Anger and courage

"Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are anger and courage.  
Anger at the way things are, 
and courage to see that they do not remain as they are."

 - St. Augustine

This reminds me of a more contemporary quote from the 1976 movie, Network,  "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it any more."

Despite ongoing wars, famines, ecological devastation and a host of injustices, it is easier than ever before for those of us in "first world" countries to become complacent with things as they are.  Many of us can just comfortably plop down with a cup or glass of our favorite beverage and watch the world go by on a wide screened television, or perhaps surf the web until the wee morning hours.

Yet, if we dare to hope for a better future it requires courage to act and speak on behalf of our concerns.  What do you care about enough that is worth courageous action? Now, the tougher question, what are you going to do about it, and when?

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Reusable water bottle and water filter

Next time you consider purchasing water in a plastic bottle please consider the enormous long-term consequences that brief drink of water can have.  Sadly, much of our plastic ends up in our lakes, streams and oceans.  One dramatic example of this is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.  This floating waste dump is thought to be anywhere between the size of Texas and the continental United States. A similar patch  exists in the Atlantic Ocean. Much of the garbage and chemical sludge in these oceanic islands is not visible to the eye, since it is broken down into smaller particles and often submerged below the surface.  This garbage floats there as a perpetual monument to our wasteful modern society.

A radical shift in our decision making process is necessary for us to leave the world in good condition for future generations. One example of this thinking come from the Great Law of The Iroquois Confederacy... "In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations."

Rather than making quick "feel good" decisions to meet our immediate desires, we can develop a new paradigm in our decision making process, considering seven generations down the line.  I'm guessing we just might buy a whole lot less junk, make fewer trips in our vehicles and by so doing, leave the world a much better place. 

I was heartened to learn from an article in the SunPost that the Three Rivers Park District has received positive feedback from park guests for its decision to quit selling water in disposable water bottles.  They now sell water in reusable bottles.

Interested in doing something more about this?  Join the campaign, Ban the Bottle, Stay Hydrated, to reduce the consumption of water from disposable bottles.

We can be the change.