Systems Thinking: Seeing How Everything is Connected
“People normally cut reality into compartments, and so are unable to see the interdependence of all phenomena. To see one in all and all in one is to break through the great barrier which narrows one’s perception of reality.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh
Nowadays, most people seem to be aware of the ecological crisis facing our planet. We understand that our consumer lifestyles create toxic waste that pollutes the air, water and land. We understand that these come back to us and may account for the rise in health problems such as cancer, asthma and allergies.
We know that animal species are going extinct because of the forests we have cut down in order to raise cattle and grow popular “consumer” foods such as cocoa and coffee. Most of us grasp that the increase in carbon dioxide in the air (from our burning of fossil fuels) is making the earth warmer, which creates more hurricanes, melts glaciers and will lead to rising ocean levels and flooding.
We can understand how deforestation leads to an expansion of deserts, which then creates dust storms in Beijing and food shortages in Northern Africa. Thanks to the media and schools most people (not living in denial) understand the connections between these Systems Thinking: Seeing How Everything is Connected | Creative by Nature: