Let’s Become the Solution to Our Own Problems!
I know of no more encouraging fact than the undeniable capacity of man to elevate his life through conscious effort. – HENRY DAVID THOREAU
My character, combined with the upbringing I received as a child, forged in me a conviction that will be hard for anyone or anything to take away: our lives are the result of our actions, and our actions stem from our thoughts.
Certainly, the environment we inhabit constantly interferes with our thoughts and actions, but ultimately we are the ones who create our reality.
These statements feel intuitive, yet every day I encounter people dissatisfied with their lives who spend their time complaining and assigning responsibility for their suffering to others. Being fully aware that we are what we are because of the choices we made yesterday is the essential step toward change.
The Failure of Capitalism: An Even Wider Gap Between Rich and Poor
Pollution, poverty, disease, depression, crime, decay… We all know that our way of living is unsustainable and that major decisions are not made for the common good.
Many wait for something to happen or for someone else to take care of them. Still, many believe that politics will improve their lives, not realising that this has never occurred and that the crucial choices concerning the economy, health, and environment are made by large multinationals, not by politicians. Economically, capitalism in recent years has demonstrated its failure in redistributing resources.
The economic crisis has further increased the gap between rich and poor and the Silicon Valley giants have managed to achieve their market monopoly intent without the possibility of being challenged by anyone, thus lacking the principle of competition so praised by the free market. Many natural biological cycles that allow our life and that of many other species have been put in crisis and close to collapse thanks to the choices of governments guided by the large petrochemical, pharmaceutical multinationals, etc.
Our entire society rests on a base of fossil fuels which we know will run out in the coming years and we still don’t have a plan B.
The environmental crisis, the economic and energy one, will inevitably lead to water and food crises. It’s necessary that we as people, without distinctions of sex, political or religious belief or football allegiance, roll up our sleeves proactively, becoming ourselves the solution to problems, instead of being participants in them. We must take the initiative to do whatever is necessary. In the next 5 years Romagna and the Romagnoli can become an example of health at an economic, social and environmental level.
Stop giving energy to greed!
All the crises we are experiencing are caused by the greed of large multinational financial and economic groups that today have control of our lives. The only way we have to change direction is to stop giving energy to these corporations. The best way to unhinge the current system is to stop buying. Being self-sufficient is definitely the best thing we can do for ourselves and for the planet.
Choose how to spend your time and change the world!
- With the time we on average spend on social networks or watching TV series we could cultivate a vegetable garden that offers us healthy food, physical movement and therefore health.
- We can self-produce cosmetics and detergents and perhaps even self-build our house in local straw bales.
- If we really can’t self-produce then let’s buy from small local businesses possibly headed by ethical entrepreneurs or let’s found alternative businesses ourselves that have the common good as their goal.
- When we go on holiday let’s make sure to bring value to the territory we visit instead of destroying it, let’s favour moving on foot, by bicycle or by public transport. Let’s try to live in a house made with natural materials and possibly at km0. Let’s take care of our health not delegating it to doctors dependent on pharmaceutical companies. Health is the most precious asset we have, we must be first of all ourselves informed about how our body works, how we should properly nourish and treat ourselves.
- Let’s go out more often to do something useful for ourselves and for others.
- Let’s make our life a masterpiece.
- No one will remember us for the hours spent on social media or watching Netflix.
- What if instead we were part of those courageous Romagnoli who managed to change the world?
- Come and discover what could change, by actively participating in the meetings of the Vivi Consapevole in Romagna Association.
Written by: Francesco Angelo Rosso
