The first Global Citizen: I am not an Athenian, or a Greek, but a citizen of the world
~ Socrates.
A new culture that transcends national boundaries, traditional political affiliations, religious beliefs, nationalism, and ethnicity is beginning to make its presence felt around the world. Amidst the ongoing decay of the Current World System a new found vision is coming to light.
People from all walks of life are beginning to recognize that we do indeed have the power to transform the world. We are witnessing the emergence of a Planetary Culture. A Planetary Culture is made up of global citizens in the same way that a regional culture is made up of citizens who identify with the local group and setting.
A global citizen identifies not with a country, nation, tribe or region of the earth, but with the entire earth. Holistically speaking a global citizen identifies not with any ethnic group, religion or political party, but with humanity. A global citizen recognizes the value of cooperation over competition. A global citizen lives in the moment, but factors for the long term consequences of his or her actions upon others and the natural world.
A global citizen asks what is good for me and the planet as whole, while the regional citizen asks what is good for me and my country. Don’t get me wrong what I am saying is simply a broader definition of “act locally think globally”. A near complete list of what characterizes a Planetary Culture is found at bottom of this page.
We have arrived at the moment in history where regionalism and factionalism are giving way to visions of mass collaborative effort. The increasing absurdity of U.S. political rhetoric is a sure sign of the Establishment’s desperation as they begin to sense the accelerating erosion of their political power base. They will have to yank our chains harder and harder to get the same response, but to little avail as we have caught on to their game. But let’s not delude ourselves as the majority are still under their spell, and so we must continue to reach out to the unwary.
We must not be afraid to share the controversial. But we must do it in such a way as to not alienate them. As the deluded hear similar accounts from various sides they will have no choice, but to begin to question their assumptions. We are engaged in a transitional process of indeterminate length, and it is up to the wary to alert the unwary as to what is going on in the world.
The world is my country, all mankind my brethren, and to do good is my religion.
Thomas Paine US patriot & political philosopher (1737 – 1809)
Is it not the responsibility of those who recognize the emergent process to also nurture it? I mean if you’re aware of the planet’s precarious position how can you not be motivated to get involved at whatever level you can? It’s not enough to do it in your “spare time”. Evolving human culture, socio-ecological healing, and minimization of human induced catastrophes is now the daily duty of all able bodied people.
I ask why would you want to prolong and tolerate warfare? Is it because your family and friends are not the ones being slaughtered nor is it your neighborhood that is being raped, pillaged and blown to pieces? I ask why would you continue to tolerate needless human suffering and exploitation at home and aboard at the hands of your government? I ask why would you continue to tolerate the poisoning of your body-mind, the soil, air, water and our food?
What’s your excuse for helping maintain the status quo via your silence and complacency? Are you content with your contribution to the evolution of society and environmental conservation because you “love nature”, buy organic food, shop at the farmers market, and/or drive a hybrid. Well that’s a start, but if you really “love nature” and understand what that phrase truly means and then you will do more than be a more mindful consumer and take walks along the lake. The emerging planetary culture needs more and more of your participation and the Current World System needs dismantling and transformation.
The old culture of might makes right, secrecy, deception, ecological indifference, ruthless competition and profit at all costs is crumbling and a new world culture based on non-violence, transparency, ecological sensitivity, cooperation and egalitarian ideals is emerging. But the foregoing is happening only because others before us did their part to bring us to where we are now. We need more torch bearers to continue lighting the way for others and to do the work that is required right now, not tomorrow when you supposedly “have more time”.
“Let your life be a counter friction to stop the machine“
“If the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go, let it go; perchance it will wear smooth — certainly the machine will wear out. If the injustice has a spring, or a pulley, or a rope, or a crank, exclusively for itself, then perhaps you may consider whether the remedy will not be worse than the evil; but if it is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law. Let your life be a counter friction to stop the machine. What I have to do is to see, at any rate, that I do not lend myself to the wrong which I condemn.”
~Henry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience
The remainder of this article highlights what I think are some of the most signifying stories of the emerging planetary culture, it’s achievements, its challenges, and its developing agenda.
