TAV Turns 1

It’s Throwback Thursday!

Today marks the one year anniversary of the TAV blog. A year ago today, I published my first post, a short plea for uniting our species and thinking about the big picture. I didn’t include a picture (or link my blog posts to my instagram account). But I did understand what I was trying to create. Dreams come slow. I’m still in the process of fleshing everything out, but I am proud to say blogging is now a daily and integral part of my life. What have I learned? Writing can be the most fluid feeling in the world, or it can be utter agony. We are capable of thinking deeper, thinking of the larger picture, thinking about what matters, we just need to make a habit of doing it.

I created TAV for a very simple reason: we can change the world. You, me, our neighbors, those on the other side of the world—we can change it together. We have the power to make the world we want. A more fair and just world, a kinder world, a happier world. A better world. It all starts with a vision.

Trevor Allen Vision’s name has both a literal origin and a figurative one. It refers to my vision of the world and the universe. How it exists, how it works, and the innate beauty and complexity that make it up. Put more simply, it’s my perspective on the world. However, my purpose is not to simply commentate on the state of the world, but to inspire and lead change toward the vision that I have for it: where we can go as a species, where we can go as a planet. There are difficult, complex problems in our world right now. They are not easy to solve. Wouldn’t we have solved them if they were easy and simple?

Fortunately, they are not. Yes, fortunately—because it is the great calling of our society, of our civilization, of our species, of our existence. My vision is lofty, utopian, near-impossible. And yet because this vision is so hard to reach, it calls for us, challenges us, to be absolute best we can possibly be. It requires us to be our best. It is vital, crucial; to be less will result in complete and abject failure. The stakes cannot be any higher. We are talking about the security, the prosperity, the peace, the sanctity, the future of our world.

My work, my purpose, is to shape that vision so it is accessible to all, to every single human being on this planet. It will shift and change based on new evidence, new information, new data and insight. It will forever continue to evolve, and I hope it continues to do so well after I die. I hope for a legacy of lasting and continually striving human progress. That is Trevor Allen Vision. The organization and mobilization of human power, to create a beautiful, peaceful, prosperous world in which all life thrives.

Can we achieve this? Can we achieve it together? Can we connect and link every single human to all others, to facilitate the understanding that although we might not all be the same, we are similar, that we want similar things? For what human does not want health, happiness, and the security and prosperity of one’s family? Are there human beings who do not want these things above all else? Are those elements of a healthy, happy, successful, full life determined by a zero-sum game?

Let’s find out, shall we. Let’s discover if we cannot reconfigure the rules to the game, reimagine our institutions born out of history, tradition, and economic mechanization so that they favor our collective prosperity. Let’s determine which factors and incentives work well for all, and organize them in such a way that collective human consciousness flourishes and evolves forevermore into higher and higher awareness. A vision indeed. Let’s, together, make it a reality.

I can’t wait for the next year of blogging, and for the more that is to come. In the near future, I will be revamping the website to make it more functional and intuitive, adding some new features, and releasing more content. Stay tuned.

Unity Amidst Differences

I came across some scraps of started writing from when I was traveling around the world:

10.17.2019

In Nairobi marabou storks sit on the lampposts, you can see them as you drive by. Where I’m from, you might see a pigeon or potentially a seagull on such a perch. But this is Africa. Nairobi is a sprawling, congested metropolis, one of the biggest, most modern, and industrial cities on the continent… yet there are marabou storks everywhere.

02.08.2020

Climate change will have the biggest impact on our lives, of every single person on this planet. It‘a easy for me to become distracted from this issue here in Bali, with all the stunning scenery…except that some of it is ruined by trash. Much of this litter comes from Java, not the island itself. It’s a reminder that our choices have an impact on our world, sometimes much further away than we realize.

