Critical-Challenges-Assessment

A critical challenges assessment of this nature may seem like an ambitious project (see below Table of Contents); however, the Internet makes it possible for people to become familiar with the work of many people who have already spent a lifetime working in fields of activity relating to these challenges. My goal in this project is to identify what I believe are relevant observations from credible sources, and illustrate that there is compelling evidence to support the ten point list I’ve made as real critical challenges ahead. I’m not trying to provide a comprehensive case on each challenges; just enough to bring the ten points more into public discussion—and enough to encourage local communities to consider many of these points in their own assessments. If there are many people in a local community who believe that many of these challenges are critical challenges which need to be mitigated soon—that community might be willing to consider the potential of the combination of preliminary surveys, Community Visioning Initiatives and “Community Teaching and Learning Centers” as a way to maximize citizen participation in identifying local specific challenges and local specific solutions. And I believe such a process could really energize solution-oriented activity—and create much solution-oriented employment.

As to whether the evidence provided in “Statistics and Observations” sections for each challenge provides a fair hearing to different points of view, I will say this. I believe that all of the challenges on the ten point list qualify as critical challenges which may have a negative impact on a significant number of people, in communities around the world. This means I believe that there are “many danger signs flashing now”, and that there is a need for problem solving on a scale most of us have never known before. Since this is what I believe, I feel it is my responsibility to bring forward the most credible evidence available to support that. If there are other people who believe that there is significant evidence which illustrates minimal risk and danger associated with these challenges, and much more risk and danger associated with other challenges, it is up to them to bring forward evidence which supports their views.

Most other information and commentary made accessible on this page will be in the form of links to pdf files associated with the Table of Contents provided below. This writer hopes that visitors to this IPCR website who glance at the current Table of Contents for this project will agree that some very critical decisions will be made on these issues (one way or another) in the months and years ahead—and also agree that if they assist this project (or ones similar to this) with comments, suggestions, and recommendations, such assistance can help much with “reframing public discourse”. People who would like to contribute comments, suggestions, recommendations, etc may do so in the new IPCR Discussion Forum (accessible by way of navigation at the top of this page), or by sending a email to me (Stefan Pasti) at stefanpasti@ipcri.net .

Here is the current Table of Contents for “IPCR Critical Challenges Assessment 2011-2012”. This section is organized so that drafts of different sections, and posts describing such drafts, can be easily located. As readers can see, at this point on September 11, 2011, there are only a few drafts and posts that have been made accessible. More will be coming soon, though.

IPCR Critical Challenges Assessment 2011-2012

Table of Contents

Introduction (draft accessible)

Section 1. Global warming and reducing carbon emissions

Section 2. “Cultures” of violence, greed, corruption, and overindulgence—which have become so common that many of us accept such as inevitable; which are a significant part of the current crises of confidence in financial markets; and which are in many ways slowing the restructuring of investment priorities needed to respond to an increasing number of other critical challenges

Section 3. The end of the era of “cheap energy” (particularly in reference to Peak Oil)

Section 4. The increasing world population and its implications relating to widespread resource depletion

(with special focus on the increasing number of people who are consuming material goods and ecological resources indiscriminately)

Section 5. Current trends indicate that we are creating more and more “urban agglomerations” (cities with a population of more than 1 million people—more than 400), which require more and more complex and energy intensive infrastructures, where it is more and more difficult to trace the consequences of our individuals investments of time, energy, and money—and which are the least appropriate models when it comes to implementing resolutions to many of the other challenges in this ten point assessment

Section 6. The U.S. and many other countries will enter the next 15 to 20 years burdened by substantial public debt, possibly leading to higher interest rates, higher taxes, and tighter credit

Section 7. A marginalization of the treasured wisdom associated with religious, spiritual, and moral traditions

Section 8. Global inequities and the tragic cycles of malnutrition, disease, and death

Section 9. Community building associated with responding to the above eight challenges may or may not be accompanied by an exponential increase in compassion for our fellow human beings.

In such circumstances, shortages of goodwill in times of unprecedented transition could tilt already precarious systems into further disarray, and thus erode established systems in even the most stable communities

and regions

Section 10. Sorting out what are real challenges and what are sound and practical solutions is becoming more and more difficult, as there are now, in most communities of the world, a multitude of ideas of all kinds coming to the fore in personal, family, community, and cultural life—all at the same time

Concluding Comments

SO C LTPDD

KEY

SO = “Statistics and Observations” section

C = “Commentary” section

LTPDD = Links to Posts Describing Drafts

Draft = draft accessible (with link provided)

Post = post accessible (with link provided)

NEW!

The IPCR Initiative

Interfaith Peacebuilding and Community Revitalization

Update Notice (August, 2012): A “second edition”/update of "Calling 'the better angels of our nature: A Multi-Angle View of the Debt Crises" (398 pages, January 2012) is now available. The updated version is now titled “IPCR Critical Challenges Assessment 2011-2012: Summary Report” (444 pages, August 2012), and is accessible from the homepage of The IPCR Initiative (www.ipcri.net )—and from this link. The title page of the new document provides information about the additions which were made to the original “Multi-Angle” document.

Draft

Introduction

(the "Multi-Angle" document)