The Human Survival Podcast

Israel-Palestine & Other Wars: A New International Approach | Ben Gavin & Sarmad Wali Khan

We are all horrified by the wars in Israel-Palestine, and Ukraine.  And those are just the conflicts we hear about.  There are 21 wars in the world right now - most of them barely make the news.  We tend to feel hopeless as we watch the death and suffering.  But what if we didn’t have to feel helpless?  What if the world had ways to actually DO something, and SOLVE wars?
The Human Survival Project proposes redesigning and strengthening the United Nations, so humanity can have the global tools to manage violence, and the many other existential threats humanity faces.  Today we talk about what might be possible if we had those tools.
With us to discuss this are two members of The Human Survival Project Team - Ben Gavin and Sarmad Wali Khan.
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The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes.
This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a global grassroots organization to protect the future of humanity and create a world we can be proud of.  We push for the United Nations to be redesigned and strengthened, so humanity has the global tools to manage its existential threats.
** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/ ** 
Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect 
This show is also on YouTube.  Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/zDI0BYklGTQ
Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show. 
 
RESOURCES:
Wikipedia - List of Current Armed Conflictshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ongoing_armed_conflicts

Changing Our Approach to Climate Change: James Jylkka - Natural Resource Specialist

With the growing conversation on climate change, many people are now helping the planet and trying to get rid of the damaging policies and products that are worsening climate change - which is great. But we need to widen our focus from not only getting rid of the bad, but to also pushing for the good. Our response to saving our world from this existential threat needs to pick up the pace, and in order to do that, we have to be more strategic about where we’re directing our time and resources. How can we change our approach to climate change?
With us to share his thoughts on where we’re at and where we should be heading is James Jylkka, a natural resource specialist with the US Army Corps of Engineers. His work puts him at the nexus of flood risk management, recreation, and natural resource management. He began his journey toward environmental justice when he left the corporate world to embark on a solo hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. Since then, he has worked as an environmental policy analyst for the State of California and as a science teacher in underserved communities. He is passionate about issues of environmental equity and sustainability, which inform his daily life, both at home and work.
With his help, we consider how we can cut back on consumption, help third-world countries make the green transition, redirect government involvement in climate projects, and promote a value system that’s more meaningful and productive than our culture’s heavy focus on money and technology. These things can get us closer to our goal for humans, animals, and ecosystems to all thrive in our shared world.
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The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes. This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a grassroots organization helping the human race become an intentional and forward-looking species, with the global tools to improve ourselves and protect ourselves from global catastrophic threats.
** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/ ** Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.o...
This show is also on YouTube.  You can watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/QnioxSXFnE8 
Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show.
Theme music by Moby: https://mobygratis.com/
RESOURCES:
NY Times, 3/13/22 Government Is Flailing, in Part Because Liberals Hobbled It https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/13/op...
OUTLINE:
0:00 - Intro 6:01 - Less focus on getting rid of the bad and more focus on pushing for the good 7:36 - Changes are not moving quickly enough 9:33 - But moving too fast could lead to problems 13:11 - Managing the complexity of having many involved agencies 14:51 - Solutions aren’t new and shiny; we already have them, but they just aren’t implemented 15:03 - Need to incentivize rooftop solar 16:39 - Carbon tax or heavy subsidy of green energy is important, not a complete solution 17:28 - Motivating change on a broad scale by setting standards in huge markets like California 18:19 - Charge what things actually cost 19:26 - Incentivize the good by making it more accessible/affordable. Competitive economies. 23:14 - Government should provide guidance, regulation, incentives, and financial support 26:42 - Government bureaucracy is a huge problem 28:15 - Wealth and opportunity gap 29:20 - One additional layer of agency to coordinate all the other agencies 32:37 - Different levels of government are not aligned 33:53 - U.N. model that comes up with codes and guidelines that can adopted all the way down to the municipality level would improve alignment 34:33 - International climate change agreement can level the global playing field 35:40 - Economic sanctions 40:18 - Poverty is an existential risk that hinders the fight against climate change 44:39 - Wealthier countries need to cut back consumption. 48:52 - Artificial intelligence is going to make many of us obsolete in the workforce 49:20 - Value system 52:44 - More money to be made in solving climate issues. Makes the expenses worth it. 54:13 - Liberal vs. conservative divide gets in the way. Make the government work better. 57:00 - Difference of opinions in current news outlets 58:06 - Advocacy organizations and nonprofits bridge the divide between the government and the average voter 59:46 - Redirection of funding and resources 1:01:50 - Caring about people you can’t see, instead of self-interest 1:04:33 - Life is complex. It’s hard to keep making perfect choices. 1:06:58 - Goal is for people, animals, and ecosystems to all thrive. Compromise. 1:10:29 - Be respectful of people, show appreciation for what people do well 1:13:20 - The Human Survival Project team’s summer goals
 

U.S. Military Spending: Protection or Danger?

