Don Wilkin - An Eye on the Future

I was introduced to Don Wilkin when he enrolled in my creative writing course years ago. Impressed not only by his thoughtful writing, but his fervor for the environment, we soon became friends beyond the classroom. Tea at Renaissance became a monthly ritual where our conversations ranged from topics as personal as how our extended families were doing to the survival timeline for the entire human race if generations continued at our rate of overpopulating the limited space on earth.

I don’t know that I’ve ever met a more accessible intellectual, willing to share his passion and knowledge. As a teacher, one never knows who or how many students are listening and learning. I have no doubt that generations of students continually draw on the lessons learned from Don Wilkin about the environment and the world we live in.

 

Don with students

Don Wilkin

Ummmm ........ I have to say that despite my overwhelming 

pessimism regarding humanity's future, there is nothing left for us to do but work relentlessly to try to make the best of a bad situation. We must prepare as many people as possible to deal with the crisis that is coming and, hopefully, to make a start toward a better world. We must all dedicate ourselves to working for each others' well-being. 

The world is way too crowded. By any rational definition, the future is one with substantially fewer people in number and yet substantially more caring people in it. That will prove the single most effective  strategy in creating a stable, sustainable world with an equitably distributed quality of life. 

Obviously, there are individuals with wonderful qualities doing good work. But, as a whole, we are the worst thing to have happened to planet Earth in the 4.5 billion years of biological evolution, and we are only getting worse. 

1.      Who are you?

Student – Introvert – Teacher – Ponderer – Partner

2.      What have you done that you’re most proud of?

I was a professor and advisor for scores of graduate students from all over the world and I tried to impress on all of them the importance of humans working together and helping one another as the essence of social evolution and source of the only real progress humanity has managed to achieve.

3.      If you could change one thing in your past, what would it be?

I wouldn’t have gotten married until I was mature enough – probably around the age of 55 or 60.

4.      What drives you crazy? What gives you greatest joy?

I have nothing but disdain for western democracy and its pretension that decision makers, both voters and elected representatives, are knowledgeable, thoughtful, and equally concerned for the welfare of others as well as themselves.

My greatest joy comes from being alone in wild places, meditating and observing and learning.  My most recent joy came from having dinner with the family. I am growing adept at imagining the world with only half a billion people, a healthy biosphere, and opportunities for personal growth, and there is substantial joy coming from that process.

5.      Given no restrictions (i.e. money/physical capabilities) – what would you most like to do? 

Hike the Himalayas; do a walking safari in Kruger National Park; run the Grand Canyon; fly a Staggerwing Beechcraft from Nome Alaska to Tierra del Fuego; lose weight; and change humanity’s values to caring most of all for each others’ wellbeing.