Times They’re A-Changin’…
January 19th, 2009 by Frans Prins Posted in Blog
1. Challenge
Financial challenge? We have one of the best opportunities in years to change our society from the bottom up. Not by starting violent riots, but by investing our energy and resources in new, useful projects, supporting new green development, and an economy based on cooperative spirit, social entrepreneurship and human potential.
This is not illusionary. It is time to realize such ideas on a very practical level, from Berlin to Bamako. Anyone who’s ignoring the potentials we have here to build on a strong global movement and who’s just restoring the old industrial dinosaurs (like car and oil industries) with our tax money, should be locked up in an energy producing fitness centre. Oops, that sounds like eco-fascism, doesn’t it? So, let’s just build on the good things that are actually happening.
2. Hope
Not because he does his grocery shopping in the organic store, not because he has a brilliant feeling for new media, not because he’s felt to be close to cultural creatives and spiritual change, not because he campaigns for a green energy revolution, not even because he’s the first black president of the USA, but because he’s bringing in a certain positive spirit that is incorporated in his whole message and attitude.
This Mr Obama guy as no other connecting his campaigning and marketing strategy with a powerful, positive spirit. And even his opponents get caught by it. It is the kind of promise that spreads around. In the end it’s not about the messiah, but about the butterflies in the Amazonas.
3. Change
We definately need some of that. Not only in Gaza, Sudan or Tibet. And no single president can bring it. The kind of change can just be made by our bare hands and hearts. I believe it’s within our potentials. It should start in our local communities where ever they are. And why not just take the chance, turn of TV and computer straight away and start changing things for the good straight away…
As I discussed with Andrea Nienhaus today, this is not the year of even more conference hopping or eco luxury shopping, it is a year for concrete action. That’s where Grass Routes is going to be this year.
4. Action
Action is not simply doing. It is about bringing into practice the change you feel is needed. Practicing what you preach. And really that’s a real challenge. It is not an easy time, and we all carry our history and our pain and frustrations, the burdens of our past. But it is in our actions of today, that we define our future. I would say, don’t spend all time and challenge with building that future virtually…and spread some good spirit around on the way…
I’m off for today 
