underscores the importance of learning from history and the need to apply clear lessons to build a more peaceful, equitable, and sustainable world today.  While we cannot change the past.  Insights can help us shape a better future.

Wisdom of Pre-Biblical, Biblical, and Early American times.

21:  Pre-Biblical Times wisdom offered:  Pre-biblical times provided us with several examples of sustainable practices and principles that are still relevant today for a healthy and thriving population: 

 Early agricultural practices, such as crop rotation and terracing, helped maintain soil fertility and prevent erosion, ensuring a consistent food supply.   Many prehistoric societies relied on a balanced diet of wild game, foraged plants, and fish, establishing our bodies need for diversified natural food sources for all the systems of our body.  Especially the immune system which has always been our first line of defence against our most lethal exterior threats.

 

Some ancient cultures led nomadic lives, moving in harmony with nature, which prevented overexploitation of local resources.  Modern technology can enable humans to do this in almost any local environment if this were a financial and political priority.  Consumed food locally available reduces the need for long-distance transportation and associated energy costs.

 

Some Indigenous communities had sustainable resource management practices, like the "seven generations" principle, which considered the impact of decisions on future generations. Those that did not usually didn’t survive.

 

Ancient civilizations, like the Romans, reused and recycled materials to minimize waste, showcasing resource efficiency.  Today we have the technological capacity to recycle most of our waste materials if that were a political priority.  Indigenous architecture often utilized local materials, like adobe or thatch, in construction, minimizing the environmental footprint.  They sometimes emphasized communal living and shared resources, fostering social support networks crucial for resilience.

 

Early civilizations like the Indus Valley Civilization developed sophisticated systems for managing water resources, which are still studied and admired today.

 Perhaps most important in pre-biblical cultures was the creation of spiritual beliefs and rituals closely tied to nature, promoting a sense of responsibility for the environment that enabled a healthy and thriving population while minimizing our impact on local environments.

 

20:  Biblical times wisdom offered: 

Biblical times offer some foundational principles and practices that can contribute to our modern world’s sustainability. 

In Genesis 1:26, the Bible contains teachings about human responsibility to steward and care for the Earth, often referred to as "dominion over the earth". This concept emphasizes responsible management of creation’s natural resources.  The biblical concept of the Sabbath promotes rest and rejuvenation.  Suggesting the importance of giving the people and nature time to recover and recharge.

Numerous religions have emphasize the importance of helping the less fortunate, which can be extended to environmental justice and ensuring that sustainable practices benefit all members of society and minimizing waste and excessive wealth and consumption.

The Bible’s Ten Commandments and other moral teachings in provide a moral framework that, when applied to human rights and environmental issues, can guide ethical decision-making to any open mind.

Some interpretations of the biblical Noah's Ark story view it as a covenant between God and all living creatures, emphasizing humanity's responsibility to protect and preserve the natural world. 

The Bible’s religious text, its teachings, and stories can be interpreted in many ways.  But it focus is the promotion of sustainability, ethical living, and responsible stewardship of the Earth. These principles are still not incorporated into most governments as modern economic, political, national, or personal efforts to engineer a sustainable world.

  19.  1776  Declaration of Independence wisdom.  American founders failed to codify the profoundly valuable “Laws of Nature and Nature’s God” into the 1788 Ratification of the US Constitution. This failure was a monstrous mistake resulting in the deaths of more Americans than all the wars we have fought in since then- combined!

While much progress has been made related to this horrendous crime, problems within our nation regarding this corruption of Godly values problems remain today in many forms and murderous hate crimes are growing.   Now our nation’s greatest domestic terrorism threat.  And this threat dangerously connected to the global extremist threats.  Humanity and many Americans are yet to realized there is only one race.  The human race.  And the concept of living in accordance with the "Laws of Nature and Nature's God" is often associated with natural law theory. Which unfortunately has been misinterpreted in various ways throughout history.

Depending on one's interpretation and perspective, a world where people universally adhere to fundamental principles could have several extremely valuable characteristics.  Like prioritizing ethical and moral behavior, guided by a sense of inherent justice and fairness. This could lead to a world population with greater empathy, compassion, and respect for the life and freedoms of others.  Plus living in harmony with nature's laws which would entail responsible and sustainable environmental practices spurring a greater emphasis on protecting the environment and addressing several other vital environmental issues in addition to climate change.

