What is deep roots activism?

Deep roots activism is activism, that aims to identify and tackle the deeper roots of a problem rather than fighting its symptoms. This form of activism works on a time-horizon of decades and centuries, rather than on short term, year-over-year results. 

 "I used to think the top global environmental problems were biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and climate change. I thought that with 30 years of good science we could address these problems. But I was wrong. The top environmental problems are selfishness, greed and apathy, and to deal with these we need a spiritual and cutural transformation, and we scientists don't know how to do that."

- James Gustave Speth

Example: Greenhouse Gases

One prominent aspect of the ecological problem is the emission of greenhouse-gases. Activists all around the world work towards reducing the output of Carbon Dioxide and other harmful gases. Acting in such a way is logical and straightforward. However, it does not address the root problem that leads to the emission of these gases. The action happens within the current thought-system, rather than within a different one. Albert Einstein had to say about that:

"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them."

In aiming to reduce the output of greenhouse gases, we work within the same framework and within the same thought-system as we did when we created the problem. It is still a noble and sensible endeavour to try and reduce emissions, but the approach towards the problem is the same. The root to the ecological problem does not lie in the emission of gases, but in our implicit collective and individual relationship with the world and ourselves. What happens when we reach a climate-neutral 2050? If our approach towards society, earth and ourselves stays the same, we might aswell find ourselves in a situation, where we've shifted the problem to another place. We will most likely not have made many steps towards a humane society and a peaceful, harmonious, liveable present. Deep roots activism aims to change that and focus our efforts towards actual, human progress (find out more about progress in an upcoming post).