In truth, it may be that people are really ready to step away from the model of continuous economic growth, and want to find ways of doing so... but when I look around, I see most people still living mindlessly, and I know that it's really just a small movement that manifests in bold moves at a larger scale in far flung places like Bolivia...
...and Ecuador.
The new reality for the planet is accepted among only those who have to stomach the harsh realities. I don't think people are prepared to face the realities on an individual level until something bad that is tangible happens either to them or right in front of their eyes. Even then, memory seems weak and short. Even when people are affected, the focus toward "sustainability" can be quite narrow. (NIMBY).
Individualistic culture is unsustainable patterns of behaviors for a "collective" environment. We don't own or control the whole planet. Who does? Religion that listens to the static wisdom of bearded men from 5000 years ago is a huge obstacle to real changes in our beliefs and behaviors. Instead of using religion to be supportive of what is good and right, it's now based on selfish interests of a collective. So we find collective cooperation in religions, but it's only to perpetuate an unsustainable status quo.
When you think in terms of a national agenda, it's really quite impressive that anyone would do such a thing at all.
The reason I think we hear the "left" called socialists as if it's a bad thing at the same time they're called "fascists" as if they're really scary isn't because those doing the accusing have these two political philosophies confused... it's that they are thinking in terms of fascism as a strictly enforced agenda that requires some autocratic decision making. Eco-fascists. The "hippies" now see it's going to take serious laws, restrictions on behaviors, and limitations to what you're able to do that will need to be heavily enforced. "Keep off the grass" signs (Signs signs, everywhere a sign) those are now the values of leftists! The right restricted access to private property, and the leftists wanted it to be shared. Neither plan was ever "just", and neither political philosophy, neither approach is really an answer to our problems.
The only answer is a new age of enlightenment of our survival and the survival of the planet, and the motivation is going to come from the will to prevent future generations from great suffering.
It sometimes seems to me like a lot of people are "coming around" because I frequent those places and associate myself with others of like mind as much as possible, and not because there is a real serious push toward sustainability for the planet. It's barely conscious, but you'd think it was an overwhelming social force because the media wants you to think so... we see a superficial account of the "green" movement. And so our youth think, "someone's handling whatever problems there are, and lots of problems aren't really all that worrisome"...
In fact there is a serious push toward the agenda of continued growth and expansion, but it is impossible. It's not a "moral" argument. It's physically impossible.
But it's turned into a moral argument, and that is part of why it's been slowwwww to take hold and gain any real momentum (the move toward sustainability). Adopting new ways of life is really not realistic for most of the baby boom generation. They built the highway systems that separated neighborhoods into class divisions, chained us to our automobiles. They're patterns are so ingrained, and their denial is strong. They are hardworking, honest, decent folks who truly believe they are a deeply moral group of people. They fancy themselves in the middle class, and products of "The Greatest Generation", even though they're really more working class and actuallly quite spoiled children of Brokaw's "Greatest Generation". They mentally put themselves in those groups where they are acceptable and have no need for any change; And of course, to suggest otherwise offends them. When confronted, they'll claim that it's the lazy, the poor, the highly educated, the immoral who need to change.
I think people are too fearful of the truth, and that it is paralyzing their will to do anything, even if they are presented with options and facts... and this fear is fostering denial. To accept that the planet's resources are dwindling, and that we are destroying our own environment is to accept responsibility. This translates into "guilt", which also means "fault".
Again, some might proclaim that it's the lazy, the highly educated elitists, and the godless and the immoral who need to change! When in fact, it is civilization, all of it, that will have to change regardless of your prejudices toward others. Everyone needs clean air and water, vital soils, wild places... everyone.
Only the up and coming generations can learn a different way to see things... Learn methods of conservation, restoration, and develop a needs (instead of wants) based economy. They're inheriting a world that many seem to face with despair. It's important to instill in young people a great hope and perseverance toward a better world, and experiential learning hands-on know-how, not just "ideals".
Young people have always stopped at the point of thinking "I'll learn to play guitar and write songs about it". Or, they come together at music festivals and think it somehow changes things....
But are they really even being given a choice to behave in ways that, in their far less romantic day to day lives, can secure their futures? Or is it largely a snow job in the media? Are they getting a false sense of security through the morality that puts them up against the lazy, the highly educated, the free thinker? Will they just get in their vehicle and head to the 9 to 5 where they help the corporate beast fuel its never ending greed, on a planet that is torn up, filthy, and half dead?
No comments:
Post a Comment