Carts ready for rent at a local market in Arusha, Tanzania - November 2019

I write from a place of privilege. Because I have security and freedom, because I’m not seeking food or shelter on an hourly or daily basis and because my loved ones are safe, I can afford to have a larger thinking time horizon.

I’m able to muse about the inequity in society, the big picture of our planet and species and the universe itself. Complete privilege.

When faced with hunger, starvation, homelessness, extreme poverty or a dangerous environment, one doesn’t consider global consciousness. You’re in survival mode, concerned only with the safety of your tribe and when and where the next meal will come.

Too much of the planet faces these conditions today. In order for everyone to buy into the one world paradigm, basic needs must be met worldwide. We can’t raise global consciousness, unite humanity, or inspire change while 8% of the human population lives below the international poverty line.

Or can we? Another way to look at it: raising global consciousness in the vast majority of people will motivate us to eliminate poverty. When we see ourselves as one species living on one wondrous planet, we’ll be incentivized to truly unite humanity. The people of privilege will need to act in order to inspire change.

Yes, there are hundreds of millions of people, if not more, who are perhaps currently incapable of focusing on such lofty ambitions. Understandably—they need to focus on surviving. But it’s also our responsibility to help them, and for those who do have a longer thinking time horizon, we can bring about a more prosperous future together.