Searching for a New Strategy

Over the course of my life, I have come to see that we, meaning this country and this world, have deep, systemic problems. These problems are leading us down the path to environmental, financial, and perhaps even political disaster. I have tried various methods to address these problems hovever I can, but they haven’t had much impact until now. This blog is going to become my chronicle of my efforts to try a new way.

I think a great deal about our future. Not only for myself, but for generations to come. I am not a parent, but my brother has adopted a child from a troubled part of the world and I don’t want similar troubles to follow her here. I think a lot about her future, and when I think about giving up, my mind returns to her and I am newly motivated to keep going.

Most conventional efforts at change, my own included, fail for several reasons. First, we tend to “preach to the choir” with no regard for how the unconverted percieve our efforts. Second, we have a tendency to fall into tribalism, and see those who disagree with us as our enemies, especially when they act hateful to us first. Third, most of us don’t make serious study of how the minds work of those we want to convince and better methods for raising awareness and changing minds.

My new focus is in finding those better methods. I have several ideas, but they are guesses at this point. I believe that we need to tell better stories. Stories that do not shy away from the real troubles we face, but have real hope for the future.

I am just beginning to explore and idea I call “Subversive Storytelling,” which is the use of fiction to begin to get through to people. To that end, I am resurrecting a long-dormant novel project and adapting it to tell the story of the descent from the peak of resource consumption, and where our dysfunction is leading us. Most of all I want to bring hope, not doomerism. If we are simply doomed to destruction, there is no point to continuing on, and I don’t believe that.

In parallel to that project, I am re-starting another book, a non fiction book that explores the systemic causes of the problems that we face, and how all the issues are interrelated. Those problems go far beyond peak oil, climite change, and fiscal chaos. I believe that the true roots of out crisis are far deeper.

Third, I am going to work on my speaking technique. As soon as I can, I will join Toastmasters or something similar to learn how to make better presentations. I will also be doing research on the psychology of communication and unconventional communications strategies. What we have been doing until now hasn’t been working, certainly not enough to create the change that we need.

I will continue to work with local environmental groups, but that will not be the main thrust of my efforts. Weed Warriors doesn’t take that much of my time, and SB is currently in neutral, so I don’t have to worry about them for now. I will also go to other events as time permits, but I don’t expect to get deeply involved in another group until I have a better handle on my future strategy.

My motivation

When I look at this picture of my niece, I am highly motivated to leave this world a better place for kids like her. Just “going with the flow” and merely existing is not enough for me, and what I have been doing up until now hasn’t been sufficient. It’s far past time to try some new things.

I am going to chronicle this journey here in the hope that some of you will join me. I hope that you will provide feedback to my Ramblings and help keep me from steering a wrong course. Some will undoubtedly term this a quixotic quest to change the world, but my “peak everything” aware friends know that business as usual cannot continue much longer so time is short.

Our children need a better future. I am going to do everything I can to help bring that future about. It’s time to get back to work!