The following is something that is bothering me deeply.

I have been thinking about the world and human nature a lot lately. Mostly due to the nagging feeling that something more is out there and I mean that in a way relating to the human connection or soul if you will.
As most may agree, I look around and what I see is destruction, war, murder, rape, shootings, robbery's the list goes on. I see little human compassion advertised outside of the occasional "feed the children" ad.

It needs to stop and I refuse to believe that nothing can be done about it. Call it ignorance, naivety or inexperience, but compassion is the only thing that can save us from each other.
I saw Avatar some time ago. There were some epic messages in that movie, the one that was the most easily dismissed was to treat all life with respect.
I don't know how many animals are killed as the result of people being too busy, distracted or simply not caring. I don't see how the petty activities in someones life can be more important than feeding their pet or slowing down when a bird is flapping his little wings to try and cross the road on time.
Since when was it ok to drive past an injured animal on the side of the road and let him bleed to death or starve.

I have seen enough and I am pleading with you, if you agree with me or simpathise in the smallest amount then please do something about it, think twice before you smack your dog because he isn't listening, you are all they have. In a world that is ruled and dominated by the human species, animals rely on us to care for them, as a compassionate species, we are responsible for looking after all life.

Continue..

When pass someone on the street, smile, help them when they look confused or are having difficulty loading objects into their car. Why ignore the person who has dropped a suitcase full of paper onto the ground, instead of watching their stuff blow away in the wind, help them.

Instead of dismissing me as a bleeding heart, actually listen.
Nobody is too tough to care

Beautiful, compassionate and caring. I completely agree with you and am sympathetic to what you are saying. I make similar points often in my posts but rarely does anyone show interest. only if i attack them and make some outrages statement will it get a response.
So the bottom line is good luck. People don't care because in theory it is all good, but in practice;

They don't want to know about the destruction of the forna and flora of the planet they are ment to be sharing because,
It may affect their profit margins and slow the pace of growth leading to increases in bills
Because of the price on carbon that they never wanted
Because the boat people are to blame for all the global security problems that can only be solved if we kill all the muslim's that don't wish to be subservient to the west.

So if you follow that then you see why it is just too hard to really do anything about it other than go to church on sunday and pray to god to forgive you for doing nothing about all the sins you commit in the name of your own greed, and successfully feel sorry for yourself because there is nothing you can do about such a big problem and i don't want to suffer needlessly.

History does not give us much hope as man driven by greed and religion will destroy everything, always has. The peace you seek is within yourself. Do what is needed for the contentment you seek,. the answers do not lie within religions or cults or power, but within yourself.

Nicnoto

With all due respects you speak about not snacking your dog. If you really want to be humane speak up for the elderly and the unborn who actually are in the most dangerous place in the world. And btw I am a dog lover.

runner

We have to start small. I can't cover everything in two posts and I don't want the message to be lost in a massive write up either.

I want people to care enough to act, it's as simple as that.

niarbe

Thank you.

I really have no tolerance for excuses though (I know you aren't creating them), I don't care about what history has shown and I am fed up with people thinking "well it's always been like this so why change?"

Just do it. Take time, train yourself to take effort for strangers, teach yourself to help an elderly person cross the road and teach yourself to see all life as something more than nothing.
(by 'yourself' I mean everyone)

Nicnoto,
Probably i wasn't clear but that was my point. Don't expect great things to happen globally or even within your society. Do what you need to do within your own life. Act with compassion, live what you really think is right. The old saying is lead by example, it is all we really have.
I really don't get why the majority of people don't get it, but after many years of participating in demonstrations and expounding the virtue of my thoughts i realised the ideal world was the one i create around myself. The friends i have the way i live. I am content in life with a family and a will to live it well with compassion for others and a conscience i can live with. but most important, i have stopped being disappointed with the lack of real resolve within the community to deal with these issues.

Dear Nicnoto,

A kind word or act doesn't cost anything
yet as you point out in your opening post,
it can do so much good. Have any of you
travelled on public transport recently?
I got to travel to the city by train the
other day and it still surprises me how
people don't give up their seats for a
person in distress - like an elderly
person, a pregnant lady, a person who looks
ill, and so on. And I won't even go into
reckless drivers on the road, or rude drivers
who don't obey the common courtesies, or trolley
aisle hoggs at supermarkets, the list goes on...

