1. Cut the gross world product in half. In the last 30 years, the amount manufactured by the combined world nations has tripled! Not only do we wantonly waste precious resources, we have surrounded ourselves with useless and excessive possessions that estrange us from your own natures as human beings. Such a change would require the introduction of a new, non-material lifestyle for many western people. And an economic theory that does not measure success in terms of yearly, continuing growth of the GNP and GWP.
2. Cut world population in half. From the 50s to the 80s--IN 37 YEARS--the population of the world doubled! From 2.5 to 5 billion. It is now doubling again in less than 37 years! While we cannot say definitely that this will bring mass starvation, class warfare, epidemic disease, it has already degraded our planet's collective mind. And we see an acceleration of "things happening" and a carelessness of human actions--as we no longer feel a sense of free space and time--that begins to dominate our consciousness.
3. Begin a system of "weighted democracy" in which the influence of each person's vote is derived from some kind of established criteria of knowledgeability, sensitivity, intelligence, compassion, spiritual consciousness. A real democracy requires an electorate that cannot be duped, manipulated or spun. The criteria for "weighting" of course would require a good deal of thought and care to insure that they are both legitimate and accurate.
4. Establish a Supreme World Court of our wisest and most impartial individuals to rule on international laws and to settle the disputes of nations. If two individuals cannot settle a dispute among themselves, they go to a judge. If a businessman and laborers cannot agree upon a contract, they go to an arbitrator. But if Israel and Jordan or the United States and Iraq cannot agree, they go to war. It is not logical or mentally consistent or productive of personal and species harmony that nations should be allowed to do what individuals may not. And yet, that is what we call our present understanding of law.
5. End the commercialization of everything. The principle of advertising is stupid. It degrades human beings by being a role model for dishonesty. This leads to cynicism, promotes a climate of massive consumption, and thus prevents the building of a truly good human society, one which expresses the best spiritually in us.
6. Refashion the media of the world: TV and newspapers, Internet, etc. These are now a prime cause of disease: the mental (and consequent physical) illness that now affects our society's collective mind. These shapers of our culture, partly from a misunderstanding of their social function--a perceived need to shock, control and titillate to compete, their reporting as fact and/or important what is best for those who own them, etc.--have become toxic. They must be made health-producing.
7. Insure that we can isolate, prevent the worldwide spread, of lethal infectious diseases now that we are dependent upon massive global travel and trade: One grave example that our technologies can get beyond human control. We become more susceptible to epidemics and pandemics in the very times of societal psychological and physical depression because our minds are so closely related to our bodies.
8. Add "the lost Commandment," the one that got tossed over the years in all the religious hustle/bustle. The one that would have handed us a much wholesomer history, if we'd only gotten it right:
"The Earth and all things of it are sacred. As its most intelligent creatures, you are its guardians. Thus, you shall deal with it in all ways with sensitivity and awareness."
Yes, it's really that simple--that's all we had (and have) to do! Was it the God(s) we chose or was it the person(s) writing it down who left out this irreplaceable assignment? That is, we have to consult our minds and our scientists but the final decision rests in our hearts.
Make earth spirituality a total planet phenomenon. Begin global, and universal, honorings/celebrations of the solstices, equinoxes and phases of the moon. Adopt a new earth calendar. Make this a part of all the major religions.
9. Radically alter human living environments. Large urban areas have made us insane (out of touch with reality). They are grand monuments to human power and consumption. We no longer know the power of the earth, of our planet. Create living environments in harmony with the nature that is part of us. Come back to rest on Our Mother Earth.
10. Begin all public meetings and the meetings of all aspects of all governing bodies only after each participant feels confident in his/her performance of the following silent meditation. The meditation: When the meeting opens, at the instruction by the chairperson or facilitator, everyone will sit silently and honestly ask him/herself: "How can we all agree rather than disagree? How can I personally come to an agreement with these people?"
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