Dear Earthlings:
The EcoSex course at U Conn is in process. It’s a great experience. We are expanding horizons with clustered reading: Theory of Science, Cultural Theory, Ecological Theory. We each read related books, then report to group. More thinking out of the box and across disciplines. Students are sending their book reports in. In class, we connect the dots. From a holograph of what we’ve read together, the “required readings.” What’s the connection with our clustered themes? Multiple perspectives and good synergy. Here, we offer a glimpse. Lynn Dieter Duhm’s Future without War is one of five “Cultural Theory books. We got Rhiann and Alissa to report on it.
Rhiann Peterson and Alissa Maus:
A Book Report on Future without War. Theory of Global Healing.
by Dieter Duhm
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Question: How was your experience reading this book in the context of an Ecosexuality course? How does the book’s content relate to the themes and questions of the course?
Future without War by Dieter Duhm directly correlates with the concepts and ideas expressed in ecosexuality. The author focuses on how there is a possibility to have a future without war, but the only way to do so would be to heal the Earth as a whole. When pain occurs somewhere in the world it spreads because it is an interconnected whole as expressed in Gaia theory. The issues humans have with each other and within themselves causes hurt in the rest of society. Duhm believes that his Peace Villages and Healing Biotopes are the first step in order to get rid of war and create universal peace. These Peace Villages would have new organisms that would have no race, religion, culture, language, possessions, and etc. to define or shelter their opinions and views. These communities will hold people who are open minded and spread harmony to the rest of the world. “Those who are our enemies today may have been our friends before. Those who are our friends today may have been our enemies before” (Duhm 14). Duhm makes the point that all people have suffered at some point and when one person suffers the world suffers with them. Because all people are connected by the Earth and Gaia theory when people harbor lies it can spread as hatred elsewhere.
Duhm explains that war is a concept rooted in society and that even before war has begun it has been planned because it has been so ingrained in the culture. He explains because we do not understand that war is such a piece of our society that people unknowingly contribute to war by ways as simple as just being a consumer. He ties his theory on a future without war with ecosexuality by explaining how each person is just an organ in the organism as a whole. Each person is connected to Gaia and is a piece of a puzzle that makes the system work as a whole. He currently believes that, “the existing culture is an operating system of dominance, fear, and violence” (Duhm 23). In order to transform from what its current state a new society needs to be created free of influence with a new set of rules, establishing society as a whole. A generalization of his twelve rules of Tamera (Biotope) are as follows: One’s behavior must reflect healing and peace, both inner and outer. Resonate within and do not make any unneeded noise as it will disrupt the harmony. One must be trustworthy, truthful, supportive, and actively participate. On shall not suppress their sexual attractions but in doing so they must understand the idea of free sexuality and must not force others to satisfy their sexual needs. They have no right to possess people for example a husband, wife or child. The people in this community must attend certain events such as spiritual hours or training events for the younger generations. Duhm states also that one’s actions reflect on the lives of all people. His last rule is that one should continually build up energy in order to conserve it for later use. These concepts would create a community in which peace would overcome war, and where peace prevails it would be able to spread since the world is all connected and a part of Gaia.
The comparison that Duhm uses is that when a person cuts their finger, the cells immediately begin the healing process as should humans be able to heal the Earth that they are a part of. He also uses the idea that when someone thinks they are getting fat their brain automatically formulates an image of them fat. He believes that if people’s bodies are capable of acting this way then humans should be able to act in the same manner in healing the Earth. This has recently been hindered due to the fact that many people in todays society believe that war is a necessity to society because of the dominant role it has taken in politics and economics. If we adapt to these Biotopes then there is a possibility that people will no longer need to be fearful of war, hatred and violence but rather they would just have to love.
Another one of his principles that further coincides with Gaia theory is the idea that whatever is happening at one place is happening everywhere in the world because when something happens holowaves are sent out that send vibrations everywhere. He focuses on the concepts of frequencies that are sent out, so one thing a person does can affect someone in another part of the world. Duhm believes that our world is based upon information and that information controls the lives society leads. People need to download information on peace rather than war to create a future without war.
