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On behalf of: RescueOurFuture.org

On February 10^th, 2024 a group of passionate individuals from all around the world joined together for dialogue on a reset to rescue our future, sparked by an online post thanks to Glenn Sankatsing titled on the evolutionary concept: “Life Seeks More Life.” This led to a hosted video-conference that continued the conversation. (You can watch the full video recording found at the end of this article.)

During a time when so much chaos, destruction and violence are being seen and experienced around the world, there are those who are proactively seeking to counter the negative framework with a simple belief that “life seeks more life” and those looking for life find others doing the same and are happy to engage with them in conversation that leads to impactful resolution and encourages meaningful ways to rescue our future through positive, inclusive, non-judgmental and respectful dialogue.

The forum was hosted by Glenn Sankatsing and Renald Laing of Rescue Our Future Foundation -an organization dedicated to offering a hospitable environment for the global village of humanity to interact and progress towards better ways of being.

With the hope sparked by the attendees presence and participation, Glenn shared his excitement and encouragement during the beginning of the forum,

“This is a sign that the positive magnetism can attract diverse people who each in their own way can contribute to a better place, a better future. We can feel fine in a world that is not fine, because we do what we can to make earth a decent place.” – Glenn Sankatsing, Rescue Our Future Foundation, Dialogue on a Reset to Rescue Our Future¹

“What matters so much to all of us [is] a livable and peaceful planet for us and the generations to come.” Renald Laing, Rescue Our Future, Dialogue on a Reset to Rescue Our Future²

“Humanity is on auto-pilot towards extinction. [It] has been tampering dangerously with the exceptional conditions that make life on earth possible.” Glenn

Many much-needed conversations, much-needed solutions are forfeited and never found because one, both or all sides of the conversation are more inclined to complaining, blaming, or unable to see anything other than their own point of view or vie for their own self-interests. But in the Reset to Rescue Our Future forum, a great example was seen of what fruitful conversations motivated toward action can look like and how they can happen. Certain foundational ethics and mentalities needed in order for these types of dialogue to happen and be effective include some of the following:

Guidelines for Dialogue

• Be Open
• Have respect for all participants
• Acknowledge our precarious state
• Emphasize how good things can be
• Suggest ways to move forward and
• What actions can be taken or
• Share what actions are already being taken
• Find common ground
• Draw on inspiration from others
• Seek harmony with those different from yourself
• Recognize, embrace and celebrate the many “I’s” in the collective “We”

“Dialogue is not about finding consensus, but about finding common ground for transformative action.” – Glenn Sankatsing

The pretext for the dialogue is that transformation will not come from within the system; it will be extra-systemic and will come from a social force guided by morality. The old advice has been: “If you can’t beat them, join them.” I suggest we instead take up the mantra, “If you can’t join them, beat them.”

This is not the first time in history where false narratives have weakened the collective consciousness to make the masses feel all but hopeless in being subservient to their imposed masters, nor will it be the last, but history has shown us that people can awaken to their willful consent, their folly, their ignorance, or their complacency with being by-standers who have fallen victim to the mentality that “nothing can be done.”

Something can always be done if one is willing to accept whatever consequences and risks may come with it, and if, by wisdom -patience, endurance and courage are found. The battle is not always to the ones who seem most powerful, but to the ones who are actually the most powerful and while it’s easy to blame those in the highest seats, and rightly so when they neglect accountability and responsibility, we, the masses can’t neglect to see our own part in turning a blind eye when our daily actions and habits allow such evils to advance, whether consciously or ignorantly. When we know we can do better and don’t…We must go from knowing better to doing better. Some of us have already begun this journey, some are starting and we can continue to build on these foundational acts to even greater levels of commitment and solidarity.

And when we do, we can become, “a powerful transformative force capable of re-humanizing a dehumanized humanity.”

The forum was divided into 3 topics of interest which any participants could team themselves to and speak on. The 3 sections were: Our Precarious State, The Way Forward, and Action to be Taken.

All of the contributions from participants who spoke in the forum hosted by Foundation to Rescue Our Future broadly fell into into 3 key concepts: moral responsibility and accountability; giving more place to localized efforts to live harmoniously; and expanding the collective network. Some of the covered topics and ideas could fall into more than one category.

The following section highlights quotes and recaptures from each of the speaking participants, ordered according to key concepts listed here.

I. Moral Responsibility and Accountability

The way forward seems to be accountability. Accountability from ourselves and from our governments. Accountability that is based on actionable steps toward a sustainable future checked by an awareness of our moral reserves and conscious guidance in our daily lives, habits and proactive endeavors.

