B) We live in a world where planning extends to only months and years:

(Spoiler alert: The answer, HUMANITY 10,000)

Companies must turn a profit every quarter and all adults must earn a living for themselves and their families every day. While it is very important, in any society, for capable adults learn how to take care of themselves, seldom do we recognize how the compromises we make while living out such short-term objectives effects the long-term survival of our planet. And when we do recognize our contribution to the collective harm we’re causing, the majority of us go back to our jobs the next day to keep the sausage machine turning. Why is this and what is the cure? I recognize this shortcoming in myself and the way I live my life. Going for a Sunday drive just for something to do, taking an airplane while on vacation, living in a much bigger house than I require, drinking coffee while knowing that the millions of acres that have been cut down in southern climes to grow the those brown beans have played a role in the drastic decline in the migratory songbirds I love to feed.

Again, why do even people aware of the ecological reality fail to act fully? Let’s take a look at the people who try to warn us about ecological destruction; scientists, writers, film makers and activists; when they do tell us about some particular aspect about the ecological dangers our world is facing, I believe something has been missing in the majority of their discourses meant to educate the public; something that causes the majority of us to close our eyes and ears and turn away from their warnings.

As I see it, the majority of ecological writing over past decades stresses how things are going badly for the planet and individuals must, “Quickly help humanity last another few decades so we don’t go extinct.”

While this is a worthwhile goal, in the majority of cases where people do embrace the idea of living sustainably, within weeks or months, a participation-exhaustion sets in. The reason for this is most ecological writing puts forth a worldview starting with descriptions of where humanity is at the present. Therefore, when people begin to really think about our ecological situation, the task of correcting the problems seems impossible, both as an individual responsibility and as a species. It’s as if one is standing before an insurmountable wall with no apparent way to scale it. This usually results in a feeling of hopelessness for those new to learning about ecology. It’s then followed not long after by emotional burnout and downright apathy. I know that feeling well. I’ve been there. What follows is a type of amnesia which sets in, where we forget the big problem we’re facing and fatalistically go about our lives.

Now each relevant topic about the journey behind us and in front of us becomes a conversation that takes individuals out of their lives and offers a bird’s-eye perspective of how humans got to where we are. I call this helping individuals gain “The Elder’s Perspective.” This is when someone seeks to gain the scientific knowledge of where we came from, and then develops a holistic opinion of what is best for our human tribe and all the billions of other life forms living on this tiny planet. I believe we can also call this wisdom. And what follows when a person develops wisdom? Perhaps the strength-of-character to engage, participate in and promote long-term lifestyle changes, and also the ability to avoid burnout.

I say 10,000 years, but I really mean forever or in perpetuity. Science is only beginning to be able to understand the complexity of Earth’s biosphere. But as scientists continue to accumulate knowledge, they will be able to point out how we must put into practice the proper scientific and lifestyle practices to ensure society’s longevity.

Structuring every decision to not have negative effects is virtually as difficult whether one is considering it for seven generations or ten thousand years. But the seven generations concept was developed before we had a true scientific perspective of our origins, and there’s a sweet synchronicity to mirroring the length of civilization’s past into the future. Sometimes poetic visions can capture a culture’s imagination, and a vision is necessary for any great enterprise or journey. And frankly, building a world-wide society that will last thousands of years is both.