we're all going to die

[Artelus]

our generation exists in an age of uncertainty
we are consuming resources faster than ever
with each and every day our numbers increase
and all is aware: if our society fails to change...
we are inevitably heading towards destruction.

yes, this can all be averted if we are willing to change
but can it ever be possible to change human nature?
to those preaching the superiority of homo sapiens,
with the power and influence we have over the earth,
and our good deeds to one another, and to the planet
it is easy to forget our dark side, our evil-doing guilt
so it's no surprise society attribute so much glory...
to human beings and our "good, altruistic" nature.

but see now, is that realistic? are we that good?
can we really possibly ever save ourselves?
for those who say yes, and point to our generosity
our nature to help one another, and everything else
have they seen the evil that we are capable of yet?
can they see the overwhelming apathy and hate in the world
that inspires more people than altruism and love?

we are truly social organisms, communicating with each other
assist in survival as well as emotional and physical needs
we sense the feelings of other living organisms
choose to either assist or consume it
but in the end, we are all
nothing but individuals.

Greed, hate, fear, and gluttony
These will be the end of us
and even when some succeed
and find a solution for everything
the worse in us will find a way
to spoil our survival and end us

Even if a solution is found
will the ignoramus use it?
will the greedy implement it?
will the gluttons ever relent?
and will the fearful trust it?

The answer is no! We can't change
And those who can can't make change
We are all doomed. Goodbye.

[supertom]

I love the optimism in this post

[NDN Scholar]

Originally Posted by supertom

I love the optimism in this post

Yes. It fills me with hope.

[secrets0stolen]

We already have a thousand different shades of solutions that could be applicable in the different facets of the the problem all over the world, but...

Originally Posted by Artelus

Even if a solution is found
will the ignoramus use it?
will the greedy implement it?
will the gluttons ever relent?
and will the fearful trust it?

This depresses me cause it's as far as I can see true (though I would have worded it differently). The people with the most power (money) in our society who benefit from the destruction the most have motivation by and large to not help with the solutions, and to actually impede them. The average middle class person has largely no motivation to do anything but just enjoy their lives, although this is the group with the largest variance. The urban poor don't have the time or resources, and the same applies to the rural poor for the most part as well--different resources though perhaps.

This from my perspective of course, which is mostly confined to America. America is also very politically apathetic compared to other countries, and with a good chunk of other people who have a very narrow political lens (Fox News, church and talk radio).

Just because of the family I'm in my inner circle has always been the latter group, and within that I have an uncle who won't listen to any radio station that starts with "Air" because that's too much like Air America, which has a liberal slant, and a bunch of people with emotional attachment to lawns. I just don't think these kind of people would ever voluntarily transition to a sustainable way of living, even if the difference was who you paid for electricity, and we all know that's not going to be the only change.

[Curtis2011]

Originally Posted by Artelus

our generation exists in an age of uncertainty
we are consuming resources faster than ever
with each and every day our numbers increase
and all is aware: if our society fails to change...
we are inevitably heading towards destruction.

yes, this can all be averted if we are willing to change
but can it ever be possible to change human nature?
to those preaching the superiority of homo sapiens,
with the power and influence we have over the earth,
and our good deeds to one another, and to the planet
it is easy to forget our dark side, our evil-doing guilt
so it's no surprise society attribute so much glory...
to human beings and our "good, altruistic" nature.

but see now, is that realistic? are we that good?
can we really possibly ever save ourselves?
for those who say yes, and point to our generosity
our nature to help one another, and everything else
have they seen the evil that we are capable of yet?
can they see the overwhelming apathy and hate in the world
that inspires more people than altruism and love?

we are truly social organisms, communicating with each other
assist in survival as well as emotional and physical needs
we sense the feelings of other living organisms
choose to either assist or consume it
but in the end, we are all
nothing but individuals.

Greed, hate, fear, and gluttony
These will be the end of us
and even when some succeed
and find a solution for everything
the worse in us will find a way
to spoil our survival and end us

Even if a solution is found
will the ignoramus use it?
will the greedy implement it?
will the gluttons ever relent?
and will the fearful trust it?

The answer is no! We can't change
And those who can can't make change
We are all doomed. Goodbye.

Society has survived this far; thus, I assume it will survive much longer, unless we kill ourselves with nuclear war or something of a similar level of catastrophe.

[Andrew Gubb]

we're heading in a certain direction and doom is within the realm of possibility. i for one think that humanity has a few aces in the hole yet, though. i think faced with destruction, consciousness will awaken and our etheric allies will come out of the woodwork. i think we're stronger than it might seem on the surface.

will everything be okay? i'm not sure i can say that much. things are not okay as they are, haven't been okay for the ten thousand years or so of the history of modern human consciousness, and are likely in many ways to get worse. the rainforest hasn't stopped being systematically destroyed. if the Earth was a human it's like we're steadily shoving a nail into one of its lungs. the Earth as a conglomerate is chain smoking and destroying its ability to recycle air. holy crap, we're nuts.

but on the other hand things have also been "okay" and will never stop being so. no one is dying. eternal life is a fact. it's all just a game. want the game to get better? start playing different. is all I can say...

