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We've also got to toss aside the mindset that the status quo is reasonable. The very first step in bringing on a better future is acknowledging that our ideas of what's normal, or even what's possible, will not outlast the next decade. If we take radical change as a given, we'll quickly see that a number of solutions are already within our grasp.

Free our minds and our footprints will follow.

The movement towards planetary sanity has already accelerated to the point where it's now dragging "green" (in its shallow pop-culture sense) along behind it like an anchor. We're way past the stage of voluntary half-measures and into an era of widespread innovation, high standards and systemic change. Anything less merely distracts us from the goal.

Imagine a future that works -- that's what we must do! Not in a mushy, vague, feel-good sense, but in a concrete way; in a way that proclaims the transience of the world around us and the possibility before us.

That's the work we see ourselves both engaged in and reporting on here. We've got a big book project coming up on this very topic, and we're processing all the great feedback we've gotten from all of you lately about how to remake the site into a more effective vehicle for sharing stories about the kinds of creativity and innovation Worldchanging people around the world are summoning up at this critical moment. We think the result is going to be nothing less than transformative.

At the same time, we also think that this is a moment when we all need many more people iterating their ideas for real change. So, as a starter for that kind of conversation, we're holding a little collaborative challenge.

The idea is simple: share, in words, images or sounds, your idea for the end of some outdated aspect of contemporary society and its replacement with a better way of doing things. Start with the phrase, "Imagine no..."

Then put a link to your entry (or the text itself) in the comments below.

The best examples we know about in two weeks will get prominent coverage here on Worldchanging, and we have some swanky prizes for the folks who do the best job. In the spirit of testing the rope first, we've come up with a few examples ourselves, merely (we hope) provocations for thought. We would love to know which ones you like!

Imagine no garbage cans. Imagine recycling everything that comes through your door. It's not a pipe dream. With a new generation of zero-waste approaches, cities are building systems where everything you buy is designed to be recycled, composted, or disassembled and reused. Instead of being thrown away, materials flow again and again through closed loops. This process saves huge amounts of resources and energy, reduces toxics and creates jobs. So next time you're taking out the trash, imagine what the world would look like without it. Imagine no garbage cans.

Imagine no warning labels. Imagine bringing nothing into your home that isn't safe for you, your children or your pets. It's not a pipe dream. With ideas like non-toxic production and green chemistry we could eliminate the use of chemicals now feared to cause cancer, birth defects and reproductive problems, and remove them from our homes and ecosystems. Scientists have already developed safe non-toxic alternatives for hundreds of once questionable products, from kitchen cleaners to baby toys. So the next time you go to the market, imagine not needing to read the fine print. Imagine no warning labels.

Imagine no smokestacks. Imagine a world where all our energy comes from clean and renewable sources like wind, solar and hydro power; and where we produce no excess greenhouse gas emissions. It's not a pipe dream. Already, countries like New Zealand, Germany and Sweden are planning ways to make their economies carbon neutral within the next few decades--and we could do it here. We could run everything from our factories to our cars on climate-friendly clean energy. So the next time you go through an industrial area, imagine breathing fresh, clean air. Imagine no smokestacks.

Imagine no air conditioners. Imagine living in a home heated only by the sun and cooled only by the breeze. It's not a pipe dream. With green building techniques and innovative design we can build houses that are warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer, and that use almost no energy at all. Better still, these homes are healthier, more comfortable and less expensive. So the next time you reach for the thermostat, imagine living in a home that doesn't need one. Imagine no air conditioning.

Imagine no sidewalks. Imagine living in a compact community where people own the streets; where kids play, friends sit sipping coffee and cars move slowly when they move at all. It's not a pipe dream. In cities around the world, good design is producing vibrant, compact urban neighborhoods where streets are used as public living rooms and life without a car is made easy. So the next time you're waiting to cross a busy street, imagine a city where people, not cars, come first. Imagine no sidewalks.

Imagine no sprawl. Imagine, instead of a long drive past strip malls and subdivisions, stopping for coffee on your walk to work, or enjoying a magazine while riding light rail through neighborhoods brimming with character and activity. It's not a pipe dream. Cities around the world are creating public transit systems that are efficient, comfortable and simple to use. Smart growth policies preserve local farms and forests, while cutting both commute times and greenhouse gases. So the next time you find yourself lost in suburbia, imagine a different American Dream. Imagine no sprawl.

Imagine no recession. Imagine a thriving economy that's based on creating the solutions the whole world needs. It’s not a pipe dream. Already clean energy and green technologies are some of fastest-growing industries in the world, and billions of people will need sustainable innovations in the decades to come. So the next time you find yourself worrying about the news of another layoff, imagine a booming and sustainable economy. Imagine no recession.

Imagine no maintenance. Imagine not needing to own your own car to enjoy the benefits of driving. It's not a pipe dream. Already car sharing companies and other business like them that allow you to drive a car when it’s convenient, while they handle the maintenance, insurance, fuel and parking. And it’s not only cars. Sharing services have sprung up for everything from lawn mowers to bicycles to designer handbags. So the next time you find yourself waiting at the mechanic's garage for an oil change, imagine it was your last. Imagine no maintenance.

Imagine no storm sewers. Imagine communities where rain is used to grow gardens and wash clothes, instead of being channeled underground through massive tunnels, carrying oil and garbage from our streets into our rivers and waters. It’s not a pipe dream, Rainwater harvesting and natural drainage systems are already making storm sewers a thing of the past. So the next time you step over a puddle at the curb, imagine instead a rain barrel in the yard. Imagine no storm sewers.

Imagine no hurry. Imagine no hectic deadlines, frantic commutes, meals on the go, or interrupted vacations. Imagine having more time. It’s not a pipe dream. Living more sustainably, in more compact communities with more innovative tools will save us enormous amounts of time that we waste today -- time that we can use to spend with our family and friends. So the next time you find yourself grabbing food at the drive-thru, imagine a world where you have time for a long lunch with friends. Imagine no hurry.

Imagine no power bills. Imagine living in a house that create all the energy you need, and more. It’s not a pipe dream. Already millions of people around the world live in homes where the electricity is provided from a wind turbine in the backyard or solar panels on the roof. Better yet, with new “smart-grids,” the power company can buy any surplus power you create –- paying you instead. So the next time you write a check to the utility, imagine it was your last. Imagine no power bills.

Imagine no recalls. Imagine going to the store and not having to worrying that the food you buy is contaminated or covered in unsafe pesticides and fertilizers. It’s not a pipe dream. Already you can connect with the farmers growing good food, without pesticides, hormones or factory farms, in ways that safeguard our health and protect the planet. So the next time you hear a news report about contaminated spinach or sick cows, imagine knowing where the food in your refrigerators comes from and who grew it. Imagine no recalls.

Imagine no yard sales. Imagine a world where every product you buy can be given back to the company that made it. A world where you get a home full of the kind of furniture, decor and appliances that make life enjoyable, without the guilt of throwing things away or desperately trying to sell them to your neighbors when you're done. It's not a pipe dream. With ideas like closed-loop manufacturing, we can design products that can be completely disassembled, recycled and rebuilt. Already governments from Berlin to British Columbia have passed laws that force manufacturers to take responsibility for their products’ fate. So the next time you find yourself sifting through your unwanted stuff, imagine you can give it back. Imagine no yard sales.

Design credit: Morgan Greenseth
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(Posted by WorldChanging Team in Features at 2:20 PM)