BEYOND the Planet of the Humans

Reflection on Michael Moore / Jeff Gibb's Earth Day 2020 film - The Plant of the Humans - and how it relates to the compassionate, altruistic, love based, "world savers" among us.  (I'm BCCing this to a few other folks as well :-)  If you haven't seen it, I imagine you will, or should, and then this reflection would make greater sense; the link is at the bottom in Jeff's email to me (and other BCCs).  -- Aaron

2020-05-04 updated -- Added reflection following a rebuttal by well known speaker in environmentalism (see below the letter).

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Hi Jeff, I just finished watching your film, "The Planet of the Humans" at 2x speed, which is how I watch everything now-a-days due to so much information I'm trying to take in and make sense of each day.  I appreciate that you finally published it.

I recall back in 2010 or 2011 or so, we were chatting about northern Michigan and the Local Future conferences, and if I notice correctly from the film, Richard Heinberg's appearance was during his trip to Crystal Mountain for my conference there.  The following year, I think, was my conference at Shanty Creek, which I invited you to join as both a speaker and a organizing committee member.  I think you either told me about this film being in the works, or showed me a part of it, I don't recall, but I generally had a gist of it.

Regarding the content, definitely great imagery, and lots of points that I hadn't been shown in film before, like the natural gas use in the solar arrays, the things being burned in the biomass plants, etc.  For the record, I've never, well at least I like to believe I was never, a proponent of biomass, and my understanding even of biochar was never to the point that I understood it well enough to advocate for it.  (I'm responding to your long response in 2011 when you saw that biochar was going to be discussed at the Shanty Creek conference.  I know you'd been working to keep the biomass plants out of the TC area, and that Jim MacInnes of Crystal Mountain had started a company to burn biomass, and it was through him that I invited in the capitalist side of environmentalism so that they could see the opposite non-capitalist side, but I digress.)

Population, yes, if you are a reader of Daniel Quinn -- Ishmael, The Story of B, My Ishmael, Beyond Civilization, etc. including his lecture in 1998 with Alan Thornhill, or the exponential growth lecture by Albert Bartlett, or the work of William Catton in Overshoot or Bottleneck, or so many others that are not to be named in a un-encrypted message -- then we know that the population, the human population on the Planet of the Humans will not be as high in the future as it is now.  It is a food race, and the food is going to be less for humans this year (unless a vast majority end up going vegan, and ethanol production is ceased, and we instead use the grains that go to the factory farmed animals and to the ethanol and provide those to the hungry of the world; we will see on that).

Given what we are seeing going on now in late April of 2020, we can see that those areas of the world that have overshot their carrying capacity, in those areas, there will be a reduction of the population, a die off, a tragedy, etc.  I've been, for a couple of days, putting together an "essay" of sorts pointing that out, and that at the same time the owners and millionaires are continuing to live it up... And, yes, I know that I'm one of the "owners" or "takers" to a great degree, as are many of us who have "prepared" enough to not be in the desperate states than many the world over now find themselves in.

Back to your film.  I guess I like that it didn't have a happy chapter, just like "What A Way To Go: Life at the End of Empire" didn't have a happy chapter.  To the extent that it made its point: that "renewable" was not "green", and instead was an environmental-capitalist complex, akin to the military-industrial complex; which is really just all a reflection of capitalism, which itself is a reflection of the fear of death, and the overpowering of the sense of selfishness over altruism; that I found interesting.  I loved that Vandana Shiva, that you found her; and that you talked with Robert Kennedy (albeit briefly) with the issue of biomass burning.

In my key talk that I gave in 2006 or 2007 at my first conference, which happened to be in Grand Rapids, I pointed out that money (capitalism) was the root of all environmental problems; you can find that online if you wish; and I talked about Dorothy Stang and what happened to her in the Amazon; and how our use of money drives environmental destruction.  I gave a similar talk in, oh 2008 or 2009 at the national Animal R*ghts conference, including a small act of civil disobedience which got me shunned and chastised by those that didn't (and perhaps still don't) see that the money; or the love of money; or the love of ones own life; how that was the root of the ills of the world.