[MariconesUnited]

Originally Posted by Artelus

Even if a solution is found
will the ignoramus use it?
will the greedy implement it?
will the gluttons ever relent?
and will the fearful trust it?

The answer is no! We can't change
And those who can can't make change
We are all doomed. Goodbye.

First question to ask is: Am I ignorant? Greedy? A glutton? Fearful? If I find that I am ignorant I do more research. If I'm greedy I find ways to give more. If I'm a glutton...Well...I'm not You get the gist of it by now!

Once I have a strong and stable foundation of kind-hearted values, I can work on making the world a better place. Wherever I see gluttons I remind people of the health risks associated with obesity. If that doesn't work I try a different approach, for example promoting self-love and reminding the glutton that all disorders have origins in stress-related anxieties. The point is that I'm now better equipped to help others. This is the most effective way I've found of being a positive influence in the world.

We CAN change! My life is a living example. And I've seen people around me change for the better as well. Focus on what you CAN do, here and now! Hypothesizing about other people or the future or the past will only bring despair. Feel free to ask questions

[Hailey1313]

Originally Posted by MariconesUnited

We CAN change! My life is a living example. And I've seen people around me change for the better as well. Focus on what you CAN do, here and now! Hypothesizing about other people or the future or the past will only bring despair. Feel free to ask questions

Yes, we CAN change, but I've met almost no one who has the courage or the will to do so. Regardless of my story; I've been through a lot and have been able to be successful due to the changes I've implemented in my life, people don't care to do anything different. To "wake people up" is equivalent to getting an addict into recovery--real recovery. People know their lives aren't optimal, but they're comfortable with that sub-optimal life. It's appalling, in my opinion.

You said to ask questions, so what do you do to bring about change?

[BillyTheAdult]

Originally Posted by Artelus

we're all going to die

Yes.

[MariconesUnited]

Originally Posted by Hailey1313

Yes, we CAN change, but I've met almost no one who has the courage or the will to do so. Regardless of my story; I've been through a lot and have been able to be successful due to the changes I've implemented in my life, people don't care to do anything different. To "wake people up" is equivalent to getting an addict into recovery--real recovery. People know their lives aren't optimal, but they're comfortable with that sub-optimal life. It's appalling, in my opinion.

You said to ask questions, so what do you do to bring about change?

Thank you for asking. One of the most important tools in my arsenal is meditation. Someone once told me he'd like to get into it but he doesn't feel like wasting his time. I have to say that meditation is not a waste of time but an investment of time. I do my best to offer my gratitude for every experience I have, every resource, every relationship and my health. I'm very lucky for having my mother as a positive influence in my life. She taught me a lot on meditation and spirituality.

You might be wondering what any of this has to do with "World affairs". In short, it's the foundation for a clear and lucid understanding of the world around us. If my mind is erratic then I won't be able to focus and take meaningful positive steps. Only when I'm lucid can I do what I do concretely for a better place. I refrain from eating meat and I do my best to avoid materials made from the killing of animals. I workout, in order to feel and look better. Feeling better helps me gain the confidence and conviction to spread the messages I care about: the meaninglessness of consumerism, the abundance created out of generosity and sharing, the negative consequences of the monetary system, the development of an individual's natural empathic abilities, the diminishment of suffering and a tendency towards peace, joy and happiness. Also, mutual respect, the illusion of property and the negative consequences it brings, animal's rights, women's rights, men's rights, gay rights, racial and religious minorities' rights, etc. I use my blog and my online presence in general to promote these ideals.

I think that's enough for now

[Hailey1313]

Originally Posted by MariconesUnited

...spread the messages I care about: the meaninglessness of consumerism, the abundance created out of generosity and sharing, the negative consequences of the monetary system, the development of an individual's natural empathic abilities, the diminishment of suffering and a tendency towards peace, joy and happiness. Also, mutual respect, the illusion of property and the negative consequences it brings, animal's rights, women's rights, men's rights, gay rights, racial and religious minorities' rights, etc. I use my blog and my online presence in general to promote these ideals.

Ok, how long have you been promoting these ideals, and how much impact have you really made? I ask, because I was completely interested in becoming a mini-Gandhi for years; I read his biography, consciously made myself aware of my ego to diminish it, promoted the concept that consumerism and materialism are wastes of time which only serve to feed the ego, and was available for outreach and support in every facet of my life that I could be.

Do you know where that got me? No where at all. Spinning my wheels and exhausting my energies on people who were not capable of understanding what I was trying to do, not on a REAL level, anyway.