Gary Reusche

The great challenge of our time is to build and nurture sustainable communities — social, cultural, and physical environments in which we can satisfy our needs and aspirations without diminishing the chances of future generations. Today's environmental challenges — at once global, technological, and commercial — require new behaviors, new institutions, and new principles.

I teach courses to Junior Youth, Youth, and students of various levels. One of my subjects involves issues related to the existential crises in today’s world. World scientists write that we are approaching difficult times in the coming decade. The future will require transformational change. For example, is simple living the most secure path to live a free and happy life full of purpose, a life of frugal abundance? If you promote a simple life, will you authentically practice what you preach? Is the best solution an outwardly simple but inwardly rich life — an orientation which we might contrast with consumer cultures today, where more and more people seem to be discovering that the pursuit of ever more stuff just doesn't satisfy the human craving for meaning and purpose.

• Global capitalism in its present form is unsustainable and needs to be fundamentally redesigned.

• The economy is merely one aspect of a whole ecological and social fabric.

• Current economies and technologies recognize no self-limiting principle.

• Creative minorities appear on the scene and transform some of the old elements into new configurations that become part of a new rising culture.