A Better Vision for Humanity

Humanity now has the resources, the means, and the collective will, for every human being on this planet to live in material security… no-one no longer need struggle to survive. That so many do struggle to survive, whilst so few live in material excess, is insane, and can no longer be accepted.

Such a situation does not reflect our true humanity. From the richest to the poorest, there is no-one who wants others to experience poverty, who wants them to suffer in war-zones, who wants them to endure environmental destruction, who wants others to die from curable diseases.

Certainly, there are those who are willing to benefit from such suffering – the large multi-national corporations, the military-industrial complex, the pharmaceutical industry, and, sadly, our governments, but such behavior is rooted in ignorance and delusion, blinded by consciences that have been quarantined.

We know that 22,000 children die every day because of poverty on a planet of abundance. There are many damning statistics but, really, what else needs to be said? That fact alone should surely be enough to make us deeply reflect upon this situation. Our true situation is so serious, so urgent, and so desperate for so many, that the only reasonable, sane, and acceptable thing to do is to drop everything, and rededicate our lives, our societies, and our resources to fixing this horror once and for all.

I mean that sincerely. We should pause everything that is not necessary, organize our systems so that our basic needs are met, and then – much like with the space race or major war effort – we should direct all our expertise and efforts into ensuring that every single human being on this planet lives in material security. That means appropriate and plentiful food, water, shelter, clothing, medicine, freedom, education, protection, opportunities… everything. Whatever we want and demand for ourselves should be the bare minimum for all.

This is what we all want. Right now in the West we could easily develop systems and societies where everything needed was provided for as standard. If we do not need to work for our food, our shelter, our clothing etc. anymore then why are we? Between the many beautiful minds on this planet we could create incredible economic systems that serve us all, instead of serving the ridiculously tiny minority that our current system does, as well as mind-blowing technologies that will liberate us from our toil and our plight.

This is what we can have. There is no human being who does not want material security. No-one wants to struggle to survive. We all just want to be able to survive with the minimal effort, and if we can provide this for each other – and we really can – then why would we not? I want to be free to explore this amazing life, to be creative, to be of service, to expand my mind, to live adventure after adventure… not to rape my soul in a call center all week just so I can fucking eat. It’s insane.

Material security for all human beings.

A simple, positive, and unifying vision that we can all get behind… that we all need to get behind, and that we must demand of our governments. Would it be difficult to achieve? Yeah, of course, it’s a huge challenge. But is it possible? Yes, it really is. Between seven billion of us there are not going to be too many problems that we cannot overcome.

And, look, what do we have to lose? Most of us aren’t happy. We have subjected ourselves to the most empty, mundane and meaningless lives. There’ll probably be no space for any new iPhones or the golden age of television, but we can get back to all of that when we’ve fed all the starving children etc. etc. Not that I think we would want to. This would be such an incredible adventure. It would spark so much creativity and growth and marvel… every single amazing facet of humanity would be on show, and it would be a joy to behold. It would bring the hardest heart to tears.

All of this is, of course, very naive. But that is the beauty of being naive… it allows you to contemplate what others would never imagine, and in that contemplation the seeds of possibility are sewn. And whilst there will be many who dismiss and ridicule such a vision, there will also be those beautiful, longing souls who will read this and connect with it so profoundly that this seed will take root. They are reading this now with a flickering heart and a mind abuzz. These words are truth – a truth so rarely spoken, and it is alive in your spine. I know you feel it. Inspiration floods your veins and ideas crash in waves over your mind. You will take these few pieces and add your own, and one by one, piece by piece, we will, together, begin to form a beautiful profound picture… and so it will be.

This is the sort of vision and passion that infects. It inspires an enthusiasm that is relentless and contagious. Like all moments of truth, it defines a culture and a time. You don’t need marketing teams to sell such a vision. Truth speaks for itself. Material security for all human beings… no more struggle to survive! Tell me it is not possible, tell me it is not right, and tell me it is not what we all want. This is not just the right thing to do… it is the only thing to do. So urgent and vital is our situation, so pressing a concern is the suffering we allow. This is what we all want, and if we can have it, then nothing and no-one should stop us having it.

Alas, no mighty oak started as a mighty oak, and no mighty oak needed to start as a mighty oak. For now let us dream sweet of food and water and shelter and clothing and medicine and freedom and peace and education and happiness for everyone. It would be a beautiful start.