How do I change the world?

Cain Ormondroyd is a barrister, based in London, UK.

When I was a student, I had strong ideas about how to change the world. The problems of poverty and pollution had structural causes – the capitalist/consumerist system made them inevitable. Any moral failings of my own (and there were plenty, not that I would have admitted it then) were insignificant by comparison.

What job was I to do to help deal with this? The causes were structural, so I ruled out business, and the professions: they were within ‘the system’. I also ruled out public sector and NGO jobs: not doing enough to change ‘the system’. It was necessary to do something that I judged to be truly new and positive – although what that was I had no idea.

My grand designs came badly unstuck, however. Having worked out everything important in life it was no surprise that I came across as arrogant, sanctimonious and overly sure of myself. I realised that I was not living up to my high ideals; in fact I had made them into a way to oppress and upset other people.

This prompted a major re-evaluation, which led me to subject my own life to searching examination in the light of moral standards and also to question my old beliefs about changing the world.

A new analysis I still feel that the problems of the world are much to do with problematic economic and political systems. However, being more aware of my own failings means that I am much readier to acknowledge the role of the ‘human factor’ in causing world problems. This is present at all levels – from the individual consumer who will not put any check on his or her greed to the diplomat whose personal ambition gets in the way of a successful international deal on climate change. Human hate, greed and fear seem to have played a major role in many of the crises and conundrums of our recent (and more distant) history.

A new approach

Out of this new thinking, three principles have emerged which now guide my attempts to change the world for the better:

1. Start with myself

My own life becomes one of the primary battlegrounds in the struggle for a better world. As Rajmohan Gandhi, grandson of the Mahatma and President of IofC International has said, 'When you see wrong, do something about it, but also consider whether you have some responsibility for it. Fight, but turn the searchlight inwards.'

These ideas are now mainstream in the environmental movement – but there is a deeper dimension to them. Being the change you want to see in the world should mean more than using low energy light bulbs (although this is very important!). There needs to be a broader idea of personal change to deal with the broader problems that are caused by people.

My efforts to ‘be the change’ are guided by the simple summation of Jesus’ moral teaching in four absolute standards: absolute honesty, purity, unselfishness and love. These are my measuring rod for any new opportunity and also my armour against the subtle forms of corruption and distraction that lie in wait for any would-be change-maker.

2. Be an opportunist

Rather than trying to work everything out from first principles as I once did, I now acknowledge that there has to be an element of opportunism. Start where you are.

One friend decided that the only way to solve the problems of the world properly was if we had a world parliament. This may be true – but it is difficult to achieve as a 21 year old graduate fresh from university. That scheme rather fell apart as a result. Whilst trying to think up a new plan she noticed that it was difficult to get around where she lived without a car – and so launched herself into a campaign to improve public transport in the city. She now works for a national public transport lobbying group and has scored countless victories in the quest for a more sustainable world. All from starting where she was.

3. Trust in a higher power

The problem with being an opportunist is that it is easy to lose your way. How do you know which opportunity to take? How are you to distinguish a productive compromise from ‘selling out’?

The approach which I have found most helpful is to ask God for guidance (others may believe that this guidance comes from the inner voice of conscience/intuition, but I am writing from my own, Christian perspective). God can guide us down the right path, taking us to the place where we will be most effective.

Does claiming to be ‘God guided’ mean that I am somehow superior to others? No. Quite the opposite in fact, as I am admitting that there are limits to what my own intellect can do. Clear, rigorous thinking is essential but can only take us so far. Nor is the idea of God’s guidance an exclusive one – it is available to anyone who asks for it. As the old saying goes, ‘when people listen, God speaks’. Why not try listening now?

Of course, my understanding and practice of these three ideas is far from being perfect – and I suspect it always will be. So a key fourth element is to meet with others considering the same questions and discuss them.

A good opportunity to do just that will be the upcoming Leading Change for a Sustainable World conference (running from the 4th to the 10th of August 2010) at the Initiatives of Change centre in Caux, Switzerland. A week of expert speakers and personal reflection will help us to explore how best to deal with the problems of poverty and environmental destruction, with an emphasis on the interaction between these global problems and the human factor/personal change. I look forward to meeting you there!

NOTE: Individuals of many cultures, nationalities, religions, and beliefs are actively involved with Initiatives of Change. These commentaries represent the views of the writer and not necessarily those of Initiatives of Change as a whole.