2018-07-20
We‘re living in a point in history that‘s beset by upheaval, social change and collective outrage around the world – so how close are we to a tipping point?
By Maia Kshemya
Have you noticed the accelerating shift in global consciousness?
Right alongside all the things that aren't going well, we are seeing signs of the tide turning. Catalysed by an explosion of organisations and movements dedicated to resolving current crises. Fuelled by the internet and social media, greater numbers of people taking their power back, independent media and a whole new breed of youth. Fuelled by a paradigm shift where unethical individuals and organisations are being exposed and increasingly held to account.
“But change is too slow, too little, too late,” some despair. It's a fair point, yet totally counterproductive when we are striving for a greater future.
It begins slowly – thoughts, words, ideas and actions feed awareness and change. Gains fuel encouragement and more progress, with the ripple effect exponentially expanding and accelerating until it reaches the tipping point. Then, suddenly, we have critical mass and it all starts to happen in a big way.
When will it tip? Good question. Critical mass needs you. Your choices help accelerate or decelerate it. We cannot afford immobilisation born out of defeatism. Let's heed the popular proverb, ‘When you pray, move your feet.’ Positive action can help find the answer to our collective prayers.
The power of the individual
Collectively, we're becoming more effective in propelling our individual efforts, helping shatter any illusion that individuals are insignificant and powerless. The multitude of independent petition and social movement platforms that have grown over the last 10-15 years are fabulously harnessing the internet to give people a voice and encourage more participatory democracy – and they're combining online and offline strategies to great effect. We can be thoroughly invigorated by their many impressive outcomes that our participation made possible.
The influence of these independent 'mover and shaker' organisations further strengthens the loud and clear messages from more traditional sources. While the predictable reaction of the current Australian Government is to try to shut it all down, they only need brush up on history, sociology and psychology to figure out they may win some battles, but they cannot win the war. Marriage equality and the banking royal commission are great examples. Other big issues they're holding out on will have their day, too!
Online, there are plenty of ways we can effect change – digital campaigning, blogging, surveys, submissions, writing letters to editors or politicians, campaign platforms, and more. And of course, offline participation – the rolling up of many sleeves – is absolutely essential. Among the most visible, frontline activists are owed a massive debt by society; those in humanity-enhancing salaried positions (progressive politicians included) are collectively a force to be reckoned with, and all volunteers are superheroes.
And let's be forever grateful for those glorious moments where people spontaneously unify and act … after all, it wasn't the government that started tearing down the Berlin Wall.
A new frontier
So many on the new frontier of renewables also deserve kudos. Elon Musk's spectacular battery farm offer to the S.A. Government was particularly air punch-worthy. Installed and operating in record time: tick. Massive game-changer: tick. Worldwide media coverage: tick. Coal-addicted, corporate-puppet politicians squirming in their parliamentary seats: tick! And it all started with a tweet from one man with zero concept of limitations.
Politics is also changing. New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern – just wow. And we've obliterated barriers in the Greens alone: trailblazing MP Lidia Thorpe is the first female Aboriginal MP, while Senator Jordon Steele-John is the youngest ever senator at 23, whose disability advocacy has helped re-invent Parliament House.
Social media and youth
One of the biggest tipping point star performers is the Internet. Love it or hate it, it's linking the world together. While the uproar about fake news, the dark web, privacy and data breaches is absolutely justified, we must also keep front of mind the godsend social media is for achieving critical mass.
In spite of its shortcomings, social media is bypassing media monopolies, spreading what the media won't, breaking down barriers, blurring borders, calling out what needs to change and leveraging all sorts of planning and mobilising. Think #WikiLeaks, #ArabSpring, #FreePalestine, #MarriageEquality, #MeToo, #BanTheBag and #MarchForOurLives.
The younger generations are a new breed of change-bringers who are fiercely onto it and putting the old guard on notice. When 21 teenage activists, led by Xiuhtezcatl Tonatiuh, filed a 2015 lawsuit against the U.S. Administration for violating their constitutional rights by not taking sufficient action on climate change, clearly they were not impeded by any thoughts of being powerless or insignificant. The world is watching!
The ’i’ in ‘team’
There are multitudinous other examples of where we're heading, initiated and supported by individuals who take action. An unstoppable train, from high profile influencers to low profile clicktivists – people from all walks of life have chosen to stand up and be counted. Whistleblowers, victims of abuse and corruption, investigative journalists, progressive politicians, writers, poets, artists, comedians and political cartoonists, musicians – they're all joining with us to close in on the tipping point.
We must never let anyone tell us we can't make enough of a difference – including that voice in our heads. And, of course, we vote for a greater or lesser future with our daily life choices – what we eat, where we shop, bank, invest, work and play.
For those experiencing defeatism, please know that you're integral to the new world superpower and give more weight to all the positive developments and opportunities that abound. Join in! Every effort, even the smallest, helps shape our world.
We get to choose whether to elevate ourselves beyond the old paradigm. Knowing that history does not always repeat itself is key. The future really is in our hands.
Hello, tipping point!
Positive futurist Maia Kshemya, of Bad vibe Busters, is a Greens member and volunteer with a background in public education, life coaching, holistic counselling, philosophy, photo-journalism and public relations. Her focus is resolutely and unapologetically positive, and all about keeping our eyes on the prize.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Greens.