Qualitative growth, and not quantitative growth can lead to a sustainable future for humanity, all life forms on earth, and the nature itself. Know why?
My Awakening When I First Met The Limits to Growth
Back in 1997, during a lecture by an eminent IIM Ahmedabad professor, something clicked in my mind as he glorified limitless growth. It was the sharp prick of a rough edge—a question that refused to be ignored: How can anything in this limited world grow forever without any limit?
I raised my hand and asked, “Can anything in this finite world grow indefinitely?” The professor, a devout preacher of growth, paused momentarily and deftly sidestepped the question, “This year, a company crossed the USD 1 billion mark,” he replied, before continuing his lecture. But that unanswered question lodged itself in my mind like a thorn, bothering me time to time.
Much happened in the years that followed. I discovered Limits to Growth, the groundbreaking book by Donella Meadows, and embarked on an informal study of the future of a growth-driven world for four years. I reached my conclusions but then stopped dejected, returning to the refuge of my work and life. Yet, the question never left me.
Second Phase: Fast-Accelerating Growth and a Wholly Changed World
The 2008 financial crash came and went. Economies recovered, and the growth train accelerated once more. A brief slump in 2013 was but a mild jolt. Then COVID-19 struck, leaving a radically altered world in its wake.
Post-COVID, the human psyche, freed from mortal fear, embraced life with reckless abandon. Innovations surged at an unprecedented pace, with the AI revolution leading the charge. By 2022, growth-driven economies faced a temporary slowdown, but by 2023 and 2024, the zest for growth returned with a vengeance.
Yet, as 2024 drew to a close, disturbing signs began to emerge. Markets slowed, and by November and December, even the strongest stocks were caught in a veritable bloodbath. It was during this tumultuous period that I, despite a lifelong disinterest in stock trading, decided to enter the market, a totally inexperienced newbie. I wanted to experience the game firsthand—alone, unaided, and with complete abandon.
The New Year Dawned With Uncertainties All Around
On January 1, 2025, I left the market with minor scratches but enriched by invaluable insights into the mechanisms of the real world. It was then that I began to encounter reports of farmers' suicides in my news stream. I recalled an article that I read a while back. An article published in the New York Times, with a haunting headline somewhat like: “American Farmers Are Living Today As If There Is No Tomorrow.”
I searched for the article but couldn’t find it. Instead, I stumbled upon a stark truth:
Farmers' suicides were not just a local tragedy but a global phenomenon.
Farmers' Suicides: A Global Crisis
The title of the Wikipedia page stared back at me in bold letters: Farmers' Suicides in the United States. Below it was a heartrending story: A Death in Dairyland Spurs a Fight Against a Silent Killer, written by Elizabeth Williamson.
The article delved into the mental health challenges faced by American farmers, focusing on the tragic story of Leon Statz, a dairy farmer who took his own life after years of financial struggle. It painted a vivid picture of the pressures and hardships endured by farmers across the United States.
For the first time, I realized that farmers' suicides were not confined to my country. They were a global phenomenon, a silent epidemic spreading across the world.
It is painful to realize that this crisis is, in many ways, worse than COVID-19. It is a slow, insidious killer that will never end but only intensify.
The result can only be one:
The death of millions, if not billions, of marginalized humans—first in third-world countries, then in more advanced nations. This will destabilize economies, fuel local and global conflicts, and ultimately lead to the decimation of civilization as we know it.
Global Crises Report 2024 by the World Economic Forum
In their Global Risks Report for 2024, the World Economic Forum highlighted the most pressing challenges facing humanity. To quote from the report:
“The cascading shocks that have beset the world in recent years are proving intractable. War and conflict, polarized politics, a continuing cost-of-living crisis, and the ever-increasing impacts of a changing climate are destabilizing the global order.”
The report listed the ten biggest crises of our time, but notably absent was any mention of farmers' suicides or the looming soil and food crises. This omission is deeply alarming. The plight of farmers worldwide—facing unsustainable financial pressures, diminishing resources, and rising suicide rates—reflects a larger systemic failure.
This ignored phenomenon of globally spreading farmers' suicides touches on a critical intersection of environmental degradation, economic instability, and human well-being.
