Have you felt something new happening recently?
A feeling of emerging awareness, of hopeful optimism, of fresh determination by many different people coming together and calling for a better way for our families, communities and world to live? Can you feel a societal grassroots movement growing towards sustainability?
Organic agriculture and similar less intensive and extractive food production methods are increasing in some regions by 30% per year. Why? People are demanding high quality, nutritious food produced in sustainable ways that protect the land and water resources.
Renewable energy technologies, which for a long time were considered counter-culture fringe, are now coming online for base and peak load operations, off-the-grid decentralized power, residential and commercial building heating and cooling, green transportation through biofuels and batteries, and more… without the huge subsidies that artificially prop up fossil fuel and nuclear energy industries.
Private industry is taking up the green banner earnestly because conserving energy, minimizing pollution, streamlining production through reducing, re-using and recycling resources, and meeting consumer demand for sustainable products and services is profitable.
Campuses and small towns across America and around the world are embracing sustainable operations. Efforts such as Natural Step, Natural Capital, Permaculture, Green Building design, and scores of other progressive actions are moving forward because local citizens everywhere want to build a better future for their children and grandchildren. A recent clarion call has been Al Gore’s film on global warming, An Inconvenient Truth. This and other calls to action for changed policies and practices to protect the natural resource base that sustains global economies and nations are taking hold. The bottom line is that people are concerned about the unsustainable course that leads to waste and degradation, an increasing gap between rich and poor, and other dangerous actions that increase violence and threaten our security in millions of communities worldwide.
The groundswell of changing attitudes and grassroots actions underway is a common sense approach characterized by local steps that are small, simple, and sustainable.
Keep it small—support local smart growth zoning laws, community supported agriculture, decentralized and renewable energy technologies, watershed planning and management, waste reduction, re-use and recycling, and other natural steps in local communities.
Keep it simple—vote for policies that support natural resource security; use buying power to support green industries and businesses; make changes in your daily life to increase awareness, tolerance and understanding.
Keep it sustainable—take actions today with a view that considers seven generations into the future.
Change is in the wind, and it is blowing in a new direction of responsible action to increase global security by providing clean water, adequate food, clothing and shelter, meaningful jobs, access to education, and freedom. After all, aren’t these the fundamental values that we all share everywhere?
GEM staff, students and partners are working enthusiastically with hope and determination to build a better future. We work with local communities in small, simple and sustainable steps one day at a time to create better days ahead. We are all in this together. We welcome you to join us as a volunteer, sponsor, or advocate for change.
Best regards,
GEM Education Center Blog 