The Earth Shift

"Of the topics suggested for this brief book perhaps this one describes what shall become one of the most obvious and interesting for humans as it unfolds, develops, metastasizes and matures.

Industries, production of goods and delivery of services, reflect human perceptions of surroundings, so we suggest to whomever these words do read, that you examine not only the changes in business. This is a look into the mirror, however you will be able to look at the thing itself, not just what a mirror reflects. Humans often prefer mirrored images. How commonly a tourist gives more time to the process of taking a photograph of a wonderful sight than the sight itself, then longingly looks at the image repeatedly, foregoing the chance to see the sight this way, even though that was easy to do. Some of the energy invested in a view of the real thing would focus the mind on many things from and about the beautiful sight, which cannot be repeated so well, by and for a human, far from the location.

Thus we say, look at the humans creating the industries, markets, competition and demand for what is produced, not just the things which spill across society from human activity.

Many a time we have described crude oil production decreases, the future of this business therefore you already understood without need for more explanation now. Many products and services, from transportation to plastics, will decrease as crude oil becomes less available. The cost of ocean crossing vessel transport will suffer a triple hit, as navigation problems and lower general demand both cross through the business already affected by highly increased fuel prices. Sailing vessels shall make an impressive return, we do say.

Automobiles of all types will be of lesser and lesser numbers, the end of their common use coming when sales drop to the point where basic costs cannot be met. The companies will fall bankrupt. Everything from tools to motorcycles to trucks will nearly disappear from use, in the current versions consuming crude oil derived fuel.

Personal transportation will see greatly increased use of bicycles where not common now. Electric cars will increase in numbers and use, however distances driven will not recover even close to levels commonly seen now with plentiful, inexpensive fuel.

Electric vehicles will use new battery technology, specifically new metallurgy. Battery lifespan will increase beyond what is now considered possible, as a result of the new formulations for battery alloys. Vehicle range and duration of each charge will also increase to significantly more than is currently believed possible, however human surprise at technological advancements is not new. Vehicle complexity will decrease considerably, fascination and demand for vehicles with many currently considered normal and even required devices, will nearly disappear.

Autonomous or self-driving vehicles will come about to a degree, however they will not resemble many of the ideas currently offered, often taken as an ideal objective to be reached where and when. Urban centers will become less congested in some places, nearly falling out of favor and collapsing in others. Where transportation into an urban center is required, this will increase to even higher levels of common carriers than now commonly used. Work schedules will modify in some cases & places to where three days per week, then two the following week will become normal, thus a fifty week work year will not require travel to and from the workplace 240 to 250 times. Much more common will be 120 to 125.

Self driving vehicles will have an optional, not compulsory guidance system. The driver will have the ability to activate or disable the function, to allow enjoyment of guiding the vehicle or permitting other activities. This will become possible because of impact avoidance systems, unable to be disabled. Vehicles will automatically brake or turn to avoid impacts. Coordination among all vehicles will be part of the system. These shall operate with wires placed into the road surface a vehicle follows, proximity radar to detect obstacles. Satellite location tracking will also be a part of this system.

Electricity will not be generated by methods currently produced, for the most part. Flowing water will remain as one, but not grow in use or application, deemed too expensive by comparison with the new method. Decreased industrial production will reduce overall use, even among industries which now produce their own. Many a time have we and your correspondent channel described the new electricity method. It will become common and quickly, once resistance by established interests turns futile. The cost of coal extraction and transport is what shall drive the change, caused by higher fuel prices.

Food production will turn local in much greater ways than is the case currently. Part time activity in food production, in everything from agriculture to delivery and sale, will become very common. Overall unemployment as now measured and perceived, will reach to approximately fifty percent of the working age population, and thus its image will change. Salaried work will become far less of an identity and vocation, the notion of career changing along with it. Complex yet necessary functions such as medicine and telecommunications will continue to offer the career and vocation now common, but ever-growing attempts made by businesses will fade. Seeking growth because of competitive threats to survival will drop far down the list of priorities and objectives.

Food itself will be more basic, altered far less between its initial condition and consumption. Meal preparation will be almost exclusively by consumer eaters. Restaurants will fade from popularity across Earth. They will remain however, and curiously mankind will see a sort of technology driven on-demand system. A restaurant will open when sufficient customers preorder and pay a deposit. Most packaged foods, prepared and ready to eat from the container, will no longer be produced.

The business of law, a large business in many nations, shall undergo significant shrink. As more and more business activity decreases, courts as enforcement tools shall diminish. Along with this will decrease the likelihood of intentional decisions which provoke legal action. Criminal activity will also be presented before courts at a far lower pace than occurs currently. In too many places and cases on Earth a recent trend has developed for lowered tolerance and harsher punishment of illegal activity. These have occurred because of unease even discomfort by controllers of society, whom you would generally consider elected officials, with the ever more complex challenges to their control, authority and power. The reasons for the growing emphasis on human desire, felt as a need, to control others we have discussed before and need not expand now. Enough here is it to say that many currently considered criminal offenses will not longer be. Producing a harmful substance will not be illegal. Consumption will not be materially restricted, because it will become well known why abusers of a substance were first and then continuously drawn to consume mild altering chemicals. The causes for this will be understood and corrected, and the criminal aspects of drug trade will cease to be.

