great turning

Times of crisis can be creative times, times when new visions and new possibilities emerge. The Chinese ideogram for crisis, wei-ji, is composed of the characters for danger and opportunity (represented by an unstoppable spear and an impenetrable shield). This is not simply a contradiction or paradox; the very dangers we face stimulate us to look deeper, seek alternatives, and take advantage of opportunities. Our own word—crisis—derives from the Greek word krinein, meaning “to separate.” It implies a choice between distinct alternatives. If we do not act to change the situation of deepening poverty and ecological destruction, we will be choosing to continue a descent toward the abyss of despair.

But another choice is also possible: we have the opportunity to choose a new way of living on our planet, a new way of living with each other and with the other creatures of our world.