What can we do to help the world?
Up to all of us to make change happen
We are working hard to solve the problems of climate change, Covid, plastics, biodiversity loss, inequality, etc. Or . . . are we? It seems that most continue their lifestyles without doing much, thinking “they will find a solution”. By “they” they usually mean the “tech” people. Tech solutions can be great, but many still have serious drawbacks. Think of extraction of battery and chip components and disposal of these items after their useful life.
Who should take the lead in solving these issues? Is it the government? Should they be making laws?
Big business and farming and mining interests try their hardest not to have to do their bit and they often get their way as they are considered important for our economy.
If no laws are created to curb climate change most of these businesses will not change, so yes, laws will help.
Governments are in a catch-22 situation though. Making the right changes might lead to losing support at the next election, but do they want to allow other politicians to win, who may do even less? It is a fine balance.
Should we expect smaller businesses to do their bit? Absolutely. Many small businesses have started up especially to make a difference and most are more flexible to make changes than big businesses.
What about you and I? We can do our bit in many small ways, including supporting businesses and organisations that are doing the right thing and thereby more or less boycotting the larger businesses which are resistant to making the changes. Big businesses have been economically colonising the world and they have pushed us to buy-buybuy and accept conveniences that are bad choices in one way or another.
We have become addicted to their products and services. It is understandable that people want to continue their lifestyle, but it will have to change if we want to survive as a species.
Why are these businesses so important anyway? Ah . . . It is the money, the provision of jobs . . . The economy it is called. But why is the economy so important when so many people are unhappy, our planet is under threat from many angles and aggression is on the increase?
We need to rethink our economy altogether. We need one in which we look after each other and after the planet, not one that rewards pollution, exploitation of workers and animals, and tax avoidance, as is currently the case.
Maybe we need to start looking at the World Happiness Index* instead. This is a very big turn-around and one that governments are reluctant to take.
In the long run, something has to give with our population increasing the way it is. Despite Covid, we are
still increasing by about 220,000 per day and world population will reach 8 billion in 2023*.
How are we going to solve this dilemma? The one-child policy of China was not popular for good reason, but what do we do? I cannot tell you not to have a(nother) child. We cannot let people die. The best we can do is to start living within our environmental means.
I do not hold out much hope that we can avoid disaster, but we can delay the inevitable.
Some religions believe that someone might come and rescue us when lots of things are wrong on the planet. Jesus, I think it might be time to pack your bags and come our way!
In the meantime I will continue to do my bit and look for a positivethinking course.
References: World Happiness Index: https://worldpopulationre view.com/country-rankings/ happiest-countries-in-theworld World population clock: https://www.worldometers. info/world-population Lyneke Onderwater, who cannot always put into practice what she preaches.