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Have you ever looked back in history and thought: “Wow! I wish I had been alive then, things were so exciting. I wish I could have borne witness to that event”. To have heard Martin Luther King speak. To have watched the Beatles perform live. Heard the sermon on the mount, seen the fall of the Roman Empire, been an explorer to the New World back when the world was still flat, worked on the Manhattan Project. Been there when telephones were new, or the first train was built. Protested against the Vietnam War, gone to Woodstock. Does anyone else look back at history and think “Gee, I wish I’d been there!”
But we were not there. We were born now. Here. And I think we are blessed.
Of all the ages, in all of history, nothing comes close to being as important as what’s happening now. Not since the time of the dinosaurs. Not since the start of human history. Because this could be the end of human history. We are the generation that may write the ending to our story. May, because we also may be the generation that becomes the hero of our story.
These are exciting times, the most exciting times that have ever been. We have this incredible challenge facing the planet. Polution, population, climate change, disease. The consequences of our lifestyle are coming to a head. We cannot avoid it. We can either rise to the challenge, or ignore the challenge, but either way, the challenge is there and will no longer be denied. If we ignore the challenge, we know what the outcome will be. If we meet it head on, perhaps it will be the same. But even if it is, in what manner shall we give up this life? Just give it up? Without even trying to save it? No, certainly not.
We will never live the life that our parents lived. Maybe it hasn’t quite sunk in yet, but even if we try to, soon the illusion will be shattered. Does that sound like we are cursed? To live out the consequences of their actions? But our actions would have been the same in their situation. People are people are people. That is what I have learned in life. People are people are people. So what do we do in our situation? The best that we can, which is what our parents would have done, and our parents’ parents.
And what is the best that we can do? Well, I don’t know yet. But we must all do our part. And everything is important. We are not all scientists and engineers and politicians. But we all eat. We all live in houses. We all need to get from A to B. We all bathe, and breathe, and, if you’re reading this, use computers. People are people are people, and our needs on a daily scale and a planetary scale are the same. If I drive a car to work, I cause a chunk of ice to melt. I help flood a country. Cause drought in the sahel.
Is space exploration important in the face of all this? Yes. Without it, we would never have understood so quickly what we’ve done to our planet, the magnitude of what we’ve done to this planet. We would never have had that beautiful, beautiful image of Earth from space, that image that united us all on this small, beautiful blue speck in the heavens. With space, we push the ideas of sustainable living to the absolute extreme edge and inspire humanity to meet even greater challenges.
Is teaching important? Yes. Even if those children never fully grow up, they are a part of this challenge. They too must eat, and breathe, and meet this challenge. And in a way, these children that we are teaching are our conscience.
Is working for Shell important? Yes. Because if the goal of the corporation is to survive, than a corporation such as Shell must change. Change to meet the demands of the people, for who will buy a product that there is no demand for? And if the corporation is to survive, that change must come from within.
Is being a housewife/househusband important? Yes. Because you will decide to wash the laundry in cold water and hang it on the line to dry. You will choose the phosphate free soap. You will be in charge of composting the left overs, making sure lights are turned off, that computers aren’t running all day. You must decide whether you will drive to the grocery store or take a bus or walk. You will decide if you drive you child to soccer on your own, or car pool with others in the neighbourhood.
And what will you decide? Are we blessed or are we cursed? Will we be the heroes, or give up in despair? Whatever we choose, it will be grand and beautiful. Whether a beautiful redemption, or a beautiful tragedy, I’m glad to be alive right now.
