The World Needs More of These People – How To Become a Changemaker? [#26]

There is a concept in the book “​Hospicing Modernity​” that hit me deep.

It’s the idea of low-intensity and high-intensity struggle.

Low-intensity struggle refers to the everyday struggle of people who generally benefit from modernity (e.g., us who have the time/ intellect to read books or this article). For these people, safety is not fundamentally threatened. When we lose our jobs, there is a social system that covers basic needs. If we are hurt, we can see a doctor.

And then some people endure high-intensity struggle, who are suffering from modernity's exploitation that subsidizes the comfort of us privileged people in “the West”. These people have fewer choices because they are struggling significantly for their safety. These people often don’t know how to put food on the table next week. They don’t have access to healthcare and don’t have time or the capacity to read and educate themselves. Their security is threatened every day.

To me, it seems crazy that in this abundant world, we cannot empower everyone to live a dignified life.

It is unjust. It makes me angry.

I don’t want to be complicit in this system of exploitation, but I can hardly stay out of it due to where I was born.

But it motivates me to live a different life.

Less comfortable, more aligned with my values.

More caring for nature, community, and people, less focus on myself.

I am working to understand how the system works and how to change it to an emergent future that is more equitable, fair, respects planetary boundaries, and focuses on the well-being of the greater whole.

I have been a changemaker for the last 5 years now. A path that started when I asked the question of “what is a meaningful and joyful life for me?”.

A changemaker is someone who imagines a new reality, takes action, and collaborates with others to bring that new reality into being for the good of others.”

​–The Bioregional Weaving Labs Insights Report​

And you can be a changemaker, too. It starts with believing what you do matters.

If you are looking for more meaning in your life, consider this path.

It is definitely not the easy way, but it might be the most effective in the end.

When I lie on my deathbed, I want to be able to say that I did my best to improve the conditions for life on earth and that I had fun doing so.

One reason why I write these articles is that I want to inspire and educate you to become a changemaker.

To take action with the goal to develop the courage to face humanity's wrongs.

So how do you become one?

There are plenty of ways to engage according to your values, strengths and opportunities.

The topic is too complex for just one article, but there are different ways to get started.

#1 Educate yourself more on the root causes of our current meta-crisis predicaments

What I often see in changemaking work is that initiatives focus on symptoms rather than root causes.

Yes, it is important to help homeless people, but we need to equally, if not more, work on the reasons why people become homeless.

If we really want to change the world, we need to think systemically.

• Realizing that using new toilet paper leads to Eucalyptus monocultures in Galicia.
• Understanding that mining rare earth materials for electronics contributes to 80% of biodiversity loss.
• Coming to the sense that we cannot grow indefinitely / exponentially on a finite planet.
• Facing the fact that our comfortable lifestyles are mostly a result of cheap fossil fuels, which are limited and will run out sooner rather than later.

​Here is a video that captures it all in 30 minutes - if you only watch one thing this week, watch this. ​ (It's from ​The Great Simplification Podcast​ that I highly recommend as well)

These books helped me tremendously in shaping my understanding of the world and how to move forward:

• ​Less is more, how degrowth will save the world - Jason Hickel ​ - ​Hospicing Modernity: Facing humanity’s wrongs and the implications for social activism - Vanessa Machado De Oliveira​

#2 Start working for or supporting organisations that already work on systems-change

Once you understand more about root causes, you can start putting your knowledge into action.

The sad thing is that there is more money flowing into a destructive system, compared to money flowing into creating a healthy future. But that is changing. More and more rich people realize that their money is tied to a healthy biosphere and social systems. Many are starting to direct money that way.

Maybe there is an ​interesting organisation among these 700+ ​in Europe that works towards changing the economic system.

What about a local food sharing network, an activist organisation, or a neighbourhood group that grows food together?

Changemaking starts with imagining a new way of how things can be done and then collaborating with others to bring that new reality into being.

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

#3 Make use of the most powerful individual actions to change the system

The oil company BP invented the idea of the individual “ecological footprint” to put the blame on the individual for the emission of CO2. But the truth is that just 57 companies are linked to 80% of greenhouse gas emissions since 2016.

Still, the only thing we have 100% control over is our actions, attitude, and thoughts.

So here are the highest leverage actions you can do to make a change.

1. Change your bank to an ethical bank (e.g., GLS Bank, Tomorrow Bank, Triodos Bank) to make sure your money is not invested in fossil fuels, child labor, arms, etc. (same goes for investments or pensions) - redirecting money is the highest leverage in our system.
2. Eat mostly plant-based, and if meat, only grass-fed/ pastured meat from a regenerative farm.
3. Shift to a renewable energy provider.
4. Buy less, repair more. If you buy, choose to support businesses that are committed to sustainability and ethical practices. Search for 2nd hand items first.
5. Vote for leaders who prioritize climate, social justice, and environmental action.
6. Advocate for and support local and national policies that promote renewable energy, conservation, and other sustainable initiatives.

#4 Become a bioregional weaver

Systems change is complex. We need multiple interventions at multiple scales and intervention points. We need an ecosystem for change.

What often happens is that changemakers work in isolation on the problem they are passionate about. That is often less effective.

What I experienced in my work is that these people, who do the right things, need a connection to other initiatives and people to support each other in mutually beneficial ways.

At the ​Bioregional Weaving Lab​, we support the formation of mutually reinforcing portfolios within a bioregion. That way, we build a network of changemakers and a support system.

If you naturally feel drawn to connecting people and projects, this weaving work might be for you.

​Here is a free 5h introductory course on the topic​.

#5 Do it out of love, not fear

What I have also seen in the changemaking world is that often the action does not come from a healthy place. I see a pattern of people not taking care of themselves enough. I see a lot of fear-based decisions and ways of being.

“You can’t give to others what you don’t give to yourself.”

It is important that you take care of yourself and love yourself first and the act from that place of love to birth this new, more beautiful world out heart knows is possible.

From this place of love and gratitude for life, a more resilient agency grounded in wisdom and meaning can emerge.

It is important to feel the pain and suffering in the world. To go through it and to come out a better human on the other side.

To become a changemaker for the regeneration of our planet, not because of the fear of something, but because of the love for life.

I am aware of my impermanence on this planet. I will die eventually, sooner rather than later, but this work will live on and improve the life of the next 7 generations. That is why I do it, and you can, too.

I hope this planted a seed inside you that can grow this year. :)

Happy regeneration,
Jonas