The United States spends an astronomical amount of money on its military - more than any other nation.  In fact, more than the next 8 nations combined.  It helps fund 750 military bases in 80 countries.  It has quite an impact on the world.
Last week, the U.S. Congress and President Biden enacted the National Defense Authorization Act of 2023, which increased military spending to the largest level since the end of World War II, even adjusted for inflation.
Increasing technology makes war more dangerous.  And growing conflict between the United States, China and Russia (and of course Ukraine) is fueling an arms race between superpowers that could end up disastrous.
Today, we consider what the United States actually gets for all this military spending.  Does it make Americans and the world safer, or put them in more danger?  What else could this money be used for?
And I suggest we turn to world approaches to world security - like a stronger United Nations - rather than large nations slugging it out with each other.
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The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes.
This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a grassroots organization helping the human race become an intentional and forward-looking species, with the global tools to improve ourselves and protect ourselves from global catastrophic threats. 
** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/ **
Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect
The Human Survival Podcast is also on YouTube.Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/eTHb_6kLNWE 
Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show.
Theme music by Moby: https://mobygratis.com/
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Resources:
~ U.S. Department of Defense, 12/23/22Biden Signs National Defense Authorization Act Into Lawhttps://bit.ly/3YOZzv0 
~ Union of Concerned Scientists, 12/14/22Defense Spending Reaches Record High as Pentagon Fails Its Audit – For Fifth Timehttps://bit.ly/3jEQyVv 
Data on U.S. and international military spending…~ Stockholm International Peace Research Institutehttps://bit.ly/3I7q7BV 
Report on U.S. military bases around the world…~ Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, 9/20/21Drawdown: Improving U.S. and Global Security Through Military Base Closures Abroadhttps://bit.ly/3G5mMR2 
~ United Nations annual spendinghttps://unsceb.org/total-expenses
Other news articles about the recent military spending bill, both good and mediocre…~ New York Times, 12/18/22Military Spending Surges, Creating New Boom for Arms Makershttps://bit.ly/3Gnv9sB ~ Slate, 12/8/22There Is No Good Reason for a Defense Budget This Largehttps://bit.ly/3PYBk9R ~ CNN, 12/15/22Here’s what’s in the $858 billion defense billhttps://bit.ly/3vmC4vZ ~ Reuters, 12/15/22U.S. Senate passes record $858 billion defense act, sending bill to Bidenhttps://bit.ly/3G22isy ~ Fox News, 12/18/22Ukraine aid opened the floodgates for more Pentagon spending as US eyes Russia, Chinahttps://bit.ly/3C8QDa6 

Can Inflation Help Save The World?: Mike Jordan - The Human Survival Project

There’s a ton of conversation lately about inflation, and its effects on the economy and on people’s personal finances.  Lots of people are concerned.  BUT, could inflation actually be helpful?
We are in a climate and environmental crisis that could ruin just about everything if we don’t get it under control - including the entire economy.  The planet is being ruined by people buying stuff, and when stuff is expensive, people buy less.  Could higher prices help us get our overconsumption under control?
Further, as we destroy the climate and nature, there will be shortages of water, food, metals, oil and just about everything, which will drive up prices.  High prices are coming anyway, whether we like it or not.  So maybe we should drive up prices now while we still have some nature and manageable climate left to protect.
Today, we talk about inflation, consumption and your future - and how we can manage our economy to protect us all from environmental danger.
With us to talk about all this is one of my very best friends, Mike Jordan.  He is working with me to produce this podcast and to launch The Human Survival Project.  He is smart, interesting, curious and lots of fun to talk with.
Thanks for approaching this controversial topic with an open mind.
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The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes.
This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a grassroots organization helping the human race become an intentional and forward-looking species, with the global tools to improve ourselves and protect ourselves from global catastrophic threats.
** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/ **
Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect 
The Human Survival Podcast is also on YouTube.Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/JylIuAWXVWU 
Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show.
Theme music by Moby: https://mobygratis.com/
 
