From Local to Global—Five Essentials of the Path the World Needs

Whether in the form of opposing wrongs or standing with just causes or simply in the course of many small acts of daily life, a large number of people want sincerely to contribute to a better community and a better world. Their well-intentioned, sincere efforts are likely to have a wider and more durable impact if these are guided in more thoughtful ways by what constitutes the essentials of creating a better world, a world of greater justice and significantly reduced distress, a safer world of higher sustainabilityEnvironmental SustainabilityThe ability to maintain ecological balance and avoid depletion of natural resources, ensuring long-term environmental quality. as well as a world of greater compassion and kindness.

At the risk of some simplification, we may identify specifically five essentials of the path that leads to a better world, whether examined in local or global contexts. The cause of true progress is helped if people have a clearer understanding of how their surroundings, whether village or urban settlement, can be a better and safer place with much reduced distress as well as better protection for present times as well as for the future, for men and women, children and the elderly, and what are the essential requirements for this.

First of all, we should have more thoughtful communities, people who are more engaged with the creation of a better world, who strive beyond self-gain to work in active ways for higher and wider aims of betterment and of reducing distress. Of course, most people are likely to be more engaged with their own betterment or that of their families or near and dear ones, but there should be a consciousness for seeking to achieve this in ways that are well integrated with the well-being, safety, and improvement of the community and society. One aspect of this is to avoid overemphasis on the self, and even more on self-enrichment, overconsumption and instant gratification, instead substituting such traits with providing time, effort and resources for the common good. In brief, this relates to more thoughtfulness and engagement of communities regarding the common welfare of all people and indeed all forms of life, and continuing dialogue and discussion on how to realize this in local, national, and global contexts.

Secondly, there should be increasing understanding that in various ways the basic life-nurturing conditions of our planet are being threatened, and it is of the highest importance to protect these for present and future generations. Engagement with this issue in sincere and serious ways will reveal how we can all contribute to resolving this survival or existential crisis in numerous small and big ways. It should be increasingly realized that this is not a matter just for experts or world leaders, rather it is more a matter of each one of us acting in more responsible and understanding ways that can contribute the most to solutions, while at the same time the combined strength of so many people with understanding of these issues can also move policies in the right direction.

Thirdly, there should be much higher commitment to a justice-based world, at all levels, and we should be moving in the direction of increasing equality (instead of moving in the opposite direction, as has been the general trend in the greater part of the world in recent times). Any society that pursues justice and equality increases its capacity to reduce distress and to improve the potential of people to contribute in better ways to society. There should be a firm avoidance of all discrimination based on narrow identities, whether on the basis of religion, race, color, caste, gender etc.

Next, there should be much deeper commitment to protection of environment and all forms of life. Of course there should be high priority for climate change mitigation and adaptationClimate Change StrategiesMitigation refers to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to lessen climate change, while adaptation involves adjusting to actual or expected future climate., but in addition there is need for wider understanding of the protection of environment and all forms of life in a holistic way.

Last but certainly not the least, there is need for much higher commitment to peace and disarmamentDisarmamentThe reduction or withdrawal of military forces and weapons, particularly aiming to eliminate weapons of mass destruction.. This includes high commitment to peace and non-violence in daily life and at various other levels all the way to international relations. A future without wars and a world without weapons of mass destruction are not just desirable objectives, these are increasingly becoming essential.

We should be able to imagine and understand our surroundings and our entire world in terms of these changes, how a world changing in these ways is likely to look, what are the most essential tasks, and how these most important essentials can be integrated with each other in such ways that a mutually consistent agenda that can inspire millions and ultimately billions of people can emerge as they understand and realize that this is what has the most chances of reducing distress now and of promising a safer and better future.