It's easy to think that we are living in the proverbial end times. Smoke pours across our borders from unchecked Canadian wildfires, across the world the temperatures continue to rise and records are broken daily. Deaths due to heat related issues are reported in monotone voices by our news anchors.
Nearly everyone admits that climate change is real and that we are experiencing it. You have many that think it's to late, and see no reason to change their lives. I used too be one of them.
Change however is inevitable and our species has a knack of getting itself into trouble only to find a way out of that trouble. For example in this week alone we learned of reclaimed coal mining land where 1 acre is feeding 2000 people, while it is certainly a green washing piece for the company - I'm going to concentrate on the positive. The fact that 1 acre of land is feeding 2000 people and that restoration is occurring at all.
There was a time when the open pit of a mine would have just been abandoned by the company.
Problems are getting solved; one of the great issues with wind turbines was that the blades would often have to be buried in landfills after their useful lifespan of 20+ years was up. The question on how to break these parts down and recycle them was always of great concern. Now they are finding ways to reuse these materials used to make the blades as epoxy's, protective coatings and even in roadways and buildings as cement. There is even "green" cement which shows potential because it does not heat up as fast as traditional cement.
The solutions are there. Texas, a state currently undergoing a deadly heat dome situation, is crediting green power for keeping its citizens cool. It's also the fifth largest producer of electricity generated by wind power in the world.
In Europe the move to renewable power has shown that it is not only sustainable but can power the needs of a large population as energy prices fell into the negative as more power was produced than was actually needed.
The argument that Green Power is not the future is simply not viable. Yes, there are problems to be overcome but solutions are being found. We are on the right path.
As a recent article in the Guardian shows however. The needle is barely moving in the battle for hearts and minds. Often the words that we use are seen as confusing. Or even "preachy" and "odd." How, for example, do banning plastic straws help the environment when plastic cups are everywhere?
That's one of the reasons I love the Solar Punk movement. It's a combination of common sense everyday things that the indivdual can do (like using reusable shopping bags) and gardening, to the redesign of entire cities. It's not afraid to innovate and try something new. It's an understanding that there is not one single solution and that lots of little steps add up.
It's a combination of old things like reusing an old phone box to create a seed library. Anyone can be a "Solar Punk" as long as they are practicing ecological responsibility and actionable practicality; a “what can be done in this moment?” attitude. It's a fundamentally do-it-yourself impulse — community-minded, self-sustaining and importantly, hopeful.
Where the Solar Punk movement fails however, in my opinion at least, is that it does not explain how it going to reach its utopian goals without sounding either preachy or ridiculous.
This is where a 2000+ year old philosophy of life comes in.
Epicureanism is more complex than this little video illustrates but it does make an important point. None of these ideas are new, and we need to start teaching the concept of "enough."
For example, I went out to dinner last night with two old and dear friends for Thai food. It was a wonderful night full of good food, conversation and coffee afterward. It was one of those nights that reminded me of why I’m a hedonist to begin with.
For example, the wonderful meal I enjoyed last night met many of the demands of someone that is trying to live an Epicurean lifestyle. My meal was vegetarian because it is not only better for my individual health, but for the health of the planet as well. Since the food was locally sourced, I was helping the local economy, and finally even though I was still a bit hungry afterward I did not overindulge - although I did treat myself with a cookie with my coffee after dinner.
It's this idea of "having enough" that I feel we need to stress to people. Capitalism has taught us all that we must always grow; always buy more, to indulge, to be a "Hedonist." Whereas Epicurus and classical Hedonism teach that we can be happy - and lead better lives - by having "just enough."
If we start teaching people to be happier with less, we break that cycle.
Much of that work has already started - but we have to change how we talk about this to the average person on the street. Can we talk about meaningful work? Would that person obtain some level of joy from fixing an old car? Or learning how to fix that old car? How to grow food in containers?
What passions do they have? How can we encourage them to use those passions for the benefit of themselves but others as well?
We need to start talking to the average Joe and Jane on the street about how we can help them be happy by learning a new skill...and by having "just enough."
Most people would agree that our current system is not working, but will be turned off when we discuss Socialism or Anarchy because they either don't understand it, or have been taught that somehow this is "wrong."
Talking about some ancient dead Greek guy is a bit more palatable for people. He was the "Green Philosopher" of his day. He was a radical in his day.
We have to do more to win the hearts and minds of people to get them to join us, without even realizing they are joining us. An ancient Philosophy of life is a beginning and gives us some tools to work with.
Some of these Talking Points are below, and if you see some things that seem familiar, that's because these ideas and concepts have been discussed since the beginning of time and can be used as a starting point when discussion turns to much needed life style changes.
1) Happiness and enjoyment of life is the greatest good. We only have one life and we shouldn’t waste it. This does not mean living La Vida Loca – on the contrary, Epicurus and his followers ate and drank very moderately. What it does mean is that you pick the activities you like and enjoy and avoid unpleasant people and stupid, aggressive confrontations and arguments. You live a lifestyle based on respect, politeness and consideration of others, because, if you are, then you are encouraging others to treat you in the same way. You are living a generous life because it comes naturally but also because you get psychic pleasure from doing so. As Jesus said, very correctly, “it is more blessed to give than to receive”.
2) Friendship and community is vital to a happy life. You cannot make and keep friends if you are selfish and focused only on yourself! You have to be involved in your community and friends lives in a variety of ways. You can encourage community involvement in a variety of ways. Once someone becomes involved. They tend to stay involved.
Yo You have to give back to your
community and your fellow human beings. Not
only in times of disaster, but in your everyday life. Think mutual aid societies. Think community gardens. It can be as simple as getting someone to shop at the local farmers market instead of a big box store.
3) Inclusiveness is a way of life. Epicurus was the first recorded person, or philosopher, to welcome into his Garden both women and slaves, which was unheard of at the time. He believed that just because someone was different or had a different mindset that they still had something of value to discuss and learn from. Epicurus believed in equality of effort – that is, partners should shoulder equal responsibilities and that a successful community depended on the effort of everyone. You might argue that he coined the phrase “Happy Wife, Happy Life.” Now apply that philosophy to your greater community.
It It may seem difficult in our ever increasing tribal world, but it is needed. We can not grow and learn without input from all sources. We simply don't have the time to be close minded. For some additional reading material, start here and here.
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