The REThink Project
I wonder a great deal. I wonder why are things the way they are? What forces at play make things the way they are? Why can’t they be different, why can’t things be better?
We stand on the shoulders of all those that came before us. The way we live, the lifestyle we have, what is possible and what is not possible is a construct of what we believe. What we believe to be true, not true and what we think is possible and not possible is the reality we forge.
The world I live in today, in Upstate New York, United States of America, in the beginning of the second decade of the 21st Century is chock full of man made systems. Systems of roads and bridges to transport me, my family and all the stuff I consume. Systems of power plants and electric transmission wires to produce and deliver the electricity I use to take for granted. These are man made systems that allow for our material success in the material world. There are also grander, more powerful natural systems that generate and sustain the life support systems for all life on this magnificent planet.
I read Einstein’s words in many places now-a-days that “we can’t solve a problem with the same level of consciousness that created it.” Consciousness in this regard is thought. To move forward, we must transcend. The same is true with the saying “if you keep doing what you have done, you will keep getting what you got.” Not sure who said that one but it is in the same vein as Einstein’s words. There is also, “continuing to do the same things expecting different results is the definition of insanity.”
So many of us want so much to live in greater harmony with natural systems. By learning from natural systems and working to mimic them, we move forward on the path to sustainability.
The world I live in is rooted in man made systems. These systems were devised decades and even a century or more ago. When these systems were devised, the level of consciousness was not where it is today. Everything has unintended consequences. That is the basis of what Einstein was talking about for what you can’t perceive, doesn’t exist – it is not comprehendible. It is only when you change your thinking that you may begin to perceive it. That change in perception ushers in the ability, or context, to perceive and then comprehend. It is by transcending the current level of thought that you expand into a new, higher level of thought. One in which solutions to problems can be had.
It is in this vein that I bring to you, REThink. REThink is a duel purpose word. REThink is to re-think- or take another look at a topic, issue, problem or solution in a new context, within a new paradigm, or through a new lens or different worldview. RE is an acronym for Renewable Energy. So the second meaning is Renewable Energy Thinking – comprehending renewable energy under new constructs, different paradigms or with a worldview that values all life, believes in human ingenuity to solve complex problems that moves the human experience forward and upward.
Our existence is by design, but our continued success it is not a foregone conclusion. Our ability to survive and prosper is not guaranteed. Our past actions create our current results which affect our current situation that place before us a set of choices we believe are within our ability to take. This is true individually and collectively.
I believe we are stuck. Our paradigms have gotten us so far in this experiment of life on Earth. To many, nothing is wrong. To others what is wrong is the desire of people like myself who are passionate about the need for change, for expansion, for renewal and considerable rethinking of the man made systems that have been created for they have reached limits. They don’t comprehend the limits that I see all too readily. They are staring me straight in the face encouraging me to act.
Here are a few areas ripe for REThinking:
REThink Energy
REThink Fossil Fuels
REThink Efficiency
REThink Nature
REThink Wetlands
REThink Water
REThink Transportation
REThink Housing
REThink Consumption
REThink Agriculture
REThink Consciousness
REThink Spirituality
REThink Community
REThink Business
REThink Hot Water
REThink Refrigeration
REThink Heating, Cooling and Ventilation
REThink Cooking
REThink Cleaning
REThink Electricity
REThink Building
REThink Everything
I will dive into each one and more, putting the topic through a lens of REThinking the topic. What underlying assumptions may not be valid any longer? The lens will be a different worldview than the one that originally perceived the topic or is at the mainstream today about the topic. What topics are you interested in REThinking?
