[Stephen M]

This post is prompted by a field trip the Writers' group took to the Vancouver Writers' Festival. We saw a "book talk" by Des Kennedy and Rex Weyler (semi-prominent environmental activists of Canada's west coast). This was about their environmentalist activities, and turned out to be as much a learning experience in that regard as in the literary regard.

I asked them at the end how they felt was the way to change the world. I pointed out that in a democracy, sometimes one had to accept a compromise--after all, there may be someone on the opposite side who cares just as much as you. Who's right?

They said:

• Stand up for your beliefs, using anything short of violence
  
• Sometimes, we have to individually contribute for our beliefs
  
• Sometimes, we must protest or demonstrate to get others aware of our viewpoints
  
• We always should live a lifestyle in keeping with what we care about and say.

I think that this can be summarized into three things that one can do to try to fix a problem:

• Live a life in keeping with beliefs.
  
• Participate or contribute to problem-solving efforts.
  
• Try to raise others' awareness of the problem and ways to solve it.

***

I would ask members of the forum--is this good advice? Should we do one of thse things, more or all three? Should we avoid doing them? Is there another approach that is better?

In short (well, long actually): if there is a world problem that we want to give help to, a global issue we want to help solve, do we (1) fundraise (individual contributiopn ad participation), (2) advertise and possibly protest (raising others' awareness), and/or (3) start living our lives so that we do not contribute to the problem?

[Justine S]

That's great advice! I think it's important to have integrity, while at the same time keeping an open mind and respecting other's opinions.

#3 on Stephen's last list, I interpret as living a model lifestyle. I think one has to do that before protesting and telling other people to do it (or else it's hipocritical.. )
This reminds me of the saying "clean up your own backyard".. meaning you should clean up your own 'yard' (life) the way you feel is right and that you are happy about. Then your neighbours will see what a nice looking yard it is, and how happy it makes you, and then maybe they'll do the same.

Then again.. if something was going to bomb your yard, or if there was a human rights abuse in your yard, then you might want to do something a bit more durastic than a simple cleaning up! (possibly move.. )

I also have another question... should teenagers be so concerned about how to solve global issues? Should we feel the burden of the world's problems already, or should we just be having fun and not worrying about it yet? Does this take away from our childhood by adding pressures? I know I have felt overwhelmed and helpless at times when I see so many things about the world that I'd like to change.

[Stephen M]

Justine, I have moved your last question to a new topic, for I think it is worthy of discussion. (and... we need more topics ) If anyone wants to respond to the last paragraph of Justine's post, please do it in "Should teens be more concerned?"

The thing about living a model lifestyle is that it is very difficult.

For instance, do you think about how what you purchase affects others? Your shoes were probably made in southeast Asia, your shirt and computer as well--all for workers paid pennies. Possibly child workers.

Do you eat at restaurant chains? The ones that cut down rainforests to have land for growing cattle?

We are surrounded by imports. These imports are here because they could be produced and shipped here more cheaply than they could be produced here. The cost of shipping is pretty big, so manufacturers compensate with reduced wages. Not to mention lack of worker benefits, or even job stability.

I am in a conundrum: the problem seems so removed from here; what I do or spend seems to have little impact on everything, but I know intellectually it has an impact. Every dollar I spend on myself, I feel as if it is a dollar wasted, a dollar that might have gone towards helping out another human in need.

It seems the solution of this is to start leading a model lifestyle. But: do I have the willpower? And what steps exactly should I take?