Needed - A New Paradigm Of Development

The more I think about it, the more I am convinced human civilisation cannot continue on our present path of development for too long. The paradigm of development we have, which encourages and is sustained by limitless and conspicous consumption of everything - including the animals that co-exist with us on this planet - is inherently flawed. We are leaving too much toxic debris around for us to continue far this way.We may invest in cleaner fuels, we may shun plastics... but all that is not going to do much other than postpone the inevitable for a few more years or, maybe, decades.
There needs to a new paradigm of development, and there needs to be strong political will to enforce it. Enforce it because there is no way a people bred on a culture of greed and self-aggrandisement can be made to wilfully adapt such a new paradigm for the common good.
There are several obstacles to achieving this. First, the new paradigm need to be drawn up by someone with enough foresight and perspicacity. Second, the political will cannot come from our current political system, with the leaders who rely on appeasement of the masses and who have mutualistic relations with businesses, which would be highly interested in continuing with the current paradigm.
If we can overcome these obstacles, then we can say with confidence that human civilisation will survive the crisis it is creating for itself. But it is a tall order, and if we fail, we are eternally doomed.

The day food is sold...

The pace of urbanisation all around the world is picking up fast as every nation worth its salt is trying to emulate America in consumption and life style. But no one seems to care about the ravages this is causing to our ecology. A recent report I read somewhere said our drinking water sources are getting contaminated by, among other things, antibiotics and other drugs, affecting animals and, possibly, humans.
The problem is worse than anyone can imagine. And however hard we try to brush it under the carpet, it is going to come back with more force. Imagine this, our kids will not be able to drink safe drinking water. Fresh, natural water will be a misnomer. Where will this lead us? Extinction? I don't know, but if not that, then we will have to live as a condemned species, what with all the toxins we are adding to our ecosystem.
Isn't it time we took our single-pointed focus off conspicuous consumption and our misplaced benchmarks of fine living and try to reorient ourselves to a more holistic, harmless and inclusive lifestyle?
Someone who I highly respect once told me: It is written by Sage Vyasa that the day when food is sold that will be the worst day for humans and creation. Now, we can easily dismiss him and his ilk as old-fashioned, religious fellows. But, come to think of it, isn't it true? Can't we trace all our problems to our greed for money, so much so that we are even selling food and allowing commercial interests to lock up food and water resources in their quest for profit? Aren't those the things we should make available to all creation for free?

Lofty Ideals, But Will It Really Help?

The more I think of it, the more I am convinced that the objective of life is not money; it is to help people - spiritually, mentally and physically. Well, it is a lofty motive, and one that has been conveniently misused by many to hide their profit-taking activities. Look at the world's richest men. All of them are falling over each other to finance charities. Of course, they are doing service to humanity and the planet. But look at it this way: they have ravaged the environment and the lives of many poor people in trying to amass those fortunes that they now propose to spend on the well being of those very people and environment.

The ravaries we are inflicting on this planet in our quest to amass those riches, simply put, cannot be healed by ploughing back a part of that money into welfare schemes. The motives may be good but they effort being put in won't save this planet. Unless we decide to take a look at this whole question of conspicuous consumption and material satisfaction.

I know it all sounds too abstract. But this is something we need to look at very carefully, and soon.