Sustainable Human

Charles Eisenstein, a Yale graduate and economist, explains how every culture has a way of asking questions that are fundamental to understanding ourselves. However, science is beginning to confirm that the story that we have been taught to believe about ourselves: namely, that we are discreet, separate individuals, is built upon a faulty understanding of the Universe. As we learn more and more about the dynamic intelligence of the natural world, humanity is beginning to realize that we are a part of billions of years of evolution and life that is working together in one larger system. The time has come for us to re-examine the stories that we believe about ourselves in relationship with all life. When we are able to do this well, we will understand how to make better decisions that do not cause damage and destruction to the living world.

Researcher Janine Benyus reveals the natural intelligence found in the patterns and designs of nature all around us. We live in a competent, brilliant planet and are surrounded by genius with perfect timing and coordination, all without top down laws and policies. The organisms have all their priorities in order. Learning to not disrupt nature is essential to our own survival. This beautiful story is a reminder that the rest of the natural world are doing things similar to what we do everyday, in order to survive. Learning from nature could be the most important thing we could do in our time.

Research Scientist Carl Safina explains the unique ways that animals use their natural intelligence to work together for their survival. He explains that love is not unique to humans. We see many ways that animals feel connection with one another and will put themselves at risk to help others. But he raises an interesting question.. in their pursuit of the hunt, why don’t they hurt human beings more? Listen to find out more about the interesting examples of animal intelligence and animal compassion that Dr. Safina’s research found.

THE ANGEL'S GLOW - HOW THE SOIL HEALED WOUNDED SOLDIERS | GEORGE MONBIOT After the Civil War battle of Shiloh, Tennessee, in 1862, 16,000 injured soldiers were strewn across the battlefield. So great were their numbers that neither army was able to retrieve and treat them quickly. Thousands were left lying in the mud, in some cases for two days and two nights. Many died from their wounds and the consequent infections. But at night, some of the injured men noticed a strange blue glow emanating from their wounds. The light could be seen from a distance. Field surgeons observed that the soldiers whose wounds emitted this blue light healed more quickly and had a higher rate of survival than those who didn’t. They called it the Angel’s Glow. What was it? At the time, people believed it was divine intervention: these men must have been touched by the healing hands of angels. It took almost 140 years for a scientific explanation to emerge...this is the story of the science behind the Angel's Glow.

Dr. Nadine Harris has been studying the effects of early childhood adversity on health outcomes later on in life. In her 30 years of studying research, the findings are clear. Childhood trauma dramatically affects health across a lifetime. These are not some new findings. We've known this for 30 years and yet our society has not made any serious effort to make life easier for working class families. By outsourcing good-paying jobs, imposing stiffer sentences for drug offenses, and failing to increase wages, life has become harder across the board. And this ultimately creates even more trauma within families who become overwhelmed by stress. And the question Dr. Harris asks is why.

How does a human being develop a relationship with a wild animal? Steve Karlin, of Wildlife Associates, is a wild animal rehabilitation expert that explains how animals can sense how we think and feel, and what they need in order to trust a relationship with a human. Wild animals sometimes desire to connect when they feel they are safe to do so. In this video, Steve explains how grounding in to zero point energy is the energetic foundation that allows wild animals to feel safe around human beings. When we are able to master control over our verbal communications, emotions and impulses, the animal feels safer being in connection while it is taking in the risks of it's natural environment. Understanding what animals need can help us to know how to better protect these important keystone species.