I often wonder what sort of upbringing these
people have had.

Our collective behaviour certainly can make a
difference to our world. We know that historically
significant change is often brought about by
the organized efforts of a social movement - a large
number of people who have come together to bring
about or resist some social or cultural change.

In 1981,an American doctor and a Russian doctor
founded International Physicians for the Prevention
of War, a group that focused on the medical
consequences of nuclear warfare. Within five years,
the organization had over 150,000 members in 49 countries,
and it won a Nobel prize for peace. Similarly, a small
group of Japanese activists conceived the idea of
"nuclear free zones" - places that formally refuse to allow
nuclear weapons inside their boundaries. Within a few years,
nineteen countries had explicitly prohibited the presence
of nuclear weapons on their soil, and more than thousands
of communities - cities, countries, and provinces,
in 24 countries had declared themselves "nuclear free."

This all goes to show that once people no longer take
their world for granted, but instead understand the social
authorship of their lives and futures, they can become
an irresistible force in history.

As I've written in the past, whether we choose to destroy
our civilization or save it, it is a collective decision
and it is one that hopefully will be made within our
lifetimes.

Great thread Nicnoto.

Two things immediately spring to mind –

Firstly, the most important thing of all is to embrace a paradigm of sustainability in which a stable (or slowly reducing) population is paramount.

If we want to stop animals dying on mass, species becoming extinct, ecosystems collapsing, etc, then we need to do this.

If we want to stop increasing the stress-load on humanity and the consequent worsening of relations between us at all levels, from individual to international relations, then we need to do this…. as our greatest priority!

The ugly side of human nature is only going to progressively manifest itself more strongly if we don’t. And most other species are going to suffer enormously as a result.

One of the best things that someone with yours and my sort of heartache, Nicnoto, can do is to join Sustainable Population Australia and fight for a restoration of the balance between humanity and the natural world.

Secondly, I’ve witnessed the massive destruction of ecosystems in north and central Queensland over the last couple of decades. Within my job, I am always looking at aerial photos and satellite imagery going back over that period and seeing how extensively the natural vegetation has been cleared in that short timeframe.

I am also very emotive about the state of the Western Australian wheatbelt, which I have traversed in great detail, where vast areas were cleared with no thought of the native animals or plants. This is in one of the world’s most amazingly biodiverse realms. Today, there are many critically endangered species that are just holding on in highly altered and fragmented habitats. Quite a lot of plant species are now only known from highly disturbed road verges or small patches of bush, adjacent to vast cleared fields.

And the whole area is massively affected by salinity.

What a wank*r of a species we are.

My dear Foxy, you worry me.

People like you worry me. Most people of good heart, kind well meaning people, worry me.

Until we can get people like you to realise that the only reason we have not had WW111, & probably WW1V by now is because of nuclear weapons, not despite them.

With conventional weapons some megalomaniac or three would have tried their arm, with a major war. Both major communist regimes had periods where they were silly enough, & strong enough to have tried it on, if there was any chance they would not have been destroyed.

The MAD theory, [mutually assured destruction] did prevent major wars, at a time when they were likely. I believe we have much to thank a couple of Russians for. We are more than a bit lucky that Russian leadership decided to watch the USSR die, rather than go out in a blaze of gory glory.

That must have taken more guts, for the leaders of almost a third of the world, than it would have to press the button. I will be forever grateful to them, for that.

Whatever happens on the planet, be it good, bad or indifferent, is Mother Nature being Mother Nature.

If humans save the world and turn it into a heavenly place of sustainable paradise, then that's Mother Nature in action.

If humans, murder, kill, destroy and ruin the world, then that's also Mother Nature in action.

ALL outcomes are possible under the mantle of Mother Nature. Mother Nature doesn't choose good over bad, or bad over good. With nature it's a casae of "what is - - is".

Whatever happens on Earth happens with the blessing of Mother Nature.

Whether we live or die, it's nature in action.