That said, money is more than just credit/debt, or even trust in the future, or confidence, but it it represents food... as we can see in the impoverished right now... that food must be bought to stay alive... and that is the key thing that should be focused on for those who are hoping to take care of their families...  and that for civilization, with E.O. Wilson and Herbert Spencer, and others, identified as a super-organism... that energy -- from wind, or solar, or biomass, or nuclear, or geothermal, or hydro, or coal, or oil, or natural gas, or whatever else... that this was what civilizations themselves lived off of.

This brings up those that have studied the collapse of previous civilizations: Joseph Tainter, who I happened to be emailing with yesterday; and Jared Diamond, who have both pointed out, in their own ways, some of the observations and possible causes of previous collapses.  But, back to this point, that it is not as simple as "capitalism" or "owners" or "takers" that are destroying the world; but civilization's use (and abuse) of energy.  This reminds me of a really insightful talk that Kurt Cobb, formerly of Kalamazoo, shared at a local meeting in about 2008 titled "How Energy is the Cause of Our (Environmental) Problems", or similar.

So... what now...  well, here we are, Earth Day 2020, and your film is out, and has hundreds of thousands of views already, and is "trending" on YouTube, and Michael Moore was sharing with a talk show host, Bill Marr is it?, about its genesis... and so where do we go from here... and, from my perspective, there are two competing directions: altruism and selfishness.

Now, humans, and all mammals for that matter, have both.  Of course, all living things have to be selfish in order to survive... they have to avoid harm... and move toward food... and try to survive past child-rearing age... and so are selfish... but humans are social animals, more so than some other mammals, like the carnivores, or even the omnivores, and if you aren't fully aware of the anatomy and physiology of homo sapiens, then I invite you to the talk that Milton Mills and I had today about the evolution of human eating, which is critical to understand, I think, just how altruistic humans are... and of course, in general, humans are altruistic because our ancestors had to be altruistic in order to take care of their babies, children, spouses, parents, families, bands, and later tribes.  And, these are competing drives, which, throughout our day, go back and forth.  Yesterday, Sarina Farb, a 20 something vegan millennial school teacher and I, spend a couple hours, also recorded and published online now, discussing selfishness and altruism, and she shared a really interesting story

So, Sarina did this experiment where she was attempting to teach about the tragedy of the commons, which, of course, your film is about essentially, and Sarina said she had a bag of candy, Skittles I think, and she asked all the students to write down on a paper how much they wanted, but if the total wanted in the class exceeded the number in the bag, then no one got any... but if they matched or were under, that the one in the room who wrote the highest number would get extra credit points (apparently quite valuable in her class).  And, she expected that they would fail, and she'd be able to talk about how the tragedy of the common works...

but... her experiment failed

...and she was flumoxed, because she didn't know what happened, and so she was curious, and looked for reasons online, and came across the notion that perhaps it was altuism that made them succeed.  Apparently, there was only one student who had written down a high number, and the rest had written down a low number, and when, the next day, she debriefed with her students, high school juniors and seniors mostly, she heard that none of them wanted to be the ones that were the cause of the others not being able to benefit from what was being offered, so they all, but one, underbid what they expected would be a reasonable portion from the bag...

... now, Sarina, quick thinking as she is, asked... well... what would have happened if instead of being in a class of people you knew, what if you were with strangers... and, apparently, they then said that, oh, in that case, we would have tried for a bigger number, and as a group, probably would have failed

SO, how does that relate to your film?

