37. Teaching Sustainability II

Give historical context:

For millennia humans lived sustainably – up until the onset of the industrial/technological revolution.

For many thousand years

We made everything by hand

Then came industrialization

Marching through the land

Now we could make and do things

Much easier and faster

No one thought this revolution

Would lead to such disaster

The demand for resources increased

With the demands of growing populations

Robbing the planet’s trust and bounty

From future generations

Give perspective:

For millennia human population increased at a sustainable rate – up until the ‘population explosion’ of the last 200 years, bringing the numbers from 980 million or so in 1800 to 6.5 billion in 2009.

It wasn’t long ago that 85% of the demand and exploitation of the Earth’s resources came from the U.S.A. That demand alone was unsustainable (not to mention unjust, undemocratic and inhumane). Now however, to add to the perspective, North American demand pales in comparison to the global demands projected as China and India industrialize in the 21st century terms.

Give remedial ways and means:

It starts with how we think……..

A long, long time ago

We were people of the planet

Who walked and worked this land

With respect for the Lady who ran it

But now we’ve forgotten how

To live in natural balance

So now we face the future

With a mighty challenge

Rise up and get yourself a natural education

We are the changing tide and the bridging generation

Mother Earth’s our teacher and our inspiration

We come from deep inside a love for all Creation

We learn from Mother Nature

To grow the food we eat

The most important grocery store

Is the soil beneath our feet

Plants and trees and thriving seas

Provide the air we breathe

Hydrogen, Hydrogen, Oxygen

Brings life to everything

We learn from Mother Nature

To take only what we need

There’s no place for selfishness,

Dishonesty or greed

Rise up and get yourself a natural education…

We learn from Mother Nature

Conservation of energy

Nothing wasted, nothing lost

Symbiotic reciprocity

We learn from Mother Nature

To love bio-diversity

The greater range and variety

The greater productivity

We learn from Mother Nature

To be a generous community

Winning back the planet’s trust

And natural immunity

Rise up and get yourself a natural education…

~PAZ