11.26.2019

It’s been 14 days since my Hong Kong post, and the violence persists. Political unrest exists on another previously visited continent as well—former Bolivian president Evo Morales resigned from office. He claims a coup, while the other side claims corruption, sedition, and treason. It was only April that I was in Bolivia. The people in La Paz were definitely outspoken in their dislike for their president, but it didn’t feel anywhere close to a removal from office. It’s hard for people to understand foreign government systems, so it’s difficult to know what to believe. How can we help? As global citizens we can be aware.

10.05.2019

How do we alleviate the poverty in Africa? How can we prevent littering in Kenya? Driving down the road from Masai Mara to Nairobi, you see trash everywhere. How can we change that?

I share these snippets to show how much traveling can literally broaden one’s horizons. Was I aware of trash in Kenya or Bali before embarking on my journey? Certainly not. Was I up on South American or Asian politics? Negative. But traveling opens your mind to the true nature of the rest of the planet, outside wherever you’re from. It promotes a global consciousness. 

As we fight through this pandemic together, let’s remember how diverse our species can be, how specific our circumstances can be. In recognizing our differences, we can appreciate that we really are more similar than we are different. Just look at right now—every country around the world is fighting the coronavirus. Almost all of humanity is consumed by this pandemic. It has become almost every community’s top priority.

We will get through this, like we have other catastrophes in the past. And perhaps, just perhaps, it will unite us as one.

Education Foundations

My niece has been keeping me young (and entertained) the past couple weeks. She’s also, as a precocious 4 year old, reinforcing the importance of education. While playing, when practicing her letters and numbers, we are always trying to educate her the best way we can, so that she can become an active, productive, and considerate member of society.

Education is the foundation of everything else. Without it, there are no doctors, no lawyers, no firefighters or police officers…no anything. It is through education we can apply science and reason to improve our world. It is through educating our youth (and ourselves) that we achieve progress.

Primary and secondary education is a vital investment with a highly delayed payoff—it takes about 20 years or so to see the dividends. Luckily, continuous learning is gaining steam, and free online learning has become ubiquitous. You can learn to code, you can learn math, you can learn customer relationship management. But can you learn what being a global citizen entails?

Introspection Opportunity

I don’t know about you, but I’ve discovered this whole situation is actually an amazing opportunity. I’ve had the time and space to get into some really deep introspection. I’ve called myself out on my shit, and I’ve really thought about what kind of person I want to be. I’ve thought about the the state of the world, with everything going on in American politics, with world politics, with the media, and with how the average person thinks about all these things.

It’s been cathartic in many ways. Perhaps this is the biggest lesson from the entire pandemic. It’s given us a chance to re-evaluate how we view the world, how we view ourselves, and what we want out of this thing we call life. Man, there have been some strong epiphanies over the past couple months.

On a personal level, it’s given me time to reflect on my life. What kind of person do I want to be? What do I believe in, what do I stand for? What am I scared of? Who is in my life? What’s most important to me? How do I want to live? It’s all surreal.

On a global level, on the environmental level of this planet, I’ve realized that we can do this as a species. That we have done it before, many many times. That we’re going to be all right. It’s a catch-22, because it’s going to take active participation from everyone around the globe. It’s going to take everything we’ve got. But it’s also achievable. It can happen, and I genuinely believe it will happen.  We’re here right now. What do we want? What do we want?

What do we want? We can seize it.

A Message to Graduates

This summer would have been my 10 year college reunion.

With the coronavirus still wrecking havoc on normal daily life, millions of students around the world are missing out on achieving closure from their high school or university. The televised special last night was an inspiring, beautiful gesture to those students. It has compelled me to add my own encouragement to the conversation.

Here’s what I would say to them.

You have just completed training from subject matter experts and now have the foundation to solve problems in the world and make a difference. The world needs problem solvers more than ever.

These are extraordinary times. We are facing 2 global crises: the coronavirus pandemic, and climate change. One is disrupting our modern world like nothing ever before, the other threatens to end our species and millions of others.

These realities can be scary. But, in a way, you are lucky. You have the chance to do more good for the world than any generation before.

You have the chance, for the first time in the history of our civilization, to ensure equal opportunity and treatment for all people, regardless of age, gender, nation, culture, race, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic.