Change the Narrative

Define the kind of world we would like to see. We have all been led to believe certain narratives by the education we’ve received, the media we’ve consumed and the direction political leaders have taken us. These can distract us from taking the world in the direction we really desire to go.

“How did we get to the undesirable situation that we are trying to change? How much can we as a group do by coming together and countering these powerful forces? Each of us can do something. Live by example…Define the kind of world we would like to see…Make input that others could look at and borrow and live.”

Focus On How Good Things Can Be

By shifting our consciousness from how bad things can be to how good things can be we can lessen the fear and anxiety that contribute to the continuation of the current state and instead make tremendous change simply by beginning to imagine what’s possible. After years as a journalist and author of several environmental books, another participant shares the wonderful healing transformation of humans and earth she’s been exposed to in her work as well as many less talked about solutions.

“How good could it be?”

New Laws and Policies From New Sustainable Nations Stemmed by Our Moral Reserves

Having morally sustainable ways of living and being that lead us to act in territory and promote laws and policies that hold governments accountable while also being in harmony with both local and global collectives and with nature itself. A contributor working on a constitution for Mexico that guarantees sustainable development works with a movement that brings the best practices of those trying to contribute collective best knowledge for action and transformation and encourages others to do the same.

“We don’t know if we are going to survive, but at least what we are meant to be is to be the best of humankind…We need to identify those moral reserves that have the power and influence to move humanity toward rescuing our future. We have to go back to our humanity, and think about what has moved humanity to the best of what we are throughout civilization.”

Take Action Through A Moral Compass & Foresight Into Obstacles

All of our actions should be guided by a moral compass that seeks the good of ourselves within the universe we belong to. Whether atheist or spiritually-inclined, we all have diverse ways of understanding what’s beyond us, what’s unknown and how we interpret our experiences, but there is generally common ground found on humanitarian rights and laws commonly based on our collective morale. A center for justice and peace minister shares his happiness and encouragement of leadership who have demonstrated transparency, courage and been outspoken on touchy subjects that could potentially put their lives at risk. On the other hand, he raises the question of accountability as to what our efforts will be worth if the governing bodies put laws into effect that purposely stop them.

“I’m happy with what is happening in the world now. Rather than running into our cocoons, we have to put on the pressure, at least open our mouths, communicate this is right / this is wrong without being offensive -institutions, individuals, even as we do a lot from our individual point of view to keep on making a change.”

“[In my work] Things get better when I just balance it on the issue of justice, “Is it just or unjust?” “Is it good or is it not good?” “Is it moral or not moral?”

“We can create communities that are environmentally safe…ecological food…everything, but what if the government decides to pass a law and say no?

Another participant later comments in reply:

“According to me, it’s an action from God…the nature and universe will definitely take action. It’s not that we will take action and then the nature/or the universe is going to wait for us, basically the burden is being born by the planet, so the nature/or the universe or the God will take action and then that is how the change will come from within us again so that we can take care of ourselves, so that is the extra-terrestrial reset or extra-systemic reset according to me.”

Reduce Over-Production by Conscious consumerism

We must be aware of the impacts of our consumption and hold ourselves and our governments accountable. An identifying Sustainability Enthusiast and Earth Advocate also called for government accountability through a crack down on means of production and scaling back on consumerism. She says consumerism is being fostered by capitalism to create mass scaled production of goods and services that exhaust the resources of the planet and society. By being more conscious of our consumption of less necessary goods, individuals can mount pressure on the governments through a hybrid of socialism and capitalism or rather heavily regulated capitalism.

“If governments don’t step in, we as individuals will loose the battle.”

“Action is the best prediction.”

Globally-shared security

There are certain needs common to all humanity that we should be willing to share with each other in order to create a better sense of security for all. A citizen ambassador shares her hopefulness in seeing some system changes already taking place in different countries impacted by war and neocolonialism. People need security in food, water, clothing, shelter, energy sources, trade routes, science and technology, security against disasters. Above all we need security against each other on earth and in space. Technological advancement make accelerated processes possible for us to connect and collaborate together.

“If mankind keeps security as a deliberate mantra then the habitat that we shape will surely change for the better. What should we be doing together on the planet, and how? By sharing, we’re on the right side of history.”

