{"id":11407,"date":"2014-05-30T09:00:55","date_gmt":"2014-05-30T16:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lifeboat.com\/blog\/?p=11407"},"modified":"2017-04-25T04:14:28","modified_gmt":"2017-04-25T11:14:28","slug":"transevolution-2014-by-daniel-estulin-estulindaniel-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lifeboat.com\/blog\/2014\/05\/transevolution-2014-by-daniel-estulin-estulindaniel-review","title":{"rendered":"TransEvolution (2014) by Daniel Estulin (@EstulinDaniel): Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>- @ClubOfINFO<\/a> \u2014 TransEvolution: The Coming Age of Human Deconstruction<\/a><\/i> (2014) is an alarmist book by Daniel Estulin, a commentator on the secretive Bilderberg Group who is well-liked by many \u2013 in particular on conspiracy theorist forums. Essentially, this should be regarded as conspiracy theory material. My refutations of it are too many to cram into this review, so I will mainly focus on what the book itself says.<\/b><\/p>\n

Daniel Estulin connects disparate events and sources to depict an elaborate conspiracy. The main starting claim of the book is a link between the 2005 Bilderberg Conference and the 2006 document Strategic Trends 2007\u20132036 <\/i>prepared by the British government (p. 1\u201312). Estulin claims that the latter report\u2019s predictions betray \u201cPromethean\u201d plans that represent \u201cdesigns by the Bilderberg Group\u201d.<\/span><\/div>\n
The book makes the allegation that the economic pressure on the world today \u201cis being done on purpose, absolutely on purpose. The reason is because our current corporate empire knows that \u201cprogress of humanity\u201d means their imminent demise\u201d. The \u201cpowers-that-be\u201d <\/span>destroy nation-states<\/span><\/a> to maintain power, and \u201cthis is by design\u201d (p. 13). Estulin decries international money flows and globalization, and promotes \u201cphysical economy\u201d instead. To make a long story short, he describes the apparatus of globalization, integration, etc. as a clash between the nation-state and global oligarchy and frames this as a classic battle between good and evil respectively (p. 13\u201335). \u201cThe ideas of a nation-state republic and progress\u201d are intrinsically connected (p. 34), Estulin argues, putting forward his preference for the old Jacobin ideological script of the Nineteenth Century rather than modern discourses on integration and communication.<\/span><\/div>\n
In his preference for the nation-state, Estulin attacks the WTO\u2019s record on free trade, and makes criticisms that are provisionally valid. However, he confuses the tendency for weaker nations to be exploited through free trade with a conspiracy against the nation-state. The WTO\u2019s commitment to what it calls free trade, a commitment to \u201cOne World, One Market\u201d, reflects \u201canti-nation-state intent\u201d, Estulin argues (p. 37\u201338).<\/span><\/div>\n
Although they attach too much agency to global \u201celites\u201d, Estulin\u2019s description of the way international trade on agriculture has been manipulated to disadvantage poor nations and advantage rich nations (p. 38\u201349) agrees with already powerful sociology theories of \u201cfree trade imperialism\u201d and the larger humanitarian message of the alter-globalization movement. Estulin quotes William Engdahl\u2019s The Seeds of Destruction<\/i> at length to argue against the destructive local impacts of global agribusiness (p. 47\u201353).<\/span><\/div>\n
