Let us rise above
Now we are in panic. If we take the long lines at the gasoline stations at any given time, then it definitely looks like it. Days ago when the announcements of fuel prizes going high began, we witnessed many vehicles lining up to fill their tanks before the next announcement. Where before we would get the announcements at least once a week, this time it is rolling faster. The erratic change of fuel prices finds us caught in late night traffic as motorists line up more frequently at gas stations to fill their tanks.
We noted some motorcycles practically shake their bikes to willing filling their tanks as if by doing so they can store more before the next announcement of hikes appear. Business is in trepidation. What if the war in the middle east continues or spreads? What happens to business? How about the way we live?
Daily we get announcements from all sectors in radio stations and in the papers, calling for measures to save on current, save on fuel, save on energy. The more calls of conservation fill the air, the more the listeners react in the opposite way, which is hoarding. The feeling of apparent deprivation triggers that instinct to collect more so one can have more for the time when there is no longer any supply. This creates unnecessary inflation. As the knee-jerk reaction of self-preservation cause people to accumulate a resource they feel will be in scarcity.
For others, it is preparation for the long haul, for we really do not know when the conflict in the middle east will end.
It is sad to note that third world countries and smaller economies like ours are the most affected by this radical political action in the larger nations. Somehow the rippling effect tilts the balance and adds to more panic as those who are more monied collect more than those who are not liquid at all.
Remaining in a pace of enough is hard to do when we are in fear. And like a trapped animal we immediately find someone to attack and blame. We seldom look at ourselves and gaze into possibilities of sustainable survival rather than palliative action. I see this in the punitive effort of government to make palliative measures to ease the pang of anxiety among drivers and public transportation operators.
Sometimes I cannot help but feel disappointed at how we always shovel blame on government and how government reacts at times. People have not yet gotten off that psyche of “government owes us” everything.
True, we are suffering from the repercussions of the corrupt. But NOT ALL in government are. And if we re-examine our definition of government, we are a great part of it.
Sadly though, most of those who are noisy are composed of many who sold their votes. My apologies to those who are simply expressing anxiety and have made a choice based on conscience. But we need to be together in this. This is where true people power will have to work again.
I am not talking about massive action that will bring us to the streets. That has never worked for me. Instead I suggest the exercise of responsible citizenship. Being a good steward of whatever resources are still with us. We go back to what government and media is asking us to do without any politics in the line. We cannot blame our government for an international occurrence. But we can blame government for the inconsistency of actions. Sometimes, discipline is just a word. Commitment to it is another story.
CONSERVE. Simple acts of putting lights off when they are not needed. Planning trips so that they do not have to be wasted. Sharing rides, managing wastes, and learning to make judicious use of energy. Harnessing other sources and thinking deeper into what alternatives we have so that we are not totally dependent on imported resources.
We take simple steps like planning our groceries so that we do not have to throw away what we do not need. Again, this may go back to the basic meal plans so that no ingredient gets to the dump later. In short, we have to reset to the simple and think of better, simpler ways of going on with life. Remember documentary of Dan Buettner on Live to 100:Secrets of Blue Zones? People lived simply, loved deeply and worked intimately. Connections made them live longer. Simple, healthy lifestyles that were less costly and efficient.
At work, we do the same. Put off unnecessary appliances. Pull plugs of chargers and what have you that remain tagged in the sockets. Use whatever resources are there with less to no wastage at all. Our jobs depend on it. Our lives depend on it.
Let us stop looking for someone to blame and take our own measures to live a more meaningful life above this chaos. Let us rise above all these. God bless everyone!
- Latest
