Remote

Having decided to get involved with what we are doing as a world, to protect the way and place we live in. You find that you have to definitely push yourself forward. It isn't something you are encouraged to do: unlike making money, having a career, children, owning things, razors, fruit pastilles, etc.
No you won't find any peer pressure, parental, worldly pressure to get you involved with the way we interact with our planet, and ourselves.

It used to be an integral part of society not too long ago. We were aware of what crops were sown, which birds were migrating, and how our neighbours, friends, and old people were coping.

At some point as we have "grown" as a society, the voice that says prosper, think of yourself that rainy day will never come, has become mighty powerful. The message seems to be, don't be successful as a society, do it for yourself you are stronger on your own. Don't look around; keep your eyes on the road.

Our most obvious distrust and contempt is for the world we live in. We have been given this plaything, which we treat as our God given right, rather than a ridiculous stroke of luck. We don't trust the world as it doesn't demand anything from us, straight away. If every time we chopped down a forest, or polluted a lake or a stream, 1,000 people were killed instantly somewhere random in the world. Forests wouldn't be cut down, lakes wouldn't be polluted and the whole thing would be sorted out pretty fast. The fact that climate change kills 150,000 people a year according to the World Health Organisation isn't enough. We can take that as we don't feel threatened.

To understand we need to take time, reflect, feel the pain, listen and learn. To do this you need to be aware of your surroundings, understand what is going on in the world globally and locally. Ironically we live in this incredibly connected world, which alas makes it harder to communicate with the people around us. In Manchester where I live I don't know anyone on my street even after having lived there for 3 years. Think of the Hundreds of people passing you in cars every day that you happily ignore.
This ability that we are picking up, helps us to disconnect with what is going on in front of our noses; sets us up nicely to ignore parts of society we aren't too fond of.
It means I can have great friends in California and Berlin, but not know people on my street. I get used to disconnecting with things. I don't have to know the people on my street, I have other friends. I don't need to know the people in the cars I have other friends. This carries on into every part of our lives. I don't need to know where my food comes from. I know it says Kenya on my green beans, but for all I know about how they have been grown they might as well say Jupiter on the packet. I am going to see my friend in California. Screw it, I can't see the oil polluting people's water supply in Nigeria, and the oil company isn't spending big bucks advertising it on x factor to let me know about it. So, Feic it, why should I care.

There is definitely a correlation between this disentachment with certain things and the rise of television. This box does give a certain amount of joy, but it only engages specific senses, eyes ,ears, brain?, and thankfully all designed by someone to entertain you without having to move your arse off the sofa. You don't get wet, upset, elated, involved or feel anything physical.

But of course you get given the beautiful illusion of control, the remote. You can turn down the volume, adjust the colour, and of course turn it off. It gives us a feeling of control over something that we aren't really involved with. It doesn't challenge us or stimulate us, but with the remote we think we are enpowered, if we don't like it we can just change the channel, or turn it off.
You can't do that with the Planet, we can't just press 132 and get a new one. Turn it off, go and make a cup of tea and there will be a better one on in 30 minutes.

Anyway enough of this for now there are loads of points that can be delved into with a lot more detail. It would be great to have some comments, and abuse.
Finally, just to say this doesn't get me down it is just the way it is, but it shouldn't stop us from looking at ways to get the most out of this life.
Ben