Change can happen for different reasons and different time
scales. The urgent call for climate action and a change to a ‘renewable’
economy has been met with opposition and a reluctance to ‘give up’ existing systems
and industries. We can’t afford to change
too quickly less people lose jobs and break the economy. We can’t move to
electric cars because how could we go on long distance weekend trips?
It has been frustrating and difficult to maintain hope with
so much political obstruction. As a scientist it has been particularly
disheartening for public figures to distrust institutional science. Yet I
understand the benefits of a well-managed gradual change process that brings
everyone along with a clearly articulated vision.
I had a vigorous discussion with a (distant) relative on the
need for the prophetic voice to show that point in the distance that we should be
heading. We don’t want to be too quick to get there lest we leave people behind
but we shouldn’t be hesitating to move either. Scouts are needed to go first
and test the waters and say it is ok for everyone to come. We need strong
leadership to set a long term direction, to support the scouts to keep them
safe and even to extol them as our adventurers. The ‘early adopters’ that put
their neck out and take risks can lose economically but if everyone waited
before it was safe to leave our status quo we wouldn’t get anywhere.
And then comes along the great disruptor – the virus that
has sent the market into freefall, smashed travel and global tourism, closed
schools and events, and who knows how much further into our way of life it will
encroach. Our response? Panic shopping, political stimulus packages, increased
racial tension to anyone bearing a Chinese resemblance, and much cleaning of
hands.
Without going further down this track I’ll make two
observations:
1. We can change abruptly if there is will to do so. We can
have a stimulus package that quickly. What an opportunity to provide jobs and
create activity in the direction we want to go into.
2. Fear on a community scale can send us to very dark
places. I’ve often wondered how far we are to being led by a modern equivalent of
an Adolf or Pol Pot down a similar path. Our racist undertones can easily
surface - ask any Chinese friend if they are viewed any differently in the past
few months.
We don’t know how 2020 will play out but the active hope
philosophy is needed more than ever to prevent fear being mis-used. The elderly
are at great risk, jobs are at risk, our wellbeing is being put to the test. My
hope is to seek out the opportunities to reshape our future and for our
community to be bonded with goodwill. Some further reading from Sojourners:
Photo: the water lilly (subject I’m painting at the moment).
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