“Adapt and Thrive”

Looking back from the year 2100 at a compendium of the most influential phrases I hope that these three words will be right at the top:

“Adapt and Thrive”

For the 20th century we have two iconic phrases:

"I have a dream"

These four words are enough to conjure up a vision of equality, human rights and a better society that live on long after the death of Martin Luther King.

“One small step for man”

The mind automatically generates the next words ‘one giant leap for mankind’ and a vision of human society on other planets exploring the universe. “Adapt and Thrive” are words that accurately describe the next successful leap of human civilization; a leap that is still to take place. These particular words will get lost in the billions of words generated on this day in 2012, but the idea represented will live on and grow in importance. They represent shorthand for the vision of a renaissance in society which can be called the Sustainable Revolution. The Sustainable Revolution is now a near certainty. Three critical foundations have been laid and the fourth and final block is waiting to be placed. First, there is a growing lobby of people who are concerned for their own future, and the future of their children, worried about the possible consequences of continuing with business as usual. Second, it is becoming clear that reining back on material consumption need not be reining back on building a vibrant society. Third, the consequences of overconsumption are no longer possibilities that can be ignored but a real and present danger to our security and lifestyle. The final foundation for real action is when the concept of a better and sustainable society goes viral, spreading the idea that it is possible to reconcile people’s concerns with building a better society and ensuring our security. That idea is summed up by the phrase:

“Adapt and Thrive”.

Adapt and Thrive: The Sustainable Revolution is now out on Kindle.