You have the chance to apply what you’ve learned to make the world more efficient and sustainable. Never before have we had such powerful technology. You have the chance to ensure that technology is used for the good of the planet.

You have the chance to ensure future generations are born into a world better than what exists today.

Big events can define generations in a way. Your great grandparents were defined by how they endured through the Great Depression and rallied together in World War II. Your parents can be defined by how they ushered the world into a new age through technological advancement.

Notice how I worded those examples. The Great Depression and World War II and computers didn’t define your elders and ancestors. How they handled those events, how they responded to changing times, did.

You have the same opportunity with this epidemic and the climate change crisis. Not the events themselves, but how you respond to them, will define your generation. You have the opportunity to build a safer, healthier, more equal and more inclusive world. A kinder and more considerate world. A more prosperous and sustainable world. A peaceful and just world.

You have this chance. And it starts right now. What are you going to do with it?

Rousing Saturday

Graduating Together and Tom Petty back from the dead. To say I feel uplifted is an understatement. I’ll reserve my graduation advice for tomorrow after I come down. The point is, we can do this. Young or old, Rachmaninoff or H.E.R. or Tommy, Malala or Bezos, baby boomers or millennials or X or G.I., we can come together and meet this moment. And every moment that comes after. It’s who we are as a species, as an entity in the universe. There’s horror, for sure, but there’s also genuine, true, deep kindness. Let there be light.

Getting There

As the effects of the global pandemic have continued and worsened, I’ve advocated for improving our ability to handle change. There's a simple technique that can make it easier to get started: ask yourself, “how can I look at this differently?”

With the epidemic, maybe it’s… I get to spend more time with my family… yea we want to kill each other sometimes, but this is also giving us a chance to work out our differences and problems, to be more honest with each other, to truly know each other better.

People are dying; estimates as of yesterday are 300,000 people worldwide… but at least Covid-19 isn't as fatal as other diseases in the recent past like SARS or Ebola… it’s not necessarily a death sentence, like so many other infections throughout history.

What’s more, this outbreak is teaching us how to deal with outbreaks as a global society, as a species. Yes we’ve made a lot of mistakes, our leaders have made a lot of mistakes… this gives us indications of the problems within our governments, which we can now work on improving. It gives us new criteria with which to choose our leaders in the future. It helps potential future leaders better understand what to expect.

This disease could have been like the Black Death, which killed a third of the world’s population, but it’s not even close to that…it’s a reminder of how far we’ve come. Because of the curiosity and hard work of scientists over centuries, we understand germs enough and were able to react more quickly and effectively by implementing social distancing measures across the globe. We are able to enact policies that have actually saved people… and “ordinary" people actually understand most of it.

Nations are working together to solve the incredible problems we are currently facing, which will set the stage for inevitable future crises, especially the climate crisis. This widespread cooperation has never been seen before on an international scale, and it will lead to the fastest vaccine ever developed.

People are losing jobs all around the world, but we’re also learning the pitfalls of our economies… we’re learning many jobs can be done remotely, even performed more effectively and efficiently remotely… we’re learning the value of actually meeting in a room with coworkers when everyone’s aligned on something… and we’re learning what ‘essential workers’ really are.

We're getting a taste, just a small taste, of the hardships previous generations have suffered when experiencing much worse… the Cambodian genocide, the Spanish Flu, The Great Chinese Famine, North Korea’s totalitarian regime, World War  II, the Rwandan genocide… the list could go on. And you know what? That long list of things… rarely do those sorts of things happen anymore… Wealth has increased all around the world, education has improved, equality has improved… this coronavirus pandemic is teaching us that we have come a long, long way.

And there’s still much further. Isn’t that a good thing? Isn’t it encouraging? We’re not at the top of the hill yet, not by a long shot. But because of our intelligence, curiosity, institutions, determination, and lessons learned, we can see the top. Let’s get there.

