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The OGM 100

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If there were such a thing as an Open Global Mind, what are the problems/topics it would make sense to tackle within the larger context of managing risks and making the world a better place to live? This list is obviously preliminary, and doesn’t really try and tackle the “how” and “solutions” when it comes to addressing these problems and topics. Nor does it raise all sorts of “big questions” when it comes to humans and the future. Trying to avoid things getting too big too quickly.

I fully recognize several things about such lists:

  1. There are lots of lists out there, including lists of problems. The Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential (see resources below) is a mind-boggling exploration of problems that seems to prove the point that people don’t really value lists of problems. That said, it’s an overwhelming compendium of problems knowledge, as opposed to a list. And the other lists out there offten seem less than great.
  1. What’s the point of long lists (of problems or solutions) when we can really only tackle one thing (or a few things at a time). When it comes to climate change, for example, there are hundreds of solutions being discussed, when arguably everyone should be focused on “electrifying everything” since that’s something concrete and measurable and achievable. But coming up with one or a few things still requires a systems view.
  1. People should focus on what they can see to do, rather than look for problems to solve. At least in my area of particular focus, climate change, this has been a disastrous strategy. Not because there aren’t people for whom this is absolutely the right approach, but because 99.9% of people really have no idea how they could most effectively tackle climate change. Telling them to “figure it out,” which is what we overhwhelmingly tell people, just isn’t that helpful. Shouldn’t a benefit of OGM being helping to guide individuals toward their highest and best purpose in tackling problems? To do that, one has to have a systems view of the problems to begin with. That’s the goal of this exercise.
  1. Lists are a terribly ways to organize information and knowledge in actionable ways. Absolutely agreed! That’s why this isn’t actually a list, it’s a Brain. It’s just being displayed as list to make it easier to access for the majority of people.

The following list is compiled from comments, others lists, and personal knowledge.

Problems/Topics

Aging of the World Population

Artificial Intelligence

Climate Change

Climate Engineering

Conflict Over Arctic Resources

Conflict Over Environmental Migrants

Global Economic Collapse

Global Food Disruption

Global Water Supply and Quality

New Pandemics

Ocean Acidification

Sixth Mass Extinction

COVID-19

Cybersecurity

Declining Huma Fertility

Defense Against Cosmic Objects

Digital Currencies

Disaster Resilience

Economic Development

Global Inequality

Limits to Economic Growth

Expanding Global Authoritarianism

Extreme Poverty

Failing National Governance

Future of Work

Gender Equality

Influence of Social Media

Just-in-Time Supply Chains

Micro-Plastics

Millenium Development Goals

Missile Proliferation and Defence

Russian Expansionism

U.S. Conflict with China

Universal Primary Education

Resources