It’s troubling that while we hear much about other global threats, the silently spreading sickness of our agricultural systems often flies under the radar.
Healthy Soil Isn’t Just the Foundation of Food Production
Healthy soil is a cornerstone of life itself. Its erosion, compounded by climate change, financial inequities, and inadequate support for those who work the land, sets the stage for cascading crises—ones that could have dire consequences for the very fabric of civilization.
The need for a global, coordinated effort to address these issues is clear. We must:
- Prioritize sustainable agricultural practices,
- Support farmers' mental health, and
- Enact policies that protect the health of our soil.
- Equally important is raising awareness and compelling leaders and organizations to include food and soil health among the foremost global priorities.
Without this shift, the dire outcomes I’ve described become increasingly plausible.
This isn’t just about mitigating a single crisis; it’s about rethinking our entire approach to land stewardship, economic justice, and human health. While solutions exist—regenerative agriculture, fair trade policies, and community-led food initiatives—they require both local action and global recognition to succeed. In the face of this multifaceted challenge, every effort counts, from grassroots advocacy to sweeping policy reform.
This Crisis Is Far Nearer Than the Others
The crisis of soil degradation and groundwater depletion is far nearer and far more catastrophic than any other we constantly discuss while acting in the opposite direction. It’s not just the death of soil; it’s the depletion of groundwater, which, once gone, can never be replenished. It’s akin to a debt-ridden human, burdened by growing interest, facing negative net income and eventual demise.
Farmers' suicides are a symptom—like a persistent fever or cough—of a deadly disease silently growing within the system itself. The depletion of both soil and groundwater forms a feedback loop that accelerates ecological and economic breakdown. As resources diminish, the strain on farmers increases, often to a breaking point. Their suicides are not isolated tragedies but indicators of a system in collapse—a systemic illness growing steadily worse.
Lack of focus on this grave danger is highlighted by non-availability of any global statistics on farmers' suicides.
Addressing these crises requires not only immediate support for those most affected but also fundamental changes to the way we value and manage natural resources. Treating the “symptom” alone—such as providing financial relief or temporary subsidies—won’t cure the “disease.”
It’s the underlying causes we must confront: unsustainable agricultural practices, unchecked resource exploitation, and policies that fail to prioritize long-term ecological health over short-term profit.
Just as a person facing mounting debt may reach a point of no return, so too can ecosystems when groundwater is pumped faster than it can be replenished and soil is stripped of its life-giving properties. The costs compound, and recovery becomes increasingly difficult, if not impossible.
This issue isn’t just about agriculture or environmentalism—it’s a human crisis, an economic crisis, and a social crisis all rolled into one. It demands urgent attention from policymakers, industries, and communities alike. Without coordinated action that addresses the root causes, the grim scenario I’ve described—escalating hunger, economic collapse, and widespread conflict—could become our reality.
What Lies at the Heart of This Always-Ignored Crisis?
Might it be regenerative stewardship? No, that doesn’t capture the essence in its entirety. Taking a cue from it, we might pinpoint it as:
“Collective Regenerative Will and Stewardship,” where the words “collective will” are central.
This captures the crucial idea that meaningful change hinges on our shared determination and unity of purpose. It highlights the necessity for humanity to come together, pooling diverse talents, perspectives, and resources to tackle the profound challenges we face. By framing it this way, we place the emphasis squarely on the collective effort and shared responsibility required to regenerate what’s been lost and to steward our world’s future.
No fragmented attempt can change the course of this gargantuan train of civilization, running headlong down the slope into the abyss. Its renewal, according to the natural cycle, will take a very long time.
The momentum of our current trajectory—both the ecological degradation and the societal systems that perpetuate it—can feel overwhelming. It suggests that only a comprehensive, coordinated shift in values, priorities, and practices will have a chance of altering our course. Without a unified, collective commitment to regeneration and sustainable stewardship, the forces driving us downward may continue unabated until the cycle eventually resets. This recognition underscores the urgency of forging new paradigms before natural systems are pushed beyond the point of recovery.
What Could Actually Be the Outcome?
Indeed, it is high time to critically analyze all the adverse forces converging and search for an answer to the question: What would be the final outcome?
