Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Part I Living Earth
Planetary Life Support Systems and their Interdependence 5
1 Foundations 7
Gaia Theory and Earth system science
The sea
The air
The rock
The forests
The underworld
The salt of the Earth
2 Origins 18
Cosmic
Planetary
Irregularities
3 The Elements and Cycles 23
The elements
The cycles
Emiliania huxleyi
4 Communities and Networks 36
The matrix of life
Micro-societies
Teaming up
Networking
Waste management
5 Feedback Systems 45
6 Diversity, Complexity, and Abundance 51
Part II Global Disruption
Symptoms, Causes, and Reasons for Global Disintegration 55
Planetary boundaries
Reclaiming our language
7 The Sixth Mass Extinction 68
8 Habitat Destruction 74
Fragmentation
9 Invasive Species 84
Mass Mortality Events (MMEs)
Pandemics
10 Pollution 94
Plastics
Nano waste
Chemical
Genetics
Radioactivity
Sonar and noise pollution
Light pollution
Microwaves
Health
11 Population 137
The big taboo
Migration
12 Overconsumption 152
Water
Fishing
Agribusiness
Livestock
Insane Trade
13 Energy and "Progress" 174
Less is enough: Degrowth
14 Climate Disruption 188
Reasons for wildfires
Smoke and mirrors: Strategies of disinformation
Misbeliefs and facts
The carbon discussion
Livestock GHG emissions
Regenerative agriculture
Electric cars
Methane
Tipping points and Hothouse Earth
The jet stream
Conclusion
The Green New Deal
The UN Sustainable Development Goals
"Development"
Part III The Human Interface
Ethics and Dignity in an Era of Barbarism 251
15 Why Does So Little Happen, and So Slowly? 253
Fear and denial
The rising
16 Anthropocentrism 267
Wétiko
The first lie: "Everything is war"
The second lie: "The march of progress"
The third lie: "The pinnacle of intelligence"
17 The Ecocentric Worldview 284
Core Principles of Ecocentrism
18 A Budding Future 288
Earth Law
Stopping ecocide
Values
Schooling
Circular economy
Harmony
Responsibility
19 Finding Hope, Courage, and Strength 301
Afterword 305
Glossary 308
Source References 316
Picture Credits 375
Further Reading 377
About the Author 378
Index 379
