How Do We Save The World?
Unfortunately the question, as well as most every answer, often winds up as hyperbole. We 'save the world' by raising awareness, or contributing to charities, or taking personal responsibility for keeping our households non-polluting and carbon neutral. While all of these steps are objectively good things to do, none actually pose an answer to the question that was originally asked. Indeed, in the modern world, it is somewhat difficult to define what we even mean by the question.
Defining a Solution
How do we save the world? Depending on the focus, this question admits thousands of answers. But what if we attempt to widen our focus to the entirety of the issue? By doing so, we can restate the question more precisely; What can we do to insure the long term survivability of the human species and the health of the planet on which we reside?
The Human Condition
There are three major elements that would go a long way toward furthering our species' survivability. First, a majority of society must live in a condition of resource abundance and social stability. Second, society must cultivate other systems to test and integrate new technologies and ideologies apart from capitalism. Third, humanity must seed other planets to be independent of Earth.
The Earth
The defense of our planet is broken into two elements: human involvement, and natural phenomena. Natural phenomena can be planned for with technological initiative, to a point. To remedy human destruction, we must see a massive global effort to 'terraform' our world back to its natural (or perhaps even primordial) state. We are a society with tools now, it's time we used them to build sustainable bedrock for our future.
Elements
All this is fine and good, by way of definition, but it really only points the way toward a tangible course of action. To continue our exploration of the subject, let's start by listing five real world elements our project will likely need for success.
-Massive Grassroots Involvement
One person (or even one government) cannot hope to implement the level of change needed. Our project must seek to directly involve a significant percentage of the planet's population in the long term.
-It Must Be Voluntary
The project must be executed voluntarily by its participants or it loses all legitimacy and any hope of long term success. As such, it must be attractive enough on its own merits to bring together people willing to execute it.
-It Must Work With Capitalism
This may be controversial to some, but it makes logical sense. Any global movement hoping to gain traction will be spread fastest and be adopted most readily if it is spread through existing channels. Our project should aim to reform the system, not destroy it.
-It Must Be Adaptable
To any environment. Any political climate. Any disaster. This directly relates to the survivability element of our discussion. Our project must push people to overcome obstacles, create new technologies, and find solutions in adversity.
-Transparency
Any project of the magnitude suggested will necessarily receive a certain amount of resistance from the existing system. One very good way to avoid suspicion and rumor is to invite the public in. If the project is run well, it will have nothing to hide and will encourage long-term partnerships within local communities.
Further Observations
Without detailing an entire plan at this time, we can extrapolate from the above elements that what is required is a system to support and redirect the working class, streamline the distribution of assets, reclaim manufacturing, localize food production, and design the technologies needed for a better tomorrow. What is necessary is a system that can do all these things and more.