Estulin interprets the spread of the pharmaceuticals industry as evidence of the elite seeking a docile and controlled population, \u201cmassive drugging of the population\u201d, \u201ccontrolled chaos\u201d, and even goes as far as to say that GMOs will be poisoning everyone on the planet and finally kill 3 billion people indiscriminately (p. 63\u201368). More puzzlingly than what has already been specified, Estulin blames the Club of Rome thesis itself (which predicted the depletion of resources leading to economic collapse) for making an enemy of humanity and submitting a plan for no less than the deliberate depopulation of the Earth (p. 17\u201320).<\/span><\/div>\n
Synthetic biology<\/span><\/a> is not spared from criticism by Estulin. He immediately labels it as \u201cfounded on the ambition that one day it will be possible to design and manufacture a human being\u201d (p. 69). For the record, nowhere in the field of synthetic biology has anyone actually advocated manufacturing human beings, and nor does such an ambition coincide with the conspiracy theory about depopulating the Earth. Estulin further confuses science with pseudoscience, stating \u201cgenetics, as defined by the Rockefeller Foundation, would constitute the new face of eugenics\u201d (p. 71). \u201cUltimately,\u201d Estulin writes, \u201cthis is about <\/span>taking control of nature, redesigning it and rebuilding it<\/span><\/a> to serve the whims of the controlling elite\u201d (p. 72).<\/span><\/div>\n
In further arguments against the perceived \u201celite\u201d, Estulin demonizes space exploration, saying \u201cthe elite are planning, at least, a limited exodus from the Planet Earth. Why? What do they know that we don\u2019t? Nuclear wars? Nanowars? Bacteriological wars?\u201d (p. 123) Chapter 4, although titled \u201cspace exploration\u201d, is dedicated to explaining the deadly potential of future security and defense technologies when used by regimes against their own people (p. 115\u2013156).<\/span><\/div>\n
Then, we get to transhumanism (only in the last chapter.) The chapter alleges that the US government thought up a transhumanist agenda in 2001 as a strategic military contingency \u2013 in particular the Russian 2045 Movement. According to Estulin, the transhumanist conspiracy in its present form comes from a conference, \u201cThe Age of Transitions\u201d (p. 159\u2013161). Using little more than the few links between political or business figures and transhumanism as evidence, he alleges that transhumanism is \u201csteered by the elite\u201d and that \u201cwe, the people, have not been invited\u201d (p. 161\u2013162).<\/span><\/div>\n
The movie Avatar<\/i> (2010) by James Cameron (mistakenly named as David Cameron in Estulin\u2019s book), is connected by Estulin with the 2045 movement\u2019s enthusiasm for humans becoming \u201cavatars\u201d by means of being uploaded as digital beings (p. 162\u2013164). Further, the movie Prometheus<\/i> (2012) by Ridley Scott reflects the \u201cfuture plans of the elite\u201d according to Estulin (p. 165\u2013170). However, he does not analyze either movie, and fails to note that Peter Weyland (the \u201celite\u201d) in the movie is actually a vile character and his search for life-extension is a product of his greed and vanity (this is not exactly a glamorization of the search for life extension). If anything, Prometheus<\/i> joins a long <\/span>tradition of literature and film<\/span><\/a> that encourages people not to trust transhumanism and life extension and to fear where such movements could lead.<\/span><\/div>\n
Exaggerated connections and resemblances between disparate conferences, such as the US government and Russian longevity enthusiasts, are put forward as evidence of a conspiracy (p. 170). Then, we get to Estulin\u2019s real complaint against transhumanism:<\/span><\/div>\n