Whether we're good or bad, it's nature in action.

Whether or not we exist in the first place, is nature in action.

If the goodies win, then Mother Nature allows it. If the baddies win, then Mother Nature allows it.

We are NOT the centre of the universe. Our planet's existence means nothing to the workings of the universe. It would still be there, whether or not we exist.

Mother Nature encompasses EVERYTHING.

"Is it time for a change?" asks the topic starter. If the answer is yes, then that's merely nature in action. if the answer is no, then that's merely nature in action. Remember, with nature what is - - - is.

But we humans believe we're "special". Only until recently we believed we were the centre of the universe. We believe we're special, and chosen.

What is - - - is. What will happen - - - will happen. What won't happen - - - won't happen. What might happen - - - might happen. Everything, every outcome good or bad, is Mother Nature being Mother Nature. We and our planet are near TOTALLY insignificant. We are only significant to ourselves and our very nearby heavenly neighbours.

Does all this mean we just give up? Of course not. Most of us will try to make life better. And even that, is merely Mother Nature being Mother Nature. Our insignificance is there for those who can see.

you/look..around..and see murder...etc
i guess you should-know..this is by design

its the enter-taintment..media..that needs con-sumers..consumming
and the best con-sumer.is in the fight[or rather...flight]..state

fear/sells..its as simple as that
thats why every program..on tv..is about murder[cops/policing..cooking..'heroes'..or sport]
it alows for the little things..they need
to put us/into..sugesive-state

you will notice..the rapid/light..flashings
to send-us to semi-sleep..then the loud-yells..
when they want us to listen...

even the use..of booze
or eating of food..its all by specific-design..consume
[be part of the herd..listen..dont be heard]

i wont get into star-power[personality/whoreship]
or the other/little deceptions..of the media

but just watch..the 'other/half..of that we call..laughingly-news
and you should soon realise..its all about destracting-us..from the real-issues

as for the road-kill..
well we just love our personal/mobility..devices
everything has its cost...

i once picked-up..every..road-kill..lying beside the road..of lamington..national-park..ended up with a huge load/of dead corpses..then the problem..of what to do with-them[it was mainly birds]

anyhow..back..to your title..its time for change
so what type of change..are you see-king
ban cars..or ban night-driving

big-fines for those killing-birds..in autos
yes..we have huge problems..but no more nor less..than we allways had

its just the media..needs us to listen,..to their guilt
feel..their fears..consume..their product
dont take..their guilt..onto you

if..you..run-over..an animal
then you need concern...
[dont worry about what others do/we allready got enough..of them]

yes there are huge/problems..
but..we cant be expected..to share/guilt..[for stuff we didnt/do]

yes we can try to be more carefull
[like not/driving..by national parks..at night
but better not-at..dusk/dawn]..
but then/there are others who must/drive..to survive

i would remind..
that life is not/only..about caring/but doing
that its..not what others/do
but about what you do

thus i revealed what i did..in part
but carfully..excluded..what i did with..all that dead/beauty

that is between me and god

by all means change..you..if this is your aim
for you cannot/change others..and in time you learn/that

thanks for reminding/us
to be car-e-full

in the end..if we only cared..just a little more
who/knows how far..humanity..can go

thanks for caring

the change begins..when we realise
the old-way..just isnt working/good..for all of us
but then maybe..it wasnt designed too...

we each..have/our lifes learning...
we each..have a long-way to go

speak up for the elderly .
Runner,
This is an indication of the lack of thinking that is now the norm. What you say should not have to be said as it should go without saying.

First off I would like to thank you all for getting involved in the thread, I appreciate your input.

Ludwig, Foxy.
You two so far have displayed in your text understanding that it is we have to work together to change, not them. You also believe that it can be done, which is refreshing, I have no doubt that you already live by good deeds and to be able to see that in a couple of paragraphs is really nice (understatement.

One under god.

