An alternative title is: We are living in the best and the worst of times.
Never has the support for the Green Party – and the solutions we have been advocating for 25 years – been greater and growing so quickly. And at the same time never has the environmental crisis we face been more overwhelming.
I spent the first weekend in April in Montreal with Al Gore and David Suzuki – along with 250 Canadians who will be spreading the message about climate change throughout Canada – giving An Inconvenient Truth presentations.
The weekend was the most intense of my life. When you really look at deeply at what’s happening to our world it’s frightening. Overwhelming. Terrifying:
• Species are going extinct at a rate that 1,000 times faster than normal in evolution;
• The population of large fish in our oceans – Whales, Shark, Marlin, Tuna, Cod, Flounder – have plummeted 90% since 1950; (this was Dr. Ram Myers work)
• In the summer of 2007 the Arctic Ice covering the North Pole shrunk by a staggering 1.1 million square kilometers below the lowest level ever (set in 2005) – shrinking far, far faster than the worst case scenario models produced by the world’s leading scientists predicted
• I could go on with other things to despair about, but I won’t.
“The horror . . . the horror,” the line in Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now, comes to mind to describe how I felt during the weekend – and how I continue to feel at times. The weekend for me was like looking face into the abyss. Confronting the terror of it all – relentlessly for the weekend was emotionally exhausting for me. I was overcome on many occasions.
Now I’ve confronted the horror of our situation for many years – in fact it was reading Green Politics by Spretnak and Capra in 1985 that convinced me then to become a Green – because even back then a species was going extinct every 25 minutes – a thousand times the rate of the evolutionary average.
But coming out of this weekend the question for me is – “How do I live with joy and celebration knowing what I know? How in the face of such overwhelming depressing facts do I remain positive and hopeful?
It’s particularly important to be hopeful –- because depression paralyzes. And we need, now more than ever, engaged, positive people to solve this crisis.
Reading all the change literature, it’s positive, hopeful, optimistic people who have the greatest success in achieving their goals for social change.
Elisabeth Kübler Ross’ book, On Death and Dying, describes the five emotional stages that you go through when you’re diagnosed with a fatal illness: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. So if you’re diagnosed with a cancer or your spouse is you’ll go through these.
The first stage, denial, is a coping mechanism. If a problem is too big, too overwhelming – the first reaction is to ignore it. Think about other things. Escape. Numb out.
The fact that our society is rampant with addictions – alcoholism, drug addiction, gambling, endless TV watching (the plug in drug), consumerism – are all escape mechanisms. Anne Wilson Schaef looks at our society through a lens of addiction in her books – examining how we live in an addictive society.
Addiction is a helpful way to look at what we’re going through because addiction by definition keeps the individual caught in it unaware of the hold it has.
Thomas Berry used to say the only way to overcome a deep cultural pathology is with deep cultural therapy. And so the solution is a deeper appreciation of joy and the divine. I mean here we are after all on the garden planet of the universe. For all our space exploration we have yet to find any other planet where liquid water exists – and here on earth it’s the basis of most all life. Just the existence of water is a miracle of the universe.
It’s paradoxical that we’ve never been richer materially than we are today. And yet we’ve never been poorer spiritually. How could we not be aware profoundly, daily that we are living amid the most stunning, beautiful, diverse, expression of life that we are aware of in this vast universe?
I am now in Brazil for the second ever Global Green Gathering in Sao Paolo. The first was in Canberra, Australia in 2001 and it resulted in the creation of the Global Green Charter. GPC federal council member Steve Kisby was at the first gathering and was involved in the negotiation of this document that defines what it is to be a green party. (see http://www.global.greens.org.au/Charter2001.pdf)
But back to the point: One of the most striking things about Amazonian tribal people (who remain relatively untouched by “development” and have not had their traditional hunting grounds destroyed) is that they live in a constant state of joy and wonder. This is something Canadian anthropologist and ethnobotanist Wade Davis, author of The Serpent and the Rainbow among others, talks about so eloquently. (If you ever get the chance to hear Wade speak go – it’s like listening to a lyrical poet. I could listen to Wade for hours.)
Wade points out that aboriginal people are connected to their natural world. I think that we in the “modern” or "developed” nations have lost the basic truth of all aboriginal peoples around the world – that the great spirit – what we’d call God – is in everything: the animals, the plants, the wind, the rocks.
As Thomas Berry used to say – we treat earth and all its’ life forms like a collection of objects – when really we’re it’s a communion of subjects. Because we don’t see the inherent divinity in all life we can see nature as a resource to be exploited.
Now embedded in this first point is a critical lesson for us as Greens. If we talk predominantly through a framework of fear we in fact are part of the problem -- because we push people into remaining in this category.
We desperately need hope. We desperately need solutions today. It is the solutions that draw people into the party and what will be responsible for the continued growth of the Greens.
If you look at Howard Deans campaign for the US Democratic Presidential nomination -- Dean went from a dark horse (42nd in the pack) to front runner. He went from having 432 known supporters to 640,000 raving Deaneacs in just 12 months -- and his campaign raised more money than any Democrat in the history of the US (up until that point in 2003). How?
