Tools

Initial discussions among the interim organizers of the WorldOpt Institute included the following general considerations to promote world optimization…

Possible tools to use:

Education: a full, open and honest, world-wide discussion of the issues that seem significant for inclusion in optimization models, and a multi-media dissemination of the background information (for example, the project is discussed in major publications with wide readership, such as the Reader’s Digest; and on Public Radio and educational TV, such as the NOVA series–and their worldwide counterparts). A complete educational curriculum could be made available “for free” over the internet.

[A timely finding is that disclosed in “Returns to Investment in Education: A global Update”, in which George Psacharopoulos says:

“FOR EVERY ADDITIONAL YEAR OF PRIMARY SCHOOLING, A CHILD’S FUTURE PRODUCTIVITY GROWS 10 TO 30 PERCENT.”

The Children International Sponsorship News (Summer, ’99) gives the full citation.]

*Opportunities to spread the word and involve others’ thinking.

*Computer models designed to evolve improved solutions.

*Off-line home computers (individuals donate the time, phone & electricity costs–grants from phone co?)

*A Facebook page and weblog to facilitate the worldwide conversation.

Systems to study:

*Human psychology and memory characteristics (Note: as in people’s memory of the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy), and how errors in memory and judgment occur and can be corrected for.

*Comprehensive (and self-evolving) computer models. Example:

From Earthweek.com, 11/18/12:

A NASA-funded study says climate models that project the greatest rise in global temperatures this century are likely to be more accurate than those indicating less warming. Researchers at the Colorado-basedNationalCenterfor Atmospheric Research analyzed how well 16 of the leading climate models were able to verify relative humidity in the tropics and subtropics in recent years.

They found that the models that most accurately predicted the atmospheric moisture and its associated cloud cover also predict the greatest warming in the future.

“There is a striking relationship between how well climate models simulate relative humidity in key areas and how much warming they show in response to increasing carbon dioxide,” said NCAR scientist John Fasullo.

“Given how fundamental these processes are to clouds and the overall global climate, our findings indicate that warming is likely to be on the high side of current projections.”

The findings, published in the journal Science, could narrow the range of global warming expected in coming decades and beyond, the researchers said.

That means government and private institutions could be better prepared to cope with the resulting floods, droughts, sea level rises and fiercer storms likely to accompany the global warming.

*It can be mathematically proven that a cooperative solution is better than an individual solution.

Allocation of resources:

*The Dalai Lama says (2^nd article, 9/11/99—Honolulu Advertiser.): “The next millennium will be the same as this one unless we do things differently!”

*An example is with the pro-life/pro-choice controversy. If both sides could back off a bit and realize that the highest-profile conflict is with late-pregnancy abortions such as the partial-birth abortion procedure, and agree that third-trimester abortions in which the fetus is viable are repugnant (unless to save the woman’s health or life), then we could get on with the education needed to absolutely minimize abortion at all stages. But there’s no widely agreed upon “master plan” for such social issues.

*Another example: How many resources should be allocated to weapons manufacture and sales? Isn’t it way too high at this time?

“How to”:

* Contributors to the website or blog, or to the concept, can assist with means of organizing and prioritizing efforts.

* Like the SBA’s SCORE, establish an organization of qualified volunteers, retired executives or otherwise, to network.

* Develop a network of computer assets in the manner of SETI.

“We have become, by the power of a glorious evolutionary accident called intelligence, the stewards of life's continuity on earth. We did not ask for this role, but we cannot abjure it. We may not be suited to it, but here we are.”
~Stephen Jay Gould, The Flamingo's Smile: Reflections in Natural History

“A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people. ”
~Franklin D. Roosevelt

“For every additional year of primary schooling, a child's future productivity grows 10 to 30 percent.”
~George Psacharopoulos.

“In America today you can murder land for private profit. You can leave the corpse for all to see, and nobody calls the cops. ”
~Paul Brooks, The Pursuit of Wilderness, 1971

“If the world's dwindling forests and coral reefs were compared to museums and universities, "then their destruction would be regarded as massive vandalism .”
~Klaus Toepfer, director of the U.N. Environment Program.

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”
~Jimi Hendrix

“Through his dignity, grace and the quality of his forgiveness, Nelson Mandela made racism everywhere not just immoral, but stupid.”
~Tony Blair, British Prime Minister

“If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there'd be peace”
~John Lennon

"“In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.” (1987)
~Carl Sagan"