The Human Survival Podcast

Inequality & Environmental Destruction: How Economic Hitmen Keep Countries Poor | John Perkins

Global poverty isn't just a result of history - it's an active system designed to extract resources from developing countries while keeping them in debt. Former economic hitman John Perkins reveals how corporations and wealthy nations impoverish the places with the most resources, and why this threatens humanity's survival. We explore the connections between inequality, environmental destruction, and our global economic system, plus what each of us can do to transform the "death economy" into a "life economy." John Perkins spent decades as chief economist at a major consulting firm, advising the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and Fortune 500 corporations on projects around the world. But he was actually functioning as an "economic hitman" - engineering massive debt that allows corporations to control developing countries' resources. Before that life, he lived in the Amazon rainforest studying with shamans, and he's continued that work alongside his career as an author, speaker and activist. His bestselling book "Confessions of an Economic Hitman" exposed how the global economy really works. His other books include “Shapeshifting”, "Touching the Jaguar", and most recently, the novel "Message from Pleiades." And he's a founder of the Pachamama Alliance, working with indigenous people to protect the Amazon rainforest and all of Earth’s ecosystems. TAKE ACTION: -- Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it -- Sign up for our email newsletter: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect [https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect] You can also watch this show on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/I5YEqBTb0wU [https://youtu.be/I5YEqBTb0wU] ABOUT THE HUMAN SURVIVAL PROJECT: The Human Survival Project combines two essential truths: humanity faces existential threats to our civilization, and these global threats require global management through a redesigned and much stronger United Nations. We're building what's never existed before—a global grassroots movement that creates the citizen pressure needed to transform global governance. While others develop policy solutions, we mobilize the public support to implement them. Connect with us: Website: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org [https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org] Newsletter: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect [https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehumansurvivalproject [https://www.instagram.com/thehumansurvivalproject] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehumansurvivalproject [https://www.facebook.com/thehumansurvivalproject] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehumansurvivalproject [https://www.tiktok.com/@thehumansurvivalproject] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-human-survival-project [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-human-survival-project]  This work is urgent. This moment in history demands action. Thank you for being part of this movement to protect humanity's future. RESOURCES: John Perkins’ website https://johnperkins.org [https://johnperkins.org]  John’s latest book, "Message From Pleiades" https://johnperkins.org/message-from-pleiades [https://johnperkins.org/message-from-pleiades]  Pachamama Alliance https://pachamama.org/ [https://pachamama.org/]  Dream Change https://www.dreamchange.org/  [https://www.dreamchange.org/]  The Divide, by Jason Hickel https://www.jasonhickel.org/the-divide  [https://www.jasonhickel.org/the-divide]  TIMESTAMPS: 0:01 - Introduction 1:02 - The Human Survival Project - latest news 7:01 - John Perkins introduction and background 7:52 - What is an economic hitman? 10:15 - Shelby's perspective shift on global poverty 12:30 - How the corporate empire system works 16:53 - Who's really doing the corrupting? 21:18 - Why infrastructure money never reaches local communities 22:45 - Historical context - 200,000 years of human cooperation 24:00 - Global forces overwhelming indigenous communities 25:00 - Texaco in Ecuador - the propaganda and the reality 27:40 - Amazon destruction and environmental tipping points 28:49 - Amazon soil and climate cycles 30:32 - Economics destroying millions of years of evolution 31:00 - Mayan civilization - a cautionary tale 33:39 - Solutions: What should we do? 34:10 - Death economy vs. life economy 36:51 - Corporate responsibility and policy challenges 39:00 - The five questions for personal transformation 44:20 - We're all collaborators in the system 45:35 - American Revolution analogy - critical mass for change 47:06 - Arthur Ashe quote: "Start where you are" 47:53 - How can the world help developing countries? 49:53 - China's economic success vs. US mistakes 52:00 - Fair deals instead of exploitation 53:02 - Final thoughts and what we've missed 56:05 - John leading tours to the Amazon 57:01 - We're evolving as a species

Feeding Ourselves While Protecting The Planet: Miranda Mertes, Agroecology Researcher & Advocate

