{"id":17014,"date":"2018-06-10T10:00:21","date_gmt":"2018-06-10T10:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/?p=17014"},"modified":"2019-11-06T09:48:13","modified_gmt":"2019-11-06T08:48:13","slug":"what-can-we-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/story\/17014\/what-can-we-do\/","title":{"rendered":"What can we do?"},"content":{"rendered":"

At the University of Minnesota Dr. Nate Hagens<\/a> teaches an honours course called “Reality 101: A Survey of the Human Predicament.” Hagens operated his own hedge fund on Wall Street until he glimpsed, “a serious disconnect between capitalism, growth, and the natural world. Money did not appear to bring wealthy clients more well being.” Hagens became editor of <\/span>The Oil Drum<\/span><\/a>, and now sits on the Board of the <\/span>Post Carbon Institute<\/span><\/a> and the <\/span>Institute for Integrated Economic Research<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reality 101 addresses humanity’s toughest challenges: economic decline, inequality, pollution, biodiversity loss, and war. Students learn about systems ecology, neuroscience, and economics. “We ask hard questions,” says Hagens. “What is wealth? What are the limits to growth? We attempt to face our crises head on.” \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some students feel inspired to action, and some report finding the material “depressing.” One student shared the course material with a family member, who asked, “So what can I do?” The student struggled to answer this question, and the listener chastised her: “why did you explain all this to me, if you can’t tell me what to do?!”<\/span><\/p>\n

A fair question. One that, as environmentalists, we often get asked. At the request of Dr Hagens, here is my list:<\/span><\/p>\n

What can we do?<\/b><\/h3>\n
\"Tapaj\u00f3s

Rainbow over the Tapaj\u00f3s River in the Amazon<\/p><\/div>\n

I have been asking this question all of my adult life. As I’ve witnessed the crisis intensify, I\u2019ve experienced feelings of panic, anger, and\u00a0helplessness. Nevertheless, I also feel at peace. I love my family and friends, I enjoy life in my community, and love my time in the natural world. Here are some of the ways I believe we can deal with anxiety about the world and take action:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n

    Stay active<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    It can feel good to simply resist<\/a> the destructive acts of governments and corporations, to stand up for the dispossessed, abused, and for the natural world. Caring about others can be the greatest gift to one’s own soul and peace of mind. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. \n

      Localize<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Even as I engage in global battles, my life revolves around family, neighbours, friends, and finding ways to help strengthen my community. Protect <\/span>your<\/span><\/i> local habitat; preserve a local river, a lake, or forest. I believe that most genuine \u201csolutions\u201d that matter will appear at a community-in-habitat level. The priorities:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n