Scientist Suzanne Simard explains the complex intelligence of how trees communicate with one another and are super cooperators rather than competitors. This beautiful story takes you into the forest to see how trees share resources and protect each other from invaders and disease while nurturing their young. Feel your childlike sense of wonder awaken as you walk through the forest learning about the natural intelligence of our planets ecosystems. Nature cooperates, more than competes, to build a thriving community of diverse species that will help the whole system withstand various attacks. We could gain a lot of perspective from learning how to cooperate with one another instead of endlessly competing. Nature already has the design. Support the channel: patreon.com/sustainablehuman Learn more about this video: sustainablehuman.org/stories/how-trees-talk/

Foxes and cats have devastated the trophic cascade balance in the Australian ecosystem. The reintroduction of Tasmanian Devils is being utilized to protect bandicoots, bettongs, and potaroos. These small animals are essential for maintaining a healthy ecosystem. The trophic cascade balance will restore natural balance to the predator landscape, allowing the brush to grow back and for a healthy water supply to be maintained in the soil, preventing massive destructive fires. Learn more: sustainablehuman.org/stories/how-devils-heal-forests/ Subscribe: patreon.com/sustainablehuman

This video is a letter, a plea from those of us who have made the attempt to understand our own darkness to those who are too scared to peak behind the curtains at their own anger and hatred (or darkness). Contrary to popular stories of good versus evil, the truth is that there is darkness inside each of us. It is only when that darkness goes unrecognized and unhealed that it often can emerge when our traumas from the past are triggered. Confronting the darkness inside each of us helps us to become conscious of our energetic state of being. Are we radiating the energy of love or or hate? We felt this message was important at this particular moment as many around the world are being asked to choose sides and wage yet another war of "good" against "evil." Only this time, both "good" and "evil" have nuclear weapons that could end all life on Earth. There is always a different path, a path of understanding, a path of inquisitiveness, a path of healing. We hope you are able to take a moment to feel into this message and find the courage to seek peace, both inside and out.

Amphibians (frogs, salamanders, and reptiles) are an important keystone species to the environment that affect the tropic cascade balance when they are removed or go extinct. Amphibians maintain the balance of insect populations and healthy aquatic ecosystems. But pet trade and human development are creating an extinction crisis in the amphibian world, making humans more vulnerable to diseases and algae blooms, which destroy the ability for fish to breed and thrive without the frogs present to eat the algae. Explore the wonder of the amphibian world in this beautiful story narrated by rewilding expert, Harvey Tweats.

Beavers bring life to rivers and the land. Beavers are ecosystem engineers that help to mitigate floods and droughts, reduce forest fires, and create habitats for all kinds of animals. North American tribes revered the beaver. They knew that the landscapes beavers created are the ‘earths kidneys’, purifying water and regulating its flow. They noticed that beavers are highly social creatures who live in their lodges built of sticks in tight family groups. They saw that the adults go to great lengths to care for their offspring. Aunts and uncles from earlier litters look after the youngest kits. They carry them away from danger, clasped to their chests with their front paws. They warn them of aquatic predators by slapping their tails on the water. They bring green food to the kits, when they are too small to leave their lodge. They cuddle them and call gently to them. For these reasons, Native Americans called them the ‘little people.’ Using stones, branches and mud with astonishing ingenuity, they construct first one and then a series of small dams. Wherever they find a leak, they stop it up. Before long, even small seasonal streams start to look like mountain rice paddies dammed up with wood: a series of stepped pools, surrounded by wetlands. These are phenomenally rich habitats, that abound with life: harboring an abundance of insects, and great concentrations of frogs, small mammals and waterbirds.

Ecosystems of the world are always striving for balance, and they do so in quite amazing ways. In healthy ecosystems, all parts of it - the animals, plants, microorganisms - strike a natural balance between giving and taking. In the case of whales, It turns out that they not only eat fish and krill, they also help them to reproduce. But that's not all they do. They also help to sequester carbon deep into the ocean. This is the story of how whales change the climate. It offers humanity a path forward to begin to give back to the planet that has given us everything. "When whales were at their historic populations, before their numbers were reduced, it seems that whales might have been responsible for removing tens of millions of tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere every year."

Biases exist in every area of human thought, including western medicine. Dr. Gabor Mate illuminates these biases and points the way toward healing ourselves and society.