The current ways we grow food for 8 billion humans are damaging the planet - and it’s harder to grow food on a damaged planet.  Industrial farming methods produce plentiful food, but also contribute to climate change, deforestation, pollution, soil degradation and water depletion.  Ironically, the systems that have brought affordable food to so many people around the world could lead to high food costs and starvation, as farmers try to grow food amid the unraveling of planetary systems. Some facts: * Humans have replaced half of all Nature with agriculture.  80% of that agricultural land is used to grow meat. * The expansion of land for agriculture is the leading driver of deforestation and biodiversity loss. * Food systems account for one-third of greenhouse gas emissions and at least 15% of fossil fuel use. Our food systems leave 900 million people with food insecurity and over 3 billion people unable to afford a healthy diet. We need some big solutions.  And luckily, there are ways to grow food in harmony with nature and climate.  Many smart people are figuring this out.  One of them is today’s guest. Miranda Mertes is a final semester master’s student studying Agroecology at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.  She earned her bachelor’s degrees in Animal Science and Sustainable Food and Farming from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and focuses her current work on sustainable livestock systems.  She is passionate about regenerative agriculture and food systems justice, among other agroecological topics. ----- The Human Survival Podcast is hosted by Shelby Mertes. This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a global grassroots organization pushing for a redesigned and much stronger United Nations, so humanity has the global tools to manage its global existential threats. We’re working to protect the future of humanity and create a world we can be proud of. ** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org [https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org] ** Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect [https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect] This show is also on YouTube.  You can watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/RSVHCaKZB_Q [https://youtu.be/RSVHCaKZB_Q]  Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show. Find us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/thehumansurvivalproject [https://www.instagram.com/thehumansurvivalproject] https://www.facebook.com/thehumansurvivalproject [https://www.facebook.com/thehumansurvivalproject] https://www.tiktok.com/@thehumansurvivalproject [https://www.tiktok.com/@thehumansurvivalproject] https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-human-survival-project [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-human-survival-project]   RESOURCES: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences https://www.slu.se/en/ [https://www.slu.se/en/] Agroecology Fund - What Is Agroecology? https://agroecologyfund.org/what-is-agroecology/ [https://agroecologyfund.org/what-is-agroecology/]  Global Alliance For The Future Of Food - May 2024 Cultivating Change: A Collaborative Philanthropic Initiative to Accelerate and Scale Agroecology and Regenerative Approaches. This report outlines public policy and funding necessary to transition globally to regenerative and agroecological food and farming systems. https://story.futureoffood.org/cultivating-change/index.html [https://story.futureoffood.org/cultivating-change/index.html] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Agroecology Knowledge Hub https://www.fao.org/agroecology/home/en/ [https://www.fao.org/agroecology/home/en/] Agroecology Coalition https://agroecology-coalition.org/ [https://agroecology-coalition.org/] United Nations Food waste awareness https://www.un.org/en/observances/end-food-waste-day [https://www.un.org/en/observances/end-food-waste-day] Our World In Data If the world adopted a plant-based diet, we would reduce global agricultural land use from 4 to 1 billion hectares. https://ourworldindata.org/land-use-diets [https://ourworldindata.org/land-use-diets]    TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Intro 1:15 Welcome Miranda. 4:30 How Miranda got into sustainable agriculture. 6:30 The large scale of agriculture-related environmental concerns. 8:00 Regenerative agriculture.  Soil health.   9:20 Climate emissions - fertilizer, machinery, methane 10:15 Runoff, nutrient leaching, dead zones in waterways 11:20 Erosion, loss of topsoil, soil degradation 14:05 Let’s talk about solutions!! 15:50 What is agroecology? 19:55 Farmers’ interaction with industry, economy, governments, etc. 20:55 Attitudes about “conventional” farmers.  Farmers’ struggles. 24:00 Corporatization of agriculture 27:15 Science-driven policymaking vs lobbyist-driven policymaking 31:20 How is agricultural policy handled globally? 33:45 Agriculture practice and policy in developing countries 39:50 Support for farmers 44:10 Agroforestry 46:30 More farming without killing forests 48:50 Challenges of transitioning to new farming methods 51:30 Most people disconnected from where their food comes from 54:15 Individual responsibility vs public policy solutions

Maintaining Sanity As The World Falls Apart: Eva Jahn, Climate Emotional Resilience Institute

