Fifty years ago, with full faith in technology, people had great expectations for the distant year 2001. We believed in the future. We would all have flying machines and robots, we would travel through space and time, electricity would be abundant and too cheap to meter, there would be more leisure time than we would know what to do with. There would be no more disease and hunger. Humankind would improve upon nature herself, thanks to the wonders of science and industry.
We find ourselves living in a time when every living system is in decline. The air, water, topsoil, forests, oceans, coral reefs, ice caps and ozone layer have noticeably diminished in a single generation. The decline is being accelerated by our consumer lifestyle, which the rest of the world seeks to emulate. As our economy grows, natural systems suffer. The new corporate White House will continue to measure progress in dollars, pushing a consumptive and resource-sucking agenda.
To begin a new century with such a seemingly dismal future can make one want to turn away with eyes closed. A dear friend of mine has given up on humankind. He questions the usefulness of environmental and social activism. He believes it is human nature to be greedy and shortsighted, and that it's just a matter of time until we deservedly destroy ourselves. I think giving up now is the very thing that will end us. We are in crisis, but crisis can be a turning point and an opportunity for us to change.
Many of us recognize that, along with a growing sense of indignation, there is a spirit of universal change developing worldwide. We perceive the potential of an international sustainability movement. There are many thousands of nongovernmental organizations addressing the issues of social and ecological sustainability. Many embrace Gandhi's teachings. Most groups tend to be local, poorly-funded and overworked. They share an understanding of the earth's living systems and the need for environmental and social equality. We are not alone; we are everywhere and we are growing stronger.
It's time to believe in the future againÑa future that we are capable of creating, that will sustain and honor all life. A future that will recognize that everything we need is contained in the ingeniousness of nature, of which we are only a small part. A future where we live as seventh generation people, always mindful of those yet to come, and protective of our air, water and other renewable resources.
Now is the time to make a mid-course correction. We the people will have little to no power on the federal level until we build a third party that is strong enough to be considered a viable choice by all Americans. We must continue to work for political reform and a system that is actually representative of all of us.
Our real work needs to be on the local level, where we do have the power to make a positive difference. In order to accomplish change we must first become inclusive of all people and break barriers of race, age, gender, sexual preference, status and religion. An easy first step toward this transformation is get to know your neighbors. Talk to someone who is different than you. Ask the opinions of a young person or an elder. Talk about your hopes and fears; discover what you have in common. You will learn that we are more alike than different. Finding this common ground is the foundation of a sustainable society.
A sustainable society is self-sufficient, but self-sufficiency must be tempered with concern for all living systems, now and in the future. We must take into account food, water, waste, energy, transportation, culture, health, education, renewable resources, environment and economics. Our future depends on the course of action we take now.
In this Newsletter we examine many issues that affect our future. We discuss the diversion of the Eel River, and the conflicting interests of the living systems that depend on those waters. We take a look at the deceptive certification of Mendocino Redwood Company as sustainable foresters, and the continued overcutting of industrial forestlands. Read about how oak trees, keystone species in our eco-system, critical to maintaining our water tables, are dying in an epidemic called Sudden Oak Death. Learn about increasing options for renewable energy. Find out about the growing opposition to pesticide spraying in this county. Read about and then join community garden projects. Get involved with the upcoming Diversity Month. Knowledge is power. Choose an area of concern and be the change you want to see.
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 2001
Permission granted to excerpt or use this article if source is cited