Why don't we?

The statement:
With our resources and know how, we could feed and shelter every man, woman and child on Earth while living in a way that is not only sustainable, but that helps the natural world thrive with us.

The question:
Why don't we?

This is a question that has haunted me lately, one that I feel needs to be asked by more and more of us and answered with action. Now more than ever, the fundamental flaws in the systems that govern the world of mankind are being revealed. A creeping feeling that we are headed at perilous speed towards a lethal fall has long been growing within and I know I'm not alone.

When I began to answer the question above, I found that the myriad answers that first revealed themselves were overwhelming; issues of governments, religions, economics. The world view of the powers that be and the status quo seemed so unchangeable that I just wanted to go play video games until I forgot I ever asked the question in the first place. The question remained with me though and, overwhelmed or not, I felt this blog entry might be a good place to start, if for no other reason than to get my thoughts and fears out of my head and into words.

I think before effective action can be taken, there must be dialogue. Fortunately, on this subject, it has already begun amongst many peoples of the world in many forms, but with the same motivating principal: Things must change. The more of us who join this dialogue, the greater the chance for change to occur.

Please join the dialogue and make yourself heard. Let's try to answer this question. Let's help make change that truly counts. Please comment on this entry and/or join the dialogue that has begun in so many places and ways. Here are some examples:

TED Talks
Zeitgeist
The Great Turning

Thank you

Tales of Ettan: The Fall of Thront Part III

"Are you telling me they dropped over three hundred soldiers on our shores with no sign of a single vessel?!"

High constable Taureed slept in an age-beaten, pillowed chair most nights.

"Sir, they weren't..."

He dreamed little and woke often.

"Were you smoking your pipe flag, maybe drinking a bit or just taking care of the business your wife couldn't finish last night?!"

Never the less, he cherished his sleep.

"Constble, they weren't dropped..."

The chair sat collecting the scent of burning ashwood near the fire place at the top level of North Tower. Often a flask of spirits or bottle of wine would be near by and partially finished on the floor.

"What are you telling me?"

Taureed stood from his chair wiping sleep from his eyes and hastened past captain Shraffe who was thankful the constable didn't start beating him with the pommel of his sword. Taureed took the tower stairs two at a time, fastening his sword belt as he went.

"Sir, it's like I told you," said Shraffe as he attempted to keep up with Taureed. "They walked out of the ocean, climbed our docks and attacked the dock watch."

Taureed stopped abruptly without fully turning, Shraffe came close to knocking right into him.

"No skiffs, no dinghies, no vessels of any kind?"

"No sir. None in site. If there are ships out there, they're hiding in the fog bank couple miles off shore and with the moonless sky..."

"How far in have they advanced?" Taureed said as he continued down the stairs.

"Last I heard they got past the dock watch and spilled into Jacobie Street. But that's not the half of it sir."

"What in hell are you talking about Shraffe?"

"Constable Aberdeen managed to get archers to the walls and let loose a few volleys ," Shraffe's voice began to betray a touch of worry. "But every single one of those bastards which got hit kept coming. Some of them weren't even inconvenienced by a bolt in the chest and just kept on walking."

Taureed stopped again, this time turning fully to face Shraffe.

"Arrows didn't stop them?"

"No sir. If they fell, they'd get right back up and some of them got hit more than once."

"Great gods. First the north country then the capital, now this." said Taureed. "If we're dealing with what I think we're dealing with, we're going to need a hell of a lot more than town guard to stop it."

Good Ache

Today I ache. My joints and muscles throb a bit for I have gone the past 9 out of 11 days to a room in Portsmouth where, for an hour and a half, in 110 degree heat, I push and pull my body into positions of strength, stretching and compression. It is changing me, healing me, making me better. I feel this doughnut around my waist slowly shrinking. I see my muscles begin to be defined. I must continue for I wish more than most things to improve my body temple.