A commitment to natural law principles could promote social justice, equality, and the protection of human rights with this likely achieving equitable societies and sustainable global institutions.  This would establish reliable means of resolving conflicts peacefully and justly as a central focus.  Thus avoiding the pitfalls of diplomacy and dialogue which alone often lead to violence and war. 

 Instead, people might emphasize cooperation and collaboration, recognizing the interconnectedness of humanity and the need to work together for common goals.

Health and well-being must be prioritized at every level.  There can be no health without mental health.  With the basic mind set of putting humanities survival and thriving for generations to come the highest goal - miracles could be achieved.  Vital would-be personal responsibility of our actions, knowing that each of our choices have consequences for ourselves, others, and the environment.

Any interpretation of natural law must involve a sense of spirituality or a search for deeper meaning in life. This could lead people to seek fulfillment through a greater purpose than being happy, feeling good, looking good, fame, or wasteful wealth.

Interpretations of the "Laws of Nature and Nature's God" can vary significantly among different cultures, religious beliefs, and philosophical traditions making any transition difficult given the diversity of beliefs and values in the world.  But in reality what we all want most is to survive and thrive.   And values such as environmental stewardship, social justice, and cooperation can contribute to creating a more harmonious, just, and sustainable world, even if individuals interpret and apply these principles in different ways

What were the fundamental principles linking the revolutionary war to the Declaration?  Both were intimately connected.  The Declaration played a significant role in both the lead-up to the war and its aftermath.  Before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, tensions between the American colonies and British authorities had been escalating due to issues like taxation without representation and British infringement on colonial rights. The idea of declaring independence from Britain gained momentum as a response to these grievances.  An engineer would have titled it “the Declaration of Separation” given the reality that independence is a flawed concept that is only a mental illusion.

The Declaration was primarily drafted by Thomas Jefferson had input from others like Dr. Benjamin Rush who suggested he edit the word “happiness” from the best-known phrase to “the pursuit of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Health”.   Modern culture has redefined “Happiness” to mean ‘what makes one feel good”.  In 1776 it meant finding your bliss in using your talents in serving one’s community.  Most philosophers today understand the true happiness cannot be found without service to something outside of oneself.   The Declaration also argued that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.  These ideals served as a catalyst for the Revolutionary War.   This inspired many American colonists to support the cause, and galvanized public opinion and encouraged individuals to enlist in the Continental Army or provide support to the patriot militias.

But the Declaration also had international significance. It served as an announcement to the world that the American colonies were seeking separation from another power. The declaration’s principles and grievances helped garner international support, particularly from France, which became a crucial ally during the war, and inspired other’s separation from colonial powers.

Unfortunately, the Declaration of Independence led to the establishment of an enforceable legal and political framework we know as the U.S. Constitution.  A political framework that President Lincoln later called a “Frame of Silver” around our “Apple of Gold” – the Declaration of Independence.  And to this day Americans, our nation, and the world continues to suffer from our public and political delusion that we, our laws, and our actions are independent from the consequences of our freedoms to act both here and abroad.  

And after World War II our nation joined with others in cementing this delusional concept into the United Nations Charter during its creation. And to this day we still don’t question this catastrophic decision.  An undemocratic global governance system that puts the protection of national sovereignty above the protection of human rights and the environment.  The very same systemic error of judgment our nation’s founders made in creating the US Constitution and codifying a law that slaves would only be counted as 3/5ths of a human being.

Throughout the Revolutionary War the flawed concept of independence served as a source of inspiration and propaganda.  And went on to inspire the writing and bold signing of the Declaration of Independence and the eventual creation of the United States.   And it remains a seminal document in American history, symbolizing the honorable values of freedom, democracy, and self-determination.  But now its ideals expose the harmful reality of our Constitution’s hypocrisy, dysfunction, and lack of accountability for our nation’s actions domestically and globally.  And for all that it has done for most Americans, “We the people” have elected policy makers and largely sat back allowing them to commit crimes against nature, our fellow Americans, and too often humanity.