Well if you look at is slogan it was "you just gotta believe" -- you just gotta believe that we can make a difference.
Voter turn out has been falling because people in Canada over the last few decades because people are sick and tired of the old line traditional parties. I don't know if you've ever seen the bumper sticker -- "don't vote it only encourages them" -- but that sentiment is widespread.
Electors don't feel voting makes a difference. So they stop participating in democracy.
As Greens we have to hold out practical proven solutions to re-engage the majority of voters who have quit.
Obama's campaign has learned the lessons from Joe Trippi -- who was Howard Dean's campaign mangager. If you were to sum up Obama's campaign in a single word it would be "hope." People are drawn to the light.
And while in my early days of being an environmentalist the majority of what I focused on had a negative or fear frame, today it has to be the opposite. 75% or more of the content of any speech I give has to be positive. What is going right. Sharing the success stories from Greens around Canada and around the world. How our actions, our campaigning have had a profound impact on changing the Canadian cities, provincial policy, federal laws and international progress.
Sharing these stories is essential because it builds the movement. There is a category of consumers LOHAS -- lifestyles of health and sustainability. In 2003 this segment was 3% of US consumers. Today it's 41%. This group doesn't respond to the negative fear frame -- only the positive.
Second Stage: Anger
Kübler Ross’ second stage is anger. I understand anger. I am angry at climate change deniers and doubters.
Anger is an important stage. Anger can be empowering. It propels people to action. It’s certainly better than denial. Anger represents movement to the solution. People should be angry. There’s plenty to be angry about.
In the 1976 movie Network Howard Beale says “I'm mad as hell and I’m not gonna take it anymore!” I have a dream that in this next election Canadians begin to stand up and say exactly this – “I’m mad as hell about climate change and I’m not going to take it any more.”
I mean, we’ve had the scientific evidence since 1958 that CO2 levels have been rising – and that there’s been a serious threat to the very existence of life on this planet – and that NONE of the old-line, traditional parties have done anything in a profound way to address this issue. I am mad as hell that these old line parties and politicians are putting in grave jeopardy the future of all children and grandchildren. I am mad as hell and I am not going to take it any more.
If you’ve ever been a boy scout or girl guide – they teach you that if you’re in the woods never get between a mother bear and its cub(s). When voters realize that it’s the old-line, traditional parties that are threatening the future of their children there will be a political reckoning.
Anger is an excellent motivator – an initiator of action – it rouses people out of denial and propels them to action.
So while its' role of initiator is essential, it’s not the best emotion for sustaining action, a campaign, a life. I’ve seen many angry people in the environmental movement over my life. I’ve been one of those angry people myself.
The challenge with anger is to be angry in the right measure, at the right time, with the appropriate individual or institution.
To not be angry at what is going on with our world, with the future being compromised by short-term, brain-dead decisions from our political leaders is to be in a stupor.
But I have to tell you anger isn’t attractive. I’ve seen plenty of self righteous, justified indignant anger in my time. And it looks pretty ugly. I’ve felt it and expressed it. And I fear that when I am in it I am not the best ambassador for our cause or winning as many people over to our point of view.
Sometimes within the environmental movement the anger is expressed on our fellow colleagues – if you want to see real anger you need only look within the peace movement. It just could be that the idealists hold to their ideal so tightly – are so outraged by the injustices we see in this world – that we forget our fellow colleagues within the environmental movement are our allies – not the ones to be fighting. If you can’t have peace in the peace movement what hope is there for the world?
Certainly I know that anger isn’t the optimal fuel for building the solution.
As Mahatma Gandhi said: “We must be the change we wish to see.”
Bargaining: 3rd Stage
Bargaining is Kübler Ross’ third stage. A cancer patient prays: “God just get me through this cancer and I am going to be a better person. I will spend more time with my family. I will . . .”
In a political sense the old line parties are beginning to enter the bargaining stage. In essence they’re saying – we are concerned about green. If we just tinker about this green stuff at the margins, do a little bit, please keep putting us in power. The old line political parties aren’t committed in principle to being green or becoming green – they only put forward the minimum effort not to lose votes to the rapid rise of the Green Party.
Depression:
One of the problems with anger is that when it turns inward, as it does occaisionally, it becomes depression. Hopelessness.
Aside from the little piece I posted on gas going to $2.25 a litre by 2012, I hadn’t blogged since this weekend at the start of April, because I haven’t known what to say about my experience. I’ve been experiencing a profound sadness. And it can be a challenge to wrestle with.
Any guesses to the most prescribed drugs in our society? You got it: Anti depressants.
One psychiatrist I’ve listened to at a conference with Thomas Berry – was suggesting that it’s normal and healthy for people to be depressed with what’s happening. After all, facing species extinction is depressing. In fact he went on to suggest that if you’re not upset with what’s going on you’re not paying attention. OMG what do we do then?
Acceptance.
Kübler Ross’ final stage is acceptance. It’s at this stage that constructive responses can be brought forward.
I have accepted that we’re destroying the planet. It’s been a shift recently. I have decided that in my final years I am going to try and live with more joy, more serenity, and at the same time more action.
