Tristan James Johns

Our plans, as a world, how much are they really our own? It’s not a fair question perhaps, the population is so large on our world. Yet still, how much do we agree with the direction we are moving in? Some people that I know, seem content not to face this question. The weight of our daily responsibilities and the implications of our challenges, is not an easy thing to encounter directly. Just getting through a week of work, and taking care of our households, can be quite an accomplishment.

The issues in our world, are too many to contemplate one by one. Together we rely on the support of other people to carry the load. Rather, I write these words to push our view above the smaller things, at least for a moment. Really, are we content with the direction that we are on?

Few seem to believe it is possible for humanity to find a new way of seeing our situation. Imagine the high regard that the future generations would hold for us, if we just made a positive shift happen. Or will we let those lucky kids take all the credit?

The split focus of our world shows in the big picture. We could change course, if we harnessed our powers and decided confidently where we are going. Our common will is our only way to make that change together. Seeing this possibility, gifts responsibility back to each of us. Let’s embrace the miracle that we have such a level of control over our fate. Surely others are not more invested in our future than you and I? We must insist that humanity not tolerate poor management. We instead insist that the resources of our human family are invested in our children’s long term best interests, rather than against them.

For example, Australia has a plan to invest a very large number of resources into a fleet of submarines. It is estimated that they will be delivered to Australia in the 2050s. However, in a country where housing affordability, indigenous health, and education standards across the country, are constant points of intense scandal, this move seems unreasonable.

While many families sacrifice their ability to develop quality community bonds due to heavy work commitments, the government decides to commit these funds to prepare for a war that no-one ever wants to see eventuate. Responsible people work hard to see their healthy goals evaporate because the custodians are too willing to gamble on such an absurd possibility. Our future generations surely hope that we leave them with a better proposition to face than that! Will they look back and wonder why we seem so willing to let the possibility of a future conflict grow?

Why don’t we think again? What if we took a portion of that money and re-invested it with the focus of becoming the most incredible generation of peacemakers that the world has ever known. The next generation could become educators, skilled in languages and cultures, on a mission to ensure that we outgrow conflict as an option entirely.

Then money could be poured into elevating those in struggling areas of society. That would leave us in a world with less war, and with some significant progress made in many areas. Imagine how much money and suffering we might save if we averted a major war altogether? It sounds like they assume we have about 25 years to get ready, if we work by their schedule of first submarine delivery. That’s a lot of progress we could make in a very different direction if we care enough to try.

We all have a genuine interest in tomorrow, yet the motives are questionable within the decision making bodies. Any who support the path that leads to hardship for our human family, and our natural world, should be warned so they don’t become truly ashamed. Healing our old traumas as a planet may not be as exciting or as dramatic, but compared to war that may prove be a welcome relief.

Let us never take for granted the risks that these poor investments could lead to. May another day always come. May all generations hold that as their sacred right. Let’s ensure we are still here, and thriving, when the universe applauds our growth finally into a mature people. May we make it happen now, before the kid’s get all the credit for achieving it without us!