Sept 11th attacks anniversary. Lessons again, not learned!

 

Tomorrow’s September 11^th anniversary is another reminder of our nation’s failure to learn.   As we continue heading in the wrong direction toward a catastrophic cliff.  Another pandemic, world war, genocide, environmental collapse, or AI gone wild?  Our systems of ‘civilization’ are simply unsustainable.  

If you believe this is hyperbole, please read the preamble to our US Constitution and give each of the seven intentions that “we the people” want and need to survive and thrive a school grade.  After that, if you still believe they can be achieved if we just elect the right leader, political party, and Supreme Court Justices in 2024- then stop reading here.  You’re delusional.  Winston Churchill once said, “You can always count on the Americans to do the right thing, after they have exhausted all the other possibilities.”  He was an optimist at a time when Americans were doers and not victims.

"The study of history is a powerful antidote to contemporary arrogance. It is humbling to discover how many of our glib assumptions, which seem to us novel and plausible, have been tested before, not once but many times and in innumerable guises; and discovered to be, at great human cost, wholly false."   -- Paul Bede Johnson  (1928- ) British Roman Catholic journalist, historian, speechwriter and author.

The most important thing in history that we American’s have failed to learn - is doing the right thing.  Our modern acceleration of chaos, environmental degradation, and the evolution of weaponry and war suggests we may be out of time.  The rapid transformation needed urgently in both our national and global governance systems appears virtually impossible given the polarization of beliefs and geopolitical divisions. 

There is one glimmer of hope. And that would be doing what we have always known needed to be done.  Abiding by ‘the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God’ globally.  Short of the second coming of Christ humanity must ensure that the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals are achieved before 2030.  We are not on that path.

If you truly love your country, please heed the words of Samuel Adams who was considered the “Father of the American Revolution.”  "He therefore is the truest friend to the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue, and who, so far as his power and influence extend, will not suffer a man to be chosen into any office of power and trust who is not a wise and virtuous man... The sum of all is, if we would most truly enjoy this gift of Heaven, let us become a virtuous people."  -- Samuel Adams  (1722-1803)

Humanity has always known the right thing to do.  But too often we lack the virtue to do it.  Even before Biblical times and events leading up to the attacks on September 11^th 2001, we knew what to do - and didn’t do it.  Even post 9-11.   Why do we persist in ignoring the wisdom persistently offered to us?  And instead rely only on our flawed personal, religious, political, or economic beliefs?  Our policy choices going forward have only exacerbate the predicted problems we have repeatedly been alerted to.  

As Americans we are moving further away from the fundamental truths (those “truths” that “we hold” “to be self-evident” introduced in our Declaration of Independence - and offered before that in Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” pamphlet).   Simple and profound concepts that would have dissipated the root causes of most of the existential threats we all face today. 

Modern generations have been endowed with unprecedented levels of wealth, technological power, and sustainable solutions.  But instead of finding a great purpose we allowed ourselves to be enchanted by it all, into comfort and complacency.  And as we peer out the windshield moving forward we are filled with increasing concern and a reckless hope - while ignoring the blaring warning signs with a colorful road map on the seat next to us that could take us off this path to hell.  It’s labeled the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

For enlightened mile posts we missed consider the 20 dates and events below.  Historic moments where we could have taken a righteous and sustainable path had we valued virtues over individualistic ‘feel good’ happiness, tribalism, nationalism, cheap consumerism, and failing to keep our pledge of ‘liberty and justice for all’. 

Here’s the list that my mind recalls as a child in Sunday school, a family physically abused by a father, a wrestler, a biology major, two decades professionally advocating for protecting human rights and the environment, and now a member of Rotary International.  Starting with the Russian invasion of Ukraine and moving backwards.   Below this list are the details of each chronological marker in the opposite order.  But beginning with our nation’s retrograde response to the attacks on Sept 11^th.   Then leaps to the very first human awakening with a nearly global recognition that here is only one God – and moves from there going forward to today through each of 18 windows of opportunity.

