The Survival of Civilization
depends upon our solving three problems:
carbon dioxide, investment money and population.
Selected papers of
John D. Hamaker
Annotations by
Donald A. Weaver
Hamaker-Weaver Publishers
Michigan California
1982-1998
World Wide Web Edition
2002
© 1982 by Hamaker-Weaver Publishers, © 2002 by Anita Hamaker and Donald Weaver, to protect the wholeness and integrity of this work.
Please respect the intent and purpose of this book, which is implied by its title. The book is no longer intended for commercial use, but for educational purposes only.
Thank you.
Communications may be addressed to:
Don Weaver
Earth Health Regeneration
P. O. Box 620478
Woodside, CA 94062
e-mail: earthdon@yahoo.com
Quotes From Readers of
The Survival of Civilization
“I have received and read John Hamaker’s The
Survival of Civilization. Well done – completely convincing. I explained in Critical Path my whole grand strategy for what I could see would be the
most effective way in which I might carry on. This
does not include joining political forces with anyone.
It does include using every opportunity afforded to
clarify for those asking me to speak to them just what
I think they might do to be effective in coping. I will
tell all those inquiring of me about matters relevant to
our survival that they had best read Hamaker’s book
The Survival of Civilization.
Gratefully, faithfully,”
Buckminster Fuller
(Very possibly the most intelligent and synergistic thinker of the 20th Century)
“The Survival of Civilization is regarded by a growing movement worldwide as a blueprint for the
survival of the Earth, restoring ecological balance
and, perhaps, even recreating Eden. The health and
well-being of all living things ultimately depends on a
highly mineralized, alive and vibrant soil. Rock dust
adds up to a hundred elements and trace minerals
and can greatly increase yield and quality of food,
making organic agriculture truly viable. Undertaking
the task of remineralization is urgent to restore our
agricultural soils, to save the dying forests in the
temperate latitudes, and to stabilize our climate.”
Joanna Campe , Editor
Remineralize the Earth magazine
“This visionary book shows how the survival of
civilization depends upon the recovery of culture and
agriculture from ignorance and greed. This recovery
entails the transformation of agribusiness practices,
politics and economics by natural science and
bioethics. The Survival of Civilization is based upon natural science, not the reductionistic and
mechanistic corporate science of industrialism.
Natural science leads to ecological wisdom. Healthy
soils mean healthy crops and healthful foods.
Bioethics leads to reverence for all life, including the
living soil, and in the spirit of this book, moves us to
radical compassion and spiritual anarchy: new ways
to live, to farm, to be.”
Michael W. Fox , author and senior scholar, Bioethics, The Humane Society of the United States
“It is essential in the current ‘global warming’ debate
to heed the many climatologists who predict not
merely rising sea levels but the threat of an imminent
Ice Age. Today’s freakish weather—high winds,
downpours, tornadoes, earthquakes—harbinger of
such a coming deep freeze, was predicted years ago
by the authors of The Survival of Civilization, a subject which is, or should be, of paramount interest
to mankind.”
Peter Tompkins, co-author of The Secret Life of Plants and
Secrets of the Soil
“I write the ‘Annual Review of the Environment’ for
the Encyclopedia Britannica, and I have written several environmental studies textbooks. John
Hamaker has developed a beautiful and
comprehensive theory of climate change, every
element of which is supported by scientific evidence.
His theory has been sitting under the noses of many
other scientists, but they have largely overlooked it.
In my judgment, John Hamaker’s theory is a major
contribution to humanity.”
Prof. Kenneth Watt
Evolution and Ecology Dept., U. C. Davis
“The world is in transition from a hydrocarbon-based
society (fossil oil, gas and coal) to a carbohydrate
society (crops, crop and forestry residues, hybrid
trees and grasses, yard and garden trimmings, and
the biomass part of garbage heading for the dump).
More biomass is needed. The transition requires
clean water and air, nutrients, and environmentally
enhancing agricultural/forestry practices. These are
growers’ responsibilities. This includes the need to
restore the mineral base of the soils—minerals that
have been depleted since the last ice age, as The
Survival of Civilization points out. Biorefineries
‘recycling CO ’ in every county and bioregion will
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contribute to national and energy security, new
industries, good jobs, democratization of energy
supplies, and to U.S. leadership by example in a
world of people and other living things, intuitively
knowing that human synergy with nature is an
absolute imperative.”
