Humanity will only survive if we learn to refocus on core values, that helped us during periods of previous hardship

I always wished I could just take it easy, stretch my legs on a sandy beach for a whole year long, enjoy the weather, the scene and margaritas, or simply spend the days doing nothing. Or, alternatively, joyfully receive endless massage in some kind of antique hot water spa hamam, in areas of this planat that suffer from cooler climate.

But my problem is this: we are running out of time to protect our planet that is on the point of completely freaking out. Not only that the world’s population is exploding, and eating up all the protein poisoned oceans and poisoned earth still somehow manage to generate – only to sustain a mankind with often (and perhaps increasingly) barbaric and ruthlessly egoistic attitudes.

This means that I can’t offer myself leisure, such as the ones described above. Even if I had the time and the money, could I feel comfortable? The jungles are burning, and we are like the silly bunch of monkeys that live right in the middle. Melting glaciers, mounting sea level soon will chase people from their lowlands and will cause mass migration not seen since the end of the Roman Empire.

We cannot stop people from following stupid religions, cherishing primitive concepts, or from engaging in perverted attitudes. We cannot stop politicians of being corrupt, or their billionaire clientele that likes to sponsor or bribe the FOXY media. We cannot stop nomads from overgrazing dry semi-desert lands, or some Chinese logging companies from felling the last Asian hardwood trees.

Volcanoes will explode, earthquakes will shake the ground. Hurricanes will strike with fury, and the sea level will rise. Whatever our politicians, lawyers, tycoons decide – the human population will be brought down to an ecologically sustainable level of 2 billion people/planet. This will eventually happen through nature’s fury, our own ignorance, or, most likely, by a combination of both.

The above could sound like a bitter message, if we humans wouldn’t have a few golden trump cards: solidarity, compassion with each other and, above all, creative intelligence. In a changing world, on a raging planet, these deeply human qualities will give humanity its finest hour, perhaps comparable to the struggle of our ancestors during the ice ages. That’s why education is so important.

Let’s educate our children, friends to embrace compassion and solidarity. Let’s cherish the time we can spend together, rather than consuming mental junk food from the TV. Let’s spread the word, that money isn’t the answer. Where should I build my villa, if there is no beautiful beach with lovely palm trees under a blue sky left? Let’s spread human core values, and protect nature as well as we can.

It may be our own lifeline for survival.

© 2005 by Franz L Kessler