It is clear to many of us that we have reached the end of a certain way of living on the planet. Our belief systems have led us into creating societies that are hostile to one another. We have developed monetary and economic systems which serve only the wealthy and most powerful and which are now teetering on the edge of collapse. It also turns out that we are collectively hostile to the very environment on which we depend for our very existence.

Some of our most respected scientists believe that it is already too late to contain and reverse the damage that has already been done to the environment. They believe that as a result of the abuse of our life support systems that we will cease to exist as a species in the not too distant future. Others believe there is still time but that the quantity and quality of change needed is massive and that the time line for initiating these changes is very short.

As we come to grips with the urgency of this situation, we are also aware that there is not a single plan by any government anywhere which remotely meets the needs of a collapsing environment. We can no longer expect this level of deep, fundamental change to be mandated by our governments. They are incapable of radical change.

It is time for us to act as individuals, as parents, as members of families, as groups of friends, as people united by our common home. None of us will escape extinction unless we finally take matters into our own hands. We need to demand the changes needed that will begin to give us the reassurance that our children will live out their natural life spans. We need to be confident of the same thing for our grandchildren.

One of the ironies of this proposal is that the wealthiest, most privileged members of the planet are, by doing this, recognizing that the standard of living to which they have grown accustomed, is no longer tenable. Those individuals in the most industrialized countries are voluntarily giving up their power. It is truly a “riot for austerity”. This has never happened in the human history of the past five thousand years. It is yet to be seen whether this goal is achievable…but failure is unacceptable.

How will this transition be achieved? From a world that is no longer tenable to one that is sustainable for all? On September 9, 2009, all citizens of the world will be asked to stop. To stop contributing to the economy by going to work, to stop going to school, to stop driving your car, to stop taking flights. We will all be asked to reduce our carbon footprint globally to as close to zero as possible. Only emergency facilities will function. Before this date, there will be a proposal put forward as to what needs to happen in the short term (immediately) and then progressively into the future in order to ensure our survival.

Once we have been assured that these changes will take place, once structures are created that will facilitate these changes, then and only then will we resume our normal activity. Except, normal will no longer exist. By this simple process, we will all have changed. Nothing will ever be the same.

And finally, there will be a new beginning.