I Am Project - An Activist

I’m angry, frustrated, and ashamed. We live in a society that is structured to exploit the planet and its citizens by promoting consumption to support an economic model that is based entirely on greed. This greed has blinded us and is not only preventing us from noticing how we are destroying our values that we wage wars to defend, but bringing our entire species to the brink of extinction.

The city of Edmonton has been annexing prime farmland to support economic growth and urban sprawl for so long that there is no longer sufficient usable farmland to produce enough food to support the city’s population. The municipality is now totally dependent upon imported food.

While Alberta has had a huge budget surplus for many years, the provincial government has not invested anything meaningful into diversifying the provincial economy to stimulate economic growth outside the oil industry. We continue to rape the environment to exploit this non renewable resource without stopping to consider the actual cost in water, wildlife, public health, and quality of life.

One of the things that spoke to me about the 100. and the UBBT was the huge potential these organizations possessed in facilitating change. If Wal-Mart can be convinced to support the organic food industry because their sales history reflects a consumer trend in that direction, the proof is there that every individual has power and influence. Can there be any doubt as to the impact a few enlightened martial arts teachers can have on the planet?

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” - Howard Thurman (1900 -1981)