I’m on a steep learning curve. Because the world seems to have gone mad, I’m searching for answers to some difficult questions: ‘What's gone wrong in our world?’ and ‘What can we do to bring us to a better future?’ My search has brought some surprises - some of which seem more like secrets - but it has taken me to a place of hope. An increasing number of people have a vision of a better world and are coming together to find a way to get us there. I’m beginning to feel uplifted!
Secrets and Hope in Our Mad World
Early in 2017 I read George Marshall’s book ‘Don’t Even Think About It: Why We are Wired Not to Think About Climate Change’ and I decided I would think about it. And I would read about it. Then I would write about it.
I write as a 'non-expert' and I'm hoping that your comments will help me to see whether the insights I've
gained make sense, whether the conclusions stack up and whether it's realistic for me to start feeling
hopeful about the future .
Fear as a weapon of control
That makes sense to me. Although intellectually we've advanced in leaps and bounds, emotionally and psychologically we have changed little over the millenia. I guess that's why so many psychologists work in advertising. Our need to be sexual to find a partner and our need to belong to the 'tribe' make us an easy target for the fashion industry. Our fear of 'outsiders' when they enter our territory is possibly why multiculturalism is so hard to achieve.
But, I'm wondering whether there's another reason for our news to be dominated by doom and gloom. Perhaps frightening us is an effective method of control. Feeling scared, overwhelmed and powerless, we are likely to pull up the drawbridge, look after number one and pay less attention to what's going on in the wider world.
Perhaps those who have a vested interested in keeping things as they are because they are doing very nicely from it, don't want to spread the word that all over the world people are challenging the way our world is going and how their lives are being disrupted, are building up a vision of a better future and are questionning whether a life devoted to buying ever more 'stuff' is all its made out to be. In my corner of S E England localisation is taking off big time. Community allotments and choirs, men's sheds, reading and craft groups, support for the vulnerable and lonely are all alive and thriving.
Isn't it about time we shouted the good news from the rooftops?
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