Alternative sustainable development in Southeast Asia: The people and land story
We are at a crossroad, in a climate emergency. Earth is burning and it seems like the only solutions we have are in tech and renewable energy. Are they really sustainable for people and environment? We don’t talk enough about the impact of renewable energy on the ecosystem, like dams constructed for harnessing hydropower that greatly influence the flow of rivers, which can alter ecosystems and negatively impact wildlife and people, through flooding or other ways.
Have we not realised that the climate crisis, the pandemic, the inequalities are all symptoms of a broken system? This system is falling apart, people are burned out, our ecosystem is collapsing. If we want to break out of this vicious cycle, we need systemic change.
However bad you think the climate crisis is, it's worse than what you think.
Panicking?
It's okay, me too. But let's panic together.
Take a deep breath. Count to three.
1,
2,
3.
You know what? There are solutions. What about investing in community care and community jobs?
There are people who have been working on the ground, creating change, building communities, regenerating ecosystems. These are not your tech solutions that promise large profits from technological breakthroughs so that it can benefit shareholders. These are work that directly benefit the wellbeing of people and nature. Why are we not investing in them? Why are social enterprises always finding it so difficult to survive?
If we reframe this, you are investing X amount of money that doesn’t just go into a couple of big renewable energy companies but instead, it goes into so many more social enterprises and small start ups, that will in turn, provide many more jobs for people on the ground.
This financial system isn't working. The capitalism we live in doesn't value work that can't be financially rewarded. In other words, if we are never going to value the environment and people more than we value fast fashion or the latest iPhone, we will continue on this downward spiral and projects for good will always struggle to find its footing in this world. But please realise this, whether we choose to take the blue pill or not, whether we decide to live in delusion that consumerism is going to buy us happiness and wellbeing, our participation in this system inadvertently propagates its dominance. And the destruction continues, whether we choose to see it or not.
This is not an article about doom. It's an article about hope. Join me in this conversation. I am organising a series of discussions, talks and events through my podcast, Onions Talk, and partnerships with various amazing people and organisations.
The first of this series will be a panel discussion this Tuesday, 17 November 2020, 8pm to 9.30pm.
Sign up here.
Come with questions! This live chat will focus on social enterprises working with community, ecology and care. We will discuss the future of work within the social and environmental care sector and how jobs can be created with communities, for communities.
Guest speakers:
Biji Biji
Juliana Adam, CEO
www.biji-biji.com
Langit Collective
Zi, Co-founder
langit.com.my
SMU Lien centre for social innovation
Christy Davis, Executive Director
lcsi.smu.edu.sg
There is another story, another narrative, another way of being that doesn’t have to come at the expense of our well-being. Join us in this conversation.
This live chat will be accessible after the stream as a podcast episode on Onions Talk, available on Spotify, iTunes and Google podcast.