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This short section is about the most important survival
challenge of all, the survival of the Earth. With a rapidly increasing
population that places ever-growing demands on the Earth’s resources
action is required now. We only have a fleeting stewardship of this beautiful
planet. If we fail to discharge this duty well we risk, at best, the
condemnation of future generations and at worst there not being many
more generations to condemn our actions. We must all remember that the
Earth’s well being is our responsibility as well as our neighbours.
The life of this planet is a complex chaotic system where our actions,
or lack of them, will have an effect on the other side of the world.
An example of this is the hardwood logging that is carried out because
people in the more affluent western cultures desire elegant homes.
Do not blame the poor in South America and Africa because they supply
this desire. They are struggling on the breadline for their very survival.
We need to remove their basic survival problems if we want them to
act in a different way that will be in all our best interests. This
kind of action requires a long-term view of events that is not popular
with politicians or businessmen as it does not always win votes or
make quick profits.
These very poor communities often need help to break the cycle of
events that traps them. Free food parcels is not the long term answer,
people need help to deal with their problems in permanent ways that
do not destroy the good parts of their culture. We need to invest in
all of our futures while avoiding the problems caused by the misplaced
missionary zeal of the past. This often denied the existence of any
form of organised culture in tribes that may have been founded many
hundreds of years ago.
We must face the problems of the Earth’s future with a clear
understanding that the human race has nowhere else to go and that this
will not change for many generations. It also seems very unlikely that
we are about to be saved by enlighten aliens so it is up to us. We
must decide on what we are going to do today so that there is a worthwhile
tomorrow for our children. So what are you doing for a better future
for the Earth?
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