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Like most other American families, my husband and I have been talking about the state of the world ad nauseum over the past few months (and then some). On top of global warming, we are in the midst of a global fuel crisis, a global food crisis, and most recently, a global financial crisis. There always seems to be much more pending doom than there is silver lining.

Throughout my career of writing and speaking about the seemingly overwhelming issues of modern living, I have been asked innumerable times how I face each day and how I raise children in a world that seems racing to ruin. I always answer with unshakeable optimism, hope, and belief in human ingenuity and general biological perseverance. I base it on scientific evidence of our genetic determination to replicate, isolated and increasing examples of human innovation, and an admittedly naïve belief that if I crossed my fingers tight enough and thought nice thoughts, things simply would get better. As a parent, you have to believe it will get better. Nothing else is acceptable. Your children are relying on it and you need to deliver.

Unfortunately, humans are notorious for ignoring problems until they become crises. In predictable fashion, we have once again waited until we have more crises than the average superhuman can bear to think of in one sitting. I’ve been watching the domino effect of the economic crisis and explaining to my husband how inevitable this was. It’s a painful reality for many of us, but we simply could not continue to live with an economic paradigm based on growth when we live on a planet with finite resources.

Luckily, this last domino to fall may have finally exposed the simple truth our society has been trying to deny for decades: We need to live within our means. And, not only in regards to credit and mortgages, but also within the natural ecosystem that fundamentally supports life.

How do we get there? Together.

I don’t know why there hasn’t been more media attention to it (maybe it seems too good to be true), but on October 22nd the United Nations responded to the various environmental and economic world crises by proposing a Global Green New Deal. Harkening back to the days when President Roosevelt’s New Deal lifted the US out of the Great Depression and introduced a new age of progressive democracy, the UN’s Global Green New Deal embodies the same vision and proposes to create a new global economy based on sustaining life. It includes five sectors most likely to generate the biggest transition in terms of economic returns, environmental sustainability, and job creation:

• Clean energy and clean technologies including improved recycling;
• Rural energy, including renewables and sustainable biomass;
• Sustainable agriculture, including organic agriculture;
• Ecosystem Infrastructure;
• Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD); and
• Sustainable cities including planning, transportation and green building.

And the Worldwatch Institute has been one of the only US organizations to respond to the call with ways to fund the transition, including:

• Repurposing Military spending which is at record highs;
• Creating investment incentives for the sovereign wealth funds of oil rich nations;
• Establishing a minimal tax on foreign exchange transactions;
• Imposing fossil fuel subsidies; and
• Issuing Treasury bonds dedicated to green investments.

I know this is more detailed policy information and a bigger vision than we regularly tackle at Healthy Child, but reality is pressing and calling for revolutionary changes. Are you ready to respond?

2009 is bound to be a tipping point of historic proportions, and it’s looking like things could really tip toward a brighter future. You can help make it happen by visiting President-Elect Obama’s new website inviting input from the American people. Visit Change.gov and say you want our country to support the Global Green New Deal proposed by the United Nations.

I’m still crossing my fingers, but if we all work together - if we make it our New Year’s Resolution to really push for changes beyond those we make within the walls of our homes - I believe we can do it.

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