Virgin Earth Challenge, Gaia-Capitalism, & Religion
Filed in: Gaia
By Kat Vaughan
The Virgin Earth Challenge, a joint partnership formed by Richard Branson and Al Gore, is a prize of $25 million for "a commercially viable design which results in the removal of anthropogenic, atmospheric greenhouse gases so as to contribute materially to the stability of Earth’s climate." There is a panel of five judges - all "world authorities" in their respective industries: Al Gore, Sir Crispin Tickell, Tim Flannery, Jim Hansen and James Lovelock. Interestingly, the birth of the Virgin Earth Prize* is one of a several initiatives investing in renewable energy research, development and production as part of Virgin Group's "Gaia Capitalism" project and a $3 billion dollar Clinton Initiative pledge (Sept 2006).
Amongst many intriguing issues related to this initiative, is why Virgin chose the term "Gaia Capitalism"? Gaia or Gaea, a term from ancient Greek mythology, means earth goddess and mother of Cronus and the Titans in ancient mythology. Capitalism, or private enterprise system, is an economic system based on private ownership of the production and distribution of goods. I think it is very interesting that Branson and his group would coin "Gaia Capitalism" in light of what both words mean and the agenda of Gore, Lovelock and friends. More and more, I see the hardcore preaching of global warming rooted in a cult-like, enviro-religion of worshiping the so-called mother earth instead of the Creator God.
James Lovelock is the man behind the Gaia Theory (now called "Earth System Science") and frequently quoted in Al Gore's book "Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit". In a discussion on BlogCatalog, I posted my blog post "Nobel Peace Prize 2007: Gore, Climate Change & Religion" and opened it up to the BlogCatalog Community, resulting in over 400 responses. In the thread, I asked the community if Gore thinks climate change is a religious issue, based upon Gore's Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech and interview where he claimed the following: "It is time to make peace with the planet" and "We face a true planetary emergency. The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity."
Interestingly, but not surprisingly, multi-billionaire and founder of the Virgin megabrand, Richard Branson, was recently dubbed United Nations' Citizen of the Year for his eco-advocacy. (Click here to learn more about his recent interview with Time Magazine, what inspired me to dig deeper with his cause).
Getting back to the Virgin Earth Challenge, let's look at what each of the judges said at a press conference:
Al Gore - “Carbon dioxide levels already are far above anything measured in the prior 650,000 year record, and just last week in Paris scientists gave us their strongest warning yet of the consequences of inaction. So the dangers are clear. But the opportunities, if we take action now, are innumerable, and Sir Richard’s initiative to stimulate exploration of this new approach to the climate crisis is important and welcome.”
Sounds like Gore thinks humankind has the ability to stop global warming. Yet, climate change is part of the earth's natural cycle. Evidence is coming out almost daily to prove this and yet Gore and his groupies continue to preach about a man-caused global warming. Check out this great resource here about "Global Climate Change Facts: The Truth, The Consensus, and the Skeptics", as well as an NPR podcast called "Three Views on Global Warming".
James Lovelock - "To escape the consequences of global heating we need far more than Kyoto, far more than renewable energy and sustainable development. What we need is a near miracle to undo the harm that we have done. Sir Richard Branson's hugely generous prize could sow the seeds for a miraculous invention that would let us make a sustainable retreat to that lush and comfortable world we once knew. We have all spent far too long sleepwalking towards extinction."
Lovelock founded the Gaia Theory (now called a branch of Science!). According to Wikipedia, "The Gaia hypothesis is an ecological hypothesis that proposes that living and nonliving parts of the earth are viewed as a complex interacting system that can be thought of as a single organism. Named after the Greek earth goddess, this hypothesis postulates that all living things have a regulatory effect on the Earth's environment that promotes life overall." Many people, including me, think that the Gaia hypothesis is rooted in a neo-pagan new age (old age) religion.
Sir Crispin Tickell - “We need a significant, lasting and harmless reduction in the volume of green house gases in the atmosphere. To this technology can make an important contribution. This Prize is a marvellous encouragement to all who have bright and practical ideas on how best to tackle one of the major problems of our time.”
Tackle? Humankind will never be able to stop the natural cycle of the earth, no matter how many endorse this silly thought. Certainly, we have the God-given responsibility to steward the earth, but we will never be able to control the earth and stop its natural cycle.
