by Steve Perkins Man needs to regress in order to progress. Something that never gets talked about in the environment versus economy discussions is the fact that there is a direct correlation between the natural environment and the human psyche. Stand in a forest. Check your blood pressure, pulse and your EQ (emotional quotient). Stand in a clearcut and repeat the same checks. They will be markedly different.
Today’s upcoming generation has an attitude about the future that leans to the pessimistic side, and rightfully so. Children are like sponges, soaking up everything in their environment. Then they move to the mimicking stage. When they observe us “mature” people who live to on average about 80 years doing wanton destruction to things that have a shelf life of centuries, by us playing judge, jury and executioner, it tells them one thing: life is cheap. This leads to an all out consumptive mentality with a “Gotta have it now, will probably never pay for it later,” mindset.
The population of planet Earth is now north of the seven billion mark. Unless there was a global sterilization program that came into play to steady that number, the fact is we need a contingency plan. What do we “need” to survive? That’s right, water, food and shelter. We don’t “need” laptops, “smart” phones and clapping light switches.
The whole notion of a global economy has to be turned on its head. Local economies need to concentrate their efforts on internal rather than external. That means providing sustainability for local citizenry rather than export to profit. This would mean that we would require less of everything such as energy. This would slow climate change and extend our shelf life while vastly improving one’s “quality” of life.
Writing a letter for publication is a half-fulfilling experience. You know a few people will read it and if you’re really lucky they might tell someone about it. Unfortunately the majority of people are too self-absorbed by trying to keep up with the hamster wheel that it will never enter their synapse.
The cold hard real reality is that life as we currently live it is completely unsustainable. If we continue to allow ourselves to be afflicted with the disease of apathy and displaying a defeatist attitude in the face of an exponential economic growth mentality by our current rulers, then we are doing a complete disservice to the upcoming generation(s). They deserve better. After all, we’re the “mature” ones who should be leading by example.
Let’s change that example for the betterment of all. So, moving forward, let’s see a future where an 11-year-old child (“Music conveys passion,” June 20) can enjoy playing in nature with their friends and exploring all the intricacies of a biodiverse environment, and not spend their time having to stand up to selfish, self-absorbed greedy adults who are motivated by power, status and ego. Our future is our past.
Steve Perkins has been a Texada Island resident since 2005.
