The tight rope walker is in a precarious situation, especially when there is no safety net. Yet he is relatively safe if he stays connected with the two points.

The situation we are in as humanity is more or less the same. Because of the problems in our world the situation has become very precarious; problems like the food crisis, the energy crisis, and especially the climate change. Both collectively and individually we are on the tight rope, and the safety net is taken away.

Regarding global warming we also could use the metaphor: The Earth has a fever. And as we all know, fever is a symptom of illness. Fever can heal, but it can be deadly as well. Now, we don’t believe that Earth itself will succumb to this relatively light fever, but we do believe that humankind and part of nature is in serious danger.

Is it really that bad? If we confine ourselves to the climate problem: yes it is really that bad. Worse. “The situation is hopeless but not serious” an emperor seems to have said during the fall of the Habsburg Empire. And indeed: the Empire is gone, but Vienna and Prague still exist, more flourishing than ever. Although – it is what you call not serious: the empire did breakdown in a war (world war 1) at the cost of untold suffering. Something like that is going on now. As the Habsburg Empire perished, so, under the influence of the problems mentioned, the society as we know it will vanish and transform completely. If this transformation will be for the better or worse remains to be seen. It might well be that we shall emerge purified from this crisis, and shall create a new world in which care, harmony and beauty are dominant. Or we might create a hell upon earth. It is said that if really we collectively do the things we need to do for the climate (things that are technically and economically absolutely feasible), than the misery could be less than we fear. But will that happen? The signs are not favorable. And even if we do what we have to do, we already shall suffer enormous losses. Millions, maybe billions, will suffer damage or even die due to starvation or floods, and we don’t know what mankind’s response will be. Will it be hate and destruction, or compassion and creativity?

In this book we want to do two things.First: to present in lucid words what is really going on as far as we know. And then, secondly, look at the significance for us on an individual and collective level, and how we could respond to the situation. With regard to the last subject we shall let us inspire by some known leaders in the world, who we interviewed for this book.

On both items this book is different from all other books that were published about the climate problem, at least as far as we know. Regarding the facts: we tried to uncover ALL the facts, including things that are still uncertain, disguised or obscured. Those facts can be included in probability scenarios. We also want to look at the facts with a certain sobriety, not letting us be overwhelmed by the tyrants of fear, exaggeration or denial. In other words we want to focus on the future as it is or could be, as the tight rope walker focuses on the other side. And regarding our responses: we don’t believe very much in fitting a energy saving lamp, or even buying a hybrid car (although these things help). We believe in an “Umwertung aller Werte”, a complete transformation and breakthrough of consciousness and the changes in lifestyle and policy that will result from that. On a global scale. We only can accomplish that if, on the tight rope, we learn to stay connected with our power centre: the source of vitality in ourselves.

The book is divided in two parts. In part I , chapter 1 we give the facts and uncertainties regarding the climate change. In chapter 2 we deal with political and technical measures that can be taken to limit the damage. We also shall make an estimate of the chance that these measures in actuality will be taken. In chapter 3 we give the floor to some leaders and experts to give their vision on what is going on and what can be done about it. Our conclusion will be

that much can still be done, but that nevertheless we will arrive in a situation that will have serious consequences in our daily lives – not all very pleasant to put it mildly.

Therefore in part II we want to treat the question: how can we create a future that is not just terrible, but also offers opportunities for human dignity and a world in peace. Our thesis is that we cannot create that future by separate actions and measures, but that we only have a chance if we experience a breakthrough in the way how we think about ourselves and the world around us. This requires a basic transformation of consciousness.Therefore it is necessary that we learn to sustain the gaze on the world around us without panicking, denial or making it better than it is (in our metaphor of the tight rope walker: to stay connected with the other side). This we deal with in chapter 4. In chapter 5 we turn inside, and investigate how we can become more conscious and keep the connection with our center. In chapter 6 we deal with collective consciousness development – what is it, will it happen automatically or do we have to do something to reach it? In this chapter again we shall give the floor to some experts and ask them to speak about a global transformation of consciousness. And finally in our last chapter we shall deal with the concept of ‘spirit in action’: a way of acting that is deeply connected with the consciousness transformation we just talked about. In this way we shall still have some grip on the future.

In summary: in this book we intend to teach you how to dance on the tight rope, so that you could teach that to others as well and we and the generations after us don’t have to fall. For again: the safety net is taken away.