Covid-19 Resolution

Citizens are ordered to stay in their homes by the government. A deadly virus ravages the globe. The media is no longer trusted. The year is two thousand…twenty. It’s pretty surreal isn’t it? Who knew 2020 would be such a drastic departure from normal?

About a month ago I wrote about how, due to the pandemic, people will need to increase their comfortability with 3 things: change, boredom, and data. It doesn’t seem like we’re doing particularly well with any of them.

Not only are citizens protesting against the statewide lockdowns, it appears they are doing so because they are ignoring or incapable of looking at the data. There is collective distrust of science. It's important to remember that it was science that has brought such a high standard of living to the 21st century. It will be science that enables humanity to conquer Covid-19. If you examine the data, you’ll see that 2 strategies have thus far proven effective at stopping the virus: social distancing, and contact tracing.

As the American population is barely capable of staying home, it seems very farfetched we would agree to contact tracing. And why are we not capable of sheltering-in-place? Is it really about freedom? I would argue it’s more about boredom. People want to see their friends and family. People want to go back to their hobbies and leisure activities to which they’re accustomed. We are social creatures; it’s ingrained in our biology. I get it—I really struggle with it on certain days too. Have the people who are protesting taken a true look at their motivations? This is new and different and scary and so much change.

Which is the last variable we need to get better at handling: change. All of this is new. There are probably only a dozen people alive today who experienced the Spanish flu epidemic in 1918, and they were probably too young to truly ‘experience’ it. This has never happened before for any of us. Treating a novel virus is hard. Losing loved ones to a scary disease is hard. Struggling to make ends meet because of the shutdown is hard. Forcing ourselves to be asocial is hard. Perhaps familiarizing ourselves with the data is even hard.

But if we’re too self-centered to protect others from a health crisis we still know so little about, how are we supposed to become more comfortable with data, boredom, and change?

I fully believe we can make it through this pandemic. I believe we can come out of it better—more aware, more kind and understanding, more connected. We completely can. The question is…will we? Let’s resolve to get better at these 3 variables. If we focus on just these 3 things in these turbulent times, we can change the world. 

Make our Grandchildren Proud

Most people want the same things, regardless of where they are on the political spectrum. In general, people want the opportunity to be successful, and they want their families to be safe, healthy and happy. Every single person in the United States can relate to those 2 core desires. Which is why it’s disheartening to see such animosity and outright hatred between liberals and conservatives. We may disagree about the best way to achieve those things, but at the end of the day, we all share the same aspirations.

Times are tough right now, no doubt. But even with the coronavirus epidemic, we are still better off right now, in the year 2020, than we were 20 years ago, than we were 100 years ago. We will conquer this disease, like smallpox, like polio, like so many others. We are strong and we are resilient. Let’s also be kind to each other. We will achieve better conditions for our society as a whole if we do it that way. Progress requires work and sacrifice, but also compassion. Let’s see beyond our own personal perspectives. Let’s make our grandchildren proud.

United Against Injustice

I have taken some time to gather my thoughts before writing about the Ahmaud Arbery shooting. The video is deeply disturbing and I did not want to write something reactionary.

It is imperative we exhibit solidarity as a national community in such times. Americans are a diverse people, and it’s important to remember that any injustice affecting one particular subgroup of people, regardless of the delineation, affects all of us.

The Arbery case is not only tragic, but unjust. We live in a system that is supposed to be governed by the rule of law, and that has not been the case thus far with this situation. It is vital we stand up to this injustice as a unified people, as Americans, to show we will not tolerate arbitrary enforcement of our laws—especially in such extreme circumstances.

I have been getting back into the habit of running again as the lockdown continues in the Bay Area—it’s one of the few ways to get out of the house. As I’ve been jogging in my neighborhood, I’ve wondered: Am I only safe because of the color of my skin? Would my daily runs be a source of stress if I looked different? If I were black, would my life be in danger, and would I constantly fret about that knowledge? It upsets me that such may be the case for other Americans, and I offer my deepest condolences to Ahmaud Arbery’s family and friends.