Education and reconnecting with nature

Reconnecting with nature can help us feel more attached to our place within it and more directly observe how our actions contribute to our destruction or well-being. One of the participants started a home-grown school to teach sustainability and well-being, to help people of any age reconnect with nature and to understand their place within it. As a regenerative vegan fruit farmer, she demonstrates how to lead by example and she extends her knowledge to as many as she can. She advocates for identifying the abundance around us: foraging, increasing plant diversity, having small local food systems and living in sync with seasonally available foods, giving more acknowledgment and appreciation to the food we’ve come to undervalue, wasting less food, and reclaiming food production from major players.

“Every ripple could join to be a giant tsunami, but whether we can do that in time is the question.”

“What I promote in everything I try and do is to move people from dependence on the systems that keep us trapped…I’m doing that here on a very small scale…We need to move fundamentally away from our dependence on the system and find our own self-reliance…and if we stop buying all the stuff that we don’t need there will be no need to produce it anymore and these businesses will go out of business.”

Looking from the Standpoint of Abundance

Another way of changing the narrative that says, “we don’t have enough money, resources, power, solutions, etc.” is believing that we do. We do have enough money, resources, minds, and care, but what we need is faith, courage and action. One of participants says rentier financial capitalism voids purposeful value, accelerating the destruction of nature and society. He says we are told there is no money, especially for countries left undeveloped by the system, when in reality there are means to grow, have food, have energy sovereignty, to grow within one’s currency, and to be free of the slavery that is imposed by international organizations like world banks.

“We need to understand the historical background we are up against and then we need to act from that standpoint.”

II. Giving more Place to Localized Efforts & Harmonious Lifestyles

Food Security through crop diversity

A change in food systems diversity can give us better food security. The main dominating crops of wheat, rice, corn and potatoes have monopolized our markets to lack diversity in grains and lack opportunity for shared wealth and affordable food. They’ve also contributed to the negative environmental footprint by use of harmful pollutants such pesticides and fertilizers. A participant involved in environmental government and agribusiness suggests we diversify to incorporate more African grains like sorghum, millet and teff that are more adapted to climate change. Also tubers such as cassava, yucca, and sweet potatoes that have been well-researched, but have not taken off due to lack of exposure and knowledge of usefulness in cooking and using in recipes.

“One of the things that should help reset and make a better future is increasing the food diversity, and increasing the options that people have. Reduce monoculture and reduce dominant grains so that you also have better resilient systems and livelihoods.”

Renewing Water Systems

Water is one of our most valuable assets and something we can’t live without. Not just water, but clean, safe, drinkable water for humans and clean, safe, livable water for plant and animal species. A contributor in wetland construction says the 100 year old process for treating wastewater needs complete transformation as discharge into oceans contributes to creating dead zones across the world. He is willing to share more information that he’s put together on Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment with anyone interested. He does aquaponics and food forests in his daily life, producing his own energy and collecting rain water.

“I’m optimistic of what can be done and pessimistic about the powers that be. In the US we spend almost a trillion dollars a year on Military -divert that to doing things that need to be done to save the earth, rather than wars… …If we as individuals can start practicing what we know we need to do, then we can get the majority of the world’s population to live within the limits, then I think we can make a lot of progress. We’ve got 23 people here talking…and there’s 8 billion people out there that we have no way of really contacting.”

Intentional Communities

Building communities with localized purpose and intentional care. Instead of power or profit driven communities, or taking it for granted that ‘someone out there’ will create the world we want to see, we can set ourselves up for better success and resilience by normalizing communities centered around values, lifestyle and quality of life that give more opportunity and voice to those who do not thrive on self-sustainability but communal-sustainability. People with physical or cognitive disabilities, or people who just want a lifestyle outside of the “system” can, have and are creating localized communities of a few members or families to much larger co-housing communities, eco-villages, communes, tribal villages and other similar organically-formed developments built on holistically shared values and shared resources. One contributor has started a journal to give more exposure to these types of ideas and places.

“To me, these [intentional communities] are the best models that I’ve seen for how we can duplicate things on a larger scale. In these type of communities people have meetings to discuss whatever issues they’re having on smaller scales, they live close to the land, grown their own gardens, they’re sharing more so there’s less waste… [there are] so many things that I see there. These communities are really putting in the effort to make the world a better place.”

Re-Indigenization

Indigenous people are receiving more recognition for their historically observed harmonious ways of living more sustainably with nature. One contributor helped co-found a project which intends to bring economic, social, and natural systems into equilibrium through know-how and partnerships and advocates for a transitioning fund needed to come out of the system. She is hopeful that even smaller budgets can provide high impact especially in the global south. She suggests consideration of “a counsel for the Earth,” to bring together people who are doing the same things but maybe working in isolation so they can better serve their purpose.

