But it’s actually possible that it’s going to be tough luck for all of us.  Especially for our children.  Of course I understand there are loud critical voices that say any warnings of climate change, water shortages, increasing range fires, and a northward movement of tropical pests and disease as overblown.  They believe our current system of turning everything into money is the greatest ideal of humanity.  They shout that any change to the status quo will cost us jobs, wealth and comfort.  What they don’t account for is that the current banking crisis has cost us more jobs and wealth than any environmental regulations have.  Polluting our air, wasting our water and living with reckless disregard for future consequences is just plain selfish.  Stupid too.

What most of us don’t understand is the process that leads to collapse of systems.  Conditions in nature, in the economy, and in our lives don’t just gradually get worse indefinitely.  More often there is a tipping point when there is a general collapse.  Our job might be bad, but then, boom, we’re fired.  The economy might be fine on the surface, but when the rotting foundation collapses, crash.  We may be feeling a growing distance in our marriage, and then suddenly, “I want a divorce.”

The model of human history and natural systems is that if we abuse people, nature or ourselves long enough something very bad will suddenly happen.  All the big things have long-term warning signs usually ignored and then, wham!  Pearl Harbor, 9/11, The Crash and Recession of 2008, and millions of famine refugees in Africa are all examples of hellacious consequences to ignoring real problems because they require change.  The challenge before all of us is to create a sustainable future.  Not one of vicious scarcity, but one of abundance.  True abundance is one of those ideals none of us should be against.  And sustainable abundance should be mankind’s greatest goal.

Sustainability has many faces.  Environmental sustainability requires we don’t exploit nature’s resources so we don’t create a world that is a hunk of barbecue charcoal for our children.

Social sustainability means that we create a world that offers realistic hope, opportunity and education so that war, terrorism, and drug dealing are not better options than community building.

Economic sustainability means we create economic systems that don’t require insane levels of consumption or routine waves of mass job destruction to give everyone a shot at abundance.

Personal sustainability means that as individuals we live fulfilled lives without skin-wrinkling, brain-deadening stress, fractured relationships, drowning debt and self-destructive health habits.

As you can see, sustainability is holistic.  Everything is connected to everything.  Damn.  It’s hard to think about all the moving parts, but we must.  Our world is not the same as it was 50 years ago.  We need to think differently and act differently now.

And we are.  Change is happening.  It’s happening everywhere.  More people are choosing to buy more sustainable products.  The recession has caused many to strengthen social ties with family and friends.  Most of us are more engaged in at least psychologically hugging trees.  We openly value the environment and criticize people and companies who don’t.  And more of us are reconsidering our lifestyle and “life pace” so that our everyday lives are sustainable and fulfilling.

Change, radical positive change, is happening everywhere. The collective impact of millions of people doing small things is huge.  Let’s keep it rolling.