A Call to Conscious Evolution. 

A lot of attention has been given in recent months to things that have been going wrong and much less given to those that are going right. The focus has been much more on structures that have been breaking down and not on the ideas and solutions that have been breaking through and bringing hope.  

I am reminded of what Paul Hawken says in his book, Blessed Unrest, that over many years the ingenuity of organisations, social entrepreneurs and individuals have created a powerful alternative agenda to address the needs of society. He expresses surprise that it is not more widely appreciated just how many groups are engaged in progressive causes and also that many people don't realise the scale of what is happening. This is reflected in the subtitle of his book is ‘How the Largest Movements in the World Came into Being and Why No-one Saw it Coming.’  He observes how the Internet and other communication technologies have revolutionised what is possible for small groups to accomplish and how this is changing the balance of power.  He points out that until recently, it has never been possible for the entire world to be connected.

All over the world people are coming together in small groups and large gatherings, to explore creative solutions and positive ways forward.  We report on one such meeting in Barcelona, that took place in November, organised by the Alliance for New Humanity.  Participants were asked by Deepak Chopra to join him in taking a vow of non-violence in our lives - not only in our actions but also in our thoughts.  Their aim is to create an alliance of people based on the awareness of humanity’s interconnectedness. They believe that if enough people share that value of peace, war can be brought to an end.  If enough people shift their awareness toward social justice, human rights and environmental sustainability, then injustice, oppression and the destruction of the eco-system can be stopped.  They say that such a shift is already occurring and they aim to connect individuals, caring communities and groups at a global level, to help to increase awareness.  They say that ‘unity isn’t fought for and won, it is realised one person at a time.’  

Since the gathering of global visionaries in Barcelona, a further initiative,  The Call to Conscious Evolution has come into being. It is a movement that fully supports the idea that the future is not what happens to us but rather it is what we create.

The many concerns about Climate Change, Economic disparity, educational inequities, geo-political tension are symptoms of a world that is out of balance. In this time of great uncertainty, they ask people to join together to shift consciousness to help create a better world. They ask people to do this by signing a pledge committing themselves to help bring about a world of peace harmony and love. Many well know writers and speakers have already signed this pledge including: Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Jean Huston, Barbara Marx-Hubbard, Greg Braden and Joan Borysenko along with many, many others.  If you would like to find out more about the pledge go to: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/248704259 or the vow you can visit www.itakethevow.com

Time is racing by and very soon the New Year will be with us. I am going to make my New Year resolution for 2009 by taking the vow and signing the pledge. May I take this opportunity to wish all of you joy and peace in the festivities ahead and in the coming year. 

In Peace and Unity

Shauna

Paul Hawken’s book Blessed Unrest is
Published by Viking Penguin
ISBN-10: 0670038520
ISBN-13: 978-0670038527
Available from

Image: Deepak Chopra Marianne Williamson Jean Houston Barbara Marx Hubbard Gregg Braden and Joan Borysenko courtesy of The Call to Conscious Evolution