Civilization and the Advancement of Societies

I recently made some comments about society and civilization and the concept of advancement on my blog at OlyBlog.

Some questions that I think are worth asking: How do we measure the advancement of a society? Does the level of technological sophistication serve as a proxy to measure a society's level of advancement? Or are there other metrics, for example in terms of the degree of mutual prosperity, and the general health and well-being of society and all of its constituents (including the natural environment?)

You can read those comments here.

Global Village Slideshow

I received this great slideshow today from my Mom. Thanks Mom! Check it out:



Regarding the information contained in the above power point; we, as a humanity, can do better. I know it.

There is no good reason why 80% of human beings (or any human beings) need to live in poverty.

Have a good day,
-Berd

Think of Future Generations - The Dalai Lama

Via Harper's Magazine [linked]:

The Dalai Lama on the Duty to Earth and the Human Family


Bsod-nams-rgya-mtsho. The Three-Deity Mandala of Auspicious Beginning.

If humankind continues to approach its problems considering only temporary expediency, future generations will have to face tremendous difficulties. The global population is increasing, and our resources are being rapidly depleted. Look at the trees, for example. No one knows exactly what adverse effects massive deforestation will have on the climate, the soil, and global ecology as a whole. We are facing problems because people are concentrating only on their short-term, selfish interests, not thinking of the entire human family. They are not thinking of the earth and the long-term effects on universal life as a whole. If we of the present generation do not think about these now, future generations may not be able to cope with them.

–H.H. Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, A Human Approach to World Peace (2006)

www.dalailama.com