REMINERALIZING THE SOIL

Most of us are aware that the greenhouse effect is rapidly 
becoming a serious threat to our climate.  There is widespread 
agreement that it is the reason we lost almost one-third of all 
our grains in 1988, and were not able to produce enough wheat, 
corn, etc. to feed ourselves.

The greenhouse effect is caused partly by human activities -- 
burning fossil fuels, cutting down the rainforests, etc., which 
put into the atmosphere carbon dioxide and other gases that trap 
additional heat from the sun, creating a kind of greenhouse.  It 
is also happening because many of the earth's forests are dying 
from both man-made (pollution, acid rain) and natural causes.  It 
is well known that much of the minerals in the earth's soil have 
been gradually eroded away since the last ice age.  Since 
minerals (iron, calcium, etc.) are essential nutrients for every 
form of life, the world's forests have been weakening and dying 
for hundreds of years.

When the glaciers build up during each ice age, they grind up the 
rocks in their path into a fine dust, called "loess."  This rock 
dust is then carried by water and wind to many parts of the 
earth.  Since rocks are made of minerals, this is how the 
essential minerals are returned to the soil, and the forests 
become revitalized once again.


THE KEY TO OUR SURVIVAL

Experimental studies have shown that remineralizing the soil with 
finely ground gravel dust triples or quadruples the growth rate 
of plants!

By grinding up mixed gravels (which contain the full spectrum of 
minerals) into a dust as fine as talcum  powder so they can be 
made use of quickly by the plants, and by spreading this dust by 
airplane, blower-truck and every conceivable means over most of 
the world's remaining forests, the forests will become 
rejuvenated.  We also need to plant vast quantities of new, fast-
growing species of trees on remineralized soil.

As the revitalized forests thrive and spread, they will consume 
much of the excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, reducing the 
greenhouse effect substantially.  This will decrease the threat 
of a global food emergency which is now threatening us, and give 
us time to develop ways of conserving energy, much more efficient 
machines, and nonpolluting energy sources.

Remineralizing agricultural soils will enable us to grow much 
more food, enough to stockpile to get us through the coming 
climate crisis.  It will also replace all the chemical 
fertilizers and pesticides which are poisoning the earth, the 
rivers, the farmers and ourselves.  Remineralizing the soil 
produces plants so well nourished and hardy they can resist most 
insects all by themselves.  They are also better able to 
withstand climatic extremes, including heat, cold and drought, 
all the things which now threaten our ability to grow enough 
food.

Remineralizing most of the forests of the world and planting 
billions of new trees is obviously a major project, but it is 
well within our industrial capabilities.  It will cost about what 
the world spends on weapons and military activities every two 
years.  There is evidence that it must be done quickly if we want 
to maximize our chances of stabilizing the climate before 
millions more of us starve to death, this time in every region of 
the earth.

We know what to do, and we can afford it.  Have we got the will 
to live?


The scientific evidence for remineralizing the soil can be found 
in The End: The Imminent Ice Age and How We Can Stop It 
(Celestial Arts), $8.95.  Some visual evidence of the dramatic 
effects of remineralization and the experiences of some of the 
people working in this area can be found in the video Stopping 
the Coming Ice Age ($19.95).

Both are available from the Institute For A Future, 2000 Center 
Street, Berkeley, CA 94704.  Credit card orders can be made toll-
free by calling 1-800-441-7701.  In California (415) 524-2700.

This perspective has been endorsed by several prominent 
scientists, including the following:

"I consider this completely valid.  It requires immediate 
action."
-- Victor Kovda, former President, Scientific Committee for 
Environmental Problems, International Council of Scientific 
Unions.


"An astonishing service for humanity.  A complete world view 
which has been sitting under the noses of many scientists, and 
which all of them seem to have overlooked."

--Kenneth E. F. Watt, Professor of Environmental Studies, 
University of California, and author of the "Annual Review of the 
Environment" for the Encyclopedia Brittanica


"This is very important."
--Wibjorn Karlen, climatologist, University of Stockholm