Text and Photography: Caroline Hargreaves
Change is a word which is frequent in our day-to-day conversations. Our generation consists of inspired individuals with a genuine motivation of "making a difference". We are the children of the “communication-revolution,” meaning we have instant access to virtually any information. We can make up our own mind, reflect and prioritise, gathering perceptions of what we consider just and righteous.
At the same time, it is also clear that most of the ongoing activities in our reality are the exact opposite - unjust. We are facing this inner conflict where the injustice is so clear to us, fuelling a substantial spiral of bad conscience on both our shoulders and in our souls. But most of us are still part of the educational structures - preventing us from putting our theory into practice. Or?
A friend of mine recently said "the human power of thought has been developed and elevated at the expense of our power to act", which in a way implies that we have become so intelligent and analytical, each day throwing brilliant ideas onto the table, that at the same time, our capability to bring these ideas to life is equal to that of a monkey.
The privilege of running a think tank is great, as we can offer you passion, knowledge and new perspectives - but will it make a change down the road? Are the small sparks of inspirations you get through similar initiatives enough to make you want to make a difference?
Which brings me to my question - what if you could make a difference solely through your studies...? I want academic reform.
There is a difference between practical and theoretical knowledge. The distinction between the two is usually our excuse for not acting. We are convincing ourselves that through gaining a sufficient amount of theoretical knowledge by enrolling in educational structures, we will sooner or later get a well-paid job where we can afford giving the occasional contribution to charity.
Many of us enter into extra-curricular activities where we can work for charitable causes which is actually very impressive, considering the stacks of academic books piling up on our desks. And yes, there is only so much we can do. However, the question I am trying to answer is: is there any way we can use our subject of choice, say philosophy, art history or maths, in facilitating real answers? What can we do with theory?
As a student of International Relations I cannot help but to ask - what is the use of writing one essay after the other on topics that do not produce any real answers? Questions decided decades ago within narrow field - furthering either the University’s or certain professors’ research? Do we as students have the courage to demand a total reversal of on-going academic debates?
We enter the structures of education to find answers. We seem to be able to distinguish between two types of people - those who want to work for the safety and security of their inner circle and those who genuinely care about the outer circle - the circle of life, oneness where all people are regarded as equal. Where do you belong? What questions do YOU want answered?
In 2002, the Millennium Project was started, lead by economist Geoffrey Sachs, as an attempt to re-define the 8 Millennium Development goals set in 2000. The program ceased to exist in 2006, but continued its research through the "Future Report". Supported by 1700 pages of back-up material, the following questions were the result of many years of research - seeking to generate exact, solutions-oriented and future-directed answers. They have later been incorporated into ethical-codes throughout many levels in the world structure, such as multi-national corporations, institutions and governments. Please go over the following fifteen questions and give some attention to their relevance.
- How can sustainable development be achieved for all while addressing global climate change?
- How can everyone have sufficient clean water without conflict?
- How can population growth and resources be brought into balance?
- How can genuine democracy emerge from authoritarian regimes?
- How can policy-making be made more sensitive to global long-term perspectives?
- How can the global convergence of information and communications technology work for everyone?
- How can ethical market economies be encouraged to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor?
- How can the threat of new and emerging diseases and micro-organisms be reduced?
- How can the capacity to decide be improved as the nature of work and institutions change?
- How can shared values and new security strategies reduce ethnic conflicts, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction?
- How can the changing status of women help improve the human condition?
- How can trans-national organised crime networks be stopped from becoming more powerful and sophisticated global enterprises?
- How can growing energy demands be met safely and efficiently?
- How can technological breakthroughs be accelerated to improve the human condition scientifically?
- And lastly - how can efficient considerations become more routinely incorporated into global decisions?
Doesn't it make you curious? I am not saying these 15 points reflect all the injustice and problems we are facing. But it is a start, right? I would like to see what would happen if we channelled these simple questions into the major universities, academic debates, think-tanks and governments of today, giving them top priority.
Whether the attempt of providing the world with quality answers are struggling to gain ground, are in the making, or are actually happening, I am encouraging you to be creative about this and incorporate some space for thought in your daily reflections and communication. I can guarantee you enlightenment. You could be sitting on answers to these questions without even knowing, because our inner capacities are limitless! Engage yourself. Now is the time.
Caroline Hargreaves is an Editor and Photographer for the Magazine. She is Norwegian and studies International Relations at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.