The Dance of Politics and Nature

Recently someone asked about my political leanings and I had to think about what words I would choose to use to explain my position on the subject. Even though I write regularly I do find words to be very limited when it comes to explaining ideas that have more dimensions than the words do. After some reflection I came up with this response “I am becoming more apolitical as time goes on. Politics is a man made system trying to work within a nature based system and it isn't working very well”. The following day I synchronistically came across this quote “The major problems in the world are the result of the difference between how nature works and the way people think” by Gregory Bateson, and I realized that I am not the only one who thinks this way, and the inspiration for this column was born.

The wrap up of the events in Copenhagen during the last two weeks added a little more fuel to my inspiration as we discovered that global emission control standards will not readily be agreed upon and that this is an ongoing project with many complex dimensions to be dealt with. In the meantime I think that we do not have to wait for governments to legislate what we must do to clean up our act. We can get on with it today. We can commit personally to helping the cause by walking or bicycling whenever possible. We can turn our thermostats down a few notches and add a few layers of clothing. We can turn off electronic equipment when not in use. We can think about the purchases we make and choose the more earth friendly option, or even ask ourselves “Do I really need it?”.

Human beings and other creatures respond best to reward systems – remember Pavlov!

I think that true change will occur on a greater scale when we experience financial benefits for our greener lifestyles. Direct tax incentives for those who use less, drive less, and convert to more earth friendly technology (solar power, composting, biofuels etc.) will make waves.

I can hear the turning heads and rolling eyes of politically committed readers out there and I welcome their expressions and comments because everyone has the right, here in Canada, to choose to support whatever system they believe will create the best world for them to live in. I have been known to support a younger party that is associated with the colour of leaves in the spring, but I am finding that my energy is needed to help my community on a different level these days. One of the reasons that I have dedicated much of my life to the study of Jin Shin Jyutsu(R) and Shamanism is that these practices help people to heal and become whole. In that state of wholeness they have an awareness of their interconnectedness to one another and to the natural world, and find they have to make lifestyle changes that are more earth and nature friendly to maintain their new state of health and balance. They understand and are very aware that if they are making choices that are harmful to the earth, they are making choices that are harmful to themselves or their loved ones.

My mission is an important one and so too is the mission of those who know they belong in the political machine. I know that it is not my place, and I do hope they can find the inspiration, imagination, courage and pioneering spirit to create a better system that works in conjunction with the laws of nature. I think they have a big job ahead of them. The basis of our political system has been in place since 1867 and I think it needs an update for the times we are living in. A few years ago I gave my grade 8 students the assignment to outline our current system and design a new version that they feel reflects our contemporary needs. Their contemporary version had some very interesting ideas which would spark many heated debates and discussions. As the economy shifts, with our changing resources and the automobile fading out of it's god-like place in our lives, I think we need a new way to do things.

The situation that we find ourselves in has developed because we have placed profit at the top of our priority list and the people and the planet fall somewhere behind. I think that time has come for us to create a new system based on a triple bottom line of people, planet and profit. In response to the grunts and pessimism that this last statement may inspire, I would like to point out that there are some great organizations that have adopted this model and they are faring well in these times. Have a look at Stonyfield Farms

http://www.stonyfield.com/, Newman's Own http://www.newmansown.com/, Timberland http://www.earthkeeper.com/DontTellUs/Language, Nature's Path http://www.naturespath.com/, Zerofootprint Inc. http://www.zerofootprint.net/, and many others. I think that we can use some of the examples of their way of working in the world to update our political and regulatory system.