We each have a unique way of looking at the world, formed by our individual combination of personality, passions, learned values and life experience. There are times in life when it seems infuriatingly obvious that our own point of view is the right one and everyone else should wake up to themselves and other times when we are humbled by the wisdom and sensitivity of others. My recent pondering of the ecological worldview has served to intensify the potentially competing imperatives for our moral and passionate intentions.
Our media soaked world tries to persuade us to follow many things; in fact being a 'follower' has become a necessity if you are to participate through 'social media'. Being a follower or a disciple of something or someone, used to mean a much more significant commitment than just responding to your notifications. Movements, causes and gurus also used to have to work a lot harder to get our attention. Now we receive the pleas in the comfort of our lounge chair from our portable device. We also make split second decisions about promoting or 'sharing' a cause or a value, often without fully reading the article or researching its sources and implications. I am guilty of this myself sometimes. My call to myself and others is to consider more carefully what we choose to follow and promote and to explore the larger worldview beyond our personal life experience, before we become set on these decisions.
In particular I have pondered the competing validity of philosophies on how we spend our money, time and resources in the light of increasing scarcity and the potential power of our choices to change the future. Undoubtedly the more resources we have the more choices we have to make and potentially the more complex these choices become and the more influence they can have. My proposition is that the three philosophies I am discussing each have strong validity and plenty of passionate followers willing to argue their cause is the most important. There is perhaps not one 'right' answer for everyone, but a variety of responses provide balance and highlight different kinds of issues.
To live frugally in response to the call to preserve the world's 'scarce resources', and in solidarity with those in the developing world who have less choice, seems a logical and admirable choice. The priest's vow of poverty is rooted in a belief that generosity of service and resources is a more important pursuit than hoarding what we have out of fear of lack; to take only what we need and assist in the sharing of resources with others. But what if we could make more of a difference by using a gift as an entrepreneur, to make money which can be used to change third world circumstances?
To live ethically has become a very popular call in our affluent society, full of daily choices of products and where we are made increasingly aware of the cost paid by others in order to meet our desire for spending less on more. The choices depend on honest information by suppliers and good research on our part. But what if the 'Fair Trade' coffee we are buying is in fact leading to land degradation and soil destruction.
The call to live with a more ecologically based mindset has been challenging me more recently. What if instead of the potential stinginess of frugality or the primarily conscience soothing ethicality, we choose to pursue ways to enhance resources, rebuild and regenerate our environment, food supply, social cohesion and self-sufficiency? Is there actually a sustainable and practical path to this option? I have started this path with trying to better understand the basics of caring for our earth and reducing waste and pollution, which I think is a primary human responsibility. I am trying to make my own garden more productive in a few ways; a veggie patch, a worm farm to recycle our food scraps and making it a good home for local wildlife, birds, bees and other beneficial insects. A healthy and beautiful garden also contributes to a healthy atmosphere and good mental health, both in the activity of gardening and the enjoyment of the garden itself. As I can't fully sustain my family's food and clothing from my own land and abilities, I am trying to support those suppliers who are trying to grow and make sustainably, organically and ethically; those who are taking seriously the impact their business can have for regenerating our earth and our humanity. I hope by putting my money into these enterprises I am helping that type of business to grow and thrive and force change in the wider world. If there is no market for cheap 'sweatshop' made T-shirts, then they will stop making them. If there is no market for mineral depleted, insecticide soaked vegetables, then they will look at the alternatives. The change may be small and gradual, but that may be the way it needs to be in order for our world to switch to sustainable and regenerate processes, without leaving some with life-threatening lack. I support causes which help to teach people to grow their own sustainable gardens and start their own profitable manufacturing businesses.
Each of us needs to make our own choices and try our best to live by those values and seek out the best information to improve our daily choices. I can only admire those who are doing this in each of these areas and seek to support them as I hope they will support me in my efforts and choices.
In particular I have pondered the competing validity of philosophies on how we spend our money, time and resources in the light of increasing scarcity and the potential power of our choices to change the future. Undoubtedly the more resources we have the more choices we have to make and potentially the more complex these choices become and the more influence they can have. My proposition is that the three philosophies I am discussing each have strong validity and plenty of passionate followers willing to argue their cause is the most important. There is perhaps not one 'right' answer for everyone, but a variety of responses provide balance and highlight different kinds of issues.
To live frugally in response to the call to preserve the world's 'scarce resources', and in solidarity with those in the developing world who have less choice, seems a logical and admirable choice. The priest's vow of poverty is rooted in a belief that generosity of service and resources is a more important pursuit than hoarding what we have out of fear of lack; to take only what we need and assist in the sharing of resources with others. But what if we could make more of a difference by using a gift as an entrepreneur, to make money which can be used to change third world circumstances?
To live ethically has become a very popular call in our affluent society, full of daily choices of products and where we are made increasingly aware of the cost paid by others in order to meet our desire for spending less on more. The choices depend on honest information by suppliers and good research on our part. But what if the 'Fair Trade' coffee we are buying is in fact leading to land degradation and soil destruction.
The call to live with a more ecologically based mindset has been challenging me more recently. What if instead of the potential stinginess of frugality or the primarily conscience soothing ethicality, we choose to pursue ways to enhance resources, rebuild and regenerate our environment, food supply, social cohesion and self-sufficiency? Is there actually a sustainable and practical path to this option? I have started this path with trying to better understand the basics of caring for our earth and reducing waste and pollution, which I think is a primary human responsibility. I am trying to make my own garden more productive in a few ways; a veggie patch, a worm farm to recycle our food scraps and making it a good home for local wildlife, birds, bees and other beneficial insects. A healthy and beautiful garden also contributes to a healthy atmosphere and good mental health, both in the activity of gardening and the enjoyment of the garden itself. As I can't fully sustain my family's food and clothing from my own land and abilities, I am trying to support those suppliers who are trying to grow and make sustainably, organically and ethically; those who are taking seriously the impact their business can have for regenerating our earth and our humanity. I hope by putting my money into these enterprises I am helping that type of business to grow and thrive and force change in the wider world. If there is no market for cheap 'sweatshop' made T-shirts, then they will stop making them. If there is no market for mineral depleted, insecticide soaked vegetables, then they will look at the alternatives. The change may be small and gradual, but that may be the way it needs to be in order for our world to switch to sustainable and regenerate processes, without leaving some with life-threatening lack. I support causes which help to teach people to grow their own sustainable gardens and start their own profitable manufacturing businesses.
Each of us needs to make our own choices and try our best to live by those values and seek out the best information to improve our daily choices. I can only admire those who are doing this in each of these areas and seek to support them as I hope they will support me in my efforts and choices.