It is our responsibility as citizens to draw the line, to determine what sort of country we accept. I refuse to live in an unjust society. I hope you do too. We are one people. Divided we fall, United we stand. One nation, with liberty and justice for all. 

Starting with You

Writing can be agony. But those pains often result in some of your best work. Likewise, we are experiencing agony across the planet right now with the coronavirus epidemic and the climate change crisis. But perhaps, one day, we will look back on these two catastrophes as a necessary turning point in our history. Maybe someday we will recognize 2020 as our awakening. Our civilization has grown and progressed in so many ways, yet we still have serious problems to address. Solving them will require a global consciousness never before seen—we must go from 0 to 1. We either come together as a species and institute changes, or we perish separately. If every human being thought deeply about this tonight, we would wake up to a different world tomorrow. A simpler, kinder, and more considerate tomorrow. We would understand that we are much more similar than we are different. We would understand our actions affect others. We would examine how we do things and wonder what society would be like if everyone did them that way. We would prioritize the health and prosperity of future generations above short term reward. We would unite as one species and strive toward the future with a sense of optimism, duty, and courage. We can accomplish such a future. We can change the world. It starts with you. 

A Mother’s Day

Hallmark holiday? Yes, in a lot of ways. But at the same time, we all have a mother. Every single one of us who has ever existed. There’s something to be said of the women who’ve brought us into the world. If only for that, they deserve appreciation. Thank you. Without you, there would be no us.

Time for Thought

We only have about 80 years or so to live. When you reflect on that, you realize it isn’t really that much time. We have a handful of decades to enjoy life and make a difference in the universe. That’s the great balancing act. Where do you fall on the scale?

Reopening and Reconsidering

Reopening is tough. I went to a non grocery story for the first time in about 5 months, and it was stressful.

We can be so reactive, collectively. I hope we reconsider our diligence. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, we have put the time in to protect our vulnerable and frontline. The numbers and experts both say we should hold on for a little bit longer. 

These are certainly unprecedented times. How will each of us respond? You get one shot at every moment in life. 

This is ours to change the world. 

New News Repertoire

In late 2019 I did a month-long trial of using Twitter as my primary news source. Twitter has now become a supplemental tool for me. I currently follow 11 accounts:

• Gavin Newsom

• San Francisco Chronicle

• Mercury News

• Joe Biden

• Bernie Sanders

• Donald Trump

• CSPAN

• BBC News (World)

• BBC Breaking News

• Reuters

• The Associated Press

Mostly, I use Twitter to keep up with political rhetoric and stay abreast of local stories relevant to my region. My primary news source has changed: I now use the Winno app because of its curated, concise content and intuitive interface, making it easy to maintain a streamlined news consumption protocol. For staying current on the coronavirus, I predominantly use the Johns Hopkins newsletter, which I find to be neutral, scientific, and unbiased.

A 5 minute Winno scan, about a 10 minute newsletter perusal, and a quick glance through Twitter gets me up to date with what’s going on in the world and in my local area. As I’ve previously written, staying informed is important. But the media machine seems more concerned about entertainment than truth and information gathering. This current procedure works well for me. Give it a shot and figure out what works for you. An informed public can more constructively move forward as one people.

SIP Movement

I get it, it’s tough. California has been locked down for a while now, and it’s not fun, it’s not easy, and it’s certainly not convenient.

Today is my best friend’s birthday, and it’s hard not being able to truly celebrate with him.

But regardless of our opinions, for better for for worse, California sheltered in place. It behooves us to follow this course. So much effort has been expended toward mitigating the spread—can we afford to throw it all away now? This isn’t Sweden.

For a little while longer, let’s focus on the resulting good. Let’s keep walking in our communities. Let’s keep current with the news and the big picture. Let’s keep navigating change.

Let’s keep moving towards progress. We can change the world.

Cinco de Mayo Celebrations

My mom’s side of the family is mostly Irish and my Dad’s mostly German, so naturally Cinco de Mayo is a big holiday for us. Only in America do people celebrate the military victories of other nations by drinking that culture’s libations.