1.       2022 The Russian invasion of Ukraine.

a.       US fear of a nuclear war.

b.       Biden’s chance for true heroism

2.       2017 Warnings: The Casandra Effect...NFL

3.       2003 The US invasion of Iraq

a.       OBL greatest gift.

b.       Weaponization of Smallpox

4.       2001 The Global war on terrorism.

a.       Clear warnings ignored!

b.       The three reason OBL attacked us.

c.       OBL’s two objectives

d.       Anthrax.

e.       Rule of Law?  Torture and drone strikes... more terrorists today.

5.       1995 Black Hawk Down and CIA study

6.       1995 Oklahoma City bombing. WACO?

7.       1991 Collapse of the Soviet Union. 

a.       Bioweapons program!

8.       1980 PCWH

9.       1978? Smallpox eradication

10.   1975 the Vietnam war.

11.   1950 Korean War

12.   1948 UDHR

13.   1947 Creation of the UN

14.   1945 Anatomy of Peace

15.   1945 the first use of nuclear weapons.

16.   1939?  Hitler invasion of Poland

17.   1918 Pandemic and World War I

18.   1862 the US Civil war  “It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.” - Upton Sinclair

19.   1776  Declaration of Independence.

20.   Biblical times!

21.   Pre-biblical times.

I’m sure there’s other dates I’ve missed and errors I’ve made originating from my flawed memories and ChatGPT answers I received.   I encourage anyone to expose them.  Please!

4.  2001 The Global war on terrorism: To this day most Americans only remember the immediate horrors of the Sept 11^th attacks and maybe the long-lasting aftermath of contamination and illnesses of the first responders that day.   I’m guessing fewer one in a thousand Americans know why they did it, other than ‘they hated our freedoms’.   The only thing that shocked me about the attacks was that American’s were shocked by it.  I’d been following the bi-partisan Presidential Commission studying the national security threats Americans would face in the new millennium.  There had been clear warnings!  And they were ignored!  

Six months prior to the 9-11 attacks the final report of the three-year bipartisan Presidential Commission initiated by President Clinton was summarized.  There was unanimous agreement that terrorism was our greatest threat.  And it warned that Americans should be prepared to die in “large numbers” on American soil.  Commissioners couldn’t say when or where but multiple red flags were obvious.  And even the report’s recommendations were ignored by the new incoming Bush Administration.

The final report of this bipartisan Presidential Commission on National Security in the 21st Century, also known as the Hart-Rudman Commission, highlighted additional key threats and challenges facing the United States in the 21st century besides the growing threat of terrorism, particularly from non-state actors and extremist groups.

Other obvious threats included the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs).  Nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and the potential for rogue states or terrorists to acquire and use them, plus the need to address global health issues, such as pandemics and infectious diseases inevitably having significant security implications.

Cybersecurity with the increasing vulnerability of US critical infrastructure and each of our national security systems to cyberattacks.

The dangers posed by the collapse of states leading to instability, conflict, and humanitarian crises extending beyond political borders.

Multiple ongoing and potential conflicts in various regions, including the Middle East and Asia as potential threats to U.S. interests, plus challenges posed by transnational criminal organizations involved in activities such as drug trafficking, money laundering, and human smuggling.

Concerns about the United States' dependence on foreign energy sources and the potential for energy supply disruptions plus the need for better immigration and border security measures to address potential security risks.

The report also highlighted environmental and Resource challenge such as environmental degradation, climate change, and resource scarcity.  Each were identified as long-term challenges with potential security consequences.

All three reports of the Hart-Rudman Commission provided a comprehensive assessment of the new national security landscape and recommend measures to enhance U.S. security in the face of these evolving threats and challenges.  And like most other non-controversial but vitally important reports over the previous decades - it became a another dust collector.

Why were we attacked on 9-11?

I’m guessing fewer than 1 in a thousand US citizens or elected policy makers could offer the three three top reasons OBL attacked the US on Sept 11^th, 2001.  HIs reasons were outlined in various statements and writings, including his 1996 fatwa and subsequent messages leading up to the 9/11 attacks.

1. U.S. Military Presence in Saudi Arabia, particularly in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. He considered this presence a desecration of Islamic holy land and a symbol of Western interference in the Muslim world.

2. U.S. Support for Israel and its policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  He viewed the United States as a key ally of Israel and held it responsible for perceived injustices against the Palestinian people.  Including Israel’s actions in Lebanon and it shocking level of destruction.  He believed the US needed to experience this firsthand. 

