Evolution of Planet Earth

[Christer Soderberg]

Some background on Planet Earth:

"The Earth, which is located three planets from the Sun, is the only planet in the universe known to support any kind of life. The Earth is estimated to be approximately 4.57 billion years old. The moon followed not long after. The Earth rotates around its own north to south axis once every 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4.091 seconds (one day), and around the Sun once every 365.2564 days (one year).

The Earth formed when the initial molten lava mass cooled and formed a solid outer crust. The Earth’s approximation to the Sun and ability to absorb its solar energy allowed for photosynthesis to occur. This began the accumulation and storage of oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere and the development of what we now know as the ozone layer. Early eukaryotic life on Earth soon followed.

With the complete formation of the ozone layer, which blocked all harmful ultraviolet radiation from the Sun, multicellular life began to slowly populate the planet. Following several major catastrophic life extinctions, mankind’s first ancestors slowly began to evolve, beginning the early stages of what has lead to the world as we know it today." (Source: http://www.space.com/earth/ - accessed August 17, 2008.)

So in less than 100 years we have seriously damaged what has taken 4.57 billion (4,570,000,000) years to evolve, and in less than 100 more years will no longer support human life on earth.

How can we be committing this programmed suicide? What is it in the collective psyche of humanity which allows us to behave this way? What can we do about it?

I think we need to talk. And then I think we need to do something. And that something is perhaps that we have to question how we think, because that is perhaps the root of the problem.

[Lupita Volio]

I think not only we need to raise our awareness but take active part in restoring and recover our planet Gaia´s health. I belong to a wonderful organization called the Pachamana Alliance and through their hard work with the Achuars in Ecuador and Peru, now Texaco has been sued by the indians about all the damage this company has inflicted on the rainforest.

Please read on this article that appeared in the Ecuadorian paper (sorry I do not have the english translation)

Presidente Correa se reunirá con representantes de Texaco y sus demandantes

16 de Agosto de 2008


Quito, (EFE)
El presidente de Ecuador, Rafael Correa, confirmó hoy que se reunirá con delegados de la empresa petrolera Texaco y con representantes de los demandantes que se querellaron contra la compañía estadounidense por daños ambientales en la Amazonía de este país andino.

Correa subrayó que en la cita deberán estar presentes representantes de los demandantes con quienes se reunió hace una semana y a los que tranquilizó, según dijo, porque temían que el Gobierno mantuviese conversaciones a favor de la petrolera.

"Estaban muy preocupados por todas las traiciones que han recibido de otros gobiernos, que siempre han apoyado a la petrolera", dijo Correa al referirse a la reunión con los representantes del llamado Frente de Defensa de la Amazonía, que adelanta la querella contra Texaco.

Correa señaló que su Gobierno está "por la verdad" y, aunque subrayó que como Estado no pueden inmiscuirse en un juicio privado, anotó que se reunirá conjuntamente con representantes de los demandantes y los demandados, pero no especificó la fecha.

"Tengan la certeza de que aquí hay un Gobierno patriota, soberano, digno, que jamás, como antes, entregará al país a los intereses de las grandes trasnacionales", dijo Correa en su programa semanal de radio.

La petrolera, que es demandada en Ecuador por 30.000 colonos e indígenas de la Amazonía por grave daño ambiental, defiende su inocencia e inculpa al Gobierno de Quito de la contaminación.

El Frente de Defensa considera que los residuos que dejó Texaco dieron origen a numerosas enfermedades, como casos de cáncer, e incluso de la desaparición de dos grupos indígenas y graves daños a otras comunidades.

Texaco, que fue comprada por Chevron, ha negado su culpa en la contaminación de la zona y ha asegurado que tras acabar sus operaciones hizo una limpieza eficaz.

La petrolera acusa a la empresa estatal Petroecuador, que tomó la posta de sus operaciones después de que abandonó el país, de ser la responsable de los daños ambientales.

[Christer Soderberg]

I would like to know more about the "Pachamana Alliance". Sad, however, to see the accusations and counter accusations of many so-called leaders; part of the ongoing tragedy and failure of communication, inability to see facts, clearly, irrevocably, responsibly.

What can we do to help? How can we contribute to the solution?

I think that inviting these leaders to participate in genuine dialogue, respecting the integrity of the individuals, human beings, and creating a space conducive to responsible, sustainable leadership, would be a good start. Incidentally, that is the goal of the Open World Foundation and our "Replanting a Rainforest" project.

[Edward Byers]

Does anyone here know about Brasil's PRODES project?

Using satellite imagery, they are painstakingly following the rapid destruction of the tropical rainforests in Brazil.

http://www.obt.inpe.br/prodesdigital/cadastro.php

That is the website to sign up - just put your email and click "Cadastrar", and then do the same and Click "Download", and you will be taken to the GIS tool. From there you can zoom into any 5km squared of most of Brazil. Whilst this is the official imagery, you can also try comparing it with the imagery on Google Earth, where sometimes there is even better resolution - you can really see the border of the rainforest, and in some places areas which have just been flattened but not yet burned to make way for farmland.

Christer - see if you can locate the Fazenda Ambiental? The GIS covers almost all of Brazil. Possibly through the years you can monitor the positive change - start taking screenshots now?! That would be really great in the years to come.