The Need for a Cultural Shock
Surely enough, moving to the tropics could mean the loss of certain cultural attributes and activities, like skiing and snowboarding. It might be a price worth paying.
It is unavoidable for culture to evolve, and we’ll see some practices disapear as we move to more harmony and global health. Think about pastimes such as gambling, monster truck races, and our regular abuse of alcohol and narcotics. Think about burgers and sushi. These may be things you love, but they aren’t the best for the benefit of all beings. We all love our entertainment, and some people would rather die from lack of resources, than face any amount of boredom.
Luckily, there are free forms of entertainment, that are much healthier, than sitting in a chair, throwing away time and money on slot machines. There is art, music, dance, there is poetry and writing, there is social interaction, and countless of healthy activities harmless to people, animals, plants, or the environment. In the same way, there are infinite ways, of making raw vegan meals appealing and entertaining. It only takes little effort to find them.
There is much we can do as entertainment that requires minimal expenses. Some of these activities, such as music and art, bring value to communities and societies at large, instead of taking away from them.
Many cultures around the world use work as a form of social entertainment. In Ecuador, for example, communities get involved in what is called “Mingas”, or work parties. The community works together in a project, and once it is finished, they celebrate. This practice has been noted around the world in different cultures.
There is a fine line we must walk, and we aren’t suggesting we eliminate all forms of entertainment that don’t fit our personal preferences. We all know gambling can be addictive, and there are certainly no health benefits related to this form of entertainment. On the other hand, skiing and snowboarding are much healthier, given that they get people moving, and bring them closer to nature.
There is much we need to understand before we can tell how badly our current situation is. We may even be able to reduce some of our favorite pastimes, instead of eliminating them completely.
Some of us may think we have the God-given-right to ski and gamble as much as we want. Others understand our actions affect everyone on this earth. If we don’t start change now, we all could be forced to make worse sacrifices in the near future.
It may seem too extreme to give up winter sports, when we can still enjoy them every year. Gambling, may seem completely unrelated, to global warming and poverty around the world. That being said, we could soon see a day when these activities are no longer possible, due to their detrimental effects.
Climate change, natural disasters, poverty and hunger could force us to give up our customs, and adjust for the sake of survival. I think its best to start thinking about this now, than wait until its too late to Give Fruit a Chance.
Previous Section:
Acknowledgments
Next Section:
Acknowledgments