Subject: Statement of Purpose (fwd)

From: Larry London <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1993 12:10:33 -0400 (EDT)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1993 04:01:12 -0700
From: Mark Harrington <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Subject: Statement of Purpose

Salutations Friends,

Welcome, to a GRAND EXPERIMENT!  You are currently subscribed to 
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                SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND NEW CULTURES
                        CREATING THE NEXT...MYTH

Statement of Purpose:

The Ecozoic era is waking!  The Industrial Revolution has erroded the very
earth from beneath it's crumbling foundation.  The architecture of the 
"developed" world is crumbling, surpassing it's limits to growth!  The
current path of "development" is absolutely non sustainable!  In a 
sustainable world 8% of the worlds population will no longer be able to
continue exploiting 30% of the worlds resources, as the US currently does.

Many developing countries have been either coerced or seduced into follow-
ing the smae dead end path.  They are often two-fold losers.  On the one
hand they often lose their traditional values, trading wisdom and exper-
ience for "modern development".  On the other hand, few if any, will achieve 
a fraction of the affluence of their "mentors".  Indeed, most will exper-
ience a diminished sense of self, culture, and environment, as they take
the non-sustainable path North.

"Development", as life in a sustainable world, will of necessity be very
different from our current experience.  Sustainable development is the 
process of cultures co-evolving and creating a new global context of
partnership.  New modes of understanding, respect and understanding of
humanities interaction and relationship with the biosphere: virus, mineral,
plant, animal etc.  For life in it's totality is interconnected and
interdependent!

It is essential that humanity aquire new conceptual landscapes, navigational
tools and modes of being.  Inter-human and biospheric relationships are
in metamorphosis!  We live in an era of great portent!  Will we take the 
next evolutionary step, or continue...as histories echoes resound...
reminding us of the consequences of continued human and environmental
disequillibrium.

We need to re-evaluate and gain deeper understanding of the realms of:
culture, mythology, science, economics, time, anthropology, lifestyles,
agriculture, technology, philosophy and religion etc.  We need to understand 
and experience the common tides which wash between these shores.  We need to
draw upon the experience and genius of all cultures in order to create a
greater vision, harvest a deeper wisdom, and create the new multidimensional
landscapes of possibility which a sustainable world requires.

I envision this as a computer assisted forum where mythical meetings are
commonplace.  A multi-cultural playground where participants converge,
to meet on new plateau's of partnership, understanding and co-creation.
Where multi-cultural insights, inspiration, seeds and tools are freely
share and our collective humanity and common destiny is deepened from the
experience.

Discussions will range from practical and specific ideas for integrating
daily living, to wild philosophical voyages in future possible worlds.
For we are the modern myth-makers and visionaries! TAKE COMMUNION

To more fully engage this experiment I suggest you consider the following:

This is a sacred space!  As you enter or interact with this space create
a multi-hued painting in your mind, which represent that which is holy
to you.  It may be a moss covered stone beside a mountain stream, a mosque,
a synagogue, a chapel, or ?

Your keystrokes are stepping stones which draw you toward a calm and 
peaceful center.  You may have some sacred music, song or mantra which
further guides you on this journey.

What we experience and share in this space is not limited to our past
or our "normal" dimension of experience.  This is a journey of discovery,
creation and communion.  New ideas, modes of thinking and being and tools
of transformation will be forged.  You the sojourner return with these
gifts.  Your return heralds personal and global metamorphosis, conflict
resolution, the return of the sacred, expansive compassion, harmony and
completion.  Foundation stones for a Sustainable World!

-- 
Mark Harrington

email: [email-masked]
phone: (H) 707-526-0867
       (W) 707-576-2434