Resources:
(5:15) Humans are consuming the equivalent of 1.7 Earths.  If all humans consumed like Americans, we would need 5 Earths.~ Global Footprint Networkhttps://www.footprintnetwork.org/
(8:20) NY Times columnist Bret Stephens, after years of downplaying the threat of climate change, changes his perspective after a trip to Greenland.~ NY Times, 10/28/22Where My Climate Doubts Began To Melthttps://nyti.ms/3vjzqXX 
(10:30) Mike mentioned fossil fuel industries receiving $11 trillion in subsidies each year, which he was pulling from memory.  It may be that he was remembering the figure of $11 million every minute, which adds up to $5.9 trillion annually.  Various analyses come out a little differently.  Any way you slice it, fossil fuel subsidies are enormous.~ Yale Environment 360, 10/6/21Fossil Fuels Received $5.9 Trillion In Subsidies in 2020, Report Findshttps://e360.yale.edu/digest/fossil-fuels-received-5-9-trillion-in-subsidies-in-2020-report-finds
(12:20) The world is running out of high quality oil, and now working harder and costlier to extract lower quality oil, which will result in higher oil prices in the future.~ Nate Hagens, The Great Simplification Podcast - YouTubehttps://youtu.be/mVjhb8Nu1Sk 
In our conversation, I wish I had mentioned this other project Nate Hagens is working on.  They are advancing proposals like what we’ve discussed in this talk - basically, taxing resources to reduce their consumption.  Please check this out - it’s terrific.~ UnTaxhttps://www.untax.org/
(21:55) The Affluent Society by John Kenneth Galbraith~ Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Affluent_Society
(29:30) Mike mentioned online advertising he received after shopping at a store.  He was not just being paranoid.  Retail stores use wifi and bluetooth to track customers and learn about their shopping behavior, and follow them beyond the store.~ Vox, 1/29/20Why you see online ads for stuff you buy in the real worldhttps://www.vox.com/recode/2019/12/19/21011527/retail-tracking-apps-wifi-bluetooth-facebook-ads~ RetailDive/SenSource, 3/4/20Wi-Fi tracking: A data gold mine or privacy nightmare?https://www.retaildive.com/spons/wi-fi-tracking-a-data-gold-mine-or-privacy-nightmare/572937/~ New York Times, 6/14/19In Stores, Secret Surveillance Tracks Your Every Movehttps://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/06/14/opinion/bluetooth-wireless-tracking-privacy.html 
 

Please, Humanity Needs You To Be More Positive

Being positive is a good part of happiness and mental health.  And being supportive is nice and friendly.  But amid catastrophic threats to humanity, being positive and supportive is not just about being happy and friendly – it’s how we rally support for the ambitious policies that are bold enough to reduce death and suffering of billions of people.  Productive criticism is fine, but we can’t afford negativity anymore.  Today, I unpack some psychology of why it makes rational sense to be positive in these dangerous times.
“Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the people doing it.”--  Chinese Proverb
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The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes.This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a grassroots organization helping the human race become an intentional and forward-looking species, with the global tools to improve ourselves and protect ourselves from global catastrophic threats.
** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/ **
Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect
The Human Survival Podcast is also on YouTube.Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/hkrWc_vaq-E
Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show.
Theme music by Moby: https://mobygratis.com/
 

Designing Effective Climate Activism: Dave Johnson – Stanford Law/Design, Author, Lawyer, Activist

After decades of hard work, climate change activists have finally put the issue in the mainstream of public discourse and policy discussions.  But, the world’s response to this critical threat to humanity is far too slow.  We all need to be even better activists.  What can we improve?
Dave Johnson has good ideas for us, brought from the field of design.  He is a teacher, lawyer, author and activist.  He teaches at the Stanford Law School and at Stanford’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (a/k/a “the d.school”).  He has extensive legal experience in litigation, negotiation and as general counsel, representing Silicon Valley tech companies, state governments, and others.  Dave is currently writing a book on applying design principles to climate activism.
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The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes.
This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a grassroots organization helping the human race become an intentional and forward-looking species, with the global tools to improve ourselves and protect ourselves from global catastrophic threats.
** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/ **
Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect
The Human Survival Podcast is also on YouTube.Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/CApVuG36yyw 
Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show.
Theme music by Moby: https://mobygratis.com/
 
Resources:
Dave Johnson websitehttps://climate-activist.com/
Prof Cass Sunstein on how change happens, and why it's so often abrupt & unpredictable.80,000 Hours Podcast with Rob Wiblin(If you don’t have time to listen to this whole episode, you can at least skim the highlights and transcript here)https://80000hours.org/podcast/episodes/cass-sunstein-how-change-happens/
 