Well, we are again, as peoples and civilizations, and this civilization in particular; we are again back into this position of altruism vs selfishness on a global scale... and what are we going to see; or what are we seeing...  that altruism is very, very strong... that people are helping one another; that the medical workers are going in to the hospitals even though they don't have PPE, and their hours are horrible, and they can't see their families; and that the families who can't see their loved ones in the hospital are not going in and demanding to see them, because they too acknowledge that they want to do the "right" (altruistic) thing; and food banks are springing up; and those of us who have taken care of our selfish needs are now doing what we can, from where we are, to be altruistic -- by reaching out to family, friends, next door neighbors -- and people like Albert Bates, and Richard Heinberg, and David Korowicz, and Steve Keen, and Nicole Foss, and Dawn Moncrief, and Milton Mills, and so many others are doing what they can to help as many as they can, as much as they can...

And, with this tool, that we have for a few more hours, or days, or years, or whatever -- the Internet -- which is both the collective memory of civilization, and the communication mechanism between us all -- is giving us the opportunity to work together to reach out to everyone and to help people from a far -- and coming up with solutions for making sure everyone is fed -- "there is enough food for everyone's need but not everyone's greed" -- and perhaps we can address, as a whole, the risk of famine, a famine that is spreading rapidly as civilization abandons its outlying parts; we can be the consciousness of civilization; we can be the ones that create the movement toward an altruistic global utopia

I wonder, what does E.O.Wilson and others think about how social organisms evolve?  For example, he studied ants such as the leaf-cutter ants of the tropics, who all work together, to make sure that everyone is fed; and that everyone contributes... I wonder -- and I imagine I'm not the first, or the last, to imagine this -- what was the moment at which the self organization of the ants started to turn the corner towards super-organism status?  Was it a food shortage?  And, is this perhaps the moment for this civilization to become something more... I apologize for the new words but... for us to become conscious that we are all together, and are really one... and part of one world... one Gaia... one social organism, that before this moment was just a growing civilization, but now, that the constructs of civilization are the means by which global consciousness and altruism is achieved -- a world community -- a world brain -- a global brain -- noogenesis -- and that we are being born as a noosphere -- noosphere Earth?

The vision of this utopia is a global family, where everyone takes care of their own selfish needs as close to where they are as possible -- "permaculture" gardens everywhere -- co-ops and urban "ecovillages" following the processes of permaculture, everywhere (using models from the past and the contemporary world, like the Basque region of Spain, or the Rojava region of Syria, or the recent history of the special period in Cuba) (and if you aren't familiar with Pat Murphy's "Plan C" book, that might give you one vision of this possible future) -- peer to peer everything -- the expansion of the circles of trust outside the walls of the house, to the neighbors, and the neighbor's neighbors, and for some of us, all the way around the world and back home again.

And, as, again I think it was E O Wilson who suggested, at least 1/2 the land area of Earth set aside as wilderness, for all the rest of life.

And, perhaps there is so much momentum in this direction already that it is inevitable, in which case, perhaps some will lean back and enjoy watching it all unfold... I, for one, like to imagine I have agency, and so I'll do what I can to move us towards utopia, whether we get to noogenesis or not -- whether we take only a few steps in that direction, or not -- whether we are able to find ways to protect the children from the world of dying of starvation and malnutrition.... or not :-(

Selfishness is the enemy here; and selfishness is the emotion that arises when one fears for ones life, security, or that of the ones who belong to them -- and in this case, at this moment in time, late April 2020 -- that is the impoverished of the world -- who don't know what is going on -- or that things are likely not going back to "normal" -- or that people ARE altruistic -- and so we reach out to everyone -- whether they are clued in or not -- whether they support Trump, or Biden, or Sanders, or Mickey Mouse... because we are adults here, and we take responsibility for working with everyone, just like a teacher in the classroom HAS to, in order to be a good teacher, accept that all of the students are just doing their very best, with the skills that they have, from the life and environment they grew up in... and that it is NOT THEIR FAULT that they are grumpy, irritable, chatty, misbehaving, etc... *sigh* Which is to say, that we can "turn to wonder" when we get angry or offended or are about to escalate the situation, and understand that it is fear that is driving the selfishness, and this is a evolved trait, and feature, of humanity

So, what does the road look like ahead, beyond Earth Day 2020... It looks like us engaging with everyone, and especially with those in need, with calmness, and charity, and patience, and listening ears, and kind eyes, and facing our own fears, just like Gahndi and Jesus and MLK Jr and so many other voices for altruism and love throughout time have done... and as Richard Heinberg mentioned in a recent interview, actually reaching out to our neighbors, in a physical way, knocking on doors, backing off 10-12 feet(!), and asking "how are you doing?" "what do you need?" -- and then doing the same via phone and internet and even snail-mail to those we know.

