Sustainable Future
Wake Up, Silly Billy. This Is Your World! Now. Virus and All.
People are telling me: sustainability is just not my world. Wrong! It is your world, my world, our world…
On the whole, I’m a builder, not a fighter.
On the whole, I’m a positive person, not prone to doom.
On the whole, I have compassion for everyone on their own path.
But oh, my goodness. What a bunch of ostriches I’m talking to…
Recently, I wrote this story about our planet. About the state she’s in. About the fact that we need to build something new. A new economy, a new world order, a new way of living within planetary boundaries.
And one comment struck me. Livia Dabs told me:
“Beautiful article but I think not too many of us are into sustainability, yet. When I look at Medium popularity in topics, sustainability is still kinda low. I hope more people will read your articles and make at least few changes. Thank you for the inspiration.”
It struck me this time. Which is kind of remarkable in itself. Because Livia is not alone. She’s one of many who tell me often:
“I’m not into that kinda stuff”
“I’m really not that interested. I have enough on my plate already.”
“I don’t know what to do about it all. So well, I’ll watch Netflix instead.”
And normally, it kind of passes me by. But this time it didn’t. I don’t know if it’s the virus. But I had the urge to scream. To really howl! WAKE UP!
So thank you, Livia Dabs. Without your comment, this story would not have seen the light of day.
And before you all read on, please realize that after my rant about the state of our world, you’ll find the silver lining. Because my life has never been more beautiful than it is right now…
Aaaarrrrgh…
Wake up, dear people. Wake up and see the world for what it is. Get out of you comfortable (or not so comfortable) little shell and see:
- The trees are leaving this world. They are either being chopped down or threatened by illnesses and fungi. We destroy their biodiversity
- The rivers are so polluted, even a big European city like Rotterdam was on the brink of being without drinking water a while ago
- Day zero arrived in Capetown. A city without drinking water. And although a catastrophe was prevented in 2018, every year the situation will be worse. Far away for some of us, close to home for others
- Bushfires are everywhere and getting stronger by the day
- Hurricanes are getting stronger, moving slower and getting a lot wetter
- The sea is reclaiming land, leaving islands uninhabitable
- Not to mention: inequality, poverty, violence, war and all the other things that are so wrong in our world
And I know that the butt of Kim Kardashian is way more interesting to look at. Not to mention that the new film on Netflix will make you numb for the pain of it all.
That’s human. That’s normalcy for us now.
I know you’re ‘not into sustainability’. And please, don’t think I blame you. I don’t. It’s just that we’ve been numbed. We’ve been hushed to sleep.
We’re sleepwalkers, saying that this is our life.
Aaaarrrgh…
Let me tell you, this isn’t life as it’s meant to be.
It’s sleep. It’s numbness. It’s emptiness.
And sad enough, it won’t be long before you’ll realize it too. So maybe I should say: “Sleep a little longer, my dear folks.”
Waking time will be upon us soon enough…
Soon enough we’ll realize:
Without trees, there’s no breath for us humans
Without water, there’s no life for our bodies
Without planet earth, there’s no human life possible
And then there’s the virus.
The time has come to deal with what we’ve unleashed. Please have a look at this TEDx talk by David Quammen in 2013. Recorded way before the coronavirus, but very relevant.
He’s talking about the ebola virus. Also a virus. Just like corona.
In short:
- Every virus has a unique host. This is an animal species that can hold a virus in its body without becoming ill
- We destroy the habitat of many animal species
- The viruses lose their hosts and look out for new hosts
- We, human species, are with many. Packed closely together in our cities
- We are ideal for viruses to invade next
- Because that’s what viruses do. They invade. It’s just natural for them
Watch the whole video here.
David explains it like no other. But he’s not the only one warning us. Many ecologists have been crying in the desert already for years.
Renowned researchers in other fields are also saying that there’s a global rise in human infectious disease outbreaks.
And yes, they also come to the conclusion there is a link between these disease outbreaks and our planet’s destruction and climate change.
Well, what can I say more than this?
Maybe a little about our capitalist economies that are collapsing now? We’ve built card house economies. There’s really no resilience in our system at all.
And the card house is falling down now.
- Rich people are building fortresses. They are getting insurances so that if they get ill, they won’t die. The hospital spots are for them
- Middle-class people are still more engrossed in their own little worlds of make-up, feeling bliss and getting rich quick schemes
- Poor people are trying to survive. They don’t have time to read my ranting words because they need to feed their children
So what can we do? Just you and me. In our own little lives.
First of all, please wake up!
The world is dying and we need to feel the pain before it’ll get any better.
Second of all, please get connected to other people.
Form communities and support each other. Don’t rely on governments. Don’t search for solutions outside of yourself. Take responsibility for your own actions. Your own life!
Third of all, learn and do. And enjoy yourself doing it.
This is my motto:
“We need to restore ecosystems and learn as human beings how to live within planetary boundaries”
I write enough about the systemic solution of a sinking world. Here’s the literal story. Read it and find out what it all means for you personally. We all have our own roles to play.
Wake up and be a player!
And to tell you the truth: it’s fun! You might not think it if you read this story. It might have come out as doom. I’m sorry if you feel that way.
Because life is so beautiful!
I cannot imagine a more worthy life for myself than the one I embark upon now. Even since I started out in the world of regeneration, I met the most amazing people. Visited the most beautiful places on this planet.
Laughed out loud. Cried until my eyes nearly fell out. Was angry at my own fears on a mountain slope. And all the while, my soul was flourishing.
I’m doing my work after I’ve gone out snorkeling in a warm tropical sea. I’ve found love in ways that were unimaginable for me before. I’ve found friendship and kindness and compassion. And I learn every day.
About me, about life, about nature and other people.
I get connected to nature in ways that rewild my soul.
And who doesn’t want that? Let’s live our lives to the full, my friends. Be curious. Stay safe. Don’t get drowned in fear, please. And don’t take the route of numbing down and distracting yourself.
There’s a life to be lived. Live it to the full!
Thank you, Mike, for adding your wise energy to my words.
And if you want to connect, you can find me on LinkedIn or Facebook. Or somewhere in a garden, growing my own food…
