Eric wrote:
>I believe there is too much momentum in the current direction that some
>amount of trying to help others see a better way is necessary. "Just
>doing" in isolation will not bring about a change in society. It is the
>combined efforts of many who are "just doing" that will start to make a
>change.
Eric, i'm not sure what positions you are trying to contrast. If
it is whether to attempt to change others or to change oneself then
i think we can do both and for me the balance between the two is
an individual choice. I would argue that working to change others
without also changing oneself may produce a group of elites or end
up with a lot of pain and struggle between warring factions. We
could also argue that only changing oneself would allow the greedy
to harm the earth while we gazed inward.
Where the balance point is between changing self or others does not
seem like an absolute quantify we can define. There are thousands
of struggles and ideas which tug at people attention. This suggests
life and making change is a dynamic process. If we view each day
as process then absolute rules or balance points are not necessary
and much of the struggle is removed. Maybe you don't like the
idea of life being a process?
What if our view of the world is the same and only the words are
struggling with each other?
>I'm curious, Jeff, how you see the numbers of people who are working toward
>sustainability increasing? Do you feel it is necessary, or even good, to
>try to influence the ideas of others toward sustainability?
I believe that the future is dynamic and we can't force one
viewpoint on it. We can influence the future in many ways and this
is best done as part of an on going process. We learn, we adjust,
we accept feedback, we let others do the same. This is a learning
process that can sustain itself. Can we build a sustainable
culture in another way? If you try to force it then the force tool
often becomes part of the culture and this isn't sustainable. For
example, it is difficult to create a peaceful culture using
violence.
I don't know what would work best for an Eskimo. I don't know what
anyone on this list should do. Sometimes i'm not sure what to do
myself. What i do believe is that when you get down to individuals
the choices are important. Most of us know things we can do. It
is the belief that we can't make a difference or that we need a
grand solution or that someone needs to lead us that prevents
progress.
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Jeff Owens ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Zone 7, http://www.teleport.com/~kowens
Underground house, solar energy, reduced consumption, no TV
