Heartland

Article Tools

Print

E-mail

Comments

RSS

New York Times writer Michael Pollan celebrated the growth of farmers' markets and local food systems, suggesting that the best way to safeguard our food is not with technology or regulation, but by establishing local relationships. Janine Benyus, an expert in biomimicry-the art and science of incorporating nature's best processes into human design-said that the solutions to the problems besetting us involve a deep change of heart, not just technology.

In the final plenary session, Hawken observed that the technological solutions to our problems are at our fingertips, so the obstacle must lie elsewhere. 'Fixes won't fix,' he said, 'unless we fix our souls.'

Hope lies in what he sees as an invisible worldwide spiritual awakening. He cited research from the Natural Capital Institute that documents a million nongovernmental organizations and nonprofits. 'What is common to all of the organizations,' he says, 'are two principles, albeit unstated: First is the Golden Rule; second is the sacredness of all life.' Perhaps, he suggests, this phenomenon is evidence that our collective human immune response is alive and healthy. The sheer number of organizations implies a massive iceberg of a movement, one that begins to meld environmentalism and social justice and recognizes that addressing suffering requires action, not dogma.

The real basis of religion and the real goal of spirituality are not building institutions or enlightenment, Hawken says, but the transformation of each of us into a person who will help save the world through acts of kindness, compassion, and generosity.

The theme that was woven through the conference is both simple and profound. Each of us has the ability to scatter seeds of kindness. Walking through life with the intention to do so-and acting on it-is the most radical and effective action we can take.

So, Oliver, we were, in fact, doing God's work.

Nina Utne is Utne Reader's editor at large.

RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print