"We can't count the number of natural life cycles co-existing in this photo, for the benefit of each other.
Why don't we ensure that, when using resources, we attempt to emulate the perfection of natural life cycles?
Why can't we ensure that we don't damage natural life cycles?
We must care, we must respect, we must act responsibly."
Mark Wyatt, Founder, Kent Community Recycling.
NEED VERSUS GREED
I last wrote on this subject some 12 years ago.
With the way things have gone in the intervening period and with the cry "enough is enough" being heard, at last, I felt the need to return to this vital issue of assessing need and greed - where need is satisfied and greed takes over!
Need and greed are the two motivating factors of mankind and it is the swing toward greed which is at the root of all modern day social imbalance.
How do we assess it?
We assess ourselves, each one of us, personally and privately, by taking a sheet of paper and listing our needs and when I say needs I don't include such things as the modern need to fly abroad two or three times a year.
Our needs are obviously such things as food, shelter, clothing, medical care and other items which our conscience allows us to list as needs.
Having drawn up the list the next job is to value the cost of our needs - building in an acceptable percentage as a comfort zone.
Every penny in excess of the figure we arrive at, for our needs falls into the category of greed. It has to. It's that logical. It's that simple.
What do we do with these extra pennies? I have been surprised when people ask this. The answer is surely obvious; we use this money, surplus to our needs to benefit others, those less fortunate, those who's needs are not being provided for.
Many will be amazed that they actually need much less than they thought and the calculation will make all of us think - a good thing in itself.
The world can only sustain so much demand on its resources and this fact, combined with the fact that there is now an ever widening gap between those who have and those who haven't, highlights the needs for us to curb our greed,
fight social injustices and be happy!
You can't beat being happy!
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