LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Valued Readers and Fellow Futurists,

IT is with great enthusiasm that I welcome you to our latest issue of Human Futures Magazine. As we navigate an increasingly complex global landscape, the importance of thoughtful foresight and ethical consideration of our shared futures has never been more vital.

This issue brings together a diverse collection of perspectives that challenge us to think more deeply about humanity’s path forward in a time of accelerating and condusing change. The breadth of topics explored reflects our commitment to examining the multifaceted nature of our potential futures through diverse lenses—philosophical, ethical, social, technological, and deeply personal. Our Editor at Large Dr Claire Nelson begins with an interesting exploration into the concept of shareholder of social capital to create social cohesion for the future and tested it with a Social Capital Index.

I am particularly excited about Jerome C. Glenn, Theodore Gordon, Elizabeth Florescu, and The Millennium Project Team’s “State of the Future 20.0,” which continues their invaluable work in mapping global challenges and opportunities. Complementing this comprehensive analysis is Mara Di Berardo’s reflections on “World Futures Day 2025,” capturing insights from our global 24-hour conversation on humanity’s futures.

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly woven into the fabric of our societies, Trisha Mehta’s “Ethics in the Age of AI” and Bruce Lloyd’s intriguing exploration “Can Poetry Make You A Better Person? A Perspective from AI” offer critical perspectives on how we might maintain our humanity while embracing technological evolution.

In a world often characterized by polarization, Jerome Clayton Glenn’s “Synergetic Relations vs. Zero-Sum Power Geopolitics” and Frederic Hanusch and Anna Katsman’s “Seeds for Democratic Futures” provide hopeful frameworks for more collaborative approaches to our shared challenges.

For those seeking practical tools for navigating complexity, Patricia Lustig and Gill Ringland’s “The Possibility Wheel: Making Better Choices in a Fractured World” and Katharina Michalski’s “Growing Foresight” offer valuable methodologies and insights.

I’m also pleased to read Andy Hines’s “Keeping our Eyes on Transformation: Imagining After Capitalism,” which invites us to envision economic systems that might better serve humanity’s long-term flourishing.

As we consider our collective future, Victor Motti’s contributions on “Planetary Foresight and Ethics” and “Istishraf: A Linguistic and Conceptual Exploration of Future-Oriented Inquiry” remind us of the importance of diverse cultural perspectives in futures thinking.

Finally, in these challenging times, Elaine France’s “A Journey Inward to Ensure that Hope goes Viral in Dark Times” offers a timely reminder that our inner resources and collective hope remain powerful catalysts for positive change, while Yul Anderson takes us home clutching onto our hopes for the future of the American dream.

I would also like to draw your attention to the upcoming conference, “What Future for America? Community or Chaos?” which promises to be a thought-provoking exploration of crucial questions facing not just the United States, but societies worldwide.

As we explore these rich contributions together, I invite you to engage deeply with the ideas presented, to question your assumptions, and to consider how you might apply these insights in your own work and communities. It is through this collective engagement with possible futures that we increase our capacity to shape a world that reflects our highest values and aspirations.

Thank you for your continued support of Human Futures Magazine and your commitment to the important work of futures thinking.

With hope and determination for our shared future,

Sincerely Yours,

Erik Erik F. Øverland President

World Futures Studies Federation (WFSF) wfsf.org president@wfsf.org