If they give you lined paper...

You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.

An observation by Buckminster Fuller (an apparently renowned 20th century American inventor and visionary - thanks to Wikipedia I am now educated as to this man's claim to fame), seems to make a lot of sense... Think ipods replacing walkmans, debit cards replacing cash and Facebook replacing pen pals.

So why do we continue to fight the existing reality on the big issues? We use military force as a peacekeeping tactic. We criminalise drug use when it is fundamentally a health issue. We debate the existence of climate change whilst pillaging the planet. We go to war on all our "problems" be they terrorism, drugs, environmental issues.

In his recent book "If they give you lined paper... write sideways" Daniel Quinn urges us to pull back from our accepted logic, our habitual view of the world, to pull back far enough from our culture to see how bizarre our human nature really is. I'm not gonna lie, it's not the kind of book you read at traffic lights or in between meetings. It's the kind of book you read in peace and quiet, where you can focus and where you have the luxury of time to consider the depth of his ideas.

Case in point: humans belong to an order of being that is separate from the rest of the living community. It's "us" humans against the "them" of the environment we live, breathe, eat and pillage every day. Just to sustain our current population we are making 200 species extinct every day.

Phenomenal.

Whilst ever we see ourselves as separate from the rest of nature, whilst ever we refuse to change our way of thinking about how we live on this planet Earth, the annihilation of 200 species every day will continue until we literally reach a crisis point.

And here's the next bit.

200 years. 5 generations. Crisis.

Unless... perhaps... when they give us lined paper, we start writing sideways.

What if we start to believe we aren't an order of being separate from the rest of the living community?
What if one of us makes that change, followed by ten more and ten more... so that the change becomes a platform for our leaders to make policy changes to ensure our survival as a species?
What if we, this current generation, figure out how to live sustainably?
What if we, this current generation, change our thinking and our actions more quickly than any generation preceding ours?

We could achieve something extraordinary. Or not.

I absolutely guarantee you that if you pledge to start making a sustainable difference, it will change the world. Furthermore, if you carry, drag, invite or convince at least 10 other people to do the same, not only will it change the world, it will change history.

Some easy, quick ideas to get you writing sideways:

* Eat less meat (our hunger for livestock is literally clearing our forests)
* Give up bottled water, disposable coffee cups and plastic bags (this is too easy, no exceptions)
* Use less water and energy (shorter showers, shared baths, add a layer, open a window)
* Shop local (reconnect with your community, reduce carbon emissions and savour the flavour)
* Plant a tree (instantly cleaner air around you, instantly you feel reconnected with the living community)
* Grow your own (chooks, worms, herbs, vegies, flowers: no excuses, enjoy the harvest)
* Learn (educate yourself on the difference you can make at work, at home, in your community. It won't hurt you and will do more for your future than watching TV for the period of time it takes you to read a short book on the subject)

And finally, one last, thing; whatever changes you make, whatever you learn, please share it. Tell your friends, your family, your facebook followers, tweeters and bloggers. Don't keep this precious knowledge to yourself, as the more you share the more you learn and the closer we get to achieving something extraordinary.

Belinda Smith is director of Events Hunter and advocate for social change and connectedness through creative collaboration. Go to www.eventshunter.com.au for more information