Living in the 21st Century is going to see a lot more focus on sustainable living. Environmental changes will encourage us to search for cleaner, renewable energy resources and the quest for finding better, more ecological ways for living will transform all of our lives.
There's been so much media attention on what the necessary changes are over the last 30 years - and yet, there appears to be little advancement on how we're going to achieve any of this. It feels like the same mindset that potentially destroyed civilisation on Easter Island is here in the 21st century - namely, civilisation out of control, contributing even more greenhouse gasses, toxic waste and magnifying the problems to a point of no return.
Looking at some of the proposed alternative houses available out there - there seems to be a complete failure to understand what we are going to need for the common good, as is evident from this article on The Telegraph's website. What we need, are affordable houses - that are ecologically efficient - and we need to start creating them to live in very soon.
So what's stopping us from making more affordable energy-efficient homes? The idea that we have to compromise on our contemporary modes of living are what's holding us back - as people are generally mis-informed about what an eco-home can be. The other issue facing us, is the cost of the land and the focus on making money pushing up prices far beyond what is affordable by the masses.
The UK government owns a massive £330 billion of land and property which has land suitable for housing development. If an initiative could be introduced that segments off parts of the country for community-style permaculture living, we could see a change in how people live - as they adopt a lower-cost lifestyle and over time, eventually adapt to a truly sustainable style of living.
Imagine having a different currency other than £$€¥ etc. A monetary value or credit based on your output and value of that contribution in relation to the whole it represents. A fair and just system with little disparity. Hard to imagine how that works in today's society, isn't it?
If the importance is placed on the things that really matter and an hour of my time is relative to an hour of your time providing we benefit each other. So, how much would my pretty marketing leaflet I've produced be worth to the person who grows the food? Nothing...unless he wants to promote his farm maybe...
A World Obsession
Money makes the world go round, so the saying goes and without it there will be pandemonium. Look at what's happening in Greece - and soon Spain and Ireland? There's a crises going on and money is at the root of it. And just because the situation is over there, doesn't mean it won't affects things over here too - as we're all completely caught up in it. Money buys food and puts a roof over our heads. So without it, there's a real dilemma on our hands. But maybe there's another way?
Questioning the value of money
in 2000, Daniel Suelo quit his job, left the last of his money in a phone box and started to live life in the wilderness. Foraging for food, eating roadkill and picking up everything else he could need from dumpsters or collected through donations, he has since been writing a regular blog on the virtues of being free from money and living a more meaningful existence.
The Hadza people of Tanzania have been living a simple nomadic hunter/gatherer life for millennia and while this type of existence is very extreme, they have immense freedom from the worries that weigh on us in our western society.
Self-sufficient living
Many communities are now turning to permaculture as a way to substantiate a life of self-sufficiency. By understanding the natural ecosystems and working closely together within these communities, people are discovering better ways to live harmonious and holistic lives at one with nature. And this isn't just restricted to isolated hippy groups any more either, but seems to have taken off in traditionally working class communities in run down areas of northern England - as they can now provide for themselves by growing their own food, build ecological housing and harness renewable energy instead of having to rely upon the state to provide their means.
We're on the very edges of a new world order. The sun will set and either this new dawn will rise on a bleak and broken world or a revolution in how the masses take back control, will see a brighter future. How long can we continue to ignore the facts? The power of the corporations motivated by greed are motivating our politicians to sell us out.
The few people that are standing against these forces have thankfully been working so hard to inform the masses, that finally, the message is reaching a wider audience and people like me, who have shunned politics (I have never voted) are now listening and wanting to take action.
It's not that I don't care what is happening in the world, it's just that I haven't really been conscious to what's going on, it's just I've felt powerless to change it. Distracted and dis-associated are what the majority are no more. How easy it's been to just switch off to corruption going on in the USA. The UK has it's share of bumbling politicians but surely there's a rule of law to stop any underhand goings on, right? Evidently not. This is all inter-connected on a global scale as the TTIP - a trade agreement with America and Europe, will allow corporations to take over our basic necessities like healthcare by taking control away from the people and even less control for our failing government. The NHS has already been broken up and sold. Everyone needs to watch this film, Sell Off to better understand/learn where this is all going wrong.
Getting Political
It's difficult for me or anyone else who is feeling helpless at changing the status quo, to want to get involved. This TTIP agreement and NHS sell-off is all going ahead and there's no way to stop it. Wrong. We all need to get politically involved and signing petitions is one good way to start off. Communities are finally pulling together like never before, to protect their families and their way of life. They are getting more organised through using the internet to spread the message to the masses and holding peaceful protests against some of the government's initiatives - some of which it is very clear to observe and understand from just watching, reading and learning a little bit on the issues we absolutely have to make a stand on - that these politicians, pressured by the corporations, are not acting in our best interests (but seemingly for self benefit) and neither do they even understand what these interests are. Corporations have no soul and it's share prices that motivate these faceless monsters to potentially ruin our planet. There has to be a better way.
The very real concerns centred around the use of fracking, has helped to convince thousands of apathetic non-objectors, to come out in their droves and stand up for humanity. This serious issue, which has ruined Australian and American communities, has in turn, been a conduit for those now aware, to make further investigations into and around TTIP, the irresponsible management of toxic waste and opened the doors of perception for many of the country's population to realise the negative impacts.
This state of affairs isn't just for the swampy's of the world. I can see that Swampy (real name Daniel Hooper) has kinda got it right by moving to a hippy community in Wales - where there's a real shift towards permaculture. Even Happy Monday's Bez has been a real force in promoting a self-sustaining way of life in our inner cities too. It's a shame that Daniel, originally from a middle class family in Newbury, isn't prepared to be more active in the current political arena as I believe he still has a responsibility to show support for the communities that are fighting against the drilling corporations being backed by our government today. These people making a stand, are just like you and me - not a fringe alternative group that the majority jeered at for holding up the 8 mile extension to the A30 in Devon back in 1996.
What I believe so many people have missed out on since past elections, is having a party that represents the people and the people's interests. Unfortunately, we only have the parties to choose from that receive the most backing - and the motives for backing these parties is largely for financial gain. We have those with money wanting more which are affecting those without money getting less.
Making What's Important Normal
What needs to happen first are changes in people's priorities about what's important. Once these are established, the changes will start to happen. Moving away from selfish gains of financial wealth to buy useless commodities towards 'Dragon Dreaming' projects for using sustainable energy, living and home-grown pollutant-free foods. Self reliant communities are cropping up more as permaculture is seen to be the answer to the current problems facing the world. We need to get this power into the hands of the people. It is not just the question of if - it's when - we just need to create the political motivation to make it happen one by one.
