When corporations eliminate landlines; build new mines and utility-scale solar, wind and battery-storage facilities on pristine ecosystems; market mobile devices for children; and record our voices to simulate them for AI--where can individuals and households find support?

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I start each day with the IChing, the 3000-year-old Chinese Book of Changes that considers nature the teacher. Most days, it tells me that I lack awareness of the big picture and encourages me to cultivate balance, harmony and humility. Studying it quiets the space between my ears.

After breakfast, I get the news.

Since Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis and took 253 hostages on October 7^th, Israeli attacks have killed nearly 29,000 Palestinians, including at least 10,000 children. Israel holds 5,200 Palestinians in its prisons. A cease-fire appears unlikely. In this situation, what does balance mean? Do Israel's military leaders know the Talmudic law (Mishnah Sheviit 6.1) that forbids warriors from enclosing an enemy--because enclosure endangers the trap-maker?

NPR reports that with Russian opposition figure Alexi Navalny's sudden death, European countries at the Munich Security Conference realize there's no deterrence to aggression and no support for defending themselves.

In other words, nations facing aggressors cannot locate support.

When corporations eliminate landlines; build new mines and utility-scale solar, wind and battery-storage facilities on pristine ecosystems; market mobile devices for children; and record our voices to simulate them for AI--where can individuals and households find support?

Solar energy developments proliferate on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land around the West. What does harmony with the Earth mean given the extractions, solar PVs' cradle-to-grave energy use, water use and toxic waste?

I take a break to schedule a doctor's appointment. The receptionist tells me I'll need my health insurance company's permission.

My car insurance's robot can't help me pay my bill.

I find myself at the mercy of digitalized systems (electricity, access networks, data centers, satellites, the "smart" grid, artificial intelligence). Digitalized systems are vulnerable to extreme weather conditions, hacking and outages. Don't we need to shrink our dependence on the technosphere? Don't we need to grow food locally, make communities walkable and limit manufacturing to locally-sourced materials?

By mid-morning, I have enough fury to fuel a rocket launch. The humility I had while reading the IChing feels like a lost wallet.

Meanwhile, I learn about more complex additions to our technosphere:

DATA STORAGE CENTERS and POWER LINES

Before your county faces proposals for new data storage centers, watch this 7-minute video, "Hidden Costs of the Cloud: Data Centers in Virginia." Driven by AI, data centers' explosive, unregulated growth leads to huge energy upgrades, land-grabbing and water (for cooling). One data facility consumes between 60 and 90 megawatts (MWs) of power. (Roughly, 15,000 households consume 60 MWs.) Covering a data center's roof with solar panels generates only a small fraction of the facility's needed power. Data centers' growth threatens critical climate goals, reliable and affordable power for nearby residents, air and water quality, and land conservation efforts. Local communities permit data centers--not state or federal legislators. Forward this video to your county commissioners before proposals arrive. Insist on legislation that protects your community.

"How to stop a data center: Paris Marx interviews Seastian Lehuede about a community in Chile that blocked Google," Feb. 6, 2024.

"Tribes say SunZia power line threatens San Pedro River, sue to stop construction," by Hayleigh Evans, Arizona Republic, 1.24.24. What do these transmission lines power? What harms do they cause? Who regulates them?

LANDLINES and MOBILE ACCESS NETWORKS

AT&T seeks to eliminate California's landlines--even though landlines keep working through power outages. In rural areas, because of frequent power outages, severe weather and wildfires damaging cell phone facilities, and severe congestion during peak tourist periods, mobile phone service is unreliable. Get informed and take action to keep landline service in California!

While experts report that radiofrequency radiation exposure limits are based on inadequate science, an LA County judge rules that residents must battle wireless expansion "tower by tower."

EH Trust has posted info about wireless safety bills proposed in New York, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. For a fact sheet about federal bills that threaten local government control over wireless facilities, see https://TheNationalCall.org.

For International news about tech, see Patricia Burke's Substack.

SCREEN-TIME'S EFFECTS ON CHILDREN

A New Type of Autism Threatens American Children While one in three U.S. under-one-year-olds use digital devices, new research associates early exposure to screens with various sensory-processing problems in children.

Excessive Screen Time in Children Aged 3-15 Years and Its Effects on Physical Activity, Sleep, Eye Symptoms and Headache

How does playtime shape a toddler's brain development?

Handwriting increases brain connectivity more than typing.

"Beware: The Apple Vision Pro may rewire our brains in unexpected ways." These goggles could make it even harder to agree on what constitutes reality.

When two UK mothers petitioned for smartphone-free childhood, 4,000 people joined their call.

SOLAR PVs

Who decides whether land should hold solar arrays and wind turbines--or farms, or nothing? Who monitors energy use, extractions and toxic waste from solar and wind projects from their cradles-to-graves? Who calls these projects "green" and sustainable?" "Michigan Legislature votes to give state panel power over wind, solar projects," by Craig Mauger, Detroit News, 11.8.2023.

In Santa Fe County, New Mexico, commissioners have approved a fire prevention plan to support AES corporation's installation of 800 acres of solar PVs with 30+ 40-foot-long batteries. But this plan does not include National Fire Prevention Association requirements regarding lithium-ion battery storage. Check out New Mexicans for Responsible Renewable Energy.

WHAT TOOLS AND PRAYERS GET YOU THROUGH THE DAY?

With so many forces beyond our control, what tools and prayers support you?

Does the serenity prayer (to accept the things we cannot change, courage to change the things we can, and wisdom to know the difference), suggest that we accept the war against Palestinian civilians, electrification of everything and ravaging of the Earth? Or, besides courage, what do we need to change these things?

No matter what, should we find gratitude for each day?

After eight years of an online conference, Dancing with Mountains (during collapse), Nigerian Dr. Bayo Akomalafe will offer an international festival that explores "sideways" of responding to crises. Dreaming Together's inaugural event takes place Sunday Feb. 25. at 10am Eastern Time.

Humbly, I offer a recipe:

SEED CRACKERS

c sunflower seeds

c pumpkin seeds

2 T. psyllium husk powder

1 T. flax seeds (becomes 2 T. AFTER grinding)

1 T. chia seeds

t. curry powder

t. 5-spice powder

2 t. coconut sugar

3/4 t. sea salt

1 c boiling water

Mix the dry ingredients together in a glass bowl.

Stir in the boiling water and mix well.

Cover and let sit for a half hour.

On 2 oiled baking sheets, spread the batter into even layers about 1/8" thick.

Crack salt over the top.

Bake for 20 minutes at 275 degrees.

Cut each sheet into cracker-sized squares.

Return to the oven for another 15 minutes-- or whatever they need to get crisp.

Store in an airtight container.

Authors Website: http://www.ourweb.tech

Authors Bio:

Katie Singer writes about nature and technology in Letters to Greta. She spoke about the Internet's footprint in 2018, at the United Nations' Forum on Science, Technology & Innovation, and, in 2019, on a panel with the climatologist Dr. James Hansen. Her most recent book is An Electronic Silent Spring. www.DearGreta.com and www.ElectronicSilentSpring.com.