Maybe politics in these times are not about 'left' or 'right' anymore.
Maybe it has become People & Planet (P&P) versus Money & Markets (M&Ms)
One might even claim there is no politics anymore, that it all has become a question of survival. The critical branch point humanity and our planet are facing now that Carl Sagan talked about in 1980, has gotten so sharp that on any level, be it individual, local, regional, continental or global, there really is only one choice left to make: either to consciously live, act and vote for People & Planet or decide to passively let global society and humanity drag along as it has gotten acostumed to over the last century, destroying nature and planet for profit or self complacency, absorbed by the dominating Money & Markets system with its associated consumption life style. To simply allow the status quo and the established powers to just continue is a decision: the easiest and most comfortable one. It is taken by either voting any of the traditional political parties or by not going to vote at all.
Europa is now directly facing this critical branch point in its coming elections. The sudden and recent global upheavel, started by Greta Thunberg, of the awareness that nature, climate and planet have to be seriously taken care of for many generations to come (as was normal amongst many nature oriented cultures before they were wiped out by colonialism) is strong, especially in Europa and especially amongst the young people. But it remains to be seen if it has enough weight to bring decisive change into the European Parliament. If this change does not happen, there will be no new opportunity until 2024.
However, if change does happen, then Europa can make a start in setting a new and sustainable course for People & Planet, and it could play a guiding role in opening a fresh track towards a liveable global society on a healhy planet for the current young generation and all generations to come.
As Carl Sagan said in 1980
It is well within our power to destroy our civilization, and perhaps our species as well. If we capitulate to superstition, or greed, or stupidity.
But we are also capable of using our compassion and our intelligence, our technology and our wealth, to make an abundant and meaningful life for every inhabitant of this planet.
The same has been said in different ways and languages in songs over time (subtitles in GENeric, ES, IT, DE, NL)
Sympathy is what we need my friend
Rare Bird, 1969
Il ragazzo della via Gluck nature destroyed by obsessive building
Adriano Celentano, 1966
Non, non, rien n'a changé war just continues on and on
Les Poppys, 1971
Elephant song against poaching and loss of biodiversity
Kamahl, 1975
Another brick in the wall protest against rigid and outdated schoolsystem
Pink Floyd, 1979
99 Luftballons about the senselessness of war
Nena, 1983
