Author: Clifton Ware

SEF News-Views Digest No. 152 (11-9-16)
Clifton Ware, Editor-Publisher

The elections are over, thankfully, but the results may not sit well with many readers. Today, as I began my early morning exercise routine and tuned into NPR news, I was shocked to learn than Donald Trump has been elected the 45^th president of these United States. What this means for progressive causes like climate change is uncertain. But we will surely find out in coming months and years. Meanwhile, we must continue supporting all plans and efforts to create greater resilience and sustainability. Educating the public and creating greater understanding about the accumulating effects of climate change is an essential strategy, hence this commentary.

Before The Flood, a recently released must-see environmental film, is receiving very favorable reviews. According to Peter Bradshaw, reviewer for The Guardian: “Here is a heartfelt, decent, educational documentary about the most important issue of our time—climate change—presented by A-lister Leonardo DiCaprio, who proves his own commitment to the cause.”

SEF News-Views Digest No. 151 (11-2-16)
Clifton Ware, Editor-Publisher

I try to limit writing about political matters, but since the upcoming elections will help define and determine our collective future as a nation, I am compelled to comment.

SEF News-Views Digest No. 149 (10-19-16)
Clifton Ware, Editor-Publisher

One of my favorite futurists is John Michael Greer, a profound thinker and prolific writer of thought-provoking, informative publications. He might appear to conventional folks as an eccentric intellectual, and they might be right.

One of Greer’s latest writings—An Afternoon In Early Autumn—was posted last week on his website, The Archdruid Report. This challenging article inspired me to contemplate the subject of time, particularly “deep time”, a term coined by science writer Stephen Jay Gould.

SEF News-Views Digest No. 149 (10-19-16)
Clifton Ware, Editor-Publisher

If you’re like me, you’re constantly trying to understand and interpret people’s beliefs and behaviors. This is especially the case these days, as we’ve observed a widening of divisiveness between progressives and conservatives. Experts in various fields, including philosophy, psychology, sociology, educa
tion, and neuroscience, have weighed in on this topic, some with plausible explanations. But it seems to me that most experts offer only partial explanations.

SEF News-Views Digest No. 148 (10-12-16)
Clifton Ware, Editor-Publisher

A populist movement is underway in America, and it’s spreading worldwide. More and more citizens are expressing deep dissatisfaction with 1) dysfunctional government (especially at the national level); 2) the increasing political and economic influence wielded by giant corporations and billionaires; 3) the widening gap between the top income earners and everyone else, resulting in a declining middle class; 4) the conflict of science-based data and socio-cultural-religious beliefs; 5) the ongoing expression of injustice among minority groups, as evidenced by recurring conflicts between black communities and police over unjustified profiling. In general, all citizens are caught up in the war of ideas that’s being fought in a worldwide arena by conservatives and progressives, made ominously obvious in the current US presidential race. For us senior citizens, it’s impossible to recall any previous presidential race that has been so inexplicable, so . . . weird!