I'm writing this newsletter on the eve of a federal election here in Canada, and the backdrop on the news at every turn is the violent turmoil in the Middle East. Behind that are the headlines about permanent climate change, the latest of which are about 300+ deaths in the southeastern US from an unprecedented barrage of tornadoes.
As my beloved country faces what will be a "defining moment" for generations to come, an historic change point if you will, it occurs to me that what citizens here -- and around the world -- most need is wisdom.
Indeed, I think wisdom is what all of humanity needs, no matter where we live. We are facing a rapid decline in environmental integrity everywhere. Much of it is caused by the lifestyles of people living, like me, in the "first world."
We must collectively draw on wisdom -- in our personal lives, day to day, generally; and particularly when we exercise our right to vote. We must elect governments at all levels that can lead us into this uncertain future, helping us make the transition to a sustainable way of co-habiting with all the life forms we share this planet with.
Merriam-Webster's online dictionary defines wisdom as: "accumulated philosophic or scientific learning; knowledge; good sense; judgment; a wise attitude, belief or course of action; capacity for effective application of the powers of the mind as a basis for action or response, intelligence." Another apt synonym would be "common sense."
No matter what our ideology or political leanings, I think the majority of humans agree that we are standing at a pivotal point -- the world over -- an especially important juncture in the journey of humanity. Wisdom must prevail for humans to prevail.
Linda Kavelin Popov tells, "Wisdom is the guardian of our choices. It helps us to discern the right path at the right moment."
I wrote last month's blog as the world watched the drama unfolding in Japan. Ironically, we then commemorated the 25th anniversary of Chernobyl. This week, I've been watching the tornado devastation in the southern United States at the same time as the flooding of much of Canada's prairie breadbasket. While those in power continue to debate and bargain on acceptable levels of CO2 emissions, and invoke the need to create jobs and keep taxes down and stimulate economic recovery, climate change and its devastation marches on.
Every thinking person on this planet today must now see that the quality of our future -- and our ultimate survival --depends on us collectively choosing what is the right path, the wisdom path, at this moment in history.
To continue on the same course would be insane, and would bring us the same results as previous cultures that failed to heed the warning signs. Yet we do continue on, election after election, swinging from center to left to right and back again. We continue, week after week, buying and selling, burning fossil fuels and hoping in a peculiar form of aware denial that something "out there" will magically fix it. How wise is that?
Albert Einstein defined insanity as "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." Clearly, wisdom must prevail for us to keep the privilege to be here. How do we discern it at any given time and in any given situation?
Kavelin Popov goes on to tell us that wisdom calls us to "use our best judgment, resisting the pull of impulse and desire. Wisdom gives us the maturity and patience to make sustainable decisions."
Sustainable decisions?
Back to Merriam-Webster: sustainable - "capable of being sustained; relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged."
Using wisdom -- or common sense -- one doesn't need a PhD in economics (or anything else for that matter) to realize that what we call the "Western" way of living is not sustainable. It never has been.
The practice of buy now, pay later, in all its various permutations, has a very deep cost.
An economic system that rewards the rich at the expense of the poor while plundering the planet is not sustainable -- and is not wise. We can continue, insanely, going about business as usual. Or we can start to try to create something that is sustainable.
The so-called "age of prosperity" has not been for the many, but only for the few -- at the expense of the many -- and always at the expense of the natural environment. How can that possibly be sustainable? Where is the wisdom in that?
What is the answer? Values must shift. Wisdom must prevail.
In The Real Wealth of Nations, Rianne Eisler proposes a new economics, a "caring economics," which takes into account and includes the contributions of people and our natural environment. Her book traces the roots of the great problems of our time. She finds that poverty, inequality, war, terrorism and environmental degradation all result from our past and current flawed economic systems, which fail to value and support the most essential human work: that of caring -- for people and the planet.
Eisler, a social scientist, puts forward an audacious reformulation, showing how an economics that takes "caring"into account offers huge benefits, both socially and economically. She goes beyond stating an opinion, constructively providing a "blueprint for putting this more humane and effective economic system to work."
Wisdom calls us to take care of first things first. If we don't take care of our health, our body will break down and make it much harder (or impossible) to "take care of business." If we don't take care of our planet, it too will break down -- as we are finally realizing -- and make it much harder to "take care of business." Or impossible.
When chaos seems to be reigning, how to we find the wisdom path?
Linda Popov reminds us that part of wisdom is seeking knowledge, entering into reflection and opening ourselves to inspiration. "We consider carefully, then act confidently. Wisdom takes us beyond thought to a deeper knowing. Wisdom grounds us in grace."
In October 2008, in the lead-up to the last federal election in my country, I felt optimistic. The results of that election in Canada squelched my optimism. My beloved country seems to be going in the wrong direction.
