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Basic Concepts of Social Sustainability (view source)
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What is proposed in these posts is not a social, political or economic/financial “fix” for
What is proposed in these posts is not a social, political or economic/financial “fix” for
any democratic nation. What is proposed is a slow but deliberate and intentional effort
any democratic nation. What is proposed is a slow but deliberate and [[intentional]] effort
to change the culture of democratic nations to create social stability and sustainability —
to change the culture of democratic nations to create social stability and sustainability —
peace!
peace! by [[Daniel Raphael]], Ph.D.
==14 Culture Change==
Culture change occurs spontaneously with individuals — individuals who are convinced
[[Culture]] change occurs [[spontaneously]] with individuals — individuals who are convinced
that it is insane for their nations to continue as they have for decades, centuries and
that it is insane for their nations to continue as they have for decades, centuries and
even millennia. “Insanity” is defined as, “Doing the same thing over and over again
even millennia. “Insanity” is defined as, “Doing the same thing over and over again
expecting different results.” We do not need to examine history very closely to see that
expecting different results.” We do not need to examine history very closely to see that
intrusion across national borders, conquering weaker or neutral nations, genocide and
intrusion across national borders, conquering weaker or neutral nations, [[genocide]] and
all of the other dimensions of war does not work. Currently, the world is experiencing
all of the other dimensions of war does not work. Currently, the world is experiencing
ongoing, continual war in more than one region.
ongoing, continual war in more than one region.
My intention for providing these posts is not to convince anyone that war is eminently
My [[intention]] for providing these posts is not to convince anyone that [[war]] is eminently
destructive or that peace generates cooperation and sharing. My intention is to provide
destructive or that peace generates [[cooperation]] and sharing. My intention is to provide
a learning process for generating culture change that results in sustainable families,
a learning [[process]] for generating culture change that results in sustainable families,
child rearing, communities, business, governments and economies, health care and
child rearing, communities, business, governments and economies, health care and
education just to mention a few areas where creative and sustainable solutions are
education just to mention a few areas where creative and sustainable solutions are
vitally needed.
vitally needed.
To change a culture from engrained self-destructive social, political and economicfinancial
To change a culture from engrained self-destructive social, political and economic/financial
practices there must be a relatively easy to understand and implementable
practices there must be a relatively easy to understand and implementable
process for reinterpreting “reality” in terms that brings sustainability to societies,
process for reinterpreting “[[reality]]” in terms that brings sustainability to societies,
governments and economies. A number of readers have read this material and agree
governments and economies. A number of readers have read this material and agree
that it is easy to read, but it is doggoned hard to understand. That’s the definition of
that it is easy to read, but it is doggoned hard to understand. That’s the definition of
cultural dissonance. We may not like what we are doing that is destroying our way of
cultural [[dissonance]]. We may not like what we are doing that is destroying our way of
life, but we are really uncomfortable with making any changes!
life, but we are really uncomfortable with making any changes!
To make that cultural change, most of us must understand how to create a different
To make that cultural change, most of us must understand how to create a different
outcome. Do you have an intention for your life for the future? For your family? For your
outcome. Do you have an intention for your life for the [[future]]? For your [[family]]? For your
community? For your city, county, state or nation? If not, then for the sake of
community? For your city, county, state or nation? If not, then for the sake of
participating in the future, please do so. That’s a beginning. If you are really creative you
participating in the future, please do so. That’s a beginning. If you are really creative you
your family and your society.
your family and your society.
==15 Social Evolution of a Democratic Society==
==15 Social Evolution of a Democratic Society==
To guide the conscious social evolution of a society, we must first be able to reframe
To guide the [[conscious]] social evolution of a society, we must first be able to reframe
our relationship to it, much like a planetary manager, to gain the perspective of being
our [[relationship]] to it, much like a planetary manager, to gain the perspective of being
“outside” of society. Then we can view it by looking on to it, rather than being “in it”
“outside” of society. Then we can view it by looking on to it, rather than being “in it”
where everything is too close to gain an objective view of it all.
where [[everything]] is too close to gain an objective view of it all.
Earth’s history of civilizations is littered with failures. All societies and all civilizations
Earth’s history of civilizations is littered with failures. All societies and all civilizations
existence so that democratic societies endure for centuries and millennia?”
existence so that democratic societies endure for centuries and millennia?”
I think the first step is to see our societies as “social organisms” in much the same way
I think the first step is to see our societies as “social [[organisms]]” in much the same way
as we perceive the progressive developmental stages of an infant-becoming-an-adult.
as we perceive the progressive developmental stages of an infant-becoming-an-adult.
The development of a child is to become an adult, to make decisions that support his or
The development of a child is to become an adult, to make decisions that support his or
sustainability.
sustainability.
Without such a mentor or model, we will need is a reliable, consistent and universal
Without such a [[mentor]] or model, we will need is a reliable, consistent and universal
guide for the development of sustainable options, choice-making, decision-making and
guide for the development of sustainable options, choice-making, decision-making and
action/implementation that points toward a sustainable future. This has not existed
action/implementation that points toward a sustainable future. This has not existed