Perhaps, the discovery of fossil fuels under the Earth — stored reservoirs of millions of years of ancient sunlight — was a one-time bequest to humanity. This stored sunlight gave us the power to construct a global civilization. This power also has blinded us. It prevented us from reckoning with the negative consequences of our behavior patterns, which included the urge to dominate and control natural processes, as well as human societies.

Perhaps, the discovery of fossil fuels under the Earth — stored reservoirs of millions of years of ancient sunlight — was a one-time bequest to humanity. This stored sunlight gave us the power to construct a global civilization. This power also has blinded us. It prevented us from reckoning with the negative consequences of our behavior patterns, which included the urge to dominate and control natural processes, as well as human societies.