“Indigenous people have been living with nature as a keystone species, making sure all the ecosystems are taken care of …the water is clean for everyone, there’s food for everyone. I see this happening through creating communities locally that share a land, bringing back the lands to the commons and reintegrating nature, becoming again the keystone species we were supposed to be -this is how we were.”

Another contributor as well shared her experience with 52 indigenous groups of low-income Indigenous people in her country and seeing the difficulty they have without modern conveniences but says what they do have is a social fabric that has not been broken of which she does not see in modern societies. She says courage is needed to get out of the corporate world. She agrees we are all in systems of families, countries, etc. but says her awareness of her own disconnection with nature made her get back together with a group of women who started producing organic fruit. Connecting with the elements of the natural environment and the pleasure of eating your own food, feeling the energy of that, learning from a Shaman from her country, working with art -the power of art and beauty.

“…Of course when you are part of that you cannot be part of the greedy system.”

“After being for so long, one-third of my life, in the corporate world I realized [it was not the place I want to be]”

The power of art, creativity and beauty

Sometimes the most powerful way to be inspired is through art. Whether beauty from our natural surroundings, beauty in the hearts of people we connect with or any of the various forms of artwork . One participant shared how he and the youth he worked with were able to reach many people through a simple model island replica made from collected garbage that clearly demonstrated the consequences of human waste to problems to resource flows. Then making a bridge to steps on protecting and preserving the ocean fetal plankton, all in 10 minutes. He also spoke of the inspiration found being involved with Documenta 15 (2022, Kassel, DE), the largest global collective art exhibition and how the whole city participated, creating displays of low economic value but high impact influence, expressing ideas along the lines of “pathways out of colonialism,” aquaponics, self-reliance, agricultural and the like, which gave him a lot of hope.

“The most effective way to do extra-systemic work from within the system was using art. That worked wonderfully fine.”

III. Gaining Support & Expanding the Collective Community Network

Taking it Beyond Us

How can we reach more people who need this type of dialogue? Several participants expressed a desire to see more talks that lead to greater networking connections, so that more people can join in, become inspired, get involved and take greater action collectively.

One advised taking advantage of technology while keeping a balance with emerging technologies like AI. The idea of emerging impact was also brought forward, being compared with a natural ecosystem -how we all need to come together for conversations, interviews, to share and really outline whatever ecosystem each of us is exploring and how they all inter-connect, how we all impact each other.

“It’s like an ecosystem in nature. If you remove one organism from that ecosystem it could cause collapse…it’s tied to that whole siloed society [concept]. We often don’t look outside of our own worlds to see how our decisions and this and that can impact others and that can be a way to bond and once you find those connections then solutions can emerge.”

Coming together as community

Our individual efforts can be merged into a like-minded community of “one” seeking to advance common goals together. A participant involved in collective impact and community-led development believes we are seeing growth in the presence of a globally concerned community, but need to help those concerned-but-not-active, or those on the border, to become more active.

“I feel there’s somewhat of a collective awakening. I feel there’s an awareness that we need to do something, and the only way we can do something is by coming together as community…People have grown tired of the precarious state and want to know how good it can be. [We] have to bring in hope and belief that it can happen to get that support and further cause those ripples.”

Showing People What’s Possible

“I just wanted to react in part to the work, in terms of what we need to do, I think Erika has done what I think is most important, is sharing all that is good that is happening now, because I think if we want to change… people have to see what is possible and to see that what is possible is better than what we have now. So sharing successes of people actually doing things is probably the most important thing to do. I would start there.”

And on that note, as author of this article, I humbly want to thank everyone for the opportunity to write this content which would not be possible without the good works that you all are doing and the positive conversations that we’ve engaged in. Thank you all so much for caring about each other and about our world and for doing all you know how to rescue our future!

“We are not running out of options, but we are running out of time.” – Rescue Our Future

All views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the author or journal, nor do views expressed by the author necessarily reflect those of other participants, but are shared for purposes of education, diversity, free speech and greater understanding for peaceful interactions and for progress of common goals.

All references not specifically referenced can be found in the video transcript.³

Thank you for reading this article. I hope you found it insightful and are inspired to take action to rescue our future! We’d love to hear more thoughts on how we can do this! Please share yours in the comments below or writeme@angleandperspective.com

Collectively yours,

Erika Smith,

iam:ForeverBlessed…and I hope you are too!

1https://youtu.be/Z7oFtMB5S2k?si=JyQfNEQ9oL4B_Wmp&t=100

2https://youtu.be/Z7oFtMB5S2k?si=nNsraGCE29ZEeyJ4&t=59

3https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7oFtMB5S2k