Mother Pelican
A Journal of Solidarity and Sustainability

Luis T. Gutiérrez, Editor

Current Issue

Welcome to Mother Pelican's Home Page MISSION STATEMENT The mission of this web site is to collect and analyze information on global social/ecological justice issues, with especial focus on integral human development; and to publish monthly reports on emerging trends via the Mother Pelican Journal of Solidarity and Sustainability. INTEGRAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Integral human development includes all dimensions in the life of each person, including the physical, intellectual, pyschological, ethical, and spiritual dimensions. In particular, the spiritual development of each and every human person is crucial for sustainable development. It is recognized that spiritual growth is impossible for people living in misery. However, the extreme poverty of many is mostly a consequence of the spiritual underdevelopment of people living in abundance. Therefore, the mission of Mother Pelican encompasses the full range of social and ecological justice issues, but is specifically focused on how they relate to spirituality and the practices of various religious traditions. Gender inequalities that emerge from religious patriarchy are explored as major obstacles to integral human development, solidarity, and sustainability. WORKING HYPOTHESIS The patriarchal culture of control and domination is the root of all social and ecological violence. It corrupted the original unity of man and woman (cf. Genesis 3:16) and is now disrupting the harmony between humanity and the human habitat. Just as we are now aware that slavery and racism are moral evils, we must become aware that gender discrimination is a moral evil that must be eradicated if solidarity and sustainability are to be attained. The need to reform patriarchal structures applies to both secular and religious institutions. Overcoming patriarchy is a "sign of the times" to the extent that it fosters authentic gender solidarity and nonviolence for the good of humanity and the glory of God. Given the enormous influence of religious traditions, it is especially critical for religious institutions to extirpate any semblance of male hegemony in matters of doctrine and religious practices. MONTHLY UPDATES Monthly updates of Mother Pelican are distributed free of charge via the Solidarity-Sustainability distribution list. The monthly updates currently include the following: A feature article on current solidarity-sustainability issues. Several one-page articles on recently emerging research. Recurring articles currently cover the following themes: 1. Advances in Sustainable Development 2. Sustainable Development Resources 3. Strategies for Solidarity and Sustainability 4. Best Practices for Solidarity and Sustainability 5. Fostering Integral Human Development 6. Enhancing Gender Relations in Society & Religion 7. Cultural Evolution for Social & Ecological Justice To view the first page of the current issue, click here. RESEARCH AGENDA The current research agenda is to examine all the significant dimensions of sustainable development in order to integrate the resulting multi-dimensional knowledge and make it available in a form suitable for use by leaders of sustainable development initiatives. The following modes of research are being used: Review and analysis of current sustainable development concepts, policies, and best practices. Review and analysis of patriarchal structures of control and domination in secular and religious institutions. Review and analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) projects and trends. Review and analysis of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) projects and trends. Review and analysis of human behavior in response to economic growth-human development trade offs. Use of System Dynamics (system behavior simulation) to analyze sustainable development scenarios. Use of Girardian analysis (mimetic theory) to analyze scapegoating behavior. Use of NxN inter-dependency matrices to analyze precedence relations. Sacred scriptures from various religious traditions are used as a point of reference. The following are being explored as crucial ingredients for a civilized transition to a better future for humanity and the biosphere: Governance guided by solidarity, subsidiarity, and sustainability Transition from consumerist growth to a steady-state economy Transition from population growth to demographic stability Energy usage and climate change mitigation/adaptation projects Net energy analysis and energy return on energy investment Implementation of financial transaction/speculation taxes Shift from income/property taxes to land/resource value taxes Guaranteed basic personal income (conditional or unconditional) Corporate social responsibility and triple bottom-line accounting Transferring subsidies from fossil fuels to renewable energy Fostering gender solidarity/communion in society and religion KNOWLEDGE TAXONOMY The knowledge organization model that has been chosen for this web site is the Knowledge Map of Chaim Zins: SOLIDARITY & SUSTAINABILITY INFORMATION PACKAGE This package contains a college-level powerpoint presentation on ecological sustainability. The presentation is about the transition from the consumerist society to ecological sustainability. After definitions of ecology, sustainability, ecological sustainability, and sustainable development, the presentation unfolds as a series of questions and answers centered around the "sustainable development paradox" (i.e., the paradox of infinite growth in a finite planet). This is the essence of the sustainable development paradox: If consumption continues to grow indefinitely, natural resources will be depleted, pollution will reach saturation levels, and the human habitat will degrade so much that it will not support human civilization. If consumption growth comes to an end, the worldwide economic-financial system will become disfunctional and eventually may collapse with severe social repercussions. In other words: Increasing consumption will eventually destroy the human habitat Stabilizing consumption would stagnate materialistic economic growth The purpose of this presentation is not to resolve the paradox, but to show the relevance of "Ecological Sustainability" for engineers and other professionals. Due to the ubiquity of sustainability issues (all locations, all industries, all human activities), at least one course in "Ecological Sustainability" should be required in all professional programs (undergraduate and graduate levels), as well as continuing education programs. For some good educational resources, see the following: Teaching Stewardship and Sustainability US Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development Education for Sustainable Development Toolkit UN Education for Sustainable Development Program International Jesuit Ecology Project Gaia Education: Best Climate Practices A Readers? Guide to Pope Francis? Encyclical Laudato Si? To download the information package, click here. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SIMULATION (SDSIM) Sustainable Development Simulation SDSIM 2.0 The objective of the Sustainable Development Simulation (SDSIM) is to analyze trade-offs between human development and economic development priorities. It is a global model, in the tradition of Limits to Growth and other similar projects. However, it attempts to take into account both material resources, which are limited, and human resources such as wisdom and the human capacity for adaptation, which are not physically limited. The time window is 1900-2100, and the transition from consumerism to sustainability is expected to begin happening during this century; in fact, empirical data suggests that it may have started already. For more information on SDSIM 1.5, click here. To explore the SDSIM 1.5 web-based interface, click here. Further development of SDSIM 2.0 is pending. The horizontal and vertical scales are not shown in order to avoid giving the impression that this is a prediction. This is a simulated scenario, not a prediction. It portrays dynamic modes of behavior that can be expected during the transition from consumerism to sustainability, as follows: Population peaking, then oscillating and finally decreasing to a long-term sustainable level. Note time-phasing with GDP and per capita consumption of material goods and services. The peak in energy availability is followed by a long decline until it settles to the steady-state flow that is allowed by solar (and perhaps other cosmic) sources of energy. The "long-tail" is the result technological developments with gradually decreasing return on energy invested. The solidarity index is currently formulated as a nonlinear function of human population, material consumption, and energy flows. It is an indicator of social cohesion, which is tightly coupled with the sustainability of resource usage. Solidarity reinforces sustainability and vice versa. The general patterns of peaks, oscillations, and eventual settling to steady-state are indicative of turbulence during the transition, with high risk of cultural disruptions and violence. The myth of "infinite growth in a finite planet" will not be easy to overcome. This is not intended to be an "alarmist" scenario. However, it would be wise to take the Precautionary Principle into account when formulation sustainable development policies as we enter the Anthropocene Age. Widespread violence is bound to emerge if demographic and consumption adjustments are involuntary. Is this "the future we want" for the entire community of nations? NB: The current SDSIM 2.0 is a demo, not a capability. Encyclical Laudato Si' LINK TO THE ENCYCLICAL Integral Human Development Source: Catholic Relief Services, 17 June 2013 2019 World Population Data Sheet Source: Population Reference Bureau, 2019 Ecological Economics Source: Herman Daly, Economics and the Environment, 15 March 2015 Biophysical Economics Source: Charlie Hall, Biophysics and the Economy, 6 October 2015 Global Energy Outlook 2018 Source: International Energy Agency, 13 November 2018 Global Energy Statistics Source: Key World Energy Statistics International Energy Agency, 2018 Energy Realities: EROI Source: Canadians for a Sustainable Society, 24 January 2017 Great Transition Initiative Source: Great Transition Initiative, 30 January 2014 The Ecological Citizen Source: The Ecological Citizen Global Ecocentric Network Source: Global Ecocentric Network for Implementing Ecodemocracy (GENIE) Biodiversity Crisis Source: Don Driscoll, YouTube, 26 March 2018 Mandela?s Vision for a Better World Source: The Elders, 17 July 2017 Democracy Index 2018 Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit, 8 January 2019 Sustainable Development 2018 The world has made considerable progress on sustainable development. In 2018, it?s time to speed things up to deliver on the promise to leave no one behind. Source: United Nations Development Program, 12 January 2018 Healing Earth E-Textbook Free e-textbook about environmental ethics, with chapters on biodiversity, natural resources, energy, water, food, global climate change, and more. Source: International Jesuit Ecology Project, Loyola University Chicago World Inequality Report 2018 Source: World Inequality Report, 2018 Human Overpopulation Atlas Source: Human Overpopulation Atlas, 10 October 2018 Where Are We Going? Source: Where Are We Going?, Nathan Hagens, 23 April 2018 World Scientists' Warning to Humanity Source: Alliance of World Scientists, 13 November 2017 2018 Human Development Index Source: United Nations Development Program, 2018 Collective Behavior for Sustainability Source: Stanford Knowledge Integration Laboratory, 20 October 2018 Global Environmental Outlook Source: UN Environment, 4 March 2019 National Climate Assessment Source: U.S. Global Change Research Program, 23 November 2018 Global Material Resources Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 19 February 2019 Energy Economics Source: University of Texas Energy Symposium, Carey King, 14 March 2019 Multidimensional Poverty Index Source: Human Development Report Office UNDP, 11 July 2019 World Resources Forum 2019 Source: World Resources Forum 2019 Human Development Report Source: Human Development Report, UNDP, 8 December 2019 Greta Thunberg's Intervention at COP25 Source: United Planet Faith & Science Initiative, 14 December 2019