In the long arc of history, civilizations have faced monumental challenges, often self-inflicted, and each time the outcome has ultimately been some form of transformation. However, the trajectory of the present—marked by accelerating environmental degradation, resource depletion, social inequality, and cultural and geopolitical fragmentation—is unprecedented in its complexity and scale.
If current trends remain unchecked, the most likely scenario appears to be one of significant upheaval and collapse before a new, more stable order can emerge. Ecosystem collapse, resource wars, economic instability, and social disintegration would likely cause widespread suffering and loss. Over time, these crises might lead to a drastically reduced global population, a lower level of technological sophistication, and a return to more localized, subsistence-based communities.
Yet, the path to such a future is not fixed. The very forces that contribute to the current crisis—human innovation, adaptability, and interconnectedness—can also serve as tools for steering the course toward a more sustainable, resilient future. This would require a concerted, global effort that transcends national borders and cultural divides, placing collective well-being above short-term profits and political gains. It would also demand a profound shift in values:
A move away from consumerism and exploitation toward stewardship, humility, and an ethic of care.
In the end, whether the final outcome is catastrophic collapse or a managed transformation depends largely on the choices made today. The situation is dire, but not beyond the scope of human resilience. If humanity can summon the collective will to confront its deepest flaws and most destructive habits, there remains a slim but definite possibility of a future that retains the beauty and complexity of human civilization, albeit in a form that looks quite different from what we know now.
But Can We See Any Urgency?
Yes, there are some signs of it. The urgency is acknowledged in a few power centers, particularly regarding climate change and resource depletion. However, the collective action required often falls short of what the situation demands.
While certain governments, organizations, and movements show awareness and initiative, the fragmented nature of global leadership, conflicting economic interests, and deeply entrenched systems of power frequently dilute efforts to address the root causes of these crises.
The first step—recognition of the problem—is happening in many quarters, yet the subsequent steps—uniting and taking decisive, large-scale action—remain elusive.
Historical inertia, fear of economic disruptions, and political divides all play a role in slowing progress. Moreover, humanity’s tendency to prioritize short-term gains over long-term survival, coupled with a blind fascination with tech-driven consumption, continues to impede meaningful change.
However, while the current state of humanity might seem discouraging, history also shows that transformational shifts can occur when crises reach a tipping point. Collective action often arises from a combination of widespread awareness, a shared sense of vulnerability, and leadership that channels the energy of a concerned population. Though the state of humanity today is fraught with challenges, the potential for change persists. Whether it will happen in time to prevent catastrophic outcomes remains uncertain, but it is not entirely out of reach.
Any Collective Global Effort at Such a Huge Scale Needs Leadership
Will it be possible for anyone in the present world to accept the leadership of a single entity? It’s the stark truth that in many cases, the idea of centralized or universally accepted leadership feels increasingly elusive.
The modern world is deeply fragmented by differing ideologies, political structures, and cultural values. Trust in traditional institutions and authorities has eroded in numerous regions, and many people are skeptical of any single entity or individual asserting a leadership role on a global scale.
This lack of trust and consensus can make coordinated action incredibly difficult. Even within nations, let alone between them, leadership is often contested, and competing interests prevent unified approaches to critical issues.
The rise of decentralized networks, grassroots movements, and localized decision-making can be seen as a response to this fragmentation. Yet, while these approaches empower communities, they also underscore the difficulty of achieving the kind of collective will needed to address global, systemic challenges.
In short, it’s unlikely that humanity will universally acknowledge a single leader or authority figure. What may be more realistic is a kind of distributed leadership—an emergent, networked form of guidance where individuals and communities collaborate across borders, not because they follow one leader, but because they share a common understanding of the stakes and a commitment to collective action. This model could be effective, but only if the underlying trust, communication, and shared values are built over time.
Somewhat like the novel blockchain technology model.
The Pivotal Place of Sociopolitical Fragmentation in the List of Global Crises
It struck me suddenly—why hadn’t I considered it before? The central crisis of sociopolitical fragmentation! This isn’t just another item on the list of global crises; it’s the lens through which all other challenges are experienced and, ultimately, addressed. Without cohesive, cooperative structures, efforts to tackle climate change, resource depletion, economic inequality, and even public health crises become fractured, delayed, or completely derailed.