Dr James Hansen, Director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies - “I think we have a very brief window of opportunity to deal with climate change ... no longer than a decade, at the most. This is why I am supporting the Virgin Earth Challenge as a judge – we must explore all means, both known and unknown, to help alleviate this crisis.”
Sounds like Hansen is rallying the gullible masses to respond immediately to their rhetoric and enviro-fanaticism, to do what they say because they are in the know.
Tim Flannery, author of The Weather Makers - “If we continue as we are, humanity will so pollute our atmosphere this century that we will create another world, the likes of which has not been seen for 50 million years. And we will destroy human civilisation in the process.”
Flannery seems to be declaring a global warming, fear campaign (like the rest of his enviro-religion groupies).
Sir Richard Branson - “We would also like to call on governments and members of the international community to join us in The Virgin Earth Challenge by matching or adding to the prize pot available to encourage the greatest number of entrants of those who could come up with a solution which could save our planet. If the greatest minds in the world today compete, as I’m sure they will, for The Virgin Earth Challenge, I believe that a solution to the C02 problem could hopefully be found – a solution that could save our planet - not only for our children but for all the children yet to come.”
"Save our planet" is over-used and loaded. We are not responsible for "saving" the earth. We are responsible for stewarding the earth, not saving it. Man, my friends, contrary to growing rhetoric, is not the savior of anything or anyone, let alone the planet. Can't you see how this religion is spread throughout this campaign? It is the foundation of this global warming movement, to worship and serve the creature instead of the Creator.
The evidence is all pointing to a greater agenda and people need to wake up and begin questioning facts instead of being fed information and blindly accepting it as truth. Gore's enviro-evangelical message is gathering momentum, capturing many and filling minds with rubbish about man's responsibility to "save" the earth. We are called to steward the earth, my friends, not to save it. We will never save this earth.
*(The Virgin Earth Challenge judges will meet for five years to review designs submitted the previous year. If they find a design they think is worth the award, they can aware the prize before the 5 year term and discontinue the challenge. If they don't award the prize, they will "roll the prize forward" for a another date.)
The Virgin Earth Challenge, a joint partnership formed by Richard Branson and Al Gore, is a prize of $25 million for "a commercially viable design which results in the removal of anthropogenic, atmospheric greenhouse gases so as to contribute materially to the stability of Earth’s climate." There is a panel of five judges - all "world authorities" in their respective industries: Al Gore, Sir Crispin Tickell, Tim Flannery, Jim Hansen and James Lovelock. Interestingly, the birth of the Virgin Earth Prize* is one of a several initiatives investing in renewable energy research, development and production as part of Virgin Group's "Gaia Capitalism" project and a $3 billion dollar Clinton Initiative pledge (Sept 2006).
Amongst many intriguing issues related to this initiative, is why Virgin chose the term "Gaia Capitalism"? Gaia or Gaea, a term from ancient Greek mythology, means earth goddess and mother of Cronus and the Titans in ancient mythology. Capitalism, or private enterprise system, is an economic system based on private ownership of the production and distribution of goods. I think it is very interesting that Branson and his group would coin "Gaia Capitalism" in light of what both words mean and the agenda of Gore, Lovelock and friends. More and more, I see the hardcore preaching of global warming rooted in a cult-like, enviro-religion of worshiping the so-called mother earth instead of the Creator God.
James Lovelock is the man behind the Gaia Theory (now called "Earth System Science") and frequently quoted in Al Gore's book "Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit". In a discussion on BlogCatalog, I posted my blog post "Nobel Peace Prize 2007: Gore, Climate Change & Religion" and opened it up to the BlogCatalog Community, resulting in over 400 responses. In the thread, I asked the community if Gore thinks climate change is a religious issue, based upon Gore's Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech and interview where he claimed the following: "It is time to make peace with the planet" and "We face a true planetary emergency. The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity."
Interestingly, but not surprisingly, multi-billionaire and founder of the Virgin megabrand, Richard Branson, was recently dubbed United Nations' Citizen of the Year for his eco-advocacy. (Click here to learn more about his recent interview with Time Magazine, what inspired me to dig deeper with his cause).
Getting back to the Virgin Earth Challenge, let's look at what each of the judges said at a press conference:
Al Gore - “Carbon dioxide levels already are far above anything measured in the prior 650,000 year record, and just last week in Paris scientists gave us their strongest warning yet of the consequences of inaction. So the dangers are clear. But the opportunities, if we take action now, are innumerable, and Sir Richard’s initiative to stimulate exploration of this new approach to the climate crisis is important and welcome.”
Sounds like Gore thinks humankind has the ability to stop global warming. Yet, climate change is part of the earth's natural cycle. Evidence is coming out almost daily to prove this and yet Gore and his groupies continue to preach about a man-caused global warming. Check out this great resource here about "Global Climate Change Facts: The Truth, The Consensus, and the Skeptics", as well as an NPR podcast called "Three Views on Global Warming".
James Lovelock - "To escape the consequences of global heating we need far more than Kyoto, far more than renewable energy and sustainable development. What we need is a near miracle to undo the harm that we have done. Sir Richard Branson's hugely generous prize could sow the seeds for a miraculous invention that would let us make a sustainable retreat to that lush and comfortable world we once knew. We have all spent far too long sleepwalking towards extinction."
Lovelock founded the Gaia Theory (now called a branch of Science!). According to Wikipedia, "The Gaia hypothesis is an ecological hypothesis that proposes that living and nonliving parts of the earth are viewed as a complex interacting system that can be thought of as a single organism. Named after the Greek earth goddess, this hypothesis postulates that all living things have a regulatory effect on the Earth's environment that promotes life overall." Many people, including me, think that the Gaia hypothesis is rooted in a neo-pagan new age (old age) religion.
Sir Crispin Tickell - “We need a significant, lasting and harmless reduction in the volume of green house gases in the atmosphere. To this technology can make an important contribution. This Prize is a marvellous encouragement to all who have bright and practical ideas on how best to tackle one of the major problems of our time.”
Tackle? Humankind will never be able to stop the natural cycle of the earth, no matter how many endorse this silly thought. Certainly, we have the God-given responsibility to steward the earth, but we will never be able to control the earth and stop its natural cycle.
Dr James Hansen, Director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies - “I think we have a very brief window of opportunity to deal with climate change ... no longer than a decade, at the most. This is why I am supporting the Virgin Earth Challenge as a judge – we must explore all means, both known and unknown, to help alleviate this crisis.”
Sounds like Hansen is rallying the gullible masses to respond immediately to their rhetoric and enviro-fanaticism, to do what they say because they are in the know.
Tim Flannery, author of The Weather Makers - “If we continue as we are, humanity will so pollute our atmosphere this century that we will create another world, the likes of which has not been seen for 50 million years. And we will destroy human civilisation in the process.”
Flannery seems to be declaring a global warming, fear campaign (like the rest of his enviro-religion groupies).
Sir Richard Branson - “We would also like to call on governments and members of the international community to join us in The Virgin Earth Challenge by matching or adding to the prize pot available to encourage the greatest number of entrants of those who could come up with a solution which could save our planet. If the greatest minds in the world today compete, as I’m sure they will, for The Virgin Earth Challenge, I believe that a solution to the C02 problem could hopefully be found – a solution that could save our planet - not only for our children but for all the children yet to come.”
"Save our planet" is over-used and loaded. We are not responsible for "saving" the earth. We are responsible for stewarding the earth, not saving it. Man, my friends, contrary to growing rhetoric, is not the savior of anything or anyone, let alone the planet. Can't you see how this religion is spread throughout this campaign? It is the foundation of this global warming movement, to worship and serve the creature instead of the Creator.
The evidence is all pointing to a greater agenda and people need to wake up and begin questioning facts instead of being fed information and blindly accepting it as truth. Gore's enviro-evangelical message is gathering momentum, capturing many and filling minds with rubbish about man's responsibility to "save" the earth. We are called to steward the earth, my friends, not to save it. We will never save this earth.
*(The Virgin Earth Challenge judges will meet for five years to review designs submitted the previous year. If they find a design they think is worth the award, they can aware the prize before the 5 year term and discontinue the challenge. If they don't award the prize, they will "roll the prize forward" for a another date.)
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Nobel Peace Prize 2007: Gore, Climate Change & Religion
Filed in: Green Living
By Kat Vaughan
Former Vice President Al Gore won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for efforts to "build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change." There is growing rhetoric that climate change could have a devastating impact on living conditions for animals and mankind, including a mass exodus from areas deficient in natural resources to areas rich in natural resources. This type of migration has the potential of inciting wars and conflict within states and between countries.
During Gore's Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, he said "It is time to make peace with the planet". On Friday, Gore attended a news conference stating, "We face a true planetary emergency. The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity."
Sounds to me like Gore thinks climate change is a religious issue. Thoughts?