"An honest analysis of the likely future trajectories of civilization and its relation to the biosphere suggest that humanity is hurling — with only slightly awakened eyes — toward several simultaneous natural and political/economical crises. It is probable that none of the oft-advocated saviors to the human dilemma — technology, capitalism, the demographic transition, and the evolution of consciousness — will deliver us from our troubles. The first three are exacerbating our predicament, and the last remains far too muted relative to the magnitude of our problems. More likely, we will continue down a path of widening bifurcation, where humans will further differentiate themselves, culturally, materially and even biologically. This presentation is designed to picture in the manner of a collage the diverse worlds emerging on this planet as the millennia-old experiments of East (inner), West (outer), and Primitive (environmental) begin their dance toward resolution."

PRODUCER: Carleton Schade

"Carleton Schade has been part of Poetry Science Talks since its first Carriage House meeting in April 2001 and has presented six times in its ten-year history. This year, he published the paper Population crash: prospects for famine in the 21st century in the journal Environment, Development and Sustainability, in which it is argued that one to four billion people will die of starvation by mid-century, and he is researching and writing a book entitled Dieback: The Science and Soul of the Coming Collapse. Carleton was trained as a geologist, fiction writer and educator. He has found passion in traveling, politics and writing fiction; comfort and love as a householder; peace through vipassana and yoga.