The information business we have treated well in an earlier chapter regarding communication.

Housing and dwellings will see a significant retraction, as human populations reduce. Renovation of existing structures will continue and steadily increase, larger dwellings where now common will become rare among new construction, and overall housing will become almost entirely replacement. The common and current human perception of housing as a significant investment and expense will change. The business of lending to purchase houses will shrink away considerably. Humans will begin to see a house as an expense, which it is, not an asset as currently viewed, which it is not. You who might take exception to what we say, have done well with your human incarnation and human perception of money and wealth, as humans have chosen to frame thus view these concepts.

The challenges to urbanized living, noise and congestion, will be less of a concern as humans settle into more steady daily cycles, sleep more average hours than has become common in urbanized societies and become more aware of the effects of their behavior on others because they have become more aware of effects on themselves.

The business of money will fade considerably. Money is currently quite badly perceived, its possession assumes someone somewhere is always willing and able to sell you something you want, if you offer enough. Not considered in this automatic view is availability of a product or service, or recipient willingness to accept. Hyperinflationary examples on Earth of the most recent century and one half, point to examples of when massive amounts of money lose value when printers overrun themselves.

As soon as the general public begins to perceive money is printed onto paper or a computer screen at a whim, critical mass for its collapse will have been reached. This juncture approaches for mankind, the majority of humans will begin to understand what money means and cannot mean.

Borrowing and lending will fall off considerably, governments will be reduced by great internal force causing near implosion because of collapsing tax collections, many employees of central authorities and also to an extent, recipients of resources controlled by these authorities will also see reductions. This will alter the fabric of money management to a large extent.

The business of governing will be one of the most drastically altered institutions as the new era dawns across Earth. Humans will come face-to-face with the urge, itch, compulsion and obsession to advise, coordinate, then regulate, then control, then compel, then oppress and eventually force one another to submit and comply. The power addiction will come to be seen as the disorder it is, just as exist many disorders among humans. This will become a challenge, because the protest against oppressors turns very appealing to the opposition who would like to replace their masters with themselves, to then continue the process but with themselves atop the hierarchy.

In this area of human societies shall become relevant and well known your alien extraterrestrial friends. Once the existence and presence of alien extraterrestrials become generally accepted, that the thrills and entertainment phases are extinguished and explanations to many questions and demands answered, will humans then become willing to consider what your cousins will say about government.

You will all be shown many alternative courses for self-determination. Humans will have human nature described in ways already recognized by some insightful human observers, often as novelists, then will you be shown many examples of social development from similar points and places in the histories of other civilizations.

Humans will take a certain amount of time to get over the almost childish desire for Earth visitors to interfere with mankind in order to help and improve human society, but once this phase has been conquered to the degree humans begin to understand non-interference is the greatest display of respect, that the respectful refusal to interfere, to distort or to disrupt. shall changes in human attitudes then changes in practice, come to the business of governing yourselves."

Allow us to describe The Shift in brief:

As world trade slows and eventually drops off to nearly nothing, international financial information will fade and be of little interest to anyone.                  

As travel between nations decreases and eventually falls to a trickle, general information about goings on in places that cannot be visited will also fade from popularity.                  

As unemployment in the traditional understanding falls back and many people no longer turn up at a workplace, time will come to be filled with other things more enjoyable.                  

Education for its own sake and pleasure will enjoy a greater role than we have seen in many centuries; education for financial gain has been emphasized ever more closely. Knowledge for its own sake to enjoy the process, will become again a pursuit for many. The value of a degree will not be money; success will not be asset value.                  

Television will nearly disappear as we now know it; entertainment to counter work will take on a new balance and no longer will it be as passive. Entertainment will become more active for many people.                  

Sleep hours will increase for almost everyone; 8 hours per 24 hour cycles will become typical. Naps will return for many. Restaurants will be less common; eating at home will be more frequent.                  

Reading books will return to being commonplace; stress levels will decrease.                  

Far less driving will take place.                  

New technologies in food preparation, agriculture and storage will be amazing by current standards.                  

Better health will come to almost everyone. New medical treatment will be discovered. Many common foods will be discarded.                  

Business travel will drop to a trickle; jet aircraft will fly almost not at all.                  

Computers will be smaller, faster and less necessary.                  

People will dance and sing more than they have in a long time.                  

Boyfriends and girlfriends will hold hands on the porch swing.                  

Bitter cold will be far away and not needed; nobody will need to go where the weather is rough.                  

Garbage and refuse will be eliminated; landfills and refuse dumps will go away. Our true purpose in life on Earth will make a great return!