As I wrote yesterday, capitalism is killing Mother Earth, and us.  Capitalocene indicates how capitalism, driven by fossil fuels, wantonly destroys nature and oppresses millions to achieve material production and wealth.

The story in today’s New York Times contains graphics that clearly show the warming from greenhouse gas emissions that has occurred as a result, and forecasts the continued warming in the future. Earth’s Warming Continued in 2017. And That Was Without El Niño. Among other things, the story tells of how Cape Town, South Africa, with a population of 3.4 million people, will probably run out of water within 90 days, because of extended drought from warming. Many more cities will soon suffer the same fate.

We are immersed in a capitalistic society.  To say this is not sustainable is basically the definition of the word.  We have to begin to build a better system now. We each need to look to our own lives, as Quaker John Woolman expressed it so well–in the 1700s!!

“Oh! that we who declare against wars, and acknowledge our trust to be in God only, may walk in the light, and therein examine our foundation and motives in holding great estates! May we look upon our treasures, and the furniture of our houses, and the garments in which we array ourselves, and try whether the seeds of war have nourishment in these our possessions, or not. Holding treasures in the self-pleasing spirit is a strong plant, the fruit whereof ripens fast.

A day of outward distress is coming, and Divine love calls to prepare against it. Hearken then, O ye children who have known the light, and come forth. Leave everything which Jesus Christ does not own. Think not his pattern too plain, too coarse for you. Think not a small portion in this life too little. But let us live in his spirit, and walk as he walked: so shall we be preserved in the greatest troubles. “       John Woolman, A Plea for the Poor