Thinking Outside The Box - Free Access and Common Ownership

Let's consider three different approaches to making a difference to our everyday lives. The first two are commonly used and discussed and sometimes are heard head to head in argument or debate; the individual versus the collective approach. The assumption is that the individual and group actions being discussed are engaged in trying to do the best things, as they see them, to improve quality of life and taking a responsible attitude towards both present and future in order to maintain a sustainable planet. I shall take three topics that impact on our daily lives and attempt to demonstrate why it is the third approach which can be the only one to make a real and measurable difference for the majority of the planet and for the planet itself.

Use of plastics:

Individuals accept personal responsibility for restricting their own use of plastics by choices made when shopping, choosing products with minimal or no packaging, refusing plastic bags and bottled water, reusing items where possible and by recycling all waste.

The collective approach does basically the same things but they also make the decision to go a step further and actively engage in efforts to persuade others to do the same by holding protests or rallies to pressure authorities. collecting signatures, picketing targeted outlets, boycotting certain manufacturers and generally seeking to be more in the public eye.

Saving energy - use of electricity:

The individual will switch to low energy bulbs, turn off appliances when not in use, purchase latest technology fridges, freezers and washing machines and, if the budget allows, will install alternative energy equipment, all to do their bit to save money and/or the planet.

The collective approach is to form large groups which can act together in the group's interest lowering the cost of purchasing solar power and maybe even selling power back to the national grid as has happened through Transition Town initiatives around the world. Other collectives build alternative communities from scratch using all manner of unusual materials and recycled stuff with an aim of removing themselves from the grid totally. Others form yet more pressure groups hoping to change government policies regarding coal-fired or nuclear power stations, to stop the building of mega-dams which force hundreds of thousands off their land as in India and China and 'green' groups around the world constantly call for clean and renewable energy investment and jobs.

Carbon emissions and global warming from transport:

The individual again responds from the stance of taking personal responsibility, using a bicycle in preference to a car and public transport rather than owning a vehicle. Other options include limiting journeys, using 'greener' fuels or more environmentally friendly vehicles. They will buy in to carbon credits if purchasing airline tickets, make the journey by train or even rule out long distance travel altogether

The collective approach is to press for bicycle lanes in towns, better and cheaper public transport, and they will lobby and demonstrate against more motorways, runways or new airports with varying levels of success.

The third approach is the 'Change the System' or what I'll call the 'Thinking Outside the Box' approach, little of which is heard of in the mainstream.

Whilst recognising that the efforts from the first two approaches encompass some very good ideas and that they can make a difference (but usually not of great significance globally) what if the global human energy from all these individual and collective initiatives were to be combined in a single goal – that of changing the system so that we are able to effect the kinds of policies that are in the best interests of both people and planet? Yes, this requires a massive tectonic shift in thinking for many but let's do it; lets think outside the box and let's understand what changing the system means.

Let's consider these three topics, plastics, electricity and carbon emissions linked to global warming from outside the box. Outside the box thinking says it's high time to ditch the vested interests and political bickering about the costs or appropriateness of the various alternative energy possibilities. Time to recognise that one size or one model does not suit all situations, but that capitalist-run energy enterprises organised solely on profit first principles cannot support a healthy and sustainable environment. Thinking outside the box says there are better uses for oil, however much or little of it there is, than making throwaway plastics. Thinking outside the box says that transport world wide is hard wired to profit not service whether for passengers or movement of every single commodity. New roads and airports aren't built for the public's convenience but for more profit. Terminating the capitalist system would also terminate millions of unnecessary profit-seeking business flights and allow us to rethink the wisdom of air-freighting flowers around the world or transporting tons of dead chickens to a country that is returning the favour by transporting their dead chickens to us. There is so much waste in so many areas simply because profit making is the fundamental principle of the current system. So much waste too of workers' time engaged in jobs connected solely with making or handling money instead of useful, necessary activities to create better functioning societies. With the profit element removed and the means of production belonging to the people we can get on with the task of organising our way ahead. Thinking outside the box requires exchanging this principle which allows capitalism to work so well for a small minority for a principle that works for all. It means ridding ourselves of governments and leaders because they serve the interests of business not the interests of their electorates and it means welcoming a totally new paradigm of common ownership giving free access to all. Thinking outside the box reveals the long term manipulation of the working class which has subdued many into accepting the harsh conditions they have lived and worked under for too long. How much more evidence do we need to know that the capitalist system has failed us, the vast majority?

Life outside the box will be what we make it.

JS