Many people want change enough to make change
March 10th, 2010
While I once
felt like a marginalized
garbage-nut, I now realize I am part
of a massive community of people, all over the
world, who know deep in our hearts that something is
wrong. Our economy is off track. Half the world’s population lives
on less than $2.50 a day, unable to meet basic needs, while a handful of people
amass obscene levels of wealth. Our industries convert the planet’s resources
into wastelands while pumping out toxic chemicals so pervasive
that they are now present in every body, even in those
of newborn infants. And our culture encourages us
to find fulfillment in rampant consumerism
rather than compassion and
connection.
The outpouring
of support has shown me that
many, many people recognize these problems
and want change—enough to actually make that change!
It’s not just a few little pockets of us in eco-hotspots. All around the
world, parents, students, farmers, activists, religious leaders, writers, engineers,
scientists, fisher folk, businesspeople, and many others are standing up, speaking out,
calling for a new kind of economy and culture that serves the planet and its
people, rather than sacrifices these for the economic benefit of the
few. So, in spite of the dire data on the state of the planet,
I find myself more full of hope than ever.
I am not alone. We are
not alone.