When the world’s political and social systems are deeply divided, collective action becomes almost impossible. Trust in institutions, international agreements, and even scientific consensus erodes. The resulting gridlock prevents timely responses, hinders resource allocation, and allows smaller, more manageable issues to balloon into full-scale crises.
In that sense, sociopolitical fragmentation isn’t just a symptom—it’s a root cause. It amplifies nearly every other crisis we face. Without finding ways to reduce division, build trust, and foster collaboration, even the best solutions may fail to gain traction or be implemented effectively. Recognizing sociopolitical fragmentation as a core crisis might encourage more efforts to mend divides, strengthen institutions, and promote dialogue, which are essential steps toward addressing any global issue.
We can safely add sociopolitical fragmentation to the growing list of global crises that we face in this watershed year of 2025. It stands as a fundamental driver that amplifies nearly every other crisis. At its root, it prevents the coordination, consensus, and action needed to resolve even straightforward challenges. It isolates individuals, communities, and nations, leaving many of us feeling powerless and sidelined as these crises grow.
This recognition might be one of the first steps in changing the narrative.
If more people and institutions begin to see sociopolitical fragmentation not just as a symptom but as a root cause, the global discourse could shift toward repairing this divide.
From there, it’s possible to imagine more unified efforts, stronger institutions, and a renewed sense of shared purpose. While this path isn’t easy, acknowledging the foundational role of sociopolitical fragmentation is a crucial step toward building the will and frameworks needed to address the broader array of global crises.
Distributed Leadership: A Blockchain Model for Global Cooperation
But how do we move from fragmentation to unity? How do we build the trust and collaboration needed to address these crises? The answer might lie in a model inspired by blockchain technology—a decentralized, transparent, and trust-based system that has revolutionized the way we think about governance and cooperation.
Just as blockchain operates without a central authority, relying instead on a network of participants to validate and record transactions, a new model of distributed leadership could emerge. In this model, leadership isn’t concentrated in the hands of a few powerful entities but is instead shared across a network of individuals, communities, and organizations. Each participant contributes their unique skills, perspectives, and resources, working together toward a common goal.
This decentralized approach has several advantages:
- Resilience: Just as blockchain networks are highly resilient because they don’t rely on a single point of failure, distributed leadership would be more adaptable and robust in the face of global crises. If one part of the network falters, others can step in to fill the gap.
- Transparency: Blockchain’s strength lies in its transparency—every transaction is recorded and visible to all participants. Similarly, distributed leadership would require openness and accountability, helping to build trust among diverse groups.
- Empowerment: Blockchain empowers individuals by giving them control over their data and transactions. In the same way, distributed leadership empowers local communities and individuals to take ownership of their roles in addressing global challenges, rather than waiting for top-down solutions.
- Consensus-Building: Blockchain relies on consensus mechanisms to validate transactions. Distributed leadership would require a similar process, where diverse stakeholders come together to agree on shared goals and actions. This aligns with your emphasis on collective will.
Of course, human systems are far more complex than technological ones. Building consensus among diverse groups with conflicting interests is much harder than validating transactions on a blockchain. But the principles of decentralization, transparency, and collaboration offer a powerful framework for rethinking how we approach global leadership.
A New Paradigm for the Digital Age
In an era defined by digital connectivity and decentralized networks, the blockchain model provides a compelling analogy for how we might address sociopolitical fragmentation. It suggests a way forward that is both modern and deeply rooted in the principles of trust, collaboration, and shared responsibility.
This isn’t just a theoretical idea—it’s already happening in pockets around the world. From open-source software communities to grassroots climate initiatives, we see examples of distributed leadership in action. These movements demonstrate that when people come together around a shared purpose, they can achieve remarkable things, even in the absence of centralized authority.
The challenge now is to scale these efforts globally, fostering a network of distributed leadership that can address the interconnected crises we face. It won’t be easy, but the stakes are too high to continue down the path of fragmentation and division. By embracing a blockchain-inspired model of leadership, we might just find a way to heal the divides and build a more sustainable, equitable future.
The Accelerating State of Global Inequality
Let us pause here, without delving further into analyzing the core driver of the perilous outcome of civilization’s meltdown. Instead, let’s carry out a holistic analysis, taking into account all that can be considered. To understand the plausibility of this hypothesis—that a pervasive greed and overconsumption, driven by a few elites, is fomenting global inequality—we must examine the evidence.
