The reality that we live in is not
as promising as we once hoped. Industry
has created seemingly boundless opportunity as well as explosive population
growth, but, with this excess of people of and technology, we have damaged our
earth (some say irreparably). The sustainability
crisis we face now is not one that will simply go away. Deliberate, long-term action is required to
reshape our society to survive in an uncertain future.
As does any generation, ours has
seen both the vast benefits, as well as the overwhelming issues of our current
lifestyles. Knowledge, medicine, and
technology have made terminal illnesses disappear, and shortened formerly
months-long journeys to just a few hours of travel. Almost everyone, today, goes everywhere with
a brick of electronic innovation in their pocket. The iPhone has become as ubiquitous as the
wallet. In fact, we no longer need to
carry cards or cash, because our phones have that capability now, too.
On the flip side, we have mounting
issues with respect to sustainability and have made little progress, if any, in
solving them. Our landfills are
overflowing. We’re running out of
gasoline and fresh water. The ozone
layer is flooded with enough greenhouse gas emissions to irrevocably alter the
climate. Inequality has reached levels
that are difficult to even qualify—Alex Rodriguez makes about $500,000 a day,
yet much of the world’s population is earning the equivalent of $1 a day or
less. The human brain can hardly count 7
objects at once. Nevertheless, the 1%
has succeeded in accumulating wealth that we cannot even conceptualize in
magnitude. What’s the difference between
$10 million and $1 billion? I don’t
know. You tell me.
The fact of the matter is that we
need to change, before it’s too late. We
need to innovate and create—like we always have—but to a new end. The focus of our next 50 years must not be
economic growth, but rather, creating renewable energy, minimizing waste, and
reversing climate change. We must
provide adequate education and healthcare opportunities to everyone, not just
the wealthy minority. We need to bring
manufacturing back to America and jobs back to our cities (I never thought I’d
say that—don’t call me Trump, please).
Our time is now. Not tomorrow, not next week, not next year,
we need to start today.
Who’s with me?
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