A Solstice Thought

"…the difficulties we’re encountering in solving our environmental problems aren’t scientific or technological, they’re social. As some of these essays point out, many scientists and researchers agree that we already know what must be done to achieve sustainability and even how to do it; we just aren’t acting.

Second, relying on science or technology to save us from our environmental problems is a fool’s game, because both science and technology are a reflection of society. If we don’t commit as a society to change, science and technology will get us nowhere and in fact will take us even faster down an unsustainable path, because that’s where we’re already heading."

David Suzuki and Dave Robert Taylor The Big Picture: Reflections on Science, Humanity, and a Quickly Changing Planet. Vancouver, Greystone Books, 2009  P. 271

Geneticist Dr. Suzuki is hardly anti-science. What he recognizes is our society's seemingly unlimited faith in science and technology. Of course we hear the endless chanting for more education for "science and mathematics" as if somehow if we raise those students scores all of our issues will melt away (maybe literally with climate change). As I noted in my most recent posting, we need more education of the heart. Maybe more art and music and less physics and math?A better overview of this need can be seen in this RSA Animate talk recently posted by philosopher and author Roman Krznaric. 

In a few hours we in the Northern hemisphere will begin the slow sojourn to longer days. Let us use this movement towards spring to prepare for planting seeds for a more sustainable way of living together. May we grow more empathy, fewer weapons, and a more just world for all we share it with.

Happy Solstice! let there be light and let your light shine.