Driving+Forces+for+Collapse+4.doc

Driving Forces for Collapse. Motto: // Survival+…// The World in 2050 is one of collaborative living and local community. It is a period of renovation and creative innovation. Common practices that were familiar to the old consumer societies of the past have become very limited and in many cases disappeared all together. Things like food and water are no longer imported from around the World but rather are grown, cultivated, and consumed in the same local communities. For example, in Hawaii access to resources have drastically changed being that it is isolated in the mid-Pacific and being so has fallen back entirely on its own resources. From afar this way of life may seem as simply degeneration to the old Hawaiian and or hunting/gathering communities of the past, but in reality they are much more advanced taking the knowledge of the past and combining it with the technologies of more recently affluent societies. The cultural influences have changed drastically as well since people able to flee--typically the wealthiest inhabitants and property owners from Japan, North America, and Europe--did so, resulting in massive depopulation and initial economic chaos, allowing for imaginative advances in technology and restructuring of the fundamental organization of local community groups. Hawaii’s population is now approximately 515,279--less than one third of what it was in 2000, this society has come to be known as the survival+. The survival+ society is one of many local self-sufficient communities in the World today; all these communities have similar techniques involved in progressing and doing so in an efficient and resource conscious way. This survival+ World is tied much more so to the common people of their communities as opposed to the consume-all corporate/financial ties of the past. Survival+ people literally live and die off each other, thus emerging is a renewed respect for all organic life. Failure, in this context, means death, and the close relationship between living and dying constantly reminds the survivors of the long-term consequences of failing to respect the limitations of the living environment in which they inhabit. Limited access to technology is seen worldwide. On the Hawaiian Islands technology is limited even more so due to its proximity to the mainland, outside influences on the progression of technology, and less communication to neighboring societies. Though most of the memories left by the earlier consume-all society were of overuse and irresponsible exploitation of natural and man made resources, some of the technologies of that time are still useful in this new; integrated and resourceful survival+ society. The materials left from abandoned structures and scientifically modified plant life are just two examples of resources made available through the consume-all society. Due to the fact that natural resources such as fossil fuels and oil have run dry the survival+ society is entirely dependent on alternative sources. However, a push to attain new methods of sustainable energy develops worldwide. Hawaii’s natural resources become the primary energy sources; water, wind, solar, geothermal, and food energy. The main goals of the survival+ are to 1) produce conservation technology, and products to create a survival society**.** Through teaching and facilitation of learning, with major emphasis on community service and community-oriented production, Hawaii as with the rest of the World is focusing on conserving and sustainable community. 2) The atmosphere is one of trial and error; with the society being referred to as survival+ it is understood that surviving is the main goal, but not just for our generation, but also with a conscientious approach to life; as to respect the future for those who come after us. Due to the extreme change in available land because of the rise of sea level and climate change, most of the inhabitants live in small community groups. These groups are nomadic in the sense that they follow the natural resources through out the year, moving season by season. During the rainy season most live in the mountains and farmlands, tending to their crops and animals. During the dry season they can be found closer to the shore, fishing and developing natural resources from the ocean. Although these communities are small and resourceful, they are still forced to pay for the many environmental mistakes made from the societies of the past. The pesticides and fertilizers of the past have contaminated many springs and natural filtering systems, making the task of attaining clean drinking water much more of a challenge than in previous societies. The environmental hazard of floating debris left from ravaged buildings and even still corroding submerged skyscrapers has become a fearful reality for all in the survival+ society. The global economic failure resulted in the weakening of world trade. Weakening began as a lack of trust, but is now attributed to a lack of access. Economies have turned inward and are focusing on self-sustainability and growing in a functional, livable, enjoyable environment. Economies and are no longer consumed by competition but rather survival and in Hawaii there is no outside trading or importation, except for very limited inter island contact. New languages have developed around the globe due to the random collection of people at the end of the consume-all society. In Hawaii, a derivative of the Hawaiian language with influences of Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, Korean, and English has lead to the creation of a new language, which is recognized as "Local language." The concept of a nuclear family has dissipated and a communal responsibility for the adolescent has taken its place. Individuals are encouraged to take partners but live in large groups taking turns providing the necessities and conveniences for each other. The government structure of the old consumer society has vanished due to lack of communication and a focus towards local survival. The idea of governing from distant locations becomes obsolete, yet the old notion of belonging to a community of locations does remain and although there is no visible input from outside influences, local communities, when spoken about as a whole are still referenced in the old sense of nations. For example Hawaii remains a U.S. state, but functions more independently due to isolation and lack of connection to the mainland. In light of establishing an overarching governing system for all the community groups, a consensual, direct input, community structure is set in place. Even amid the struggles to adapt to the new reality of loss resources and limited conveniences, most people are more active, healthier, and happier than their ancestors were for many decades. Life is meaningful, secure, crime-free, and very good! in the content of your page here.