On a serious note however, it’s important to avoid the realm of cultural appropriation. To me, Cinco de Mayo is about celebrating American and Mexican cultural assimilation. Mexican-American culture has long (like pre-1850 long) been prevalent in California and it’s produced some really cool customs and food.

It’s also about resilience and solidarity. Colonialism, oppression and racism…many atrocities have been committed against Mexicans throughout American history. Cinco De Mayo serves as a reminder that a small few can make a difference. That domination of one group of people by a ‘different’ group is not okay. That we can choose what we accept and make a stand against what isn’t right.

In the grand scheme of holiday celebration, humanity can become more inclusive when we are exposed more to the diversity within our species and address our complicated history. Like many Californians, Mexican cuisine is among my favorite types of foods. So I will have some tacos, drink some tequila, and continue to ponder about how we can be better as one people. Happy Cinco de Mayo.

Numbers and Decisions

Unlike coronavirus statistics, the effects of climate change year over year are difficult to interpret. People understand what 24,713 new cases and 1,324 new deaths mean—but global sea levels rising 0.55 inches since 2003? Our biology did not evolve to understand such measurements over such time and space. But if we achieve global consciousness we will become more accustomed to such information. If we unite humanity, coordinated planetary action can occur quickly, efficiently, and effectively. If we take individual responsibility, we can inspire change. We can change the world. It will be inconvenient and it requires selflessness and sacrifice. Think of impoverished communities, tigers and polar bears, our children and grandchildren...whatever. Whatever gets us thinking. Because it’s time for us to think about it, and time for us to respond. All of us. What is our purpose? What is our place in the universe? What we decide determines our fate. 

Mitigation in 5

We are concerned about and reacting to the coronavirus pandemic because it is disrupting our civilization. But as terrible as this epidemic is, it’s nothing compared to the horrific effects of climate change. Covid-19 is killing thousands of people all over the world. Climate change will kill millions of species across the planet.

What kind of world do we want to leave for our children? Do we want a world for our grandchildren?

Just as we are mitigating the spread of the coronavirus, there are simple things every single first world citizen can do to mitigate the advance of climate change:

1. Eat less meat. Limit meat consumption to once or twice a week.

2. Drive less. Make less trips, walk or cycle, or take public transportation.

3. Mind purchases of goods and services. Support companies that benefit the planet.

4. Reduce consumption. Borrow and lend items. Reuse what is already owned, and recycle everything possible.

5. Discuss climate change regularly. Motivate others. Inspire.

Are these suggestions fun? No, they are not. Are they easy? Not necessarily. Are they simple? Incredibly so. We can bemoan inconvenience and lifestyle changes, or we can mourn the loss of the planet as we know it. The choice is ours, and it’s a simple one.

Let’s keep the world big, beautiful, and amazing. We can do this. Think of humanity’s future. Spread global consciousness. What kind of world do we want to leave our children?

It Can Be Done

The month of May—it’s always had a special place in my heart for some reason. At least in Northern California, it’s when the weather really starts heating up and you get this wonderful blend of Spring with pleasant warm weather.

And to be honest, I think that’s a huge factor in all these protests we’re seeing. People are protesting the shutdown because they’re tired of it, plain and simple. It’s not about freedom, it’s not about financial insecurity. People are bored, and they’re sick of not being able to do anything. But there are so many people out there who are truly suffering, and I bet (for the most part) they aren’t the ones screaming with signs outside government buildings.

The impacts of this virus transcend throughout the entire fabric of our civilization. Advanced, interconnected economics are collapsing. Ecosystems are changing. People’s way of life is disrupted. This pandemic is forcing us to confront drastic change, and hopefully it convinces us we need to change.

If we rally as one species, it can be done. If we recognize we are much more similar than we are different, it can be done. If we unite and come together, it can be done. If we evolve global consciousness, it can be done. We can inspire each other. We can change the world.