I’m taking a little sidestep away from my search for all the good news which is happening worldwide but which we rarely hear about.

I recently came across a term new to me: QED (Quod Erat Demonstrandum) which means something on the lines of ‘What’s the bottom line? In one sentence!’ and that left me wondering whether the problems of our world which seem so very complex could be described not exactly in one sentence but at least in a few bullet points.

So, here are my latest thoughts ….

• • As always among animals, some people are stronger, more powerful than others and they form a ‘powerful elite’
  • Man’s intellect and technical abilities have enabled us to use the resources of the planet to produce a way of life which we have been led to believe is the best way of living and which is based on excessive material consumption – the ‘American Dream’
  • The powerful elite spread the idea that we should all aspire to the ‘American Dream’ lifestyle and that if we work hard enough and are enterprising enough we can have it

But, Planet Earth’s natural resources are insufficient for us all to live the American Dream

• • We are an animal species with primitive animal instincts and needs but the dream lifestyle we have been led to aspire to might meet the physical needs of some of us but often does little for our psychological/social/spiritual needs – to belong to the group, to have self-esteem and be respected by others, to realise our full potential as an individual.
  • The conflict and misery which seem to be a feature of our world and the epidemic of mental illness and crime are reminders that so many of our needs are unmet

Where does this leave me in understanding the chaos of our 21^st Century world? The powerful elite are using their power to …

• Maintain their position by distracting attention from their excesses and lay blame for social inequality, unrest and misery on scapegoats – immigrants and the lazy poor who do little to help themselves
• Undermine the democratic process to strengthen their position of power
• Make money from the chaos – disaster capitalism and surveillance capitalism are the latest kids on the block!

To help me back on track in my search for the good news, I’ve come to see that, as always, the battle of the 21^st Century is a battle for ideas.  Worldwide an increasing number of people are waking up from the ‘American dream’ and have a vision of a different world where co-operation takes over from competition and where they are finding more fulfilment in living better with less.

Now I can get back to finding all those groups and individuals who have realised that there is an alternative way of living  – and it’s better!

Eileen Peck - The Worlds Gone Made

This is one of a series of articles by author Eileen Peck, questioning the challenges in today’s world and looking at possible solutions.Find out more about Eileen here.

And check out more articles in this series here.