Podcast 301 – “Terence McKenna: Beyond 2012” Part 4
Mar 3, 2012
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Guest speaker Bruce Damer takes us on a mental voyage around the solar system and shares a fascinating story of his encounter with a dodgy character. He discusses the complexities of the financial system and highlights nature's superior technology. The podcast also explores the significance of visions, reflections on the time wave theory, preserving psychedelic history, increased surveillance, Facebook's role, and the controversy of black bloc tactics.
Technology cannot replicate the complexity of biological systems.
Unity and common ground are crucial within the Occupy movement.
Deep dives
Podcast Summary
The podcast episode discusses various topics including Occupy Wall Street, the Terrence McKenna Beyond 2012 workshop, and the importance of plants in the environment. Bruce Damer shares his experience of a mental voyage around the solar system and his encounter with a dodgy character who claims there is no secret cabal controlling human affairs. He also explores the concept of no one being in control and the need for nerds to optimize the operating system of the planet. The conversation touches on the challenges of pollution, the potential for technology to re-engineer itself, and the limitations of understanding the complexity of biological systems.
The Significance of Alchemy
The discussion highlights the importance of alchemy in expanding human imagination beyond reductionism and technological determinism. It suggests that alchemy offers a stretchy notion that allows for exploration into mystical and imaginative realms. The conversation emphasizes the need to understand the complexity of natural systems and recognizes the limitations of current technology in replicating the intricacies of nature.
Faith in the Singularity
The conversation critiques the idea of the technological singularity and the notion that technology will exponentially advance to the point of uploading consciousness into machines. It challenges the concept that technology can faithfully replicate or simulate biological systems, pointing out the complexity and depth of natural processes. The role of engineers and their limited understanding of biological intricacies is discussed, encouraging a more holistic perspective.
The Environmental Impact of Technology
The episode touches on the impact of technology on the environment, including the reliance on fossil fuels. It notes the need for responsible pollution controls and the importance of considering the adaptability and intelligence of plants in addressing environmental challenges. The conversation also stresses the significance of appreciating the interdependence of humans and the natural world, identifying humans as deeply interconnected with and dependent on the environment.
Black block tactics and their impact on the Occupy movement
The podcast episode discusses the use of black block tactics within the Occupy movement. It highlights the difference between the tactic itself and the individuals who employ it, emphasizing that black block is a tactic, not a group of people. The discussion explores the diversity of tactics within the movement and the potential concerns and effects of the use of violence. While some argue that violence is necessary as a last resort against oppressive elites, others express disapproval and concern over the senseless violence and its impact on the movement's image and unity. The episode also touches on the importance of finding common ground with individuals holding differing viewpoints within the Occupy movement, including those aligned with the Tea Party. It concludes by emphasizing the need for civil discourse and the hope for a more civil society, drawing connections between the Occupy movement and the struggles faced by Mayan societies.
The power of citizen journalism and the role of the Internet in the Occupy movement
The podcast episode acknowledges the power of citizen journalism and the Internet in the Occupy movement. It highlights the role of alternative media in countering the narratives portrayed by mainstream media. The episode points out how protesters are able to bypass the filter of corporate media through platforms like social media and online video feeds, sharing their own experiences and perspectives with the world. The discussion emphasizes the importance of free flow of information and the ability to challenge the corporate and state-controlled media narratives. It also raises concerns over potential infiltration by law enforcement and emphasizes the need for caution and awareness among protesters, especially younger participants who may be more susceptible to manipulation.
The need for unity and finding common ground within the Occupy movement
The podcast episode highlights the importance of unity and finding common ground within the Occupy movement. It recognizes that the movement represents diverse perspectives and interests, including both far-left and right-leaning individuals. The episode emphasizes the need for dialogue and understanding, even among those with contrasting viewpoints. It discusses the potential alienation caused by tactics like black block, raising concerns that it may scare people away from joining the movement. However, it also acknowledges the concept of diversity of tactics and the challenges of enforcing a specific code on individuals. The episode concludes with a call for civil discourse and the hope that a civil society can be achieved through open dialogue and the sharing of common goals.
Guest speaker: Bruce Damer
PROGRAM NOTES:
In this, the concluding episode of recordings from the workshop titled “Terence McKenna: Beyond 2012” and led by Bruce Damer and Lorenzo, we hear Bruce's final presentation in which he begins by taking us on a mental voyage around our solar system. From there he tells a fascinating story of his meeting with a somewhat dodgy character who convincingly explained that, although it may appear that way at times, there actually is no cabal secretly controlling human affairs. Following that begins an interesting Q & A session. . . . In the Occupy segment of the podcast I ponder over the pros and cons of the Black Bloc tactics that have become somewhat controversial lately.
[NOTE: The following quotations are by Bruce Damer.]
“The financial system is a giant hair ball of GO-TO statements and lack of control and out of control pools of assets that flow.”
“We do not have real technology compared to what nature does. We're not even close.”
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