I am going to live more in the moment – be overwhelmed at the beauty of the magnolia tree that is out across the street from my home. I am going to allow the beauty of children playing to move me to tears. I am going to reflect on the wonder of being married to my wife. I am going to drink more deeply that miracle of water and savour the flavour of curries. It’s very Zen.
I find the story of the Toaist Farmer helpful:
The Taoist Farmer
In a poor country village, there was a farmer who was considered to be rich. He owned a horse, which he used for plowing and transportation. One day his horse ran away. The villagers said, “What terrible luck, you have lost all your wealth!” The farmer simply replied, “Maybe.”
A few days later his horse came back bringing with it two wild horses. And the villagers said, “What incredible luck, you have just tripled your wealth!” But the farmer just said, “Maybe.”
The next day the farmer’s only son was out riding one of the wild horses, trying to tame it, when it bucked him off and he broke his leg (3,000 years ago that was life threatening). All the villagers said, “What terrible luck, your only son with a broken leg!” But the farmer just said, “Maybe.”
The next week the Emperor’s men came through the village conscripting every young man to fight in a war, taking every young man except for the farmer’s son. The villagers said, “What incredible luck.” And the farmer just said, “Maybe.”
Sometimes what I think are the best situations in life turn out to be the worst, and sometimes the worst are the seedbed upon which magnificent things are built. I only really understand in hindsight.
The real question for me is how do I live life with the calm, joy, serenity and the maximum contribution of the farmer despite what is happening? – because I really don’t want my emotional life to follow the NASDAQ index!
Buddhists believe that all suffering is caused by attachment – attachment to people, places, things and outcomes of situations. When things don’t go the way I want them to – or think that they should I am tempted to throw a temper tantrum (but in the most adult way possible). The story of the farmer helps me to understand that I have to live life on life’s terms.
In the Bible, there’s a story in which Christ advises the reader to wear clothes loosely – meaning accept the twists and turns that life gives us. When I am not attached to an outcome, I can live life joyfully no matter what is happening. This philosophy helps me live comfortably amid a rapidly changing world.
This is called re-framing – seeing a situation in a completely different light. I use re-framing in every day life to cope with challenges.
I admire the Taoist farmer because he accepts the challenges and unpredictability of life. He is emotionally mature, capable of living joyfully despite challenge and capable of making decisions based on his values rather than just reacting.
The story of the Taoist Farmer appears in Richard Bandler and John Grinder’s book ReFraming (Utah: Real People Press, 1982) on page 1. I cite it in one of my books, Emotional Learning.
Child Learning to Walk
Imagine that you are the parent of a child who is learning to walk. She takes her first tentative step, wobbles and falls. You’d probably pick her up, give her a big hug, encourage her to try again and praise her. “Honey, grab the video camera! She walked! Call Granny!”
No parent would ever stand over the child, lean down and at the top of one’s voice yell, “I have seen many first steps in my time. That was the -- worst -- first -- step I’ve ever seen!” Her setbacks would be treated with love and encouragement and enthusiasm.
Children who are punished every time they fall would slow down their learning as it would be painful. Eventually they would stop learning altogether and would grow up to be insecure. Perfectionism by nature, encourages us to beat ourselves up when we fail to reach what might have been an unattainable goal in the time frame we set.
But is there any quick way to learn? If the parent brought in a motivational speaker – would the infant walk any faster?
No, the scraping the knee is an inherent integral part of learning that can’t be short circuited. I think about this the same way about our society, humanity as a whole – in fact all life on earth. We are learning what the club of Rome warned in 1972 – there are limits to growth. You can’t have infinite growth on a finite planet. And therefore from the Taoist Farmers perspective I am seeing species extinction as the purchase price for this new global consciousness.
It’s a horrific price – but it’s a hugely important lesson. The most important that humanity will ever learn since we became conscious.
As a Chinese proverb states:
Wisdom comes from good judgment
Good judgment comes from experience
Experience comes from mistakes
Mistakes come from bad judgment.
Someone else wrote a blog on this site that James Lovelock, the proponent of the Gaia theory is saying we have only 20 years so we might as well live it up – and I understand that sentiment.
But I am going to live it up by appreciating life. And aggressively campaigning for what we’ve been campaigning for in the Green Party in Canada for 25 years. But I want to do it with more joy.
And I am going to live it with hope. The first 21 Canadians who were trained by Al Gore to give his Inconvenient Truth slide presentation reached more than 100,000 Canadians over a year. If the new group of 250 keep up average number of presentations and group size that we've established, then more than one million Canadians will be hear this message over the next year. And at some point no longer will the old-line politicians be able to ignore implementing profound, urgent response to the crisis.
If 30 years ago I'd told you that a black political prisoner would be president of South Africa you'd have thought me crazy. If I'd told you the Berlin wall would fall -- and when it did people would break it apart with their bare hands -- you would have thought it ludicrous.
But we will see Greens elected in this next federal election and we will see a Green government in Canada in my lifetime. It's not a matter of if -- it's only a matter of when.
I love you all in the Green Party – you are my inspiration, my hope and my comfort. And the work in the Green Party is my therapy – it is the antidote to this knowledge of what is happening to our world.