Does this also look like us being brave and going to the rallies?  Or organizing the rallies ourselves?  Wearing our masks, of course, but bringing what altruism we can, and speaking calmly and patiently and bringing food and listening to the people?  I imagine it might; and perhaps there are examples of this from history which is not coming to mind at the moment; but we, many of us, will be keeping an eye out to make sure that the most vulnerable of us are okay, and fed, and safe -- and this is how we show the power of "love", the power of altruism, and that this is the way of the future, and the selfish phase, the child phase, of civilization is finally over, and we are moving "Beyond Civilization", as Daniel Quinn puts it, to something better

My body and mind tire from a long day trying to help where I can; and it only takes this sort of idea to have an R0 of over 1 for it to spread... but I hope that this reaches the heart and mind of two or three or more, so that this sense of the future can continue to spread, and grow; so our bright future can be here as soon as possible :-)

Thanks Jeff, and thank you for sharing what you've had to share :-)

Aaron

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2020050 Wissner Aaron Feflections on Responses to Planet of the Humans

Follow Up, in reflection on Bill McKibben's rebuttal to Planet of the Humans

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/bill-mckibben-climate-movement-michael-moore-993073/

They are all correct and both incorrect, to varying degrees, all at the same time.

Here are the questions in my mind:

Who amongst them, if any:

--- resorts to "argumentum ad hominem" or succumbs to other fallacies, rather than focusing only on "informal logic" including valid, sound, deductive argument?
--- understands how global civilization as a super-organism works?
--- understands the universe, from the cosmos to the quantum?
--- is looking at things from the perspective of the orangutan (in particular) and the biosphere/Gaia on the other hand, and everything in between?
--- believes that the only way to a better future is by increasing the energy controlled by civilization, the social organism?
--- fears death?
--- is an effective altruist?
--- is willing to give up everything they own, and every freedom they have, for that effective altruism (voluntary poverty)?
--- is vegan and/or whole-food plant-based and knows that humans are herbivores?
--- lives outside of civilization (like the uncontacted, or ones like Mark Sundeen)?
--- are willing to accept that they have no certain knowledge, and all surety is false and/or delusional?
--- believes that on the global scale, are things better now than in the past due to efforts in that direction (green-tech-utopia)?
--- has sought out the perspective of the ignored, marginalized, and imprisoned, such as Thoreau, Tolstoy, Quinn, Diamond, Kjon#aas, Jensen, K*czy*nski, Asa!nge, Zer&zan, jones, Weismann, etc, etc  ?
--- has considered all of this as a possible precursor to noogenesis?
--- believes in property / ownership / the legal use of violence / "mine"?
--- believe is something (especially any certain religion) for sure?
--- can think in different languages, or without language?
--- desire things that non-human animals do not desire?

These are the sorts of questions that arise in the curious when attempting to see the bits of the truth visible through the snow covered windows they have provided us via their "debate"

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/the-worst-mistake-in-the-history-of-the-human-race

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On Tue, Apr 21, 2020 at 2:50 PM Jeff Gibbs wrote:

April 21, 2020

Dear Esteemed Friends,

At long last our film “Planet of the Humans” is now released to the world! It’s one of the happiest days of my life, and a day I fervently hope has a role in initiating some real change in the world. “Planet of the Humans"  is now available free of charge to everyone on planet Earth courtesy of our partnership with Michael Moore. Please help us spread the word by sharing, blogging, posting, tweeting, emailing, or pony expressing your enthusiasm and urgency about why people must see this movie. 

