While nobody wants to prevent anyone from being rewarded for working harder or smarter, there are many circumstances which prevent people, no matter how hard or smart they work, from being able to provide the minimum of necessities for themselves and their families.

 

Likewise, similar transformational thinking also needs to take place on an international level. Countries need to start thinking in terms of this planet?s needs and all the human beings who live here. As a priority, nations need to examine how to transfer surplus wealth and resources to countries that do not have them, and ensure that they are distributed fairly to those in need. As Ghandi once said, "There is enough for everyone?s need but not for everyone?s greed."

 

Although Humankind has the means to distribute wealth and technology to others, it would appear that our leaders lack the desire and will to do so. Nor have our leaders helped Humankind to arrive at an essential shared understanding and basic consensus. If the resources presently used to create war, survey other planets, and create unimaginable wealth for a few individuals could be used to create an optimum standard of living for the world?s population, we could begin to reduce violence and terrorism, and heal the physical damage that has been done to this planet and its inhabitants.

 

A recent report by the United Nations stated: "It is estimated that the additional cost of achieving and maintaining universal access to basic education, health care for all, reproductive health care for all women, adequate food, and safe water and sanitation for all is roughly $40 billion a year," the report says. "This is less than 4 % of the combined wealth of the 224th. richest people in the world."

 

Poverty is at the core of our problems of population expansion, crime, racial hostility and war. Unless there is a more equitable distribution of the world?s resources and wealth a solution is unlikely. There are models for us to learn from and follow. Many indigenous peoples managed to live in sustainable harmony with their environment and survived for hundreds of thousands of years. And they generally spent much less time ensuring their basic survival than the average middle class American family. What was at the core of their philosophy of sharing and caring? How did that philosophy influence their relationship with the environment?

 

We do know that in many of these indigenous cultures the child rearing process was intensive and designed to produce a contented, self reliant, and socially conscious adult who was emotionally able to share with and care for their fellow human beings as well as the natural resources of which they were an integral part (1). Competitive, ambitious individuals motivated to employ extraordinary efforts to create wealth and empires were absent, because healthy, well integrated individuals did not feel a need to compensate for an emotionally and physically deprived upbringing.

 

Research (2) has shown that individuals who are competition? and acquisition?driven were seldom reared with affection, caring and empathetic nurturing. Most dictators had parents who physically and emotionally abused them, and who lived in distressed circumstances.

 

The sexual attitudes of societies may also play a part. There (3) appears to be a correlation between a society?s attitude towards sex and the degree of violence experienced by that culture. Most (4) non violent indigenous peoples experienced a very positive sex life which often started in early childhood. They also had a high tolerance for sexual minorities.

 

Most Nordic cultures and some Pacific Islands cultures have very low levels of violence and very positive attitudes regarding sexual expression and fulfillment. It is interesting to note that Sweden and Denmark censor violence on the public media but not sexual activity. Conversely, imperialistically-minded countries have very repressive laws relating to sexual expression or activities. For instance the USA and Britain tolerate legal brothels where beatings and torture can be purchased quite openly, but purchasing consensual sex is illegal.

 

The mind set that human beings need to work long hours at often dangerous and un-fulfilling work, to the detriment of our own and our families needs, must be reevaluated. The gains and advantages of technology need to be shared so that basic needs are met for all, so that all this planet?s peoples have sufficient time?and inclination?for intimacy and a higher quality of emotional and family life.

 

In many sharing and caring cultures the need for work varies from region to region, largely depending on the climate. (5) On many Pacific Islands, in large part because of an agreeable climate, the work necessary to sustain each family required only about four hours of the day. Inuit and Eskimo peoples living in Arctic regions had to spend longer hours in hunting and fishing at certain times of the year, but the other months were spent in preserving foods, making clothes, and other housekeeping tasks, leaving many hours for relaxation and family and group enjoyment. The Balinese today, by sharing resources, lead a very peaceful and fulfilling life

 

Most Pacific Island cultures were sharing and caring with basic necessities being easily obtained because of the climate. When you have tropical heat coupled with amble rainfall you can achieve four harvests a year. If game and fish is plentiful and renewable building materials such as wood, bamboo and banana leaves are there for the taking, land is free and building permits and licenses are non-existent, basic survival needs are easily met. Time and attention then can be given to family, love and pleasure. It was not for nothing that early explorers thought they had discovered Paradise when they encountered Polynesian peoples who were renowned for their hospitable, loving and sensual ways.

 

At the other extreme, you have a culture which lives in an arid environment, where there is sparse vegetation and little rainfall, where the desert will only support meager herds of sheep and goats. Wealth from trading, oil and other mineral resources is hoarded by an elite minority. You then have the circumstances of extreme poverty, a sexually frustrated and violent male population who struggle to survive with little time or incentive for intimacy and sexual pleasure.

 

Historically most most of these desert states have had their lands constantly invaded over the generations by outsiders seeking domination over their lands access to their mineral wealth. Having to constantly to battle these invaders leaves little time for growing crops and educating their young except to become warriors.

 

How can we bring about these necessary changes in thinking and behavior? One way may be to integrate into our public and other traditional and innovative education systems the conviction that life can be far more meaningful and fulfilling if we share. We can, for example, study and perhaps emulate the Israeli system of Kibbutz. The Israeli nation created a whole new culture in one generation, primarily by placing children during the week in coed dormitories where, under the supervision of trained educators and care givers, they learned the myriad advantages of living together in a mutually supportive environment. These teachers inspired these youngsters to become self-assertive warriors willing to die for each other and their new nation.

 

Contemporary Humankind can utilize the Kibbutz experience not to become warriors but to inspire and support young people?and adults as well?to become self-assertive world citizens who perceive not simply their nations, but their planet, as their shared, coed "home" and as a safe and supportive environment in which to practice sharing, caring and other forms of transformational living.

 

We will need to search and explore the world for remnants of indigenous loving and caring peoples, and learn from and with them to reverse the effects of a deficient rearing process. We can learn together, and teach and model for our children, sharing and caring. We can demonstrate throughout this process that deep and healthful intimacy and fulfillment for all are within our reach. These thoughts and suggestions may at this moment seem remote and somewhat grandiose. Please keep in mind, however, that stranger ideas have come to fruition. If you have ideas, suggestions and constructive criticisms to offer please write or email me. I would appreciate hearing from you.

 

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Footnotes:
(1) Liedloff, Jean. The Continuum Concept
(2) Miller, Alice. For Your Own Good. 1983
(3) Prescott, J.W. Handbook of Human Sexuality, Wolman, B. and Money, John. 1983
(4) Ford, C. and Beach, A.. Patterns of Sexual Behavior
(5) "SAHARASIA: The 4000BCE Origins of Child Abuse, Sex-Repression, Warfare, and Social