As we face the polycrisis of existential threats like climate change, nuclear weapons, pandemics and more, it’s common to feel difficult emotions like fear, anxiety, depression, guilt and anger. These feelings can make day-to-day life difficult, and can also keep our society from mobilizing public policies to solve these problems. Psychotherapists have seen a dramatic increase in clients struggling to cope with the state of the world. As more and more people face these issues, it could overwhelm traditional mental health systems and require new forms of peer support. Fortunately, there is a growing network of professionals innovating new approaches to these mental health issues. One of them is today’s guest, Eva Jahn. She is a licensed psychotherapist in private practice, and is also co-founder and executive director of the Climate Emotional Resilience Institute. CERI is a group of climate-aware psychotherapists, psychologists and other helping professionals around the world working at the intersection of mental health and our planetary crisis. ----- The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes. This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a global grassroots organization pushing for a redesigned and much stronger United Nations, so humanity has the global tools to manage its global existential threats. We’re working to protect the future of humanity and create a world we can be proud of. ** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org [https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org] ** Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect [https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect] This show is also on YouTube.  You can watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/LyYnUxPAW8Q [https://youtu.be/LyYnUxPAW8Q]  Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show. Find us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/thehumansurvivalproject [https://www.instagram.com/thehumansurvivalproject] https://www.facebook.com/thehumansurvivalproject [https://www.facebook.com/thehumansurvivalproject] https://www.tiktok.com/@thehumansurvivalproject [https://www.tiktok.com/@thehumansurvivalproject] https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-human-survival-project [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-human-survival-project] ----- RESOURCES: Climate Emotional Resilience Institute (CERI) https://climateemotionalresilience.org [https://climateemotionalresilience.org] Eva’s website https://www.evajahn.com [https://www.evajahn.com] CERI Climate Cafes - Spaces to share experiences and feelings related to this polycrisis. Blog post about Climate Cafes: https://bit.ly/4gLRdgx [https://bit.ly/4gLRdgx] Upcoming Cafes are scheduled January 30 & March 8 https://bit.ly/3DyHvz9 [https://bit.ly/3DyHvz9] CERI's Thicket Course - Thicket is an eight-week online experiential training program for medical and mental health providers, educators, activists, researchers, public servants and others confronting this polycrisis in their work and beyond. This course offers support in emotional resilience through nature journeys, contemplative practices, community support and resources to engage with.  The next course starting in January will be running through the Bioneers Learning Platform. https://bit.ly/4iVo3g2 [https://bit.ly/4iVo3g2] Climate Psychology Alliance North America - The umbrella organization for everything Climate Psychology. Find groups, resources, training, events, and other organizations on their website. https://bit.ly/3BUK79Z [https://bit.ly/3BUK79Z] Good Grief Network GGN runs peer-to-peer 10-step groups https://bit.ly/4iRjtj6 [https://bit.ly/4iRjtj6] Psychology for a Safe Climate (Australia) https://bit.ly/3ZPIdQ9 [https://bit.ly/3ZPIdQ9] Resilience and Acceptance in the Face of Collapse This 9-week course explores the state of the world and how individuals and communities can be resilient in challenging times. It is educational and a chance for participants to support each other.  Shelby has done this course and highly recommends it. https://bit.ly/3VZM3VB [https://bit.ly/3VZM3VB] 350.org Resources for Care and Resilience For use by individuals or teams/groups https://bit.ly/3VXyRjY [https://bit.ly/3VXyRjY] New York Times Magazine Climate Change Is Keeping Therapists Up at Night How anxiety about the planet’s future is transforming the practice of psychotherapy https://bit.ly/3Pfgfse [https://bit.ly/3Pfgfse] How to Find Joy in Climate Action | Ayana Elizabeth Johnson | TED https://bit.ly/3PfggfM [https://bit.ly/3PfggfM] Jem Bendell The Collapse of Ideology and the End of Escape https://bit.ly/49YziR8 [https://bit.ly/49YziR8]   TIMESTAMPS: 1:30 - Introduction 5:00 -  Why Eva started Climate Emotional Resilience Institute 9:20 - “Climate Hostage” 11:10 - Getting people to talk openly about climate change, instead of staying silent 13:55 - Overwhelmed by the hyper-object 16:05 - Why traditional psychology is not equipped for our new climate reality 22:00 - Dealing with uncertainty 23:40 - Peer support, climate cafes 29:45 - Emotional healing to support political activism 36:10 - Ecological self vs. consumer self 39:20 - Connection in nature / loneliness in society 45:00 - Managing anger 49:50 - Anxiety of future threats vs. anxiety of current threats. Pre-traumatic stress disorder.   54:45 - Overcoming hopelessness by finding purpose 59:15 - How to feel empowered while facing huge problems 1:00:25 - Joanna Macy, “The Great Turning” 1:05:25 - Social change can happen quickly. Tipping points. 1:08:25 - Emotional support for activists 1:12:45 - What should people know about CERI? 1:16:25- Hope 1:23:35 - “Polycrisis” - many interconnected crises