William C. Holmberg , Director, American Biofuels Association, Virginia
“Hamaker and Weaver aptly point out the importance
of natural soil remineralization. Their claim we should
imitate natural grinding and transportation by
technical means to induce new life for the organic-
mineral buildup of soil seems purely logical. With
CO rising dramatically, evidence points to a new ice
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age period approaching rapidly. It will need all our
courage, knowledge and joint global activity to slow
down the impact. The starting point must be the
buildup of the linkage system of soils. Man is still the
missing link in the restructuring of the biosphere he is
in danger of destroying.”
Dr. Gernot Graefe , agro-ecologist, Germany
“The diminishing mineral content of our food supply
affects everyone, including many who consume
natural foods. Inadequate mineral content diminishes
food quality and thereby reduces the potential health
benefits of whole foods. Even much of our
organically farmed land no longer yields such vital,
mineral-rich food crops as were found earlier this
century. Clearly food quality should be a major
concern for people throughout the world. Mineral
depletion also feeds directly into the whole problem
of the ‘Greenhouse Effect,’ as so eloquently
explained by John D. Hamaker in his superb book,
The Survival of Civilization. This is must reading for everyone on the planet.”
Mark Mead , writer, Massachusetts
“In each generation an idea is born that alters
mankind’s perception of itself, life and all that is
about. There is an awakening from ignorance which
once initiated alters the hopes, fears and aspirations
of those who experience it. Such an idea has
occurred in the mind of a man called Hamaker, co-
author of The Survival of Civilization. The concept he presents is simple and chilling. It provokes that age-old drive to survive.”
Henry Osiecki, Australia
“I’ve just finished The Survival of Civilization and I’ve never read a more interesting, provocative,
astonishing and truthful book in my life!! It should be
required reading in every grade, junior high, high
school and college in the world!!! I’ve been an
organic gardener for fifteen years but never realized
the importance of minerals in the soils. I’ve had some
excellent results using compost but I’ve had a few
problems and now know why. Thanks so much for
sharing your love of life with humanity. I truly hope
it’s not too late for all of us. What is being done now?
What can be done? What can I do?”
Nathan Bales , Arizona
“Hamaker’s concept of the 100,000-year atmospheric
CO cycle that drives (triggers) the glaciation
2
process, and that we might be able to control the
CO cycle through soil remineralization is certainly
2
fascinating. Based on the knowledge I have of soil
and plant sciences plus climatology, I don’t see any
flaws in the concept. At any rate it would seem most
imprudent to sit idly by waiting for the return of an ice
age to verify his concept when we have the means to
regreen the Earth, thereby reducing atmospheric
CO . It’s important to note that regreening of the
2
Earth would do society an immeasurable amount of
good even if it did not avert a glaciation.”
Bob Dixon , former USDA scientist
The Imprinting Foundation, Arizona
“It is becoming increasingly and excruciatingly
apparent that human activities are destabilizing the
Earth’s climate. By shooting unimaginable quantities
of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into
the atmosphere and by ripping the ozone layer
asunder, we are jeopardizing the conditions that
make human life possible. How long we have to shift
from fossil fuels to renewable non-polluting fuels
such as solar is a matter of dispute, yet even the
most optimistic scientists acknowledge it isn’t very
long. Is there any way to widen the window of
opportunity and expand our odds? John Hamaker’s
work makes it clear that if we remineralize the soil
through the widespread application of rock dust, we’ll
have a much better chance of restoring balance,
saving our dying forests, generating a healthy
agricultural base, and stabilizing the climate.”
John Robbins, author
Diet for a New America and The Food Revolution
“Only rarely does a publication come along that
provides an adequate long-view understanding of
planetary dynamics that affect our small history-
bound lives. This new release of The Survival of
Civilization with its companion volume could not be more timely to awaken us and our political and
economic institutions with its clarion call for change.
