These are NOT rhetorical questions

I have feared and believed all my life in an upcoming chaos, whether climate change, nuclear winter or some form of armageddon. Fuelled by the media and the obvious disregard of the populace for each other. Too many examples of racism and sexism, perpetrations of violence, abuse of privilege and manipulation of circumstance to fleece the unwary; much of humanity really doesn’t care about individuals. They are expendable, “collateral damage”, the consequence of generalized disregard. I’m aware there are individuals, groups, communities of people practicing empathy, charity and support for the oppressed. But why are people oppressed in the first place? Why do some segments of society choose to place themselves above? What is it about destruction that is so seductive? Why is it that individuals will abuse their power in order to control, manipulate and profit off of the death of others?
     This is not a new story, it’s not even news.  It is assumed and expected that some will profit while others suffer and ultimately die in the service of those profits. Slavery in all forms is abhorrent  (to me) yet flourishes across the globe in many manifestations. Every situation of it demands a disregard for the basic human rights of the enslaved individual. Who are these people? What drives them to treat members of their own community as subservient or beneath contempt? What expectations do they have about where this will eventually lead? 

     I’ve read enough dystopian scenarios to imagine just about anything is possible. The utopian scenarios are generally structured around naive assumptions about co-operation, a lack of of need or desire for personal profit, a collapse of caste and political hierarchy. I don’t see much movement in those directions.
     Where is this all going? What happens if this massive climate scenario levels the field? 

     What do we need to  survive? My own concerns have me focussed on developing skills I feel best further and support actual community involvement: Open lines of communication, awareness of dangerous or threatening situations, observation of the immediate environment, individual responses and my own response/reaction to stimuli. Low level technology; growing and processing food and fibre, building from natural material, developing personal networks and creating resilient community.
    As I am living a nomadic existence my ability to be grounded is conditional on, firstly, my own self consciousness, then, who I connect with locally. My sense of safety or security is always dependent on, again, my own self awareness, my ability to be resilient and adaptable to circumstance. These are positive actions in the face of possible disruption.
     Whether the political structures around me are friendly or not, it is with the local people that my possibilities exist. Maintaining, sustaining and encouraging relationship based on sharing empathy and mutual success go furthest. No one has a monopoly on knowledge much less wisdom. Losing my arrogance and rescue mentality creates trust faster than a belief in any expertise I might have. As a visitor /stranger I seldom have  much understanding of local issues, environmental anomalies or specific concerns. I bring my own and they often need to be put aside in order for me to become part of the community.
      In the beginning I thrust myself as fully as possible into the challenges I see. I make efforts to engage where I’m encouraged, tentatively investigating where I’m not and doing all the research I can in order to support the creation, movement and expansion of consciousness within the organization, community and society. 

     My reality though is to not engage fully,  not to be absorbed. I will always be an outsider, different, and this brings up a number of conflicts or dilemmas.
     Eventually the fear of, or resistance to, change  begins to provide friction. What do I have actually that is of value? What can I learn here? Why should I expect anyone to embrace whatever I have to offer when everything they know has been working for them so far? And my culture, my  heritage, is essentially responsible for the continued destruction of the environment, abuse and exploitation of people across the globe. What credibility do I have ultimately?
     I’m transient, offering what knowledge I have, sharing my stories, relating human to human, getting to know the people I meet, learning what they are willing to share. I gain from this, I believe they do too and the world is a little brighter for it.

Struggles

I’m struggling with an understanding of our continued survival on the planet. Our species has fouled the nest in ways I cannot begin to fathom, the number of interventions necessary to remediate or transform go beyond my comprehension. This reaches deep into every facet of our existence at every level of engagement. The common thread that ties it all together is denial.
 "The human mind has a primitive ego defense mechanism that negates all realities that produce too much stress for the brain to handle. It's called 'denial" (Dan Brown Inferno)
 It is here, it is now, this is no dystopian fiction. This is real, this is happening and if we do not address it yesterday, everything is going, going gone!
Like many others I continue with business as usual because I’m unable to fully assimilate the gravity and intensity of the doom scenario. I step forward with optimism and enthusiasm because if I don’t, I have given up.
I choose to proceed towards life on purpose, in balance and relational harmony.
Whatever happens our relationships will be essential. They always have been but over time I have taken things for granted; I’m ignorant of the profound consequences sometimes. I have not thought through  all the process, the networks the interrelations. Also, some of theses relationships have been neglected, due to the complexity and our collective ignorance of those systems.
Every action I take has consequences beyond my awareness. The relationships I have with people, food, transportation systems, my immediate and extended environment, climate and water are impacted by my choices.
When I throw something away, where is ‘away”?
 I feel a deep despair at times and grief, for what could be, what’s been lost and how I am dealing with it.
“grief isn't about feeling guilty about what human beings have done to the earth.
"Last time I checked, guilt is not an enabler of anything but self-hatred. Our current regime of self-hatred, or misanthropy, is simply the incarnation of self-absorption."
….. Grief is the ability to see things for what they truly are…”  Stephen Jenkinson

 My responsibility lies with my conscious choices, the unknown I can only hope to address with good intention.
This is an opportunity to create. To network, to connect,  to work in concert, sustain harmonies of spirit, humanity, sound, thought and resonance. Together.
Sometimes the fear of vulnerability, the perceived shame of needing help or looking weak has held me back. This is not the time to succumb to that evocative siren call of withdrawal.
 No.
 Friends, family, compatriots, brothers and sisters, it is time to stand up courageously, to weather the storms of discomfort, dis ease, and disinformation and strive together to transform, recreate and manifest a future and existence that honours all life, That respects the earth in all it’s splendour, celebrates the humility as well as the brilliance of our accomplishments. We share the air and water with all other forms of life, the machinations and grinding processes of earth movements, volcanic eruption and lunar gravity. We know so much and so little. Can we align our thoughts, our hopes and aspirations in one focused inspiring direction?
Yes we can.