Something I don't often say - but then again I don't usually bother reading the paper very thoroughly - but an interesting article in the Sunday Star Times Focus section this week asking a number of different people their opinion on how to make NZ a better place. Well, interesting for an idealist and politically active person such as myself.
Here's a couple of suggestions of my own:
Start seriously and dramatically moving New Zealand towards being a sustainable nation. Because although for some reason the vast majority of people seem to think this means cutting our quality of life, and therefore is quite scary, I believe that it has the potential to greatly improve our quality of life. Not only will the environment we live in be healthier and richer because of it, so will everyone. Not in monetary terms, but in real happiness, health and well-being terms. And we already have the knowledge to get us most of the way there! All we need to do is move in that direction, and everything else should fall in place. We need to look at this move as far more positive then negative. And be happy in the knowledge that future generations will look at our bravery in a positive light, rather than our lack of action in shame.
Secondly, make peace a much more integral part of our society. It is such an important and all encompassing philosophy that if we ever want to truly advance as a society we cannot afford to ignore it. This means realising that we have more to gain by helping others than helping ourselves, and that love is the most powerful weapon against hate and conflict. This needs to start in our schools, with children being educated young, but there are so many other things that need to move more in this direction too. Our economic system for one... We should be proud of how peaceful we already are as a nation, but we need to aim high. It is in connections between two individuals that peace is truly strong, and from there every individual can spread love.
Thoughts? Suggestions?