A work as clear and brilliant as this has the power to
break us out of our denial and paralysis. Let us ask
those in leadership worldwide to read and
comprehend it. Let all of us do our essential part to
re-green and re-forest our homes and bioregions and
remineralize the precious soil on which all life
depends.”
Sister Miriam MacGillis
Genesis Farm Educational Center, New Jersey
“It is the positive side of remineralization which is so
appealing, that each of us, in one way or another,
can do his or her bit to re-adorn the earth with her
beauty and abundance. Clearly scarcity was never
intended by the Universal Heart and Mind. It is the
result of mismanagement. Restoring the fertility of
the soil is vital for everyone. Alas! Human beings
seldom do the necessary thing unless they are also
afraid of its alternative. John Hamaker and Don
Weaver spotlight the threat that should make us take
action now — namely that we have hastened the coming of the next ice age to the point that it may
well grip us before the end of this century. They tell
us that we can still avert it if we remineralize the
earth now, causing great increases in biomass, green cover, forest plantations, luxuriant high-quality
foodstuff that will absorb the CO —which is the chief
2
cause of climate deterioration.
“The prevention of the oncoming ice age will cause
mankind to unite. Earth, soil, food, water, warmth,
are fundamental to all. None can survive without
them. An ice age eliminates them all. Friend and foe
alike will suffer and die. Thus humanity working
together, uniting to live, can rediscover the
brotherhood of man! Harmony among people can
change the future to one of peace, abundance and
well-being. Mother Earth gives us the opportunity,
simply and gratefully, to give as we have received.”
Betsan Coats , founder
Men of the Trees Queensland and Hamaker Coordination Network
“The mechanism of cooling suggested by Hamaker
and Weaver—increased evaporation of ocean
waters, transport of clouds toward polar regions,
increased snow and ice formation, increased albedo
and movement of ice masses from the poles—I
consider as fully applicable and valid. I am certain
that global reforestation of the mountainous regions
to the tropics, regular rehumification of arable soils,
control of soil erosion, remineralization of acid soils,
and reasonable fertilization of all arable soils will very
much improve the planetarian balance of CO in the
2
biosphere. Of course every continent, natural region
and particular country requires its own concrete
program and sequence of actions. But general
theoretical principles and technology must be
coordinated to be complementary to each other.
“I am very much impressed with the intention to put
the ‘Problem of Earth Regeneration’ as the global
super-problem to the governments and scientific
circles as a vital subject of peaceful international
cooperation in the interests of humanity of the 21st
century.”
Victor A. Kovda , Director
Institute of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, Moscow
“The buildup of atmospheric carbon dioxide poses
one of the most challenging problems that humanity
has ever been faced with. Gaian evolution is ‘forcing
our hand’ so-to-speak. Peoples of the world must
either acknowledge the magnitude and seriousness
of the problem, lay down their arms, and join together
in a world-around effort to replenish our soils or
endure untold suffering.”
Greg Watson , former Secretary for Science & Technology, Massachusetts and Director, New Alchemy Institute
“Evidence continues to mount as to the validity of
John Hamaker’s thesis regarding the underlying
causes of the glacial cycles the Earth experiences at
approximately 100,000-year intervals. His
engineering background and experience in solving
real problems fostered a systems view in putting
together the many diverse elements of this puzzling
phenomenon. In extending his construction beyond
the physical observations to include social and
economic characteristics of humans, he laid the
framework for seeking comprehensive societal
approaches to devising possible solutions. The
systems approach, so generally lacking in the
training and fragmented structure of the academic
research environment, forces the investigator to
model the known elements of the puzzle into an
interactively balanced operating relationship
consistent with human experience. It is an incumbent
requirement for anyone challenged with performance
as the measure of success in any attempt to solve a
problem. Lacking such a requirement, the academic
research community mires in a self-perpetuating bog
of papers and grant applications. Don Weaver’s
extensive search of the literature supports and
materially contributes to an understanding of the
thesis. Still, vision, action, and recommendations for
action characteristically elude that research
community.
“TSOC lays out a compelling picture of the climatic process and proposes actions that stand on their own
merit irrespective of the validity of the thesis in all
detail. The persuaded reader must risk acting on that
persuasion in his or her own individual setting. No
enlightened scientific, political, or economic entity will
champion the coordinated effort necessary to
address the still-uncertain timing and severity of the
challenge Hamaker and Weaver lay out without such
convincing evidence of individual commitment.”
