18 October, 2008.
Everything really is connected to everything else.
Kathy and Nina, dear friends, colleagues, teachers, and mentors to many, were married in a Quaker meeting in Toronto. As wonderful as the wedding was, as happy as we all were to bear witness to their joy, perhaps the best part was the reception. Kathy and Nina are involved in so much that is making the world a better place. Their circle of friends includes people who gave up corporate jobs to try to save the world.
One stimulating, inspiring, and hopeful conversation at the Friends Meeting House involved people from the environmental , the peace, the youth criminal justice, and the health movements, and a commercial pilot. Disparate though we were, as we discussed our visions of the society we want, we had a shared belief that relationships are at the core of each of our visions. The relationships we envision are peaceful, sustainable, safe, and healthy.
We concluded that if every relationship has those characteristics of peace, sustainability, safety and health, then the world will too.
There are steps we can and must take to achieve this vision. Those steps are possible if we have the collective will.
The environment supports and sustains us, so our actions locally and globaly must support and sustain the environment.
To continue this sustainable cycle that keeps us alive, requires peace.
If we live in peace and have a sustainable environment that supports us, we will be healthier in mind, body, and spirit.
If we are healthier in mind, body, and spirit, we will have improved capacities to keep our communities safe.
If our communities are safe, we will not need to fear crime.
If we do not fear crime, we will have improved relationships with others.
As our relationships improve, we will have achieved our vision of the society we want.