Duhm mentions 5 key thoughts that outline the theory of global healing. In short they are the following; The entire Earth and all of humanity is a holistic system and can be considered one organism. In this first point, Duhm mentions how one single thought can change one’s whole inner life. One peace thought can shift our thinking and in turn shift other’s thinking. The second point illustrates that community, truth, trust, love, eros, and religion hold the keys to a world and life without violence. The third thought expands on the idea of trust as the centre of peacework. Duhm goes as far as to say that “peace is TRUST” and that “trust is the deepest human experience of all” (Duhm 63). Duhm also explains how healing biotopes work to generate trust by creating a place with favorable conditions and encouraging conscious work and effort in cultivating permanent trust. The fourth point illustrates that individual transformations are not what transforms a community. “Communal and societal structures that have yet to be created” will make it possible for truth and growth (Duhm 63). The fifth and final point suggests that the communities of the future will be responsible for developing the new societal structures needed to elicit change and promote a future without war. The more emphasis on Earth as holistic system will reverberate and create a new code of life for this planet.
Another illustration Duhm included in his proposal for a future without war was the parable of the nut. In this metaphor, or parable, the nut is pregnant with it’s core. When the core arrives or is unveiled and shocks its audiences, a revelation occurs. In other words, “the becomes visible at more and more places on Earth – unveiling occurs. The unveiling makes it possible for us to take a look inside the nut” and realize the “prehistoric utopia” (Duhm 71). “Revelation means that the world goes from the implicit to explicit order. It changes from the latent state of its possibilities into the manifest states of its possibilities. A reality that so far exists as a latent reality, slowly manifests. the image of “prehistoric utopia” becomes visible” (Duhm 72). Overall, the basic premise behind this explanation of the parable of the nut is that traditional society is the shell and the nut is is the ripe seed of new society that has yet to come.
Another way to contemplate the future without war is through a virtual space station in the “noosphere”, also known as the mental and spiritual world. The virtual space station is almost a futuristic and more developed projection of what already exists in Tamera. It is important to realize that the term virtual does not necessarily mean computer generated but rather virtual means latent, possible, and conquerable futuristic goals of development. Additionally, the virtual space station is a way of looking at our own possibilities for holistic happiness. The virtual space station is a vision which is ignited by the power of thought and “always accompanied by conscientious material work, research, and implementation” (Duhm 78). Duhm notes that “the virtual space station is a dream, but it is a realistic one” (Duhm 80).
As the text develops, Duhm begins to offer up the concept of solutions. He starts by quoting the architect Le Corbusier, “You do not start a revolution by fighting the state, but by presenting the solution” (Duhm 86). From here, Duhm proceeds to explain that problems can not be solved at the level in which they lie. He relates this to examples of love and technology and suggests that we need a higher level of order. He suggests that functioning communities with functioning spiritual systems provide a place where two lovers can meet and when they meet it will be a purely positive way. From here, Duhm goes on to elaborate on many types of energy. He touches on technical, solar, and emotional energy before suggesting the switch from fossil fuels to solar and cosmic energy. He notes that “we must switch from depletable to inexhaustible sources of energy” (Duhm 90). He dreams of a movement that is not characterized or complicated by scarcity and further assumes that all living things feel the same way.
As Future Without War winds down, Duhm explains the Monte Cerro experiment. The project is set in Tamera, Portugal and is focussed on understanding and developing effective peace villages. The project is meant to represent a global aspect in two regards; economy of globalization and new world order. Their main objectives are to discover how the world can be healed and absent of violence by imposing these goals on themselves within their new community. In three years, students are expected to come up with how they can heal world suffering and urged to start with themselves and their community members. The experiment connects the students to their natural surroundings as they coexist within their environment. Additionally, art is also mentioned as an important aspect of the experiment. Duhm includes a list of thought provoking questions regarding the Monte Cerro experiment that open opportunities for dialogue and contemplation.
In conclusion, Future Without War utilizes Tamera and the Monte Cerro experiment to demonstrate the possibilities for a nonviolent future filled with peace and trust. The main topics of sexuality, love, and partnership are seen throughout the text and provide a direct connection to the Ecosexuality movement.
Alissa Maus and Rhiann Peterson
Published with permission
Published with permission
WGSS 3998 – Ecosexuality and the Ecology of Love
Prof. Serena Anderlini-D’Onofrio
U Conn, Storrs, Spring 2013
Dear Earthlings:
Let “nature” be your teacher in the arts of love. Education is the heart of democracy, education to love. Come back for more wonders: Book Reports to appear every other Thursday. Book Reports to be scheduled soon. Check out our summer offerings: Ecosexuality in Portland, OR, July 17-21. Registration here!
Namaste,
Serena Anderlini-D’Onofrio, PhD
Gilf Gaia Extraordinaire
University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez
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