~ Socrates.
A new culture that transcends national boundaries, traditional political affiliations, religious beliefs, nationalism, and ethnicity is beginning to make its presence felt around the world. Amidst the ongoing decay of the Current World System a new found vision is coming to light.
People from all walks of life are beginning to recognize that we do indeed have the power to transform the world. We are witnessing the emergence of a Planetary Culture. A Planetary Culture is made up of global citizens in the same way that a regional culture is made up of citizens who identify with the local group and setting.
A global citizen identifies not with a country, nation, tribe or region of the earth, but with the entire earth. Holistically speaking a global citizen identifies not with any ethnic group, religion or political party, but with humanity. A global citizen recognizes the value of cooperation over competition. A global citizen lives in the moment, but factors for the long term consequences of his or her actions upon others and the natural world.
A global citizen asks what is good for me and the planet as whole, while the regional citizen asks what is good for me and my country. Don’t get me wrong what I am saying is simply a broader definition of “act locally think globally”. A near complete list of what characterizes a Planetary Culture is found at bottom of this page.
We have arrived at the moment in history where regionalism and factionalism are giving way to visions of mass collaborative effort. The increasing absurdity of U.S. political rhetoric is a sure sign of the Establishment’s desperation as they begin to sense the accelerating erosion of their political power base. They will have to yank our chains harder and harder to get the same response, but to little avail as we have caught on to their game. But let’s not delude ourselves as the majority are still under their spell, and so we must continue to reach out to the unwary.
We must not be afraid to share the controversial. But we must do it in such a way as to not alienate them. As the deluded hear similar accounts from various sides they will have no choice, but to begin to question their assumptions. We are engaged in a transitional process of indeterminate length, and it is up to the wary to alert the unwary as to what is going on in the world.
The world is my country, all mankind my brethren, and to do good is my religion.
Thomas Paine US patriot & political philosopher (1737 – 1809)
Is it not the responsibility of those who recognize the emergent process to also nurture it? I mean if you’re aware of the planet’s precarious position how can you not be motivated to get involved at whatever level you can? It’s not enough to do it in your “spare time”. Evolving human culture, socio-ecological healing, and minimization of human induced catastrophes is now the daily duty of all able bodied people.
I ask why would you want to prolong and tolerate warfare? Is it because your family and friends are not the ones being slaughtered nor is it your neighborhood that is being raped, pillaged and blown to pieces? I ask why would you continue to tolerate needless human suffering and exploitation at home and aboard at the hands of your government? I ask why would you continue to tolerate the poisoning of your body-mind, the soil, air, water and our food?
What’s your excuse for helping maintain the status quo via your silence and complacency? Are you content with your contribution to the evolution of society and environmental conservation because you “love nature”, buy organic food, shop at the farmers market, and/or drive a hybrid. Well that’s a start, but if you really “love nature” and understand what that phrase truly means and then you will do more than be a more mindful consumer and take walks along the lake. The emerging planetary culture needs more and more of your participation and the Current World System needs dismantling and transformation.
The old culture of might makes right, secrecy, deception, ecological indifference, ruthless competition and profit at all costs is crumbling and a new world culture based on non-violence, transparency, ecological sensitivity, cooperation and egalitarian ideals is emerging. But the foregoing is happening only because others before us did their part to bring us to where we are now. We need more torch bearers to continue lighting the way for others and to do the work that is required right now, not tomorrow when you supposedly “have more time”.
“Let your life be a counter friction to stop the machine“
“If the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go, let it go; perchance it will wear smooth — certainly the machine will wear out. If the injustice has a spring, or a pulley, or a rope, or a crank, exclusively for itself, then perhaps you may consider whether the remedy will not be worse than the evil; but if it is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law. Let your life be a counter friction to stop the machine. What I have to do is to see, at any rate, that I do not lend myself to the wrong which I condemn.”
~Henry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience
The remainder of this article highlights what I think are some of the most signifying stories of the emerging planetary culture, it’s achievements, its challenges, and its developing agenda.
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