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5.	A New Frontier of Global Consciousness?
	Are we living at a rare historical moment of shifting world views, as significant as the agricultural or industrial revolutions in bygone centuries? A new report, called Global Consciousness Change suggests we are, based on the latest international surveys of values and perceptions about global issues. Among its findings, the report suggests 'global consciousness' is shifting because of the global communications revolution, rising global ecological awareness, and a new kind of 'experiential' or first-hand spirituality. The optimistic note is all the more encouraging given that the report's publishers are a group of serious foundations and institutes including the Fetzer Institute, the Institute of Noetic Sciences, the Brande Foundation, the California Institute of Integral Studies and the State of the World Forum – all known for their work on rising population and consumption levels. The report's co-authors, Duane Elgin (author of Voluntary Simplicity) and Coleen LeDrew, conclude that the old 'industrial/materialistic' paradigm may be giving way to what they call the 'reflective/living systems' paradigm. Whereas people used to think more in terms of hard scientific metaphors – of machines and material possessions, say – thoughts now seem to be tending to analogies of living organisms and a universe in which everything is intertwined within an ecology of interdependance. What's driving the perceived change in consciousness? Elgin and LeDrew point to the potential of the global communications revolution to allow humanity to achieve a quantum increase in its 'functional intelligence' as a species. Among the possible benefits of the new electronic and other technologies are a massive increase in global ecological awareness, as well as more dialogue on sustainable values and ways of living. Based on the results of the 1997 World Values Survey, the report also suggests that a corresponding shift is taking place in spiritual consciousness, especially in 'developed' post-modern societies, in which people are turning away from traditional religious and other hierarchical institutions – and toward greater ecological and 'experiential' balance with the outer world. The report also points to the emergence of a core set of 'post-modern' social values, including greater gender equality, democratic participation and sustainable lifestyles, to guide behaviour in a resource-challenged world. The report is well-written and convincingly argued. [toward a post-industrial paradigm for the information age]
	The Last Taboo on Television By programming television for commercial success, is the television industry programming the mind set of modern civilizations for ecological failure? Duane Elgin, co-author of the 'Global Consciousness Change' report, argues convincingly that the last taboo on television is televison – and the destructive impact TV is having on people's attitudes towards the Earth. This is particulary true in countries like the USA, where the average person is bombarded by an incredible 25,000 commercials a year. While commercial-free public TV may be relatively more benign, it remains true, as Elgin says, that "television almost never turns its cameras around to look at itself and its blatant consumerist bias'. What needs to be done? Elgin points to at least two major changes. First, viewer feedback forums to make the mass media accountable to the public for its programming choices. And second, 'Earth commercials' to help spread more Earth-friendly messages alongside the normal onslaught of pro-consumerist ones. (Ed.'s note: For a pre-view of what an 'Earth commercial' might look like, viewers in Europe should check out the WWF spots currently airing on the European Music-TV channel.)
	Industrial/materialistic paradigm n. the mechanistic/reductionist way of perceiving the world. reflective/living systems paradigm n. the new organic/ecological way of per-ceiving the world. Earth commercials n. TV ads which promote messages of sustainability rather than the usual pro-consumerist fare.
	Elgin, Duane and Coleen LeDrew. Global Consciousness Change : Indicators of an Emerging Paradigm. San Anselmo, CA : Millennium Project, 1996. 38p. Inglehart, Ronald. Modernization and Postmodernization,Cultural, Economic, and Political Change in 43 Societies (forthcoming, 1997).
Virtual Ideas	The Global Consciousness Change Report on-line. Duane Elgin's last television taboo