Frederick I. Scott, Editor
American Laboratory and International Laboratory
“The Hamaker-Weaver study exposes serious flaws
in the official warming theory. It presents a well
researched case that cries out for an urgent
investigation. In 1982 they first urged specific
measures, on a crash basis, to reverse the deadly
climate shift now gaining global momentum. Their
arguments were ignored but never scientifically
refuted. Meanwhile, without our knowledge or
consent, our government is betting our lives on a
flawed warming theory that has not been subjected to
open examination or public debate. . . . The potential
benefits to humanity of global soil remineralization
could be the dawn of a new era of health, abundance
and a higher quality of life. It is no exaggeration to
say humanity is now poised on the knife-edge
between a glorious rebirth and the final abyss.”
Bertram Cohen , New York
“The Survival of Civilization is a most compelling and inspiring work on soil remineralization and Earth
Regeneration! As a farmer and arborist I’ve seen and
tasted the fruits of remineralized soil and urge
growers everywhere to experience the benefits of
remineralization. Most importantly, the book’s
message and logic go beyond the simplistic models
being used to anticipate climate changes, foreseeing
a massive breakdown of our interglacial life support
system. Combining this with information on human
and animal health, and our inextricable dependence
on soil organisms makes TSOC a Millennium
milestone.”
Captain Tim Carr , Hawaii Director of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, eco-farmer, Permaculture design consultant
“I’ve just finished your earth-shaking The Survival of
Civilization, and it shook me up equally as much.
You’ve both done a magnificent job. With the
worldwide fulfillment of your prophecies now so
graphically portrayed every night on TV, maybe this
will trigger a serious interest in your message. Would
to God the farmers of the world could see the light
and heed your message and remineralize the soil.
Then we and this sad old earth might have a chance
to survive.”
George Fathman , co-author (with wife Dorothy )
Live Foods, Nature’s Perfect System of Health
(George and Dorothy are 92 and 87 years young)
“The Survival of Civilization contains the most important information on climate in our time.
Remineralization of the soil is a first priority which is
fully explained in Hamaker and Weaver’s momentous
work. It is my profound desire to make this book
available to everyone as soon as possible. We are
already dealing with devastating impacts from climate
change but there is a solution to this climatic
deterioration if we’ll work together NOW as sovereign
citizens of the Earth.”
Dr. John Whitman Ray , President
World Assoc. of Integrated Medicine and
Director, New Zealand Natural Healing Center
“The young Zulu on this card is born to sing and
dance. Hence my tree project is designed to keep
these young stars dancing ecologically. I am sure
The Survival of Civilization is the book for me and my Zulu people and all peoples of the 3rd World.”
R. T. Mazibuko , South Africa
“I have just read The Survival of Civilization which I found to be a brilliant multi-disciplinary synthesis. It
seems you’ve really gotten down to the root of the
problem. For some years I’ve been working to
identify the causes of and solutions to desertification,
and I think you’ve hit upon the answer. Your
programme of remineralization has my fullest
support.”
David Mulligan, Director, Green Deserts, England
“Not too many people know it, but there have all
along been two streams of science, a science of life
and a science of death. The one has given us
nuclear bombs, nuclear power, chemical agriculture,
genetic engineering for commercial profit, biological
warfare, fossil-fuel technology. The other has
discovered how to make humans more alive, creative
and intelligent, how to eliminate all diseases without
drugs, how to make the earth more beautiful with
more abundant life, how to settle disputes peaceably
with mutual benefit, and apparently even clean and
unlimited energy without even burning anything. This
earth remineralization advocated in The Survival of
Civilization strikes me as a fine example of the science of life.”
Joe Alexander , artist, author, Arkansas
“I’ve read The Survival of Civilization and am much concerned about the danger of glaciation. As a
graduate of the college of Agriculture at U. C.
Berkeley, I understand how our soils are depleted
and how important it is to grind up rock flour fine and
apply it to our agricultural lands and forests. The
scientists are not doing anything. You will have to