h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

OK...People for Peace seem to have that covered, so how to make ourselves complementary rather than competitive..

Perhaps Human Rights and Justice? Social Justice and Environmental Stewardship?

It was interesting to attend a protest today, because so many themes are flying about right now. There is definite anti-war sentiment, in fact that was the purpose of the march, but it was also in observance of International Human Rights Day, and people threw out ideas ranging from anti-imperialism to racism to environmental issues. Since I have a definite blind-spot, as do most young people, in that there's the temptation to think that everything is new and the world is worse than ever before, and that this is the true 'eve of destruction,' it really does seem at least that a lot of things are coming to a head, since so many ills can be sourced in the imperialistic tradition. I digress, but anyway, thoughts on a title for this groups?

I like the one you have at the moment. But then I naturally distrust change of any sort. Always have.

Your comment about the world getting worse reminded me of something the Dalai Lama said about a conversation he had with the late Queen Mother: He said that they both shared the very strong conviction that, despite appearances, the world was gradually becoming a better place. Granted there are a lot of very serious issues to deal with; and we're only just beginning to come to terms with the idea that we have come close to destroying our planet home; but human beings are, in general terms, much more compassionate than they were a century ago. Many, many of the evils of that time have been defeated.

The evil of our own time (this is me talking, not HHDL) is our unwillingness to share our achievements with those less fortunate than ourselves: human rights in the developing world, to name but one.

There is still a long way to go, but at least we've begun the journey.

JTG

Fair enough. I guess what I mean is that it seems that never before have quite so few held the destinies of quite so many in their fists. While at the grassroots level, I believe people are equitable, I doubt very much the willingness, or perhaps even the ability, of those in power to be good stewards of what they've been entrusted with. The increase over the last decades of social and economic stratification is enough evidence of that for me. There will have to be a great 'conversion' in the ways in which the powerful engage duty, ethics, human rights, etc. before the current trends can be halted and reversed.

That's just my guess anyway .

Yes, I agree. I think where the 'getting better' part comes into it (at the risk of putting words into HHDL's mouth) is that ordinary folks like ourselves now see the need to combat that sort of thing, which, in the past, was perhaps accepted merely as one's lot in life.

He said something else which stuck with me: that pessimism and optimism are both self-fufilling prophecies. Sorry for preaching, but that often comes to mind. What I take that to mean is that having recognised the need for action, we now have the clear moral duty to act wherever we can.

You're right about the concentration of power and wealth. The battle lines have been clearly drawn. The encouraging thing is that so many people see that. How we respond to people like George Bush and the few who want to steal our world from under is a choice we mmust make right now to determine not only what sort of world we want but what sort of people we are. I was very upset at the outbreak of the Iraq war that so many wealthy and influential Canadians spoke out in favour of joining bush's Coalition of the Coerced simply on the basis of protecting their business interests. To me, that mindset is a key battle in the war for peace and justice.

Sorry for getting carried away but I get a lot of time to mull this stuff over in the garden shed, and not much chance to talk about it. Plants already have their minds made up.

JTG