Can We Have A Successful A.I. Future?: Sam Samanne, author and tech entrepreneur

In public conversations about artificial intelligence, we hear how AI will solve all of our problems and make us all happy and prosperous, or how it will destroy society or make humans extinct.  How do we balance these extremes, and figure out how to manage AI properly? Here on The Human Survival Podcast we have usually expressed alarm about the potential dangers of AI and other technology, and urged strong public policy to manage them.  But in this episode, we speak to someone with a more optimistic view on AI, and explore many ways AI could help solve humanity’s existential threats and strengthen our society. Sam Sammane envisions a world where the rapid advancements in AI and technology are harnessed for the greater good, leading to a new age of global prosperity.  He is a seasoned entrepreneur and has co-founded and led multiple successful companies in the life sciences, IT and real estate industries. He earned a Bachelor's and Master's in Applied Physics, a Master's in Digital Circuit Design, and a Ph.D. in Nanotechnology, and has authored several articles on high-order logic, symbolic simulation, and automatic theorem proving.  He is the author of the upcoming book, "The Singularity of Hope”, which aims to guide readers through the challenges and opportunities of the AI era, advocating for a harmonious fusion of human intelligence and machine capabilities. ----- The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes. This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a global grassroots organization pushing for a redesigned and much stronger United Nations, so humanity has the global tools to manage its global existential threats.  We’re working to protect the future of humanity and create a world we can be proud of. ** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/ [https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/] **  Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect [https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect]   This show is also on YouTube.  Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/4xefk47v5rE?si=G0y0Lm4ODnnKDfSN [https://youtu.be/4xefk47v5rE?si=G0y0Lm4ODnnKDfSN]  Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show.  Find us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/thehumansurvivalproject/ [https://www.instagram.com/thehumansurvivalproject/]  https://www.facebook.com/thehumansurvivalproject [https://www.facebook.com/thehumansurvivalproject]   https://www.tiktok.com/@thehumansurvivalproject [https://www.tiktok.com/@thehumansurvivalproject]   https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-human-survival-project/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-human-survival-project/]     ----- RESOURCES: Sam’s website: https://www.sammane.com/ [https://www.sammane.com/] Buy Sam’s book, The Singularity of Hope https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CVNLBGSG [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CVNLBGSG] 80,000 Hours Podcast #120 – Audrey Tang on what we can learn from Taiwan’s experiments with how to do democracy https://80000hours.org/podcast/episodes/audrey-tang-what-we-can-learn-from-taiwan/ [https://80000hours.org/podcast/episodes/audrey-tang-what-we-can-learn-from-taiwan/] The Human Survival Podcast Building the AI Pause Button: Joep Meindertsma - Pause AI https://youtu.be/PUdAysiU4_s?si=Em2k7aAv3oiP-rqu [https://youtu.be/PUdAysiU4_s?si=Em2k7aAv3oiP-rqu] The Human Survival Podcast Keeping Technology from Breaking Society: Wendell Wallach - Carnegie Council https://youtu.be/PXAlbG7M3s8?si=iceQy3JX_tUZzqOf [https://youtu.be/PXAlbG7M3s8?si=iceQy3JX_tUZzqOf]

IMMIGRATION - What We’re Not Talking About: Shelby Mertes, The Human Survival Project

Immigration seems to be the biggest issue discussed in this year’s U.S. presidential campaign between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.  The United States (and the world) is struggling to handle the large migrations of people due to poverty, war, political turmoil and environmental catastrophe.  Trump and other Republicans are calling immigrants murderers, rapists, drug dealers and pet eaters.  Democrats are calling Republicans racists, and not really addressing their concerns about crime, jobs, housing and economic impacts.  And neither party is talking about the dramatic increases in migration that are likely in the coming years, and how to manage that.  Most people are just spewing anger at each other, without much problem solving. The Human Survival Project works to promote solutions to migration, among other issues, and prides itself on explaining complicated issues in ways that everyone can understand.  So in this episode, we get beyond the angry soundbites to address some misunderstandings about immigration, and offer real solutions that might actually work. This episode is based on a LOT of research.  We want you to see the resources we used, to verify what we’ve offered in this talk, and to support you in learning more.  You can find all these resources on our website here:   https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/post/immigration-what-we-re-not-talking-about-shelby-mertes-the-human-survival-project [https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/post/immigration-what-we-re-not-talking-about-shelby-mertes-the-human-survival-project]  ----- The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes. This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a global grassroots organization pushing for a redesigned and much stronger United Nations, so humanity has the global tools to manage its global existential threats.  We’re working to protect the future of humanity and create a world we can be proud of. ** Connect and learn more at: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/ [https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/] **  Sign up for our email newsletter, or send Shelby a message with any questions or suggestions: https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect [https://www.thehumansurvivalproject.org/connect]  This show is also on YouTube.  You can watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/xgTfavIrWTc?si=P9lNHAVquDeqcE_G [https://youtu.be/xgTfavIrWTc?si=P9lNHAVquDeqcE_G] Please subscribe and tell your friends about the show.  Find us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/thehumansurvivalproject/ [https://www.instagram.com/thehumansurvivalproject/] https://www.facebook.com/thehumansurvivalproject [https://www.facebook.com/thehumansurvivalproject] https://www.tiktok.com/@thehumansurvivalproject [https://www.tiktok.com/@thehumansurvivalproject] https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-human-survival-project/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-human-survival-project/]  Thanks for listening!