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   Three Suns

Environmental changes will compel new beginnings as society searches for balance. 

New Beginnings

  Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, is a sprawling, polluted, overcrowded city of roughly 30 million people. Expensive skyscrapers filled with apartments, shops, and offices paid for by timber, palm oil, natural gas, gold, copper, and tin exploitation, form a backdrop to slums that span miles. Indonesia is a secular democracy with large Muslim and Christian communities sprinkled with other faiths that spurred numerous sectarian conflicts over the years. And--Jakarta is sinking.

  Draining marshes and aquifers for water, and ongoing housing projects in an area where sea levels are rapidly rising put forty percent of the city below sea level. The sea walls recently constructed by Joko Widow, governor of Jakarta, are band-aide solutions that won't save the city in the long run. He has put together a forward-thinking plan to move the capital to Borneo.

  The task is daunting in a country composed of hundreds of languages and ethnic groups, and regions with strong indigenous traditions and Shariah rules. He wants to embrace diversity and reinvent society so the country will be able to adapt to a warming planet. Widow's vision is a high-tech city, a green economy, a transportation system with bicycle and walking paths, and a new work ethic involving citizens with flexible mindsets. His ideas require a major transition in the way people live and treat one another.

  Though some people in the U.S. will become eco-migrants because of global warming, most of us will not have to move. However, that does not mean that we won't have to adapt. Whether we leave our homes or stay will require us to transition our minds. The red/blue political fights that wrack our country cannot continue if we are to save it.

  People on both sides of the divide have to stop focusing on minuscule differences and pay attention to a larger question--how do we survive as a species? The issues of our day need to be reframed. 

  Rather than jump into solving problems around abortion, racism, gun rights, and LGBTQ rights, start the quest by looking at broader issues. "How can people of all beliefs and economic situations live side-by-side in overcrowded, overheated cities without being stressed and angry all of the time? Is it possible for billions of people to fill their days fruitfully without facing loneliness, fear, and boredom? What will energize the nation and make people willing to change habits so that our natural resources, fresh water, and clean air are protected? How do we inspire a work/study/play ethic that considers society as a whole rather than self-serving interests? 

  We have a need for a new blueprint for tackling society's problems. It's time to throw away preconceived notions and open our minds to the realities of the day. People who live near oceans and in arid lands will have to move, overcrowding areas with more temperate climates. These and many other problems call for daring solutions and flexible minds. It's time to be bold and question past beliefs, seeing what makes sense in an era of significant change. Looking at the future honestly and reimagining a world order is an exciting challenge for new-world thinkers. You are invited to hop on the train and join the fun. Be part of the solution rather than fight it.

References:

2023 website. Great Transition Initiative. retrieved from https://greattransition.org/about/what-is-the-great-transition

Beech Hannah (2023) How to Move a Sinking Capital City. New York Times. retrieved from NEW YORK. _________________________________________________________

Art is always for sale. New Beginnings speaks to the current state of warming. It is a 34" x 44" painting with a softly brushed gold frame. The $985 price includes shipping in the continental US. For further information, contact me at [email protected]

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