Wherever you turn your attention, the signs are unmistakable. Yesterday’s middle class, now feeling the hard pinch of inflation and fast-declining net income, cannot commit suicide. After all, farmers were and still are the most fearless and hardworking fighters among all humans—not the army, navy, or air force, who fight false wars caused by humans for ulterior motives.
Farmers attach high value to their honor and feel deep anguish at their inability to fulfill their ordained duties on Earth: feeding humanity. They are a courageous and honorable group, now completely cornered and facing extinction. The middle class, inherently burdened by all kinds of fears—including the fear for their own lives—cannot commit suicide. Instead, without realizing when they became poor, they jump into the trade market in the hope of gaining quick riches. This very large group forms the wide bottom layer of the sharply narrowed pyramid of trade market players.
At the top sits the power and the riches—those who are not only astute and expert enough to extract as much as they can from the frenzied gambling called stock trading but also actively encourage the larger populace to play the game in ever-stronger voices. Their objective? To extract more from a very large number of people, concentrating wealth and power in the hands of a few at the top.
This is the essence of accelerating inequality, which is another symptom and should certainly be listed among the global crises.
Objective, neutral reasoning points to this as the most plausible framework for understanding a major driver of inequality and social fragmentation.
If we accept the premise that a narrow elite wields its influence to deliberately funnel larger and larger portions of wealth upward, then much of what we see in terms of widening income gaps and economic instability begins to make sense.
The middle class, once a buffer and stabilizing force, finds itself squeezed from both ends. Farmers and other traditionally labor-intensive professions face systemic pressures that undermine their livelihoods, while the middle class, lured into speculative markets and increasingly burdened by inflation and stagnant wages, inadvertently fuels the upward transfer of wealth.
This bottom-heavy participation in high-risk financial systems becomes a self-perpetuating mechanism for accelerating inequality. The masses bear the losses, while those at the top—armed with the resources, knowledge, and connections to navigate and manipulate the system—reap the benefits.
If this is indeed the dominant intent, it suggests a broader, deeply entrenched structure that prioritizes extraction over sustainability and manipulation over stewardship. The result is a stratified society where the gap between the few at the top and the many at the bottom continues to grow, fostering even more instability, distrust, and social fragmentation.
In this sense, the accelerating inequality is not just a symptom of the global crises but a central axis around which many other crises revolve.
This reality is here and now. Have a look at the publicly accessible two-year-old state of global inequality.
The latest data underscores a stark and growing disparity in global wealth distribution. Recent reports reveal that in 2024, billionaires’ wealth increased at an unprecedented rate of nearly two million dollars per day, tripling the growth seen in the previous year.
This surge has led to predictions of the world’s first trillionaires emerging within the next decade.
Despite this immense accumulation of wealth at the top, poverty levels have remained largely unchanged since the 1990s, with over 3.5 billion people living on less than $6.85 per day.
This juxtaposition highlights a system where the benefits of economic growth are disproportionately captured by a select few, leaving a significant portion of the global population struggling to meet basic needs.
Furthermore, the concentration of wealth is not solely the result of entrepreneurial success. Reports indicate that a substantial portion of billionaire wealth stems from inheritances, monopolistic practices, or cronyism.
This challenges the narrative of meritocracy and suggests systemic issues that perpetuate inequality.
These trends are not confined to a single region but are evident worldwide. For instance, in the United States, the top 1% now holds nearly 35% of the nation’s wealth, a significant increase over the past few decades.
Such disparities have profound implications, including social unrest, erosion of trust in institutions, and hindered economic mobility.
Addressing this multifaceted crisis requires comprehensive policy interventions, including fair taxation, breaking up monopolies, and ensuring equitable access to opportunities. Without such measures, the chasm between the ultra-wealthy and the rest of the population is poised to widen further, exacerbating existing social and economic tensions.
The Relentless Pursuit Toward Finding the Root Causes
I am focusing on a very simple yet profound fact: a disappearing market with no spending power, an Earth devoid of healthy living soil, and healthy living farmers. In this scenario, even the safely preserved elite will wake up to a world that can no longer sustain them.