Remember this: “Think Globally, Act Locally?”
I’m sure I’m not the only one who has wondered over the past years why so many people, when asked, are certain that climate change/disruption is happening, that it’s human driven, and that it is an emergency. Yet, that awareness doesn’t seem to manifest in behavioural adjustments. Why is it that it is so difficult to link global thinking with local action?
In the Jewish tradition, there is a teaching that goes like this: A person should always see themselves as equally balanced between good and bad deeds. Therefore, the next action will tilt the scale either toward the good or to the other side. In fact, a person should also imagine the entire world as also equally balanced in the same way, so that my next action will tilt not only myself but also the world to one side or the other.
The purpose of this teaching is not to make us paranoid, but rather to give significance to each and every decision we make with respect to the details of our lives. Something that both Covid and the US elections have been teaching is how important our individual decisions actually are. Plane travel is down largely because most of us have chosen to follow the guidelines against international travel and election results in places like Georgia were decided by small margins because more people decided to vote.
How does this principle manifest for us, here on Hornby? Here are some thoughts and suggestions:
Even before Covid (the new B.C.), many of us were wondering whether Hornby had reached maximum capacity for welcoming visitors. As long as digital services continue to work, we will be less isolated than we used to be and perhaps more attractive to people wanting to take their holidays closer to home. How do we support the people who provide temporary accommodation and what are the best vehicles and content for promotion of our local businesses? Given the climate emergency, how do these translate into specific actions?
Even B.C., we were trying to figure out how we can be more resilient in the face of climate change, especially around food security. This past summer, several new roadside stands created additions to the market as places to get fresh food. What can we do to encourage growing more food on Hornby?
Even B.C., we were thinking about reviving the visioning process and bringing the whole community together to brainstorm. How accurately can we predict future needs and trends, how much can we envision when we’re not sure of future trends, and when is a good time to begin this process?
Most important, can we learn to think globally and act locally together?
Daniel
PS: The photo above is the beach near my home during the recent Herring Spawn.