You ask what I wan't to be done about road kill, I'm going to make it very simple. Care.
It is ridiculous to demand a massive change in lifestyle so I won't suggest it. But ride a bike or walk when you can, and when you do drive, be alert and look ahead to see if there are birds flying around or a dog running next to the road. Do what you can and not just what you feel like. I'm not saying you don't already but for anyone who asks "well, what can be done about it?" This is a start.
Don't just accept that it's the media's fault, forget about tham listening and listen yourself, get your family to listen, your friends to listen. Because once the population (I am aware that not everyone can be reached) listen, the media won't matter.

You also say to change yourself and I'll learn others can't be changed. I'm not attacking you but that is the problem. If we don't try and change others then nothing will change. People can learn to care about strangers if they have never done before. It is a great feeling when you help someone, and that feeling is addictive.

It re-affirms a sense of humanity when strangers return your smile. What I've learnt about Melanesian history and seen when Papuan people handle discussions, has also validated my childhood concept that human nature is predisposed towards 'goodness'.

So why is there genocide, war, theft and rape? Why do people in our society now feel their elderly family should be in nursing homes rather than with the family? I don't think these ills are just being reported more, I suspect they have began happening more during the 20th century.

I suspect mass advertising has been exploited to promote "greed is good" and similar twisted beliefs. People with personality disorders are highly skilled at manipulation while hiding their own beliefs. If you want a corporation to make money, a person with a personality disorder is ideal - they will say & do anything to make money while pretending the company's conduct is within civil norms. Civil norms are being moved. And despite the cynical concept that good & bad are abstract, I think there is real distress created by imposing "greed is good" on a social creature such as humanity.

I suspect the smile on the face of the smiling assasin in Bali did not achieve anything worthwhile except to confirm how easily fooled we can be. Unless you deal with the fallen nature of mankind, efforts of self righteousness achieves little to nothing. Thankfully Christ is One person who can and has changed more for good than all other joint efforts.

runner

ok fine, lets just do nothing.
It has obviously worked out so well before. For someone with faith in Christ runner you show little in man, a little kindness goes a long way, regardless if it is returned or not.

Nicnoto

'For someone with faith in Christ runner you show little in man, a little kindness goes a long way, regardless if it is returned or not.'

Fair enough Nicnoto. The last thing I want to do is to discourage anyone from acts of kindness.

Generally speaking you can't force people to change an attitude. For example, historically the Church used to murder witches, but those killings didn't stop witchcraft or peoples' belief in witchcraft. The effective way to change an attitude is to set a good example. If the Church had showed kindness, love and tolerance towards witches and everyone else, then many of the people finding acceptance in witchcraft would also have found acceptance in the Church. But witchcraft was driven further underground, thus ensuring it's survival. A result the Church did not want, but got, because of the intimidation and killings it committed.

It's a strange example I know, but the principle applies to most aspects of life. The best way to get someone to do something good is to do something good yourself. Trying to force someone to do something good is counterproductive, trying to influence someone to do something good is being manipulative, trying to shame someone into doing something good means you're doing something bad in order to get someone to do something good.

The best way of all to have someone else do a good act, is to do a good act yourself. Result = if someone is genuinely interested they will notice what you do, and you will be copied.

This is the area where the churches, and indeed all religion, has failed miserably over the centuries. They try via coercion and threats of eternal damnation, to make people do good things. In other words they do bad things to try to get people to be good.

The best and most effective thing for good that 99.99% of people can do is to simply do a good act themselves, and do those acts again and again and again etc. Sure, the world is full of disinterested people who couldn't care less, and a smaller number of people who are simply bad people, but overall nothing works for good better than seeing another person, or persons, do a good act. This is so because the vast majority of people are basically good, not bad.

Dear Hasbeen,

Many people hold the view that nuclear weapons
have helped to prevent war.

This has encouraged the widespread view that
the best way to avoid war is for each side to hold
the other's population as hostage under nuclear
threat. The drawback to this approach, of course,
is that the threat of mutually assured destruction
is an "all-or-nothing" gamble with the highest
stakes imaginable. As long as the threat "works,"
war is avoided; but if the strategy fails -
through design, miscalculation, or error, then the
result is the obliteration of the societies that
depended on it.