\u201cMany people have trouble understanding what the true transhumanism movement is about, and why it\u2019s so evil. After all, it\u2019s just about improving our quality of life, right? Or is transhumanism about social control on a gigantic scale?\u201d (p. 172\u2013173)<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Estulin also asserts:<\/span><\/div>\n

\u201cTranshumanism fills people\u2019s hopes and minds with dreams of becoming superhuman, but the fact of the matter is that the true goal is the removal of that pesky, human free will itself.\u201d (p. 186)<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Estulin (and Engdahl\u2019s) belief in a eugenic \u201cdepopulation\u201d agenda (p. 57), as hideous as the crimes of Nazism, in Monsanto\u2019s work is an example of a conspiracy theory appealing to irrational fears. Both of these writers are confusing corporate greed and monopolistic priorities with actual wicked and genocidal intent, and assigning motives that do not exist. They are confusing structural evils in the world system with actions by evil men gathered in dark rooms. Estulin also conveniently misses out the fact that the indiscriminate poisoning of all life by changing the DNA of every living thing would also threaten the conspirators and their own families. I guess we must assume that the conspirators are also a suicide cult, of the same breed as Jim Jones\u2019 \u201cPeople\u2019s Temple\u201d.<\/span><\/div>\n
At the end of the book\u2019s tirade about synthetic biology being a ticket for the elite to control all life, Estulin reverts back to a question very prominent in mainstream fora: \u201ccan we trust the major corporations with the right thing?\u201d (p. 74). The answer from almost everyone would be No<\/i> \u2013 but not for any of the reasons Estulin has put forward<\/i>. We can\u2019t trust the major corporations, because their only interest is endless profit in the near term, and such profit is maximized by their ability to monopolize and detain real progress. Monsanto and other agri-giants are only vainly forestalling and trying to contain the <\/span>real technium<\/span><\/a> for their own greed \u2013 there is nothing radical about them.<\/span><\/div>\n
One thing I find ever entertaining about conspiracy theories is the tendency to get their ideas from Hollywood movies, while at the same time refuting the movies as an example of brainwashing and propaganda. Apparently, despite all their warnings to people not to be influenced by media, conspiracy theorists are incapable of noticing how impressionable and easily pressured they themselves are.<\/span><\/div>\n
The book even attacks Darwinian evolution and natural selection, seeing a sinister agenda in them (p. 179\u2013180), which adds to the book\u2019s already deep anti-science message. He connects the theory of evolution with the destructive idea of social Darwinism, and with transhumanism in turn (p. 190\u2013191). The elite plan to \u201cbring society down to the level of beast\u201d by encouraging such social Darwinism, Estulin alleges (p. 211\u2013219).<\/span><\/div>\n
Bizarre speculated connections between Malthusian theories, Darwin, the British Empire, eugenics and ultimately transhumanism (p. 174\u2013178) do not take note of the fact that transhumanists and <\/span>technoprogressives<\/span><\/a> are the one camp in the world most opposed to Malthusianism. Technoprogressives are the camp with the most faith in the idea that the entire world can be fed and sustained. No-one has more faith in the <\/span>infinite resources<\/span><\/a> of humanity and the ability to meet everyone\u2019s needs than the technoprogressives.<\/span><\/div>\n
Perhaps reflecting the book\u2019s confusion, Chapter 1 is dedicated to asserting that the \u201celite\u201d will reduce everyone to a primitive and chaotic setting, whereas Chapter 2 onwards alleges that the plan is a high-tech dystopia. These two polar opposite conspiracies do not coincide in any way, as do the paradoxical claims that transhuman technologies are never going to be seen by the world\u2019s poor, yet are also going to be forced on the whole of humanity.<\/span><\/div>\n
The coverage of transhumanism and understanding of it in this book is not positive (to put it politely). It fails to take account of transhumanism\u2019s real basis as a movement exploring emerging trends to change humanity for the better. Instead, it simply exaggerates marginal influences by futurism, popular science and technology enthusiasm on governments and business elites as representing a global conspiracy.<\/span><\/div>\n
A more informative theory about the relationship of the \u201celite\u201d towards transhumanism would instead explore the habit of <\/span>ignorant opposition by Neoconservatives<\/span><\/a>, warmongers, and the mainstream media towards international peace, development, science, education, web freedom, and ultimately transhumanism.<\/span><\/div>\n

By Harry J. Bentham<\/a> \u2014 More articles by Harry J. Bentham<\/a><\/i>
\n
\n<\/i> Originally published on 20 May 2014 at h+ Magazine<\/a><\/p>\n

We have nothing to fear from exponential technological change, which will deliver humanity from statism and oligarchy<\/a>. Send us your email address<\/a> to get more ClubOfINFO<\/i> articles delivered for free.<\/form>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

- @ClubOfINFO \u2014 TransEvolution: The Coming Age of Human Deconstruction (2014) is an alarmist book by Daniel Estulin, a commentator on the secretive Bilderberg Group who is well-liked by many \u2013 in particular on conspiracy theorist forums. Essentially, this should be regarded as conspiracy theory material. My refutations of it are too many to cram [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":305,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1499,1500,64,1501],"tags":[1614,1612,1611,1613,1388,1533,2165,251],"class_list":["post-11407","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cyborgs","category-posthumanism","category-singularity","category-transhumanism-2","tag-anti-transhumanism","tag-conspiracy","tag-conspiracy-theory","tag-daniel-estulin","tag-dispelling-anti-transhumanist-tropes","tag-harry-j-bentham","tag-posthumanism","tag-transhumanism"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifeboat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11407","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifeboat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifeboat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeboat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/305"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeboat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11407"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lifeboat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11407\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47064,"href":"https:\/\/lifeboat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11407\/revisions\/47064"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifeboat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11407"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeboat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11407"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeboat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11407"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}