“Coal and diamonds are nature’s landfill, we should stop worrying about exhausting them. Instead, let’s use direct energy nature’s giving us!”

I simply don’t understand human sustainability. Sustain human beings for what, forever? For another generation? For ten more generations? I see it only as human greed – to want to survive longer, to resist change – against the very nature of existence. Look at the earth’s life history! Everything is going to change! Even though the earth might not have seen a species like ours before, we are still making attempts against the inevitable. Apart from our deeply selfish intent, I have problems with the apparent urgency of the matter. If it is the 11th hour, why isn’t petrol absolutely unaffordable yet? Things are moving in that direction, but we’re not there yet. Not yet.

I have started understanding what ‘power’ feels like. Such a miracle it is, to demand or experience it – provides for such an intellectual high! The power of a guitar playing in a tunnel, the power of sculpture, the power of excellence, of meaning exactly what you say, of saying only what you mean, of choosing to be open to new experiences, of choice itself, of being able to mould your own life – is this what we live for? Power expresses itself not only through bloodshed or courage – but also through intellect and trust! I can feel the power of a voice over me, of a 500 year old painting on a ceiling, of a great man’s lifelong work, speaking through time. And this realisation is only the beginning.