STOP DESTROYING THE HOUSE

Recently there was a very high level meeting held in Costa Rica. The meeting was called as a follow-on from the 2011 UN General Assembly calling for governments globally to promote a different set of policies rather than to focus on “economic growth” as measured by GDP. Now this is something that captures my imagination and stirs hope in my soul, since I have believed for a long, long time that the world needs to focus on an economy that serves humanity. We, on this planet, should have reached a stage of “enlightenment” where we place greater emphasis on sustainability, happiness and well-being rather than on narrowly defined numbers (that mean little to the average man in the street but go some way to satisfying “economists”).

One of the most valuable comments came from the Prime Minister of Bhutan who said “the GDP-led model that compels boundless growth on a planet with limited resources no longer makes economic sense”; these words were spoken at the opening ceremony and caused considerable debate. He went on to say “we are in desperate need of an economy that serves and nurtures the well-being of all sentient beings and human happiness in harmony with the natural world, our communities and our inner selves”.

Soon to be destroyed?

Those who have read my previous posts will know these words are “music to my ears” even more so when another delegate promoted his view that “we are facing what could be a ‘perfect storm’ -  the combination of pollution, over-consumption of finite natural resources, incredible levels of indebtedness and a population of 7 billion and rising fast”. 

Even the economist and Nobel laureate, Joseph Stiglitz, confirmed this by saying “those trying to guide the economy and our societies are like pilots trying to steer a course without a reliable compass”. When big names like this start questioning the situation, surely it is time for governments everywhere to sit up, take notice and actually do something. I find myself in full agreement with Alexander Likhotal, President of Green Cross International: “developing countries (90% of the globe) need to provide the (r)evolutionary shift to recalibrate……and achieve truly sustainable development”.

All this is of fundamental importance to all of us. I would ask that these messages are not just read and agreed with, but sent to every thinking person globally – we still have time to act (but not a lot).

To sum up:

“A house cannot be repaired while its owner is destroying it”

Until next time (and promoting evolution),

Peripatetic Scribe