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VISIONS:
from the personal to our communities to the world....
for 2021
Step One: the personal
-- individual goal statements.
We are imagining the world as "the best it can be" for 2021 (25 years
out). State three (3) social, cultural, or civilizational "achievements"
that you would like to see realized 25 years from now. Bring your
new futures expertise (I.e., everything you've learned/thought about
from reading your coursepack to date) to bear in the most hopeful
and optimistic mood you can summon. BE VERY SPECIFIC, CONCRETE, and
DAY TO-DAY. I.e., rather than "peace on earth and an end to violence,"
state those goals in meaningful, personal terms, such as "anyone can
walk anywhere, anytime, and feel totally safe."
1)
2)
3)
We will briefly share
these with each other; you might want to take the opportunity to
build on ideas you have heard to amend your own list.
RESULTS: SHARING VISION
GOALS....
Greed and self-interest
are replaced by genuine concern for each other;
success is measured by level of spiritual awareness -- not material
wealth; the world stops encroaching on natural resources, loss of
natural habitat ceases. PW
The completion of the
human genome project enabled people to overcome the limiting effects
of disease and infirmity to a level that extends useful lifespan
to 150 years; the teaching revolution allowed all people to move
beyond the bounds of their place and brought about the flowering
of humanity; new religion based on kindness and decency to each
other for its own sake, as well as the sharing of the bounty of
the earth between all persons of conscience. WRY
In all areas of society,
we are free from discrimination; we have cleaned the land and the
water -- it is free of pollution; we have limited population to
the number of people the earth will support. RS
A democratic, one-world
government where everyone can vote equally; no hunger in any country
in the world; all countries operating on a clean, renewable energy
resource base. RR
People come to agreement
without the use of violence -- no need for war or armies; free access
to basic necessities -- food, clothing, shelter, etc.; can drink
water from a nearby stream without the fear of chemicals. PS
Individuals, groups,
corporations, and governments worldwide no longer pollute the environment
-- sustainable technology and recycling are universal; individuals,
etc., no longer use physical or emotional violence to settle disputes
-- private and public weapons are destroyed; global food and shelter
production and distribution are coordinated so that no child or
adult goes hungry or without shelter. MD
Nanotechnology at the
atomic level provides all material comforts without environmental
resource depletion; fundamental belief that humans are citizens
of the world first, and inhabitants of their local geography and
culture second; stable families, not necessarily traditional, but
definitely multi-parent (transgenerational?) effectively passing
positive cultural norms and values on to next generations. CC
Racism has disappeared
and people(s) are learning to live together with tolerance for one
another; medical technology has advanced to the point where diseases
are eliminated totally; transportation into space has been achieved
and has progressed to the point where interplanetary travel is affordable
for the public. JH
Deforestation and loss
of natural habitats have ceased -- this has led to the saving of
numerous species -- humans have learned to co-exist with nature
without harming the environment; multi-culturalism is accepted and
people view others in positive terms and are not afraid to explore
different ways of living and thinking; renewable sources of energy
such as the sun are the main forms used by society to meet its needs
-- fossil fuels are no longer an important energy source. RR
Discrimination (race,
age, sex) no longer exists; people have recognized the value of
our natural resources -- focus is now on preserving those resources
(no waste, contamination, etc.); materialism is no longer in vogue
-- society now values non-materialistic things (education, compassion,
honesty, etc.). TLG
Food is efficiently distributed
between all nations so that hunger becomes meaningless; no physical
borders exist between all nations and cultures; all scientific and
technological achievements and inventions are made readily available
to all peoples. LP
Politicians act on behalf
of nation as a whole rather than in interest of supporting factions
such as corporate interests -- money is not a determining factor;
compassion for life -- all killing has ceased (no homicides, killing
for food, hunting of animals, etc.); people are judged on the merit
of their ideas and their contributions rather than looks, race,
or personal relationships. JK
Co-housing groups form
livenets, help each other extend networks; crime down due to family/community
responsibility program; medical field changes -- diagnostic tools
make it easy to spot problems; education mulit-language, multi-generational,
never finished. JM
New technologies are
created to generate more economical, non-polluting sources of energy
such as solar cells on a roll that converts sunlight to electricity;
nanotechnology is created to harvest the crops and prevent people
from being infected by DDT -- it is also used to search for materials
in the earth, preventing creation of more habitat-damaging mines;
every house or apartment will have its own recycling system to prevent
contamination and pollution to water from waste. JIG
An industry of "intangibles"
is operating after people better understand the "service economy"
and reciprocation is experienced; rediscovered healthy relationships
with the "natural world" -- redefining economics and leisure --
after humans realize their "blightfulness;" food distribution is
managed and "to have" or "have not" doesn't rely on material wealth.
