Eight Worthy Goals

“Eight Worthy Goals”



"Better by far to embrace the hard truth than a reassuring fable. If we crave some cosmic purpose, then let us find ourselves a worthy goal."
- Carl Sagan




1. Children are taught to grow their own food, build a working house and know basic first aid by age six.
2. All prisons are at ZERO cost to the public and the victims - self sustaining in two year’s time.
3. We recycle 99.9% of all items and retain 50% of energy used within one year's time - bottle banks are a thing of the past, we just reuse them.
4. We help build a major connecting road and at least two schools in any developing country that has asked for our help and expertise.
5. Renewable energy at 110% in five year’s time - we export energy.
6. Space station on the moon in ten year’s time - we are thinking beyond the planet, when we look up and see the moon we see humans within the stars.
7. Conscription against Nature - the youth or unemployed will help develop either a national project or international project for one to two years of their lives.
8. Citizens are taught to build, repair, develop, renew and experiment in the World.

We have reached the point where we can change the World, or continue as before. We can set the same targets and work in the same framework or change the framework and targets. We are always developing and renewing ourselves in our own lifetime - let us take this chance now to set some goals and push ourselves to reach new heights.



From hunters and foragers on the African plains gripped with fear of the seasons and skies to walking on the Moon and looking down on the pale blue dot that is Earth. We have yet further to travel when we let go of local misunderstandings and set ourselves some worthy goals.
- Carl Sagan (re-written by me)




Some more detail ...

Renewable energy at 150% - why?

We have a generator in the middle of our solar system producing enough surplus energy to grow food on our planet and power our modern world. Let’s use it. Solar, wind, sea and push powers are the future. Once we are 100% renewable, additional energy can be sold to other countries.

Space station on the moon - why?

Let’s set ourselves some competitive goals to push and drag us forward. Every missile sent into the sky is less effort used to fire at a hospital or into a village. Our view of the world changes when we look to the skies and think beyond ourselves, taking humankind to new shores on distant planets.

We recycle 99.9% of all items and retain 50% energy - why?

It’s possible that we don’t really need to keep digging raw materials from the earth, then filling it back with used plastic bags and discarded toys and dolls. We can choose wood over plastic and reuse rather than throwing away - why does a bottle stop being a bottle once it’s empty, and need to be broken down and built up again?

We help build infrastructure and schools in developing countries - why?

When a country asks for help, we help with infrastructure and knowledge. Roads help connect and keep economy working. The knowledge of genetics to show how genetic diversity in families keeps them healthy and knowing about germ theory to stop disease and show the world of microbes are both a wonder and an explanation of how diseases are passed when basic sanitation, washing hands and keeping food clean, are ignored.

Children are taught to grow their own food, build a workable house and know basics of first aid - why?

When times are hard then we can again turn to the land to provide - for both homes and food. When accidents happen we can be comfortable in the knowledge that people can look after themselves and others, having the knowledge to assist fellow comrades. A road accident and suddenly everyone can help in an hour of need.

All prisons are at ZERO cost to the public - why?

Our prisons become small holdings where the plot owners grow and nurture their own food. Collect their own rainwater and generate their own power. Goods are sold to produce an income that will pay for guards and additional requirements. Once out of the prison system a skill for life has been taught - we have taught a man to fish. See Thomas Paine's "Rights of Man".

Conscription against Nature - why?

Reading from an article by William James in 1910 entitled “The Moral Equivalent of War” we can help the young get a zest for life, helping to build with sweat and vitality the very infrastructure of their country and an experience to remove the child and reveal the adult. This could be a National project or an international project working with other countries - building and sharing knowledge.

Citizens are taught to build, repair, develop, renew and experiment in the World - why?

Surely it’s better to have an active, involved and creative citizen than one waiting for something to happen? To know how to strip a machine down and convert it into a different beast. To see and feel how the world works and not be afraid of finding out through trial and error.




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