Starting to Pay Back

1861: 

Once, when we were younger, when the world was less damaged, abundance seemed to be everlasting. Oceans were clean and teemed with fish. It was incomprehensible that whole river systems could ever die. Land was fertile. Our surroundings were attractive. It was unimaginable that the world could be turned into a slum. But over a relatively short period of time, with each person saving their own skin, we’ve nothing of lasting value to pass on. The damage is done, and we haven’t been able to stop ourselves from continually taking, and taking more and taking faster.

         

Instead of learning from our mistakes, the human race has refined cruelty, increased slavery, wrecked forests, polluted the air and land, and generally become addicted to an increasingly unsustainable lifestyle. Now we’re in all sorts of trouble.

         

From a state of plenty, we’ve built up a debt burden. Our collective debts won’t easily be paid off. But we must try to make a start. It isn’t impossible, surely?

         

Debt mentality gave us the false impression of being richer than we really are and, like any bubble, it has to burst. That realisation is dawning on us, slowly at first, then gathering speed as we take more and more for granted. Now, with less clean air, less fresh water, less bird song in the morning, we’re learning the big lesson about debt – that it seems so benign at first but as it consolidates it becomes inevitably toxic. It’s a bit like animal food itself or anything else we’re not entitled to - it kills the best in us.