The 'End Goals' of Social Ecology?

“The modern conservative… is engaged in one of man’s oldest exercise in moral philosophy. That is the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” John Kenneth Galbraith

This quote was one that stood out for me. Our entire mode of operandi must be restructured from the egotistical rhythm it currently resides. Social construction varies over time and is constantly changing. ‘The assumptions accepted by its practitioners are value-laden and reflect their places in history and society, as well as the research priorities and funding sources of those in power.’ A large amount of funding does come from large corporations and for the most part the research is geared towards monetary abundance for the few with no consideration to the majority or the environmental impact.

“The Earth is not dying- it is being killed. And the people who are killing it have names and addresses.” Utah Phillips

‘Reality is a totality of internally related parts.’ This statement feels very Taoist to me. Once again, if we return to the ancient ways and truly consider our actions and their effects for many generations to come we will restructure society’s momentum into one which is sustainable and can be enjoyed by the majority and hopefully, eventually, all of creation. ‘All relationships are fundamental and continually shape the totality’ following the natural rhythms of existence.

‘Ecology is likewise a socially constructed science whose basic assumptions and conclusions change in accordance with social priorities and socially accepted metaphors.’ There appears to be a major contradiction currently. The social priorities that have been active for the last few decades are coming to a grinding halt. The Earth can no longer sustain such practices. The climate is affected by these past ‘priorities’, the food we eat is affected, the lack of food available to such a large population, the corporate control of our basic necessities and the laws that are changing to protect their practices and not the people their narrow mindscape is affecting. These social priorities need to change, on a global level, to consider all life forms involved. This brings me to November 30, 1999, the longest day in Seattle’s history. More than seven hundred groups, and between forty thousand and sixty thousand individuals, took part in protests against WTO’s Third Ministerial in Seattle, constituting one of the most disruptive demonstrations in modern history and, at that time, the most prominent expression of a global citizens’ movement resisting what protesters saw as a corporate-driven trade agreement. The demonstrators and activists who took part were not against trade per se. They wanted proof, rather, that trade- at least as WTO envisions it- benefits the poor, the workers, and then environment in developing nations, as well as at home. That proof had yet to be offered, because it could not be offered. Because it does not exist, protesters came to Seattle to hold WTO accountable. Their frustration arose because one side held most of the cards; that side comprised heads of corporations, trade associations, government ministries, most media, stockholders, and WTO... Specifically, the shared activity of hundreds of thousands of nonprofit organizations can be seen as humanity's immune response to toxins like political corruption, economic disease, and ecological degradation (Paul Hawken, Unblessed Rest). There is a great need for social and ecological re-education. A commitment, that if made, will allow us to share our stories with our children, and their children, and their children… Wake up, the time is now.