Moreover, a strategy of mutually assured destruction
is most likely to work if there is a balance of power
between the two main nations or blocs. If the
contending parties are evenly balanced, neither will
be likely to strike first, for there can be no certainty
of victory. On the other hand; if one of the parties gains
(or appears to be gaining) superiority, war becomes
more likely - either because the superior power is tempted
to take advantage of its position, or because the inferior
one is tempted to strike before its own position deteriorates
further. As a matter of historical fact, that is
precisely the situation that precipitated many wars of
this century, most notably World War I.

Unfortunately, reliance on nuclear deterrence means a
continuation of the arms race and the constant threat
of annihilation. Nuclear weapons do not guarantee that
war cannot happen - only that it will be calamitous if it
does. They do not so much defend as threaten, and in
threatening, they elicit still more threats in return -
as the world's growing stockpile of bombs and missiles
attests. The obsessive focus on the threat of weapons as
the way to avoid war also blinds us to the central
question:

"Is anything that Russia or the United States values so
important that it justifies risking the destruction of
both societies, the murder of hundreds of millions of people,
and the jeopardizing of our very species?"

cont'd ...

The point that I'm trying to make is that
ultimately, the prospects for peace depend on
the collective action of ordinary people.

This may seem paradoxical at first, as individuals
often feel powerless in the face of distant
governments and mighty arsenals. Yet if sociology
has a central lesson, it's that societies, together
with all the social institutions and social behaviour
they contain, are continuously created and re-created
by the acts of countless individuals, whether these
individuals realise their role in the grand sweep of
history or not. If a modern society goes to war, it
isn't just because the leaders have opted for war, but
because the people have implicitly or explicitly done
so also - or at least, they have not opted for peace.

In the US the public actually places informal,
unspoken restraints on the ability of the leaders to
wage war. For example, although the US has tactical
nuclear weapons that it could have used in local
conflicts such as the Korean and Vietnam wars, it hasn't
employed these devices - primarily because such a resort
to nuclear weapons would be unacceptable and immoral
to the American people. Similar restraints operate in
other countries, although they are felt most strongly
in democracies.

If more and more nuclear weapons are built, and if more
sophisticated means of delivering them are devised, and if
more and more nations get control of these vile devices
then we surely risk our own destruction. If ways are
found to reverse that process, then we can divert
unprecedented energy and resources to the real problems
that face us, including poverty, disease, overpopulation,
injustice, oppression, and the devastation of our environment.

We may hope and trust that our ultimate choice will be to
enhance the life on the bright and lovely planet on which
billions of us share our advneture.

Attitudes can change, all we need is the right leadership,
and a will to succeed. And of course persistence!

Nicnoto:

"As most may agree, I look around and what I see is destruction, war, murder, rape, shootings, robbery's the list goes on"

Well, this is what YOU see - if you say so, how can it be disputed? But what I see is beauty!

So if I may suggest, get rid of your TV - I think the council has special collections for those boxes (mine does). Looking for compassion in advertisement of all places?? there is compassion all about you, so why do you need to suffer those filthy ads in the first place? go out and breath the frest air! It is wonderful!

It's all in the eye of the beholder - everyone gets what they ask for, for how could there be any wrong or evil in God's own world :)

Nicnoto writes:

<< I look around and what I see is destruction, war, murder, rape… >>

Yuyutsu retorts:

<< But what I see is beauty! >>

You are both right. There is the most extraordinary beauty and the most terrible aspects of humanity, all mixed in together.

This is indisputable. It is not just my perception.

It is not just in the eye of the beholder.

Mother nature allows everything - - - - war, peace, murder, life, beauty, ugliness etc etc. Mother Nature has no overriding conscience. With Mother Nature what is - - - IS.

Jockey,
I note you give mind and character to the ancient female deity of creation identified as Mother nature - Queen of Heaven. I thought you did not believe in a deity [mind] behind the universe?

How do you change the world?

One random act of kindness a day.

Expect to receive no reciprocation or appreciation, just be glad when you do.

I got flipped of last night because I stopped in the middle of a rural street to pick up two green tree frogs that were sitting in the middle of the road.
Tell me why it wouldn't be worth it, better yet tell me why you wouldn't do it yourself.
Then tell me in all honesty that you wouldn't care if you heard those frogs pop under your convenient car wheel.