Do the Right Thing for Those Who Follow

"Basically, absolutely nothing is happening," Stanford University ecologist Paul Ehrlich said. "We don't need more scientific evidence that we're screwing ourselves. We need to get beyond the cultural discussions we're having now."

The problem, Ehrlich said, is clearly not a need for more natural science. Rather, it is the need for a better understanding of "human behaviors and how they can be altered to direct humanity toward a sustainable society before it is too late."

“We’re screwing ourselves”, “absolutely nothing is happening”, “direct humanity toward a sustainable society before it is too late." said the 77 year old distinguished professor at one of the most eminent universities in the world.  He has received dozens of ecological and environmental awards. His bibliography spans 30 years and includes sophisticated analysis using all the ecosciences to examine the current state of the world relative to population and ecology. 

Doesn’t really want to make you jump for joy, does it? 

Right to the point. No more debate is needed, we have all the proof we could ever want. The problem is our behavior. We, certainly including me, act like the dogs in Pavlov’s experiment. 

“The phrase "Pavlov's dog" is often used to describe someone who merely reacts to a situation rather than using critical thinking.”  Our use of “critical thinking” has been beaten out of us.  Anyone and everyone who either wants our money, our vote and/or our soul has been after us since the day we were born.  Relentless advertising; first from newspapers, TV, radio and now the net has been used to manipulate us regarding every decision we make. Unfortunately most of the “ends” of our manipulated “means” aren’t beneficial for the environment and thus eventually harmful to us.  

Do we understand why it was so easy to manipulate our behavior toward the “dark side”?  According to Erhlich we don’t have the time to figure out why we went the wrong way.  We need to immediately make a quick u-turn and help “direct humanity toward a sustainable society”.  

Here at the beginning of the second century of the industrial revolution we are now literally facing the cumulative poisons that have been injected into our land, water and air.  Time to push all the self-destructive behaviors out of our souls and   act in favor of those who will inherit this planet.  The benefits our actions will not be felt by us, whether we ever understand why we acted as we did is no longer applicable. As procreative beings we owe to the ones who follow us to do the right thing.