Overview Discussion of Extreme Events from Mother Nature's Perspective

37th Conference on Climate Variability and Change

Abstract: Alan K. Betts, Atmospheric Research, Pittsford VT

Overview Discussion of Extreme Events from Mother Nature’s perspective

This talk will discuss the takeover of the climate system by the living Earth, colloquially known as Mother Nature, in response to the refusal of global societies to significantly reduce the burning of the fossil fuels that are driving the extreme climate change destroying life on Earth. So it covers issues beyond the conventional science perspective. The framework is based on two papers published at alanbetts.com/research in 2022 and 2023 [1, 2]. In 1976, I realized we were heading for a climate disaster because our leaders did not accept responsibility for the Earth. Trained by Frank Ludlam, who was the in-flight real-time forecaster on the bomber missions over Europe in WW2, I knew it would therefore be my responsibility. So, in parallel with my climate research career, I restructured my life and built a passive solar house in Vermont. NSF funded me as an individual for 35 years. Then in 1980, I posed the question: “How do we merge science with wisdom?” I was sent to Tiruvannamalai in southeast India. To my utter surprise, as I sat in a meditation room upon arrival, the Creator took me through my whole life, past and future, to show me it was all known to her — leaving me ecstatic, transformed, and prepared for the task. There are four keys for understanding the living Earth in human terms. First, the shift to “Mother Nature is taking over the climate system” is powerful, because this Indigenous concept is understood by local communities. It is also free from the male chauvinism that has been dominant for thousands of years, and has contributed greatly to the exploitation of people, the planet and the current destruction of life on Earth for profit. The second is that, for European culture, the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD was critical. The Roman Catholic Church was created to meet the needs of the Roman Emperor Constantine for male human power for warfare and over women, Indigenous people and nature. Constantine insisted that the Aramaic gospels of the Indigenous Aramaic-speaking teacher Yeshua (whom we know as Jesus) be destroyed, in part because they referred to the birther of the cosmos and the creation — a female concept. The male Catholic priests worshiped a male god safely removed to heaven, so he would not interfere with their power. Indirectly, the priests ruled societies and influenced the rise of science for more than 1,500 years. Christianity split into many groups, but few understand how Yeshua as an Indigenous person chose the truth of Mother Nature over (male) human power. In the present era, Pope Francis understands many issues, and has pushed for wise strategies on global climate change, and apologized for the abuse of women and indigenous people by priests. The third is that the Indigenous world view which understands Mother Nature takes precedence over amoral capitalism. Of course, this is why European and North American societies tried so hard to stamp out these cultures. For many centuries, Catholic priests supervised the killing of millions of Indigenous people, both to seize their land, and because they feared the Indigenous teachers, who had a better understanding of the Indigenous Jesus. The fourth is the concept that it is the “Truth that set us free” to act on behalf of the Creation and Mother Nature. We attribute this understanding to the Indigenous Aramaic teacher Yeshua, who understood the entire web of life and the Creation here on Earth. However, this truth is still today a direct threat to human power over nature. We believe we are the only intelligent species and that we are “in charge” when in reality, we are the only species on Earth that does not listen to, or communicate directly with Mother Nature, even though we could. We live in well-funded webs of lies, so very few in our world can face the truth. I will clarify the issues with technical examples of recent climate extremes we are struggling to understand, to help the younger generation of scientists to make this leap and take their science into the real world, where the Mother Nature can help them in deeper collaboration.

1. Betts A.K. (2022): The Earth’s view of climate change. AIMS Geosciences, 8(2): 224–232. DOI: 10.3934/geosci.2022013
2. Betts, A. K. (2023): Accelerating Climate Change and the Living Earth. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change, 13, 2, pp 1-11. DOI: 10.9734/ijecc/2023/v13i21639