3. U.S. Foreign Policy in the Muslim World.  Particularly its military interventions and economic exploitation in various Muslim-majority countries. He argued that the United States was oppressing and exploiting Muslims and sought to undermine and challenge American influence in the region.

Obviously, his reasons are not accepted as valid justifications for the 9/11 attacks.  But US reasoning for launching a Global War Against Terrorism (GWAT) also lacks any moral or realistic justification on these same grounds.  GWAT resulted in a profound continuation of militaristic foreign policy instead of the promotion of the Rule of Law American’s are always touting as the foundation of civilization.  We continued to relate to the rest of the world with the law of force.   Where our freedom and national security trumped any global ideal of liberty and justice for all.  And the challenges of war, terrorism, and human insecurity has only grown since then.  With more violent extremists today (at home and globally) than ever before. In an era of unprecedent individual, group, or national access to affordable, powerful, anonymous, and difficult to detect WMD, and a loss of human freedoms and privacy that may be beyond any nation’s ability to stop or control.   

 

OBL’s objectives:  Osama bin Laden's primary objectives for the 9/11 attacks were to inflict maximum damage on the United States and inspire jihad.  But there were also other overarching goals.   He believed the attacks could provoke our nation into a war it could not win- and would break us economically as his assistance in Afghanistan broke the Soviet Union, pushing it off the edge of power.  He believed the 9-11 attacks had the potential of sewing political and economic divisions within the US.   Funny that he didn’t predict us doing both these on our own...without any help from him.

And of course, his broader goal was establishing a global Islamic caliphate. ISIS still has the same idea.

Our nation’s use of torture and persistent use of drone strikes that frequently caused collateral damage did little to stem the growth of violent extremism.  And there are more of these today domestically and globally than ever. 

“The steep decline in America's image and standing after 9/11 is a direct reflection of global distaste for the instruments of American hard power: the Iraq invasion, Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, torture, rendition, Blackwater's killings of Iraqi civilians” Shashi Tharoor

Anthrax shortly after 9-11 attacks:  These few bio-weapon incidents, letters containing anthrax spores were sent to several individuals and media outlets, resulting in illness and fatalities. These led to heightened concerns about bioterrorism and an increased security measures, including the development of bioterrorism response protocols and the implementation of stricter regulations for handling dangerous biological agents. The investigation into these attacks ultimately led to the identification of a suspect, but the motives behind the incidents remain a subject of debate and speculation.  But it should have woken the us public up yet again...about our accelerating vulnerabilities given our privacy laws. sometimes deeply infuriating government actions, and overall government fundamental dysfunctions.  

No real justice system, health care system, a rigged economic system, and excessive freedoms with a population lacking in fundamental virtues like the Golden Rule.

How different would the world be today if the US had viewed the 9-11 attacks as a crime against humanity?  A war crime?  An unprecedented mass murder event requiring a global “rule of Law” effort instead of “law of war” effort.  Supreme court Justice Kennedy once defined the “Rule of Law” as needing three basic elements to be most effective.  1)  Laws made and enforced by a democratic process. 2.  Laws applied equally to all people.  3.  Laws with the primary purpose of protecting inalienable Rights.    Instead, the Law of Force is the path we have today...that only protects national sovereignty...the flawed concept that nations are free to do what they please...and not be held accountable if they have nuclear weapons.  Humanity must decide soon.  What ‘rule’ are we going forward with.  As a comedian once said, ‘Humanity stands at a crossroad.  On path leads to utter hopelessness and despair.  The other, to complete annihilation.  I hope we have the wisdom to choose the right path.

"We will be safer from terrorist attack only when we have earned the respect of all other nations instead of their fear, respect for our values and not merely our weapons." - Theodore C. Sorensen

"We have destroyed our democracy to an extent the terrorists never could have. We've changed our democracy into a semi-police state. William Binney"- Bill has nearly 30 years as a top executive in America's super-secret National Security Agency (NSA)

In the days following 9-11 I’ll post the list of other moments in history where humanity or the US knew what to do.  And blew it!  Starting with the wisdom of Pre-biblical times.