TED Conversations

R H
  • R H
  • Chicago, IL
  • United States

TEDCRED 20+

This conversation is closed. Start a new conversation
or join one »

Is there really a mass, world-wide movement towards human/eco concern and development, or is it just window-dressing?

Billionaires giving away their money for social causes, 'green' everything, Prime ministers talking about 'reorganization', social connectivity overwhelmingly concerned about unity, just to name a few. Also we have increased racial profiling, prosecution immunity for financial thieves, increased gov't controls, and corporate megalopolies with budgets greater than many nation's GDP's. Are our new techno and research abilities/knowledge the impetus for the next stage of our evolution as a people, or are we being placated so behind the scenes the 'real work' of social engineering is being decided for us? Power can be life-givng and breath action into improvement and development, or it can be overwhelming and make people literally maniacal and dominating. What do you think the vision is?

+1
Share:
progress indicator
  • thumb

    chad manderscheid 10+

    • 0
    May 21 2012: Yours like most either- or ?s has no pure simple answer. Yes there is an increase globally at the grass roots level of awareness and desire to do something for our planet-home. Yes there are too many politicians and corporations who are willing to take advantage of this. Which will win? You and everyone else will decide. Choose!
  • thumb

    Robert Winner 50+

    • 0
    May 19 2012: RH, this is certainly not an easy question. I am sure there are tthose who truely believe. I also believe that some use a "cause" to their benefit. President Obama's Chief of Staff said "never let a crisis go to waste". There is political advantage to be had in every event where suffering occurs. Obama spent billions on green companies that never had a chance as political payback and to endear himself to green believers. They took the money and ran. The push to eliminate coal power plants without any replacements is not a plan it is destruction of the power grid and will increase costs expotentially. On social engineering the US is in a crisis of divide and conquer in a fight for political favor. The talk by Yuri Beznenov demonstrates the framework set in motion for the defeat of the US. (view on Youtube). The green movement chose Al Gore as a spokesperson who has no dedication to the movement it is all about the money. He has one of the largest carbon footprints of all men. Bill Clinton, it is all a joke to him. It is all about money, fame and a easy woman everyonce in a while.

    Yes there are those who care ... and others that are just window-dressing for gain. The question is what are our innermost intentions and do we have the courage of our convictions. All the best. Bob
    • thumb

      R H 20+

      • 0
      May 19 2012: Thank you Bob for your response. You've identified the difference between a 'grass-roots' movement andd a political one. This is the heart of the question. It's almost like when an issue, or a business, gets to the size of dealing with gov't, the 'gov't' becomes, in the view of those dealing with the gov't, something separate from the people who are represented by it, an entity of itself, to be pillaged and sheared for everything possible. Since it's really 'nobody's money - just 'everybody's' - it's viewed as free for the taking and for personal gain. It, to me, is a psychological and a character dynamic where the original issues, like the ones mentioned In this question, are lost and replaced by this administrative manipulation. We call it 'corruption' and shrug our shoulders and bemoan how bad 'those' people are, when really they're us. This is the inside joke of democratic capitalism. A great way to make a fortune using other peoples money. We shout ' Socialism!' when we hear talk of 'social' gain and initiatives, while billions of taxpayer dollars fund individual's exhorbant lifestyles. A sidebar of capitalistic prosperity is that the populace has 'too much to lose' to cause any great waves of change or discontent. It solidifies the establishment. My hope is in the technology of social connectivity which will shift the power base to a stronger 'grass-roots' influence. We're watching Fortune 100 companies respond to human capital demands of better employee treatment and to market/gov't demands for enviro concern. This seems a quiet revolution so far. Who will be the victor?
  • thumb

    Fritzie Reisner 100+

    • 0
    Host
    May 18 2012: There are many values people hold that naturally compete for attention and resources. Many human and green causes are important to vast numbers of people, but people differ in what they would be willing to sacrifice for them. People and organizations also differ in the resources they have available to support the cause. For example, many green products cost more to a person or local government than products that are not green. If a local government spends extra dollars to use only green supplies, for example, those dollars are not available to pay for other services that are also important.
    • thumb

      R H 20+

      • 0
      May 18 2012: Thanks Fritzie for responding. So you would hold that there is mass real concern for these issues and not window-dressing, and that there is difficulty choosing which specific concerns to focus on and devote limited resources to. That's very encouraging. Thanks again.
      • thumb

        Fritzie Reisner 100+

        • 0
        Host
        May 19 2012: Let me add that one thing I think stands in the way of progress in these and other areas is the common belief that others don't really care about what matters, but "we" do. This sort of thinking serves some sort of psychological purpose, I suspect- setting up an enemy, but I think it mainly reflects deeply ingrained adversarial, and often elitist thinking. It would be nice to give other people- even strangers- more of the benefit of the doubt about valuing things that matter.
        • thumb

          R H 20+

          • 0
          May 19 2012: Now THAT is very encouraging. Also, this dynamic may be influenced by media and the constant barage of 'bad news' instilling a deep fear of each other, which reinforces the legacy adversarial dynamic. I'd like to believe that with our new techno abilitlies, connectivity, and research we are beginning to elevate from altruism to reality our desires for health, wealth, and prosperity for all. Maybe this will be the new 'good fight'. The beauty, to me, is that those who wish to take advantage and/or 'hoard' these new abilities no longer have anywhere to hide. All is known to all sooner rather than later. Thnx again.
  • thumb

    Feyisayo Anjorin 50+

    • 0
    May 18 2012: I believe there is a movement already, but I wont call it a 'mass' 'world-wide' movement.
    Like every good cause there is a fragment of the global population that are attracted to it, but are not totally committed because of their slavish drive by the demands of capitalism. There are also those capitalists who are concerned about the environment and are making efforts to promote sustanable practices.
    The movement is gathering momentum, but it is still a long way to go.
    • thumb

      R H 20+

      • 0
      May 18 2012: Thanks Feyisayo for responding. You mention 'capitalism' a couple of times. Capitalism does seem like a double-edged sword, doesn't it? On the one hand is accountable demands by the shareholders for profits and investment return, and on the other is wealth creation which is food of the progress of such movements as mentioned above. It's like we strive and drive ourselves for prosperity and advancement, then pick up the pieces of the neglect and devastation we've left behind. This 'movement' would seem to be an attempt to combine these two efforts into one. Designing in socio/enviro concerns as sort of a 'sunk cost' rather than a payable liability, and enjoying a smoother life cycle. I hope you're right that there is a real movement and not a 'dress-up' of the same old dynamics of 'winner take all' and 'that's ok, we don't live there anyway'.
  • thumb

    Feyisayo Anjorin 50+

    • 0
    May 18 2012: I believe there is a movement already, but I wont call it a 'mass' 'world-wide' movement.
    Like every good cause there is a fragment of the global population that are attracted to it, but are not totally committed because of their slavish drive by the demands of capitalism. There are also those capitalists who are concerned about the environment and are making efforts to promote sustanable practices.
    The movement is gathering momentum, but it is still a long way to go.
Showing all 12 comments