Here's an article from today's London Times worth reading in light of energy, ecology, local politics, change, and survival. The article is well written by one Bryan Appleyard. Sure to entertain and edify.
It is entitled "Waiting for the Lights to go out" with a significant section subtitled "Why I am Saving the World." http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2099-1813695_1,00.html The article describes transporting a child to a well-loved urban daycare, spiritual awakening, the precise technological status and prognosis of our civilization, and the path of precarious engagement we all must follow to a long, happy, and enlightened life. Not bad for one newspaper article. The issues we face in our city and politics are not so unlike those of London or other big towns. Our culture has calcified into such a brittle, dead thing that the very institutions first designed to bring about constructive change now resist that change to the death. Creative change will only come about through asymmetrical, multi-sourced movements able to exist entirely outside of the political realm At the same time political engagement is essential to make some room for change. We ought not to make the mistake of thinking that political engagement is likely to encourage or even tolerate the changes needed for survival. I do not support local candidates who appear to me to be unwilling to speak truth in order to survive politically. that narrows the field considerably. Meanwhile, most of the important work and events take place entirely unnoticed by those engaged in politics. The new world is emerging while the old world decays and slowly implodes. Which of our local political leaders has the courage to speak the truth of his or her convictions even though it may upset the real political base and even make significant numbers of voters uncomfortable enough to realize that they themselves need to change? Farheen Hakeem seems to me to be willing to speak from conviction. Lisa McDonald in Ward 13 has shown the same willingness, I think. Dean Zimmerman has done so, in my opinion. What do others think? Which candidates will create the most openness to the radical changes we need to make in order to survive? Or do we need no change at all? Got stadium? Got blimp? Got sustainable urban infrastructure? -- pedaling...from Lynnhurst at present....Gary Hoover REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
