Welcome to Gaia! ::

The world is in a constant flux of highs and lows. There's always been points in history where people felt the way you do. Be it monarchies, plagues, dictators, wars, big business...every generation has these moments and these feelings.

But, things won't pick up until people decide to focus on the good and just do whatever they can no matter how small to help.

No event is inherently good or inherently bad, it's all a matter of perception. For all we know the crap the world is going through is necessary to get to a better future. You don't know how things are going to turn out so it's best just to keep your chin up and make your life as good as you can possibly make it and help other people do the same.

Ditto to Kegan and Hester, they said it all really. The problem is it isn't that people don't care, it's just often easier for important issues to be further down the priority list than details of their own lives. We all do that sometimes. All you can really do is keep nudging people into being more, I don't know, altruistic I suppose. If anything will change it's always going to have to be a big movement, so don't get upset because you aren't acheiving anything on your own. Noone expects you to save the world singlehandedly 3nodding

And which major politicians are preparing for the apocalypse? This is highly entertaining news to me!

I'm involved in a lot of community projects- most of these things are "gateway' stuff- they're little things to get you thinking and making choices and the lots of little things add up. Heck- even shopping once a month at the farmer's market saves on carbon output by buying locally.

I love going to farmer's markets. The produce at farmer's markets is always so good. It does help reduce carbon output and it is a great way to support local farmers. There is one 5 minutes away from my house. They have awesome peaches, baked goods, corn, and a ton of other things.

I have nothing positive to say about this, and I wish I did. I see things a little too negatively, but I am optimistic...When it comes to negative things that is, so it doesn't really count. I don't necessarily want to throw myself into a pool of self indulgence, I want to throw myself off a cliff or high rise building. Of course even if I'm not positive about it, I wont throw in the towel just yet. Maybe a little later in the game, maybe...

I understand your hopeless feelings. With the media pouring so much bad information into our everyday lives about everything that happens around the country as well as the world it is difficult to handle it mentally and emotionally. Whenever the world drama becomes overwhelming to the point where you worry about it all the time I find the best way to combat that fear of helplessness is to engage in projects that make you, your family and community more secure.

Security comes in a lot of forms. For instance you mentioned the economic state of the country. To ease your mind you can find ways to become self reliant and sustain your family by planting an all organic victory garden with home composting or storing an emergency food supply like they did in the old days. Start of by hoarding 2 weeks worth of non perishable food items to feed your household and then as time goes on add to your stash so it will last for a month, 3 months, a year even. That way if hard times come and you or the breadwinner of the household looses their job you have food to tide you over until things look up again. (This is also good for natural disasters) Once you try out doing this, get your family and friends to do so as well so you have a network of stable self-reliant people. If you start with your community your efforts will spread. Once your life is solid and self sustaining you will be able to help others. Even if things aren't bad enough to where you "need" your victory garden or if you have no more room to can and preserve your harvests, you can donate your harvests to local soup kitchens. A lot of people do this. You can make a difference right where you live while you hone your gardening skills. Even if you only grow herbs like rosemary or parsley someone somewhere will have a use for it. You can find ways to make a difference with virtually any other skill set you have, whether it is clothes making, carpentry, art, doing volunteer work or even social networking to spread a cause.

It's true that one person can't hold the world up on their shoulders all by themselves but if you can be a role model for another person and influence them positively they might go and do the same for someone else. If you share your efforts with others the good will grow. As long as we retain the right to be self sufficient and have the right to help others there is nothing we can do that is pointless. Even the smallest of charitable gestures can have an impact. (:

Meh, I just have been teaching myself some homesteading skills as I can. Been saying the serenity prayer when needed too. If you would like some good resources on how to do some of that stuff, I could post them later.