The 2008 Shift Report: Changing the Story of Our Future (PDF download)

Over the past several decades, new scientific discoveries along with a surge in grassroots initiatives addressing social and economic injustices have begun calling into question the view of the universe—and essentially of ourselves—as ultimately cold and mechanistic. Revealing both the mysterious directionality of the evolving cosmos and the irrepressible humanity within our own natures, new evidence is emerging that we are innately capable of far more than we realize. Yes, the evidence is compelling that the arc of the human species is on a self-destructive decline. And yet once the pieces are put together, there is no denying that another reality is fighting through the cracks of the dominant narrative. We are just beginning to tap into our potential as human beings despite, or perhaps because of, the multiple crises that we are facing. Read more in this fascinating report.

Section I

Evolution and Human Nature

A Broadening Understanding of Evolution

Science Rediscovers Our Humanity

The Other Side of Human Nature

The Challenge of Our Time

Section II

Toward a New Scientific Synthesis

The Science of Anomalies

West Meets West

An Age of Re-enlightenment?

Section III

The Rise of Global Civil Society

Social Change: Institutional and Grassroots Movements

Economics and Prosperity: Beyond GDP

Media and Information: Democratizing Knowledge and Catalyzing Rapid Change

Section IV

Internalizing Paradigm Shift

The Meditating Heart of the Mind

The Compassionate Mind of the Heart

Participatory Evolution