Week 11: Assess the end-goals of “Social Ecology”

Social Ecology analyzes “the various political and social institutions that people use in relationship to nature and its resources”. These institutions include: “systems of economic production, cultural systems of reproduction, laws & politics as well as ideas and ideologies“.
Radical Ecology is social ecology that pushes the envelope by encouraging “new patterns of production, reproduction and consciousness” while seeking to transform the current paradigm. It does this by challenging the political and economic status quo, while offering alternative answers to these age-old questions.

True learning and subsequent change follow a predictable arch be they personal or global. First one has to realize that there is a problem with the present methodologies, which sparks the desire for change. Next, viable alternatives and solutions must be identified. Then, a plan for transforming the current paradigm into the alternate reality must be developed. And finally, the plan must be put into action. Ultimately, it takes time, energy and serious commitment to change in order to bring such broad personal and social transformations about. Change can be challenging on the individual level, and seemingly improbable on the global level, considering all the various political and economic agendas of the countries and peoples involved…but, it is not impossible…if we all have the same goal: to save our planet. When all is said an done, it’s the only home we have. Hopefully, that will be motivation enough.