Focus on the solution, not the problem

One of my favorite books is Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind. It's kind of strange as, philosophically, we are light-years apart, but his books have probably done more to change who I am than all the mystical, New Age books I've read put together. Goodkind taught me that's it is okay to fight for yourself and for the things you believe in. Strangely enough, I have found that I rather like fighting. It is empowering to fearlessly speak my truth even if to deaf ears. And Goodkind reminds me to focus on the solution, not the problem. I have taken his advice.

It's incredible to me that there's anyone on this earth who still believes global climate disruption is not happening or who can deny that human beings are responsible. It all comes down to this -- anthropogenic global warming is here. We need to make significant changes now or civilization, if not the earth itself, is in peril. That's it, pure and simple.

And yet, there is a solution, there is hope. In seven months, the United States, the world's biggest offender, will have a new administration. If Barack Obama is elected President, one can hope that he will put men the likes of James Hansen, Joseph Romm and Al Gore in positions of power over the energy sector. With the price of oil going up, we may see policies not just espoused but actually implemented. Greg's book will be coming out at a critical juncture -- the new administration will be poised to move forward and heightened public concern could be the extra push needed. We will still have to deal with the climactic changes that have already been set in motion, but if we can cut emissions soon enough and deeply enough, we may avoid the worst case scenarios.

And then perhaps, just perhaps, mankind will awaken to the fragile perfection of the world on which we live. Perhaps then we will realize that the earth is not ours to be relentlessly exploited and that we either learn to live in concert with nature or destroy the only home we have. Perhaps then we will make a voluntary effort to bring our numbers down, replant the forests, renew the seas, and encourage the wild things to return once again.

It sounds like a fairy tale when I write it all out, but it could happen that way. Global climate change and peak oil might be the twin catalysts for a shift to a whole new paradigm. With that hope, I fight on.