Extra Credit "Carolyn Baker Interview"

This interview with Carolyn Baker was extremely insightful. Carolyn adds both real world and spiritual guidance about how to address the issue of the demise of the industrial civilization. I am often left in a state of shock and depression when thinking about the enormous scope of our economic and environmental problems. In this interview Carolyn Baker shares another side of the situation one of hope "demise brings about tremendous opportunity...reclaiming things and finding ways that work...indigenous knowledge that we can apply." Carolyn discusses our dire economic state which she likened to the chicken and egg scenario; we can't recover our economy without tapping into more energy but to tap into more energy takes money that we do not have because of our failing economy. Carolyn discusses our energy predicament being caused by oil production being past its peak meaning that oil is no longer easy to access or cheap to consume. This contributes to our economic collapse because our whole economy, our whole way of life has been based upon "the premise of affordable and cheap energy." Carolyn describes the demise as being a bumpy ride down hill with the unraveling of economic and ultimately societal institutions. One of the main points that she addresses and one that propagates the system is our ingrained notions of America and what it means to be American. In America and the industrialized world the concept of unlimited growth of "empire" has created for us several myths. These myths are that growth is the only way of success, and an American myth of resiliency and indestructibility, that even in dire economic times we will bounce back and be able to continue on the path of growth. This assumption that growth is good is what Carolyn describes as an "illusion... the fact is growth is unsustainable the planet can't carry this growth." Carolyn discussed the ingrained incorporation of these myths in the westernized psyche as having roots in formalized Christianity where connection with an earth based spirituality was lost and replaced with notions of a God that promoted concepts of conquering the earth, fear of the earth, separateness from the earth. The spirituality that Carolyn discusses is connecting with others, connecting with the understanding of reinvestment a connection that is spiritual beyond the human ego. The underlying component in our ability to survive these times is "fostering meaningful community and human connection, no one can navigate the collapse by themselves." This is a difficult task for many of us who have ingrained notions of individualism these notions are at the heart of the American philosophy. I really found what Carolyn stated about the raising of our children as being an essential component to reinvesting and building functional communities. She suggested we start immediately to talk with our children to take responsibility for the situation we have handed them and to teach them “re-teach” them how to live free from the destructive myths of growth that have been ingrained in all of us. Carolyn also talked about home-schooling as a necessary way to really teach and prepare our children. I home schooled my children for a short time and I found it to be a wonderful time of learning for us all. I think that home schooling or schooling that is centered around community minded thought is key to a functional healthy future for our children. Carolyn discussed transition towns as being examples of sustainable communities. These communities should be a model for everyone a model of what we can achieve. I found this interview to be a reality check for me. I am aware of the dire predicament we are in but I often feel hopeless about our predicament. This hopelessness I think I share with many other people who are not able to envision another way to live. I think Carolyn forces you to not only face the problems but she also offers a hope that there are alternatives, opportunities. It is our responsibility to seek and build upon the opportunities not only for us to change the predicament that we are in, but to also reconnect with a spiritual past so many of us have long forgotten.