By: AscenderRisesAbove

AscenderRisesAbove — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 10:53:57 +0000

Just a note to let you know I recommended your blog for BlogDay2007."...One long moment on August 31st, bloggers from all over the world will post recommendations of 5 new Blogs, preferably Blogs that are different from their own culture, point of view and attitude. On this day, blog readers will find themselves leaping around and discovering new, unknown Blogs, celebrating the discovery of new people and new bloggers..."http://ascenderrisesabove.com/wordpress/?p=2044

By: Vish Goda

Vish Goda — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 13:32:56 +0000

How much can one individual do? How much can one community do? Can we reverse the damage to our environment one individual or community at a time? I believe that the answer is NO. Not if each group is working in isolation. Not if the rest of the world is continuing on business as usual. Not unless, the destruction process is first stopped completely and then the rebuilding process is taken one step at a time, by each and every individual. If there is no collective, collaborative effort at a global level – individual efforts will never be effective.The reason I say this is that, any individual effort is easily overshadowed or even reversed by the huge environmental impact of group or organizational behaviors. The time it takes to affect any changes to the environment, for an individual or a small group working in a 60 mile area – is much too long and too late as compared to what it takes for an entire nation – even one – to collectively destroy in a day.The best way this can be illustrated is by taking the example of our co-inhabitants – the plants, fish and animals of this planet. Without human intervention or interference, they have sustained life on this planet for billions of years. But within less than a couple of centuries, we have put their very existence in dire straits. And how did we do it? Believe me, we did all that, one individual at a time, one community at a time. Each small group all across the world slowly cleared away the forests for agriculture, burned away the wood for heat and comfort and invented technology to circumvent the forces of nature – mile by agonizing mile, until where we are now. In the same manner, if we work in isolation, then we might as well become part of another endangered species, whose existence is at the mercy of the rest of the humanity.Therefore the answer is in now using the same technology, to bring together like-minded people from across the world in a single global virtual forum or community thatis by virtue of its very size, bigger and therefore more effective, than any single entity or country. And then quickly and effectively, implement the corrective actions, not only by individual efforts, but more importantly by raising awareness and lobbying for policy changes at a global level. How many people can you find in a small community – that shares the same views as yours, however noble they may be. Now multiply that by millions, and you can see the power of the internet. The best part of working on huge, noble projects using the internet technology is that you can do it openly and broadcast your intentions to the rest of the world and thereby ensuring other fellow activists to jump on board. Until now, the monarchs, autocrats and crooks got away with their fraud, destructive and short-sighted behavior by taking advantage of the divide and rule policy. Isolated communities are vulnerable to the evil intentions of determined and motivated crooks. But now the tide is turning. While secrecy was their weapon, openess is ours. And open communities is always much more effective and powerful, if they are large enough to be noticed.Vish Goda

Comments on: Stewarding the Land, a Quarter Acre at a Time

By: AscenderRisesAbove

By: Vish Goda