We've lost our seat on the UN security council, we were given the "Colossal Fossil" award for our obstruction of climate regulations at the Copenhagen Accord meetings, our Prime Minister has been found in contempt of Parliament (the first time in our history), and we are now holding our fourth nationwide election in 7 years. Clearly, our system is splitting at the seams. And I suspect that wherever you live in the world, you may be feeling the same about your country right now.
Nonetheless, my optimism has returned this election season and is again growing. Polls report an unexpected surge of the New Democratic Party in Canada, a party that pundits predicted would never form government or even take the role of official opposition, seems poised to do one or the other. Although I'm not a supporter of partisan politics, I do think we need a system of government that's willing and able to address --- and maybe be even start solving -- the problems we face as a species.
I don't think we have such a government yet functioning on the planet (not that I'm aware of, anyway). But it's imperative that we get one, in every country. And I do believe that right now, as bad as things are, we are more capable than ever of creating such governments.
I'm reminded of the great anthropologist Margaret Mead's assurance, "Never underestimate the power of a small group of people to change the world. In fact, it's the only way it has ever happened."
Can we afford to go on with more of the same? Not just here in Canada, but anywhere on this big beautiful planet?
The partisanship way of governing, where might is right, and the "They're wrong, we're right" kind of thinking have got us into a big mess. Our human-centric focus has destroyed the planet's delicate balance of ecosystems and caused the extinction of numerous species. Wherever you live, there is room for improvement. Many people's very lives are threatened by climate change. Coastal cities and impoverished countries will take the biggest brunt, but we will all be affected.
As a voter, I've always naturally leaned left. I like the idea of looking out for each other. A culture of caring sounds good to me.
I hope Canada votes Jack Layton into government. Not because I think he is some kind of saviour, but because I think he just might possess a particular combination of humility, intelligence, integrity, inclusiveness, wisdom, and real leadership that this country needs right now.
I believe that he will work to build bridges instead of walls. Unity instead of more division. Holding the vision that we are all neighbours who have to learn how to live together on this planet as one race, as part of one big ecosystem. He appears to recognize that might does not make right and that power, control and domination cannot bring peace and unity.
After all, when we get down to it, there is not a liberal and a conservative Canada, but one Canada, made up of 34 million individuals. Our job as citizens is to learn to embrace and work with our diversity and somehow, out of it all, create a national unity. Not unity of thought or religion or politics, but a unity of spirit that respects differences while upholding the rights of all living things to life and liberty.
We can do this together, but we need leaders and policy makers who are willing to hold up and work for this ideal. Leaders who are willing to listen to each other with respect (no matter if they are left, right or center), who can listen as well as talk -- not only to each other, but to their constituents and to the feedback from the natural world, and to experts and even visionaries about the changes that just might give us a chance.
This also translates to the global political system. We need leaders worldwide, at local and national levels, who are willing to sit down at the table and tackle the issues facing the planet. Cooperatively, with open minds and hearts and a willingness to make hard choices.
There are times when we have to work with what we know, stay the steady course, when that is wisdom. Then there are times which are unprecedented, which call for bold new direction and leadership. It's clearly time to turn this ship around and chart a new course.
"The first task of a leader is to keep hope alive." --Joe Batten
Whatever happens in Canada on May 2, Jack Layton and his campaign have mobilized people and ignited hope across party lines. I like Ralph Nader's take on the function of leadership: "to produce more leaders, not more followers."
I encourage you to be a leader, wherever you find yourself. Draw on wisdom to help you.
We can all be leaders on climate change and social justice. We can all call on wisdom and discernment in our daily lives and make choices for the planet, her people and other living things, choices that are sustainable. They are not easy choices, but the alternative is not easy either. Status quo is only going to bring more of the same results. Remember Einstein's definition of insanity.
As you face decisions large and small in your own life, wherever you find yourself on this big beautiful planet, may you draw on wisdom to take you to a deeper knowing.
If you are a neighbour of mine in Canada, please consider this election as an opportunity to take Canada to a new place. And whoever you are going to vote for, please do get out and vote. Vote with your ballot tomorrow, and just as important, vote with your life everyday henceforth-- by being a leader, a leader for change.
We are the ones we are waiting for. May we finally arrive.
Namaste
~ Kate
The Practice of Wisdom
I make discerning choices.
I resist distracting impulses.
I listen to my better judgment.
I reflect before I act.
I seek spiritual guidance.
I trust my deepest truth.
I am thankful for the gift of Wisdom. It is the messenger of my soul.
Reflection questions:
What action does wisdom call me to?
How do I listen to my better judgment?
What virtues can I draw on to see the future with a vision of what is possible?
What solutions would I like to focus on at this time?
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