Future Generations, why should we care?

Most of us are incredibly busy with our lives. We have jobs to turn up to, families to organise, and interests to pursue. Of course, we are not blind to the challenges of our time, but often do we think about our offspring in the far future or our ancestors in the deep past? Reflecting on deep time helps us gain perspective on our lives and the responsibilities we have inherited.

Do Future Generations Have Rights?
A right can be defined in a number of ways. In society, a right is granted to individuals and legal entities such as companies, organisations, and states. These rights are drawn up and granted through a system of courts. People also have legally defined human rights from birth to death.
 
So, what about future generations who don’t exist yet? Do they have any rights? Philosophers debate this question, but from as far back as Ancient Greece, people have been concerned about the people to come. Legally, they have no rights, but they are in the human community.  
  
What are the Needs of Future Generations?
The needs of future generations are an equally slippery topic. Some philosophers say that there is no way to serve the needs of future generations because their needs are unknown and are likely to be different. Future people may not appreciate a legacy of art and culture, for instance.
 
However, we can expect future human beings to be intelligent organic entities - at least in the near future - so there will be a need for the foundations of life, that is, water, food, clean air, shelter, and the conditions to support their human rights. So we can at least pass on the basics. 

Can We Support Future Generations?
The short answer is yes! As human beings living today, we are uniquely placed to determine the direction of cultures and societies in the future. In fact, the decisions and changes we make today can fail to have an effect on the people of tomorrow, so we must create a legacy for them.
 
Present-day human beings have inherited a good natural habitat, along with a rich artistic, scientific, and cultural heritage. Of course, we have different needs and priorities from our ancestors, but we still use their foundations. It’s important to allow new ideas to also flourish.     
   
How do We Create the World of the Future
Nowadays, there is a lot of chatter in our culture about living in the present moment. It’s true that the present moment is all we have in reality, and it’s important to be mindful of that, but it would also be irresponsible to ignore the past and the future. Life is greater than a present experience.
 
To create a world of the future that has stability, integrity, and sustainability, we need to look at how our ancestors managed the challenges of their time - what did they do well, and what could they have done better? We will also need to utilise technology wisely to shape our future world.  

The Role of Future Conversations
Future Conversations is a program that attempts to dialogue with the past and future to create a new vision for the present day. Future conversations can be leveraged in the community, in businesses, and in households to create lifestyles and processes built on sustainable values.   

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