Simon x
Set Your Spirit Free

If we compare the traditional story of the hare and the tortoise to our contemporary society we can soon see how the hare represents the predominantly western world that a great many of us have got used to existing in, fueled by growth, that has everybody 'haring' around like mad things with no time to appreciate life, just to make ends meet. Whereas the tortoise perhaps in other cultures seems to have much more time available to it spending far more time in community and works that much more closely aligned with nature.

The hare and the tortoise is the latest metaphor that I have chosen to use to explain the predicament our society now finds itself in as well as the Titanic and the Carpathia, and the caterpillar and the butterfly before.

Our hare-brained community complete with all its politicians can't seemingly get its head around any other social model that operates in any other way than the capitalist system, after all it seemingly helps us all breed like rabbits so what harm can it do? Until of course we reach the Earth's maximum carrying capacity for rabbits and hares. The hare's food in this case is all the fossil fuels in existence today plus its reserves allowing us to do all what we are able to do at the moment, so fast. That is why as an animal the hare travels at such high speeds. However, as we are beginning to realise oil, coal and gas are precious resources and if the hare neglects the value of what feeds it as with the original story then we and it will fail to finish the race and lose out through complacency and over confidence to the tortoise which in our society will be no bad thing.

The tortoise's food of course is much greener and is fed by renewables, not only left over lettuces from the garden (biofuel) but wind, solar and hydro too. The tortoise is slower, you don't get as much calorific value or megawatt hours from it as the fossil fuels but it is at least reliable and it will be around forever if used correctly. 

If we are to take the moral of the story of the traditional tale of the hare and the tortoise then we as a species would be better starting to back the tortoise if we are to win the race for sustainability and survival.

In today's video however we are offered with at least 3 other scenarios of what might happen if the hare continued to race the tortoise learning from their mistakes as they go along. So what can we also learn from these following stories holding on to the same metaphor for our own society.

In the second story the hare realises it can't take its fuel or abilities for granted and that with a more responsible approach to those assets it can last for longer and run for miles winning the race at least in the short term, and that is what the fossil fuel industry needs to do now, learn how to conserve energy first and foremost and responsibly use the remainder of its supplies for the benefit of the whole planet not just a few individuals that head up the companies that produce such resources.

In the third story the tortoise gets wise too and starts to think about how it will be most effective also, instead of placing solar panels and wind turbines everywhere maybe it does this purely in the most sunny and windy spots around the planet and where it can be used to benefit communities directly rather than the principles of companies, it will however demand massive investment and large scale solutions beyond what the majority are aware of today.

And finally in the fourth story the hare and the tortoise become friends and start to lead authentically playing to their combined strengths. The hare now realises how finite its resources are and what it must do to make sure that the right renewable infrastructure is in place for the long term benefit of the entire population of the Earth and so everybody is able to live happily ever after including all the animals and plants who are now preserved too.

Until this scenario pans out however the planet still needs our help. If you feel you would like to add your name to help preserve places like Virunga and the Arctic please click on the appropriate links. If you feel you would like a sneak preview of the letter going to my MP next week in order to draft your own why not click here. If you would like to comment on this blog why not do so here, or if you wish to find out how to follow your own authentic leadership, really wishing to make a difference in the world maybe it is time to contact me to find out how my coaching can help you.

Until next time.

Much love Sx.

The Hare And The Tortoise Or The Rabbit And The Turtle

It is only by working together as a team the world over that we will bring the sustainability we desire and peace amongst us all.