The first thing that comes to mind is the Black Plague, though it was hardly the worst case of mass death in the world. Genghis Khan is reported here, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1350272/Genghis-Khan-killed-people-forests-grew-carbon-levels-dropped.html to have killed as many as 40 million people. Thousands die in any given year from natural disasters as well. But technology is working to change all that.
Science has come up with ways to keep people alive in the face of disease, improved warfare and methods of gaining information have been designed to ensure Hilter never happens again, and warning systems are being developed to alert people to get out of the way of impending doom due to tornadoes, tsunamis and the like. So how do we keep the population of the world down now?
Through the very same technology that claims it is trying to help us. Pharmaceutical companies provide us with life-saving drugs which only kill us in other ways, and pesticides to make our “quality of life” better in that we can enjoy our food more. Cell phones – the best way yet to receive information – are apparently giving us brain tumors. So what’s left? War, of course. Government-run, huge conglomeration-funded wars. And who wins in all of this?
The rich bastards whose gain comes from our hides.
Now watch this. It’s beautiful.
Nature happens, with or without us – but are we making it better with technology? Or are we simply allowing a certain few to stand upon a pedestal and dictate to us who we should be and how we should live our lives?
But, you say, there’s only so much we can do, isn’t there? Even if we overthrow our governments, more of the same will replace them. If we refuse to buy the products sold by the huge corporations, how do we live?
To know ourselves, to care for ourselves and each other is a good way to start. From our immediate families and outward, to our communities and our countries. We have to realize that everyone and everything on the planet is equal. We are all connected – the Earth is its own organism, just as each of our bodies are. Imagine how it would be if we were all self-aware. Not self-centered, not self-involved, but so aware of ourselves and how we affect those around us that we could do so for the sake of good.
If you haven’t watched the video by this point, go back and do it. It’s eleven minutes and eighteen seconds’ worth of footage everyone should hear.
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January 19, 2014 at 12:04 pm
Unfortunately if you get past a few seconds of any of his interviews, he’s a complete idiot who contradicts himself and plays off a whim. I do think it fascinating that so many who demand population control do all they can to put in place ways to protect life. And still fail. It’s only a matter of time until we get faced with a super bacteria.
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January 19, 2014 at 3:15 pm
I’m afraid you’re probably right about the super bacteria. And the people who demand population control. Russell Brand on the other hand, I guess I need to watch a few more interviews and wait for him to contradict himself – I haven’t seen him do it, but then I wasn’t really looking for it.
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January 15, 2014 at 2:55 pm
His video impressed me so much, that I “Wikipedia-ed” him. Pretty impressive message and one I struggle with daily as I watch my two university age daughters and the “times” they live in. I saw a photo of an actual tree HOUSE the other day and was tempted…….
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January 15, 2014 at 4:36 pm
It is really tempting to just get rid of everything and start simpler, isn’t it? Glad you took something away from the video. You should send it to your daughters. 🙂
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January 15, 2014 at 12:47 am
A lovely post…uplifting and contemplative Russell manages to get his message across in an entertaining way (and without didactism) 🙂
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January 15, 2014 at 10:07 am
Thanks, Lee-Anne. He’s very easy to relate to, isn’t he? 🙂
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January 14, 2014 at 8:00 pm
I never get tired of listening to Russell Brand, but this one took me by surprise. I loved it. Happen to know what the piece of music was? It was beautiful – as was the entire video.
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January 14, 2014 at 8:11 pm
I have no idea what the music is… maybe you could ask the guy who put the compilation together. 🙂
Yes, it was a bit of a surprise to me as well. Thanks for the comment, Katie. 😀
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January 14, 2014 at 7:16 pm
Russell is an example of the adage you can’t judge a book by its cover. Nice
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January 14, 2014 at 8:09 pm
So true. Thanks John, for the comment. 🙂
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January 14, 2014 at 6:12 pm
I hadn’t realized he had so much to say, but I don’t always keep in touch with reality. 😉 I loved the video!
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January 14, 2014 at 8:08 pm
It’s a great video and a great message. I had no idea he was into that stuff either, until this morning. 🙂
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January 14, 2014 at 3:26 pm
Great job on the video. Love the message(s).
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January 14, 2014 at 8:07 pm
Thank you, though I can’t take credit for the video itself. I only found it. 🙂
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January 14, 2014 at 1:04 pm
You could probably guess that I loved the video. But you know, I’m a hippy-dippy-trippy girl. The people who could most benefit from watching it probably won’t, and may perhaps roll their eyes in solitude before turning it off.
I’m pretty sure most of us have considered abandoning “the world” and taking up residence in a shack at some point or another. I’m certainly not going to do it, but instead, I recognize all the facets of technology and consumerism actually give me more time to pursue what I want to do. For example, without paper towels, I would do a metric fuck-ton of laundry. You know?
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January 14, 2014 at 1:09 pm
Haha! Yes… I was sitting here reading your comment and nodding the whole time. I couldn’t give any of it up either. My point is that we CAN co-exist with it and still make the world a better place to live. It’s just gotta start at the centre – within us.
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January 14, 2014 at 1:12 pm
Most assuredly.
I shared the video on Facebook, and I can pretty much name the one dozen people who will watch it and nod along. I can also easily predict the people who will take one look at the title and roll their eyes. 😉
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January 14, 2014 at 1:13 pm
Yep. Yep yep yep… 😉 Thanks for sharing 🙂
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January 14, 2014 at 1:16 pm
My pleasure.
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January 14, 2014 at 1:02 pm
Yes. Just yes and then yes again.
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January 14, 2014 at 1:06 pm
🙂 I was hard-pressed to tie it all in together to make sense – it’s such a large concept, that which Russell talks about. But in the end, everything is indeed connected. 😉
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January 14, 2014 at 3:03 pm
I can imagine – he pretty much ties it together in what he says in the vid. Hard to put across without watching it,
I think you did very well though Ma’am 😀
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January 14, 2014 at 8:06 pm
Thank you very much, m’dear. 😀
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January 15, 2014 at 4:51 am
A pleasure lovely lady 😀
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January 14, 2014 at 12:54 pm
Hi Linda, Just a note inquiring as to how you and the kids are doing? Well I hope. I want you to know that I think of you from time to time but I don’t pray for you all nearly as often as I should. Sending you wonderful blessings from above as I know He loves you dearly and serves as a reminder of your daily struggles. Love and courage to you! Brenda
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