PM
Worldwide communication
system for interaction and sharing of ideas and resolution of conflicts
through verbal win/win negotiations; medical advances that provide
for healing of all disease using systems that result in no pain;
global balance of environmental systems that result in natural evolutionary
changes among the species. KH
Everyone can live a long,
happy life; anyone can get free, quality health care, education,
and fulfilling life work; the Earth is healthy. DS
Cross-cultural understanding
is the norm -- everyone accepts any culture that they come across;
mixed racial couples are readily accepted in society without thought;
the global marketplace has developed and the need for strong political
boundaries has diminished. CR
Negative population growth;
clean, plentiful energy; long life, good health. DS
Society will find a cure
for cancer and AIDs; multi-cultural training will be a part of school
curriculum at all age levels; everyone will be free to visit any
country and any community in the world. DS
No diseases -- all medicine
is preventative; no hospitals as we know them -- surgical procedures
done by lasers and cameras in doctor's office; children with ADHD
will be viewed as normal again. RJ
The armies of the world
have beaten their swords into shovels and are working on solving
the hunger problems of the world; all children are loved, fed, and
provided with medical care utilizing funds formerly spent by nations
for creation of weapons of mass destruction; all the waterways and
oceans have been cleaned up as an industry employing people employed
by the major polluting industries of the world. LV
Partnership has replaced
competition in society at all levels; global cooperation to preserve
and protect natural resources out of growing appreciation and respect
for their intrinsic value; people have learned how to connect with
each other -- families and individuals are stronger. SB
*****
Step Two: Individual Visions
With your goal statement in mind, step into the world of 2021: close
your eyes; imagine yourself to be awakening from a deep and refreshing
sleep to find yourself on the crest of a hill. Nearby you see a hedge
-- there is an arched opening in the hedge. As you walk through it,
you enter the morning of October 29th, 2021. What do you see? Hear?
Smell? You walk down the hill, further into this changed world. What
is the present day 2021 like? You want to look for specifics. REMEMBER:
You have brought your hopes with you.
Look to see what is happening in concrete instances in specific arenas
of life. Look for demonstrations that this world actually represents
a way of life that incorporates your goals of thirty years ago. What
are people doing -- the children, the elderly, the middle-aged, the
men, the women? What kind of household groupings do you find, what
kind of buildings; what is the physical environment like? Can you
identify neighborhoods? Are there cities? What kinds of occupations
do you see people following? Can you tell how decisions about polity
are made, how people travel, make connections across distances? How
do people of different ages learn new things? How are conflicts and
differences handled? Is anyone playing? How do they play?
Draw, diagram, write
or otherwise represent a summary of your vision on the piece of
newsprint provided.
Step Three: from individual
to group...
Share your vision -- SUCCINCTLY!!! [We don't have a lot of time here]
--
with others in your group. Move quickly through the sharing, and LOOK
FOR SIMILARITIES ACROSS ALL THE VISIONS IN THE GROUP. WRITE THOSE
DOWN; your group will be sharing them with the class as a whole.
Do any real conflicts or contradictions arise when comparing your
individual visions? In any specific area [government, economy, politics,
etc.]?
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