Reframing the status quo

A new decade is on the horizon, a decade of endless possibilities and unfathomable change. But hidden behind this is a dreaded uncertainty, we have an impending climate crisis at hand, a possible food crisis that can escalate to an all out economic crisis, if the price of onions is anything to go by. If we look at this problem with a keen lens we can understand that a number of the contributing factors to this issue are not under our control and it seems impossible to consider that any small action done on our part can help mitigate them. And we are right to believe so, individually we are in a way insignificant. But collectively, we can change the world.

As humans we tend to underestimate the power we have to change the planet. Yes, we may be one in 7 billion (or 8 billion) but we need to review how we look at this problem. Now if we look at most environmental issues, be it too many cars on the street to the plastic in our oceans, they are all fundamentally issues caused by us maintaining the status quo.

Let us at first look a little deeper into what is the status quo. Originally a Latin phrase meaning the existing state of affairs, the term status quo is generally used to imply the framework required for the existing social structure and values. To maintain the status quo is to keep things the way they presently are. And who dictates the status quo? It is us of course. We decide what trend we will follow, we decide what is considered to be ‘the in thing’. The status quo is not written in stone and neither are our ingrained habits. If we think that something needs to change, it's time we stand up for it ourselves.

There’s a saying that if you want to happen, be the change; so lets endeavour to start this new year with a resolve to make our small contribution to nature. Even if it is a small contribution, it is still a movement towards a better future and if the status quo goes against saving the environment, let's change the status quo. The future is for everyone, so let us resolve to be an active participant in making it better.

Anoushka Viegas

Programme Coordinator