Denis,
I'm glad the delay let me get to your essay before scoring closed. I agree entirely with your analysis and you described the argument well. What I've been thinking deeply about in recent years is implementation. Do you think that just; "A Cultural Revolution fostered by the ELAM movement" will happen, or counter the economic forces that drive our actions? And even if we do, what do we actually 'switch' to?
I champion renewable energy resources and was recently Architect for the larges UK wind farm (Thames estuary) but in terms of environmental 'costs in use' even that is small meat. It takes massive energy to construct, more to maintain, lifetime is limited, and it takes more energy to remove. Photovoltaic science is improving but only gradually.
I determined we need a quantum leap in understanding nature. We can then bring in technology that doesn't ravish the planet. I suggest that's treating the fundamental cause rather than the symptoms. Don't you get the feeling that many essays here consider peripherals, symptoms or semantics. Almost none get at the nub, which is about fundamental physics', which is 'nature'.
Of course the problem is poor vision. My own essay may hit the very crux of our confusion about nature, allowing unification, which will lead to far better use of solar and other renewables. But Scientists are so embedded with old thinking the can't even SEE it! (non scientist's of curse don't see it either. So I'm now a little distraught. Even with good answers available our short sightedness abides.
Sorry to rant a bit but I think you'll understand my frustration. You epitomize it in part with;"people are misusing their free will because of lack of understanding of the long term consequences" Admittedly a few others also have seen the value, but not enough to count. Your essay paints the picture well. Full marks for that, and I hope you keep up the good work. Mine is allegorical, showing how better thinking finds a real and comprehendable solution to the wierd nonsense of the last 100 years (see the short analysis in my last few blog posts).
Best of luck getting in the final group
Peter