Sustainability and songline traditions

Sustainability

Modern society has the technology to change behaviors, but perhaps lacks the political will to do so. Change cannot happen with only one country, nor can it happen immediately. Instead, globalism must move beyond the tax and trade mentality and to the cooperative nature of saving the environment for all humans. The moral action in the contemporary world is to continue to work diligently to increase awareness of global climate change, to empower young people who will be the decision makers and inventors of the future, and to continue to fight the slow political battles surrounding the issue of sustainability. Failure to do so is not just unwise; it will likely mean the extinction of life on earth, as we know it. Individuals should not feel powerless in this situation -- individuals can be a powerful catalyst for change. The idea, for instance, of thinking global, acting local; voting with your dollars; and purposing sustainable products along with disposal patterns and conversation can, and will, make the difference between success and failure.

The idea of the Earth Charter in Action, is that we, as individuals, each much take responsibility in order to provide a balance within the global political, social, and environmental balance. Instead of looking at the world as a set of geographic lines that may have been drawn arbitrarily, we need to look at the world as a set of human issues that require human solutions. When one looks at issues of potable water, fertile soil, food resources, transportation, and human rights, we see that the world at large -- as a whole, faces similar issues, albeit to a different degree of severity. It may, in fact, seem completely and utterly impossible to solve these issues, but if we as individuals all contribute to small amounts of change, taken together the synthesis of individual action becomes a large, macro set of actions that do accomplish change.

Adopting a personal songline as a set of principles that become habitual is actually relatively difficult, because it requires small changes, but many in the tactical framework that may actually build into something larger. Obviously, each requires a great deal of research since most have strings of suppliers themselves. However, many companies post their ecological or sustainability policies, or at least allow access to them. Those that do not are likely not the type of companies with whom we would want to do business. These may be outlined into various parts of everyday life:

Transportation -- If possible, use public transportation, preferably hybrid or fuel efficient vehicles. This is for local or regional travel as well as international travel. If at all possible, band together with friends or colleagues for travel to events.

Carbon Footprint -- reduction of carbon footprint by installing energy efficient bulbs; water savers in toilet and shower, turning off lights when unneeded, using energy efficient appliances whenever possible.

Agriculture -- Pay attention to location of produce, purchase local as much as possible. Try not to support large agribusiness, but rather local or local/organic producers.