"My Vision for The Third Millenniem"

Edgar Mitchell Sc.D.,
 
     As one who has had the privilege of looking at this magnificent but fragile planet from afar, indeed, has been privileged to represent humanity in the exploration of our nearest planetary neighbor, I feel a strong obligation to share with all my earthbound neighbors the lessons I have learned from that experience and the years that followed it.
 
     The wonders of technological and economic progress in this century and the global crises which that progress has also produced are well documented in hundreds of learned papers, books and video accounts.  The difficult questions that remain are: How do we persuade the most technologically and economically advanced individuals, corporations and nations that the economic that the economic strategy of promoting unlimited growth and increased levels of consumption is leading to disaster for all?  How do we persuade the less technologically and economically advanced individuals, enterprises and nations not to follow the lead of those who are currently more financially successful, but rather to search for sustainable alternatives?  And—How do we persuade the largest group of all, those who are undereducated and poor, that they also must contribute to the solution by curbing population growth and to nourish the earth rather than continuing to ravage its abundance to the detriment of future generations?
 
     My vision is that the third millennium will bring a new dawn of awareness such that the genius and creativity which we exhibit as individuals will be harnessed together in concert, globally, to resolve the problems which we have unwittingly collectively created and which threaten existence as we know it.  This vision cannot possibly become reality without each of us, as he or she awakens to the dilemma, to first make a personal decision to live life productively toward creating a sustainable civilization for all, then to reach beyond our personal commitment to self and family to assist others also to recognize that our cultural traditions have created the crisis and must be re-examined.
 
     This vision requires first awareness, then education, then action.  Awareness will lead to change of heart. Education will lead to a change of mind.  Effective action can then follow which will lead to a change of direction. Vested interest in the status quo will lose legitimacy by our personal decisions not to participate in behaviors which do not contribute to a sustainable future; then by persuading others to join us in the quest.
 
     Governments cannot accomplish what is necessary for a sustainable future without the consent of the governed.  The governed cannot do it alone as solitary individuals, but when there is sufficient awareness, education and dedication to legitimize the economics and politics for a sustainable future, governments will be forced to change accordingly.
 
     Technologically we are ready to explore the cosmos.  Economically we are mostly devoted to greed. Educationally we are still largely illiterate.  Culturally we are parochial and divisive.  Spiritually few know their own soul, having entrusted it to traditional dogmas.  My vision, indeed, my article of faith for the opening of the new millennium, is that we can and will evolve consciously and quickly to transcend these limitations of our juvenile species and attain the mature and glorious adulthood of world stewardship.