Yours Truly,

Jeff

NEW YORK – Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Michael Moore announced today that he is releasing a brand new documentary film on his RUMBLE Media label – and is offering it as a gift, free of charge, in the midst of the global pandemic.
 

On Tuesday, April 21st, beginning at 9:00 am EDT, Planet of the Humans, directed by filmmaker and environmentalist Jeff Gibbs and executive produced by Michael Moore, will make its world premiere on Michael Moore’s YouTube channel at YouTube.com/MMFlint (click here for direct link to the full film: https://youtu.be/Zk11vI-7czE). Moore is scheduled to be the main guest on CBS’s The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Tuesday night to make his first appearance for the film.

 
There will be a live event Wednesday evening, April 22nd at 10:00 pm EDT / 7:00 pm PDT featuring a live discussion and Q&A with Moore & Gibbs and viewers from around the world across YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

Released on the eve of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and in the midst of the global Covid-19 pandemic, Planet of the Humans takes a harsh look at how the environmental movement has lost the battle through well-meaning but disastrous choices, including the belief that solar panels and windmills would save us, and by giving in to the corporate interests of Wall Street.
 
The film is the debut movie from Jeff Gibbs, whom Moore calls “a brave and brilliant filmmaker whose new voice must be heard.” Gibbs is a lifelong environmentalist and longtime collaborator of Moore’s with whom he co-produced Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11. Planet of the Humans first screened as a work in progress at the most recent Traverse City Film Festival where it was a huge audience favorite.
 
Moore and Gibbs decided that with the American public – and much of the world – confined to their homes and suddenly having to consider the role humans and their behavior have played in our fragile ecosystems, the moment was too urgent to wait until later this year for the film’s planned release.
 
“We have ignored the warnings, and instead all sorts of so-called leaders have steered us away from the real solutions that might save us,” says Moore, who holds the all-time box office record for documentaries. “This movie takes no prisoners and exposes the truth about how we have been led astray in the fight to save the planet, to the point where if we don’t reverse course right now, events like the current pandemic will become numerous, devastating and insurmountable. The feel-good experience of this movie is that we actually have the smarts and the will to not let this happen – but only if we immediately launch a new environmental uprising.”
 
Jeff Gibbs, the writer/producer/director of Planet of the Humans, has dared to say what no one will – that “we are losing the battle to stop climate change because we are following environmental leaders, many of whom are well-intentioned, but who’ve sold out the green movement to wealthy interests and corporate America.” This film is the wake-up call to the reality which we are afraid to face: that in the midst of a human-caused extinction event, the so-called “environmental movement’s” answer is to push for techno-fixes and band-aids. “It’s too little, too late,” says Gibbs. “Removed from the debate is the only thing that might save us: getting a grip on our out-of-control human presence and consumption. Why is this not the issue? Because that would be bad for profits, bad for business.”
 
“Have we environmentalists fallen for illusions, ‘green’ illusions, that are anything but green, because we’re scared that this is the end — and we’ve pinned all our hopes on things like solar panels and wind turbines? No amount of batteries are going to save us, and that is the urgent warning of this film.”
 
This compelling, must-see movie – a full-frontal assault on our sacred cows – is guaranteed to generate anger, debate, and, hopefully, a willingness to see our survival in a new way—before it’s too late.
 
Planet of the Humans, which will be available for free on YouTube for the next 30 days, becomes the first documentary project to be released under the Rumble Media banner, and represents Rumble’s first venture with YouTube. Rumble Media launched in December of 2019 with the podcast, “RUMBLE with Michael Moore.” The podcast has now amassed more than 9 million downloads in its first four months. 
 
More information about the film is available at www.planetofthehumans.com. 
 
Jeff Gibbs, Writer, Producer, Director
Ozzie Zehner, Producer
Michael Moore, Executive Producer