On the day of writing it is 26th Feb 2020.
The Covid-19 virus continues to cause concern around the world with the following map looking like something out of horror movie.
Where am I going with this?
No borders
A few months ago I listened to a wonderful podcast between Deepak Chopra and the first Iranian female astronaut to work on the international space station, Anousheh Ansari. What struck me the most about this conversation was when Anousheh looked back at the Earth from space, she realised that there are no borders.
There is no separation. All land rights, country borders, passport controls, grades on a piece of paper are thought-created by humans. We are one connected, interdependent system on which all life relies.
Now, I am not saying this is bad in and of itself. It has clearly helped us evolve as a singular human race, that we have some outline structure and guidelines on how to behave and co-exist, BUT, have we gone too far? The power and plight of this wonderful blue orb on which we live sits in too few people’s hands. Those with the most money and the most opportune societal positioning generally.
So what?
The Covid-19 outbreak that we are currently experiencing is yet another reminder that the Earth has zero borders. People in China, The US, Europe, India, Australia all have confirmed cases. I am hopeful that our clever R&D chemists around the world will find a vaccine quick-smart, however, when will we, as a single connected human race, learn that the money we stash in our bank accounts and the division that we reinforce, consciously or unconsciously, is serving nobody in the end.
What if?
What if we somehow shifted the paradigm from borders, division and separation to collective activism, connection and true collaboration? What if the only comparison we made was the healthy stretched competition to find vaccines for global challenges such as Covid-19, solutions to climate change or to revert the risk of extinction to animal species?
This is not a pipedream.
Universal Basic Income
One such intervention which could systemically shift us, realistically and positively towards a more unified, collective global culture of humanity and away from division and separation, is UBI.
Scott Santens has been living on UBI for some time and kindly joined me on the Value through Vulnerability podcast way back om episode 17. A system that would correct the myriad of dysfunctional social security systems into a monthly payment that everybody receives, literally everybody, and offers everybody the chance to say no to crap jobs ‘just to get by’!
I know there is a lot to do. This is not a quick fix.
However, I truly and deeply believe that the consciousness shift, the mass awakening that we are all experiencing and seeing right across the world right now, is a reaction, in part, to the separation of our singular human race that has persisted for too long.
I would love to know what comes for you, what you would challenge what you would add and what you think.
Thank you.
PS – my clarity and passion behind this post comes from a very recent conversation with regeneration expert Laura Storm below ⤵︎
There is no doubt that fear promotes closure towards the other to avoid potential dangers and produces a situation of paranoia, that is, of fear without a specific target or reason, and therefore definitely worsens interpersonal relationships. It can help that irrepressible need for sociality that leads to openness and a more critical vision of social reality.
Today we would have had the opportunity to marginalize fear and selfishness to build a global community based on solidarity.
Unfortunately I have to change my mind because since Italy has been confirmed among the countries most affected by Covid-19, many states have closed the borders to our compatriots, opposing a general rejection of anyone who was Italian (even if not from Italy from the area under control) and advising against its citizens to go to “any” area of Italy. The past few days we have experienced a real piscosis against us.
Garry – I am a student of history, so my perspective has incubated there. What we witness about “humanity” is a dynamic push / pull scenario. The “push” is the part of some world leaders to expand (Russia today) or starkly define (the U.S. today) their country’s borders. The “pull” is that collective humanity you spoke of to bridge borders. e.g., the climate agreement.
These forces have been present throughout history and I think they represent two aspects of human DNA – (1) to carve out territory and protect it, and “territory” can be land, religion, political beliefs etc. and (2) to reach across those human-made boundaries for the collective good. The latter’s bridges can be treaties, agreements, even just sentiment.
Ironically, both 1&2 are driven by what astronauts have seen from space: there are no borders. One historic response has been to create them; another has been to simply see humanity at large.
I love your “what if” challenge: “what if we somehow shifted the paradigm from…to…”
I am sorry I that I cannot see your name but thank you so much for these rich reflections.
I love that you share that both 1 & 2 have been observed by astronauts, how fascinating. I wonder if the societal buy-in to extreme busyness and over-consumption has clouded that ‘macro-perspective’ that we could all take if we slowed down, got present and allowed the our mind to open up behind the (over) thinking?
I do hope to hear from you, appreciate your feedback.
“What if?” Utopia, perhaps? Thank you for this interesting and thought-provoking read, Gary.
Hi Sherry, thank you for your message and maybe utopia, maybe hopeful.
Either way, the conversations that are happening right now all over the world around reconnecting our humanity and leading self and others with care and love is amplifying, however, we do not hear any of this on the fear-based news.
In fact, I heard Barry Wehmillers CEO Bob Chapman share yesterday that newscasters/journalists are taught ‘what bleeds, reads.’
There has to be a better way and I truly believe it is coming. I just hope OI get to experience and support it in my lifetime 🙂
Wishing you a wonderful weekend and thank you again for your feedback.
I’m excited. Reading your article has re-inspired my complete conviction that what we are doing collectively IS working. We have been working in silo for so long that we’ve forgotten that there are many of us pushing towards the same goals.
Myself and a friend, Maryna Booysen, recently started out in blending our two individually vast ecosystems – hers focused on the edibles, medicinals and agricultural – mine the beeeeg picture of a Moral Economic Ecosystem with various models in business, health and education to demonstrate and inspire… which fit beautifully into what Maryna is doing. Our collaboration means exponential growth in development of both our projects which are so finely intertwined that they will become synonymous without effort.
The Big Picture is that no single human or entity will be in control. That no one person is greater than or more worthy than. Therefore where there is no ego, so the most productivity in change will take place.
I enjoy working in the settlements around Cape Town and other areas as the people are so ready for change. They’re ready to put in some hard work if the results are visible for them, immediately.
It’s the immediacy of life in the extreme situations that makes everything so tough. And tougher to move forward.
I don’t believe that a UBI should be a standard thing as it does create a lack of need to do or be more.
I’ve devised a Being of Service means of trade which ensures that we all ‘do something’ to earn money.
Long story. Interesting process of us all collecting together now.
thank you so much for sharing such rich reflections WhatIThink, really powerful.
Are you writing about your collaboration on this platform or elsewhere in detail, curious to follow your work?
RE: UBI, from my understanding so far, the idea is that people that want to do more social work that matters to them and society but is not generally well rewarded by the current system. So much more to learn for me personally, but I welcome this conversation and evolutionary discussion, thank you.