1.

MAJOR CHALLENGES
Effects of Global Warming: rising sea level; intensity/frequency of hurricanes,
tornados, droughts, flooding; plants and animals needing human-assisted
translocation
Continuing loss of biodiversity due to human causes
Impact of growing human population on food, energy, pollution, habitats
Gap between the rich and poor, haves/have nots
Bio-computers becoming more intelligent that human beings
Any one or a combination of wild cards
2. WILD CARDS

Supervolcano eruption (e.g., Yellowstone) or methane burp

Asteroid impact or extreme solar activity
Pole Shift or Gulf Stream shutting down
Geopolitical conflicts
NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) error or terror
GNR (Genetic, Nanotechnology, Robotic) error or terror
Epidemic(s) of flu, smallpox, drug resistant TB, etc.
The Singularity (Kurzweil) and its effects

3. LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM TRENDS CONTINUING

Bad news, chaos, breakdowns catalyze creativity and transformation
Organic/Nested Creativity paradigm replaces Mechanistic paradigm
Technology further enables/empowers human connectedness
People/organizations share information and experience more often, more widely,
and more deeply
Circles of care, compassion, concern, and commitment continue to widen
Cooperation (interdependence/nonzero: win-win, lose-lose) expands at multiple
levels
Feedback (inner and outer) is increasing accurate and helpful
World's religions integrate/celebrate evolution and ecology
4. LIKELY GOOD NEWS (NEXT 250 YEARS)

Human population stabilizes and then declines

Clean, renewable energy sources replace toxic, nonrenewable energy sources
"Sixth Great Mass Extinction" is ended
Biomimicry design revolution: law, medicine, politics, economics, education...
Global democratic/biocratic revolution / World-wide religious revival
All significant pollution problems solved
Global self-interest, personal self-interest, and corporate self-interest aligned
Birth of "Cybiont" (de Rosnay): humanity, technology, and nature as one organism