We could do what we can
About 30 or so years ago I attended an ashram in Sydney. One of the teachers there related this story.
Once there was this sparrow, who heard that the sky was about to fall in. So he lay on his back, with his little feet in the air. A larger bird flew over and said "What can you do, you're so small." And the sparrow said "I do what I can".
That story has stuck with me for a long time now. We are at so many crossroads in the world today: climate change coupled with fires, floods, extreme weather storms; the politics of ugliness everywhere; rampant greed by the rich, ably assisted by conservative politicians; a growing but ageing population, and Trump. 😛
But through all this, I see glimmers of hope springing up. There are the NGOs who are leading the charge on climate change, pushing wobbly governments into stepping up to do something. I see grass roots organisations challenging the strong and sometimes winning. Everyone from "greenies" to farmers are getting in on the act because they see that we can no longer do what we have done and expect to survive.
There are numerous small, grass roots organisations emerging everywhere to challenge the status quo and often winning a fight. The Internet, despite all the invective heaped on it recently due to the unscrupulous use some people make of it, is still a lifesaver. A great example of this are the many petitionary sites that get people to firstly become aware of an issue that the mass media has ignored, and then ask them to sign, and then ask to become more involved, either with time and/or money.
These are not big biz people; they are everyday folk who are expressing a concern.
They are like the sparrow. They do what they can.
That's how positive change happens.
I'm delighted to be among them.
Once there was this sparrow, who heard that the sky was about to fall in. So he lay on his back, with his little feet in the air. A larger bird flew over and said "What can you do, you're so small." And the sparrow said "I do what I can".
That story has stuck with me for a long time now. We are at so many crossroads in the world today: climate change coupled with fires, floods, extreme weather storms; the politics of ugliness everywhere; rampant greed by the rich, ably assisted by conservative politicians; a growing but ageing population, and Trump. 😛
But through all this, I see glimmers of hope springing up. There are the NGOs who are leading the charge on climate change, pushing wobbly governments into stepping up to do something. I see grass roots organisations challenging the strong and sometimes winning. Everyone from "greenies" to farmers are getting in on the act because they see that we can no longer do what we have done and expect to survive.
There are numerous small, grass roots organisations emerging everywhere to challenge the status quo and often winning a fight. The Internet, despite all the invective heaped on it recently due to the unscrupulous use some people make of it, is still a lifesaver. A great example of this are the many petitionary sites that get people to firstly become aware of an issue that the mass media has ignored, and then ask them to sign, and then ask to become more involved, either with time and/or money.
These are not big biz people; they are everyday folk who are expressing a concern.
They are like the sparrow. They do what they can.
That's how positive change happens.
I'm delighted to be among them.
posted by Peter W | 11:09 am
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