Economic Sanctions to Enforce Climate Policies, Not Vague Promises

As nations of the world meet at COP27 in Egypt to negotiate next steps to address climate change, we desperately need to improve this international process.  Instead of vague promises that might be broken, we need enforcement systems to build trust between countries, so we can be sure everyone will follow through on their commitments.  Economic sanctions used against Russia after their invasion of Ukraine taught us a lot about what’s possible.  Now we need to apply what the world has learned.  Today, I explain.  Thanks for listening.
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The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes.This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a grassroots organization helping the human race become an intentional and forward-looking species, with the global tools to improve ourselves and protect ourselves from global catastrophic threats.
** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/ **
Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect
The Human Survival Podcast is also on YouTube.Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/D4bfo_NfQh8
Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show.
Theme music by Moby: https://mobygratis.com/
 
Resources:
Carbon Dioxide Emissions Increased in 2022 as Crises Roiled Energy MarketsNew York Times – 11/10/22https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/10/climate/carbon-dioxide-emissions-global-warming.html?smid=url-share
Climate Pledges Are Falling Short, and a Chaotic Future Looks More Like RealityNew York Times – 10/26/22https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/26/climate/un-climate-pledges-warming.html?smid=url-share
Cop27 host accuses countries of making empty public pledgesThe Guardian – 11/4/22https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/04/cop27-host-accuses-countries-of-making-empty-public-pledges
This is the United Nations detailed assessment of how the world is falling short on emissions reductions:Emissions Gap Report 2022UN Environment Programmehttps://www.unep.org/resources/emissions-gap-report-2022
No sign of decrease in global CO2 emissionsGlobal Carbon Budget – 11/11/22https://globalcarbonbudget.org/no-sign-of-decrease-in-global-co2-emissions/The above report states, among other things, “If current emissions levels persist, there is now a 50% chance that global warming of 1.5°C will be exceeded in nine years.”
Why scientists are using the word scary over the climate crisisThe Guardian – 11/7/22https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/07/why-scientists-are-using-the-word-scary-over-the-climate-crisis
 

Overcoming Climate Anger and Fear of the Future

It can be difficult watching climate change and the destruction of nature.  It’s easy to fall into despair and worry about the future of humanity, and all the other species.  The Human Survival Podcast fell into hibernation, as I’ve struggled the past few months with anger, fear and hopelessness.  After wrestling with these feelings, I’ve emerged stronger and more motivated to keep doing the work of saving humanity (and everything else).  And this experience has taught me some lessons about effective public communication about these important issues.  In this episode, I’ll share with you what I went through, in case it helps you keep your head straight amid these challenging times in the world.  Cheers!
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The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes.This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a grassroots organization helping the human race become an intentional and forward-looking species, with the global tools to improve ourselves and protect ourselves from global catastrophic threats.
** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/ **
Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect
The Human Survival Podcast is also on YouTube.Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/XKTk5ZWNJiQ 
Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show.
Theme music by Moby: https://mobygratis.com/
Resources:
Climate Change Enters the Therapy RoomNew York Times – 2/6/22https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/06/health/climate-anxiety-therapy.html?smid=url-share
Got Climate Anxiety? These People Are Doing Something About ItNew York Times – 2/4/21https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/04/climate/climate-anxiety-stress.html?smid=url-share
Good Grief Networkhttps://www.goodgriefnetwork.org/
Joanna Macyhttps://www.joannamacy.net/
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)https://www.ipcc.ch/
Deep Adaptationhttps://www.deepadaptation.info/Jem Bendellhttps://jembendell.com/
Job One For Humanityhttps://www.joboneforhumanity.org/(This site uses a communication style very different from mine.  To me, their vibe often feels panicky and alarmist, rather than grounded and level-headed.  But I share it here because I think their analysis and key points are strong, and certainly worth considering.  This site is an interesting example of the challenge in conveying truly alarming information without relying too heavily on fear.  I appreciate the difficulty these authors face.)
The Great Climate MigrationNew York Times Magazine – 7/23/20https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/07/23/magazine/climate-migration.html
Global Footprint Networkhttps://www.footprintnetwork.org/https://www.footprintnetwork.org/2021/01/19/we-do-not-need-a-pandemic-to-movethedate/
 

Welcome to The Human Survival Podcast

Meet Shelby and learn what the show is all about.
 
The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes ** Connect and learn more at https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org **

The Name Of This Show Is Changing To ”The Human Survival Podcast”

The name of the show is changing from "The Joy of Saving the Human Race" to "The Human Survival Podcast."  Here's why...
 
The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes ** Connect and learn more at https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org **