In my System Change post, I explained man's impact on earth and raised a number of questions. The most important: Do you know what your ecological footprint is?

No one answered that question. No, I'm not disappointed, because I actually didn't expect it either. And the question was also not asked very directly and not very prominently in the beginning of the (long) post. Still, I think it is the most essential question we should ask ourselves as individuals, as families, groups and as society.

The political and public debate and all the information we get about the state of the earth carefully avoid the one topic that could really do something about the rapidly deteriorating health of the earth: getting a grip on completely out-of-control human consumption.

Why is this not THE issue?

Because it would be bad for corporate profits? Or because it requires honest politicians telling you man's impact on earth is far to big? That consuming MUST be drastically reduced, and that that message is bad for political careers? Because you and I know that would require us to confront ourselves with our own overconsumption and work hard to consume less, much less?

All three?

Yes, in my humble opinion.

Is it a realistic scenario ?

Is it at all possible to get humanity's ecological footprint within the earth's limits ?

I don't think so.

There are so many of us, that our consumption would really have to be greatly, greatly reduced to stay within the limits of what the earth can offer and handle. Besides that, we are too used to luxury and convenience, we are too greedy and prone to fears and worries. And therefore far too focused on owning instead of sharing and being content with only what you need today.

A global society focused not on economic growth and profit but on simplicity and well-being of everything on earth is an illusion. A dream whose pursuit causes us to be insufficiently concerned and busy with reducing the enormous damage that humanity does day in and day out. A dream whose pursuit causes us to insufficiently prepare for the consequences of unavoidable future damage, leaving us increasingly faced with repairing major problems that are occurring now.

Is it really necessary to bring our footprint within the boundaries of the earth ?

Of course, you may think that there is no problem with using a larger ration daily than what is stocked en what we can produce, because we are far too rapidly consuming available resources. And that the poisoning and pollution of air, soil and water will be solved in the future by smart people, allowing you to continue with your destructing way of life now. Or that it is not a problem that animals and plants are rapidly becoming extinct, that there are more and more weather extremes resulting in drought, food shortages, damage and deaths. That…

Pessimistic or realistic...

You don't think so? Do you think I am too pessimistic?

Then ask yourself why humanity's ecological footprint is still growing every year. Why ALL governments have government policies focused on economic growth. Or why companies continue to advertise to entice us to consume. Why it fails to develop techniques that feasibly and affordably repair the damage we do. No, even that we develop new techniques and initiatives that make the damage worse.

And why your ecological footprint is still seeds larger than 1 earth (not applicable to the few people reading this who have a footprint smaller than 1….).

'System Change (2)' is an artwork in my collection 'Drowned Earth'.

Prints are also available in my Saatchi Art portfolio at the artwork page or contact me for a quote.

ALL WE NEED IS LESS CONSUMING

Through my artworks I ask you to reflect for a moment on the nature around you, on the beautiful feeling that nature can evoke. Thus to think about your actions to support the wellbeing of the earth and everything that lives on it. And on what humanity loses when many of us continue on the destructive path of ever more greed and consuming. And please, reflect on how you can survive in this rapidly changing world…

So do you want to know your ecological footprint? 

Then visit this website: https://www.footprintcalculator.org/home/en 

And do you want to reduce your ecological footprint?

Then ask me, I will help you. For free. Or simply visit my website and choose in the menu for Your Footprint.

And if you appreciate my writings and art and want to support me, you can buy me a piece of fruit here: https://ko-fi.com/jacobberghoef, thank you 🍏 !

Interested in more? Then read what I wrote about System Change, Organic Change, Regenerative Agriculture, Regeneration

This is an edited repost.