I know that the world populations battle with pollution, environmental damage, toxins and chemicals and endocrine disrupters and in all probability cannot be eliminated on a large scale. At least not in one day. It took longer than that to destroy it. It will take longer than a day to fix it.
We could scream all day and riot in the streets and have demonstrations and the majority of the population would not even know what we were talking about. In the meantime, the big box companies, corporations and conglomerates, and Multibillion Dollar Businesses will continue to do what they want with the blessings of the government so long as masses of people don't start dying off. Then, you get some attention. But why do we have to wait for injury.
I am proposing that it start in small groups. Local communities working together. People, helping each other, teaching each other how to do things differently. For example, I have a friend of mine that knows what plastic bottles are okay and which ones are not. (There's a number on the bottom) - who knew. I know of another person that recycles really well, you know the type, organized and all. Another one knows how to can and preserve food. Several have their own personal gardens. My idea is to collectively pool resources and utilize the knowledge that surrounds us. Our next door neighbors. The friends and relatives down the street. The local school kids or the 4-H group could lend a hand. All I am saying is that if we limit ourselves to only what each individual knows, well, for me that doesn't get me very far in making a difference. But, if I start asking for "Help", giving "Help", others ask for "Help" when its needed, DOESN'T EVERYONE BENEFIT?
Jump in and stop me any time you want. This may just be a far-fetched hokey idea, but, I am throwing it at the wall and seeing what sticks. In my humble opinion, the way our world is today, well, it is not getting better by any measure quickly or by any stretch of the imagination.
Since no one is here to stop me tonight I will take this thought one step further for now. All of this could go a long way in accomplishing a bigger goal by lowering our ecological footprint; by working together; pooling resources and I am not talking money, I am talking errands, bartering, sharing garden produce. For instance, we grew more okra than we could eat or can, but someone else may have had an abundance of cucumbers. Trading is good and keeps from the waste of good home grown food. Where do people get the good beef and chicken and pork that is not fed growth hormones or given antibiotics. Sharing information is just as important as anything these days. Someone going into the city? Pick up a few items for someone so that we conserve energy and money on gas.
Here, let me get you in the mood for helping. Good ole' Burt and Elvis - lovely.
What the world needs now is love - loving our world, loving our children, starting in a place that you can see a difference being made. Your back yard, your local communities, towns; Village. I told you I got to thinking and that could prove dangerous but what if,
just what if,
perhaps a better way to approach this change in lifestyle habits, is to gather together to have help from the village. You know the saying, it takes a village to raise a child. Well, its the same concept; just better results.
In larger cities people tend to have less personal connections which weakens the community as a whole, as where smaller towns, where everyone know most everyone, there are strong ties to one another and a strong community. When communities are strong there is an inherent since of responsibility ranging from past issues to current issues. Without this support it is hard if not impossible to accomplish things. Take the US Congress for example. I hear more about people moving outside large cities where the community "ethics, cleanliness, ect." is much better. In turn this leads me to believe that the better the social connection of a community, the more people are willing to go the distance to make good things happen.
ReplyDelete