SITE SEARCH MOTHER PELICAN SITE SEARCH ANCIENT SYMBOL The pelican is an ancient symbol of unconditional service. To be a "person for others" requires full awareness of the personal self and also requires sacrifice of the one who serves. The following excerpt from The Physiologus (the author is unknown, circa 4th century CE) captures this ideal: "The long beak of the white pelican is furnished with a sack which serves as a container for the small fish that it feeds its young. In the process of feeding them, the bird presses the sack against its neck in such a way that it seems to open its breast with its bill. The reddish tinge of its breast plumage and the redness of the tip of its beak fostered the folkloristic notion that it actually drew blood from its own breast." The author of The Physiologus found the action of the female pelican, interpreted in this manner, to be a symbol of merciful and sacrificial service and thus an apt symbol of Jesus the Christ (Cf. Matthew 23:37, Luke 13:34). While professing no affiliation to any specific religious body, the Mother Pelican journal is committed to the promotion of basic Christian values, human rights, social justice, balanced gender equality, and ecological sustainability. "Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est." ARCHIVE January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 For an annotated list that shows the themes covered and articles published each month, click here. ABOUT For "about" info, click here. SUBMISSIONS Articles and news items can be submitted via email to the editor. Please note that this journal is strictly non-commercial and is published under a Creative Commons License. Current World Population (estimated): This free script provided by JavaScript Kit

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