THE MAKING OF A NEW WORLD

We have been living days of warnings - in all senses

- about the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water
we drink, the lifestyles we lead, the choices we
make, the gadgets we use, the things we buy, the
money we spend, the people we love, the friends we
make, the sex we get...And those warnings area
scary - in all areas we are always running incredibly
dangerous risks, no matter how well-intentioned and
well-informed we may be. Some preventive
measures do help, but are not a true guarantee.
In sum - we live a moment of fear, of agony, of
tension, of gloomy perspectives about the future of
humanity, of the human project on Earth.
Apocalyptical thoughts and ideas are present not
only in fiction, but as sound prognostics of scientific
studies run by internationally acclaimed experts.
One of the aspects that may be at the core of all that
is the prolonged crisis that capitalism has been
facing for decades now. We get the impression that
recoveries happen timidly and for a short little while,
followed by the new pattern of increasing critical
state. Some theoreticians state that the logic of the
system is suicidal - and they have a sound argument
when they say that our society depends on natural
resources to keep growing economically, but the
resources are not limitless, and they are reaching
their limit at a very fast rate. This would require a
radical change on our way of building life, society,
relations, abandoning once and for all the golden rule
of constant increasing profit as the ultimate goal and
the measure of success. No growth means
death. But does it have to be that way? Aren't there
other alternatives with a maximum profit that
guarantees balance with nature and man's needs?
Many studies have been made in this perspective,
and some of them are already being put in practice,
marginally, no doubt, but trying to show that there
sure is another way. Permaculture, Sustainable
Capitalism, Natural Capitalism and so many other
movements have been gathering many followers and
experience.
But we have to admit that it is not so easy to break
away from beliefs, ways, values and concepts so
much incorporated by us all, impregnated in our
culture as the sound foundation of our sacred
paradigms. Then, resistance, rejection, non-
acceptance, and criticism are the barriers everyone
has to face in order to open up at least to the
slightest idea of change.
And every real change comes from a change of
perspectives, of vision, of perception, of
understanding. And nothing better to help in the
process than to flexibilize our cemented mental
structures, shaking them, confronting them with seed
of transformation and mobility, through totally
different perspectives never ever before imagined, as
if you could see through the eyes of an extra-
terrestrial being that suddenly landed on Earth today.
Well, believe me - this has been made - fictionally - in
a fantastic French movie, LA BELLE VERTE ("The
Beautiful Green"). This incredibly original film has the
power to put us in the eyes of an alien having to live
our daily lives. It is amazing how "normal" habits and
values become so ridiculous, illogic, dangerous and
sad. It is a MUST! Everyone really concerned about
opening eyes to a new perspective will find this
movie a tremendous help.
Leave your comments!!!
Renato