Opinion Sur
The building of a better collective future also consists in transforming many aspects of our way of thinking and functioning, very specially, becoming active participants in the transformation process; improving our analytical capacity by overcoming the homogenization of strategic thinking that tends to neutralize new searches; developing comprehensive approaches that may be capable of operationally channeling ideas and action proposals; availing ourselves of effective instruments that are capable of impacting constructively on reality and, in the middle of all this, reaching consensuses in relation to values that may serve as an ethical compass to guide the enormous power that emanates from the talent, reflection and work capacity of the world population.In this newborn 2010, the building of a better collective future will be dependent on finding a way out of the global crisis that may contribute to generating sustainable development. This represents a formidable challenge not only for governments but also for the private sector and civil society. This is the moment (amidst the efforts to come out of the crisis and not once it has been overcome) when we need to eradicate inequality and reconvert the economy in order to align it once and for good with the protection of the planet and the sound use of its resources. To attain this, we will have to transform many aspects of our way of thinking and functioning, very specially, become active participants in the transformation process; improve our analytical capacity by overcoming the homogenization of strategic thinking that tends to neutralize new searches; develop comprehensive approaches that may be able to operationally channel ideas and action proposals; avail ourselves of effective instruments that are capable of impacting constructively on reality and, in the middle of all this, reach consensuses in relation to values that may serve as an ethical compass to guide the enormous power that emanates from the talent, reflection and work capacity of the world population.
Silvio Sant’Anna says we need to reinvent the future. It happens that the desired future influences present decisions. Each one can make his/her own contribution to the new future instead of herding along unsustainable development paths. It is necessary to build a vision, a humanist and environmental referential utopia that does not resign power or efficacy yet facilitates the setting of a better course for all. In this new course, we should recover what has been learned, rely on what is valuable from the past and the present, separate the wheat from the chaff, and make full use of strategies, instruments and contributions from different sectors to reorient and sustain the course.
Needless to say, the great builder of this new course and way of functioning will not be an enlightened individual; that transformation will emerge from multiple fronts and dimensions; around us and within us. Although the challenge might seem unattainable on an individual basis, it will suffice if we join that collective effort and, from such perspective, do what each one of us individually and as a team is qualified to do.
We need to establish solid initiatives at all action levels (macro, meso and micro levels) in order to get to eradicate inequality and reconvert the economy on sustainable bases. It’s about working to secure responsible consumption, a clean production supply, a fair distribution of results, a full democracy, a culture, an education, a science and technology that are capable of accompanying and sustaining the change of direction. It is worth contributing our own vision in order to help reinvent the future but also concrete initiatives at the operational level in order to help materialize each day’s and each year’s presents. The everyday work experience and challenges protect us from letting our dreams run wild.
We should not be surprised by the fact that the effort must be deployed at so many dimensions; it has always been that way. The challenge lies in securing properly forged convergences, synergies; in ensuring that each transformation that commences inspires and facilitates others; in transforming ourselves in order to help transform. such is the world, the strength and force of its processes, the sailing in troubled waters, and our eagerness as sculptors of purposes and feelings. Thus flows collective life, as well as the life of each one of us.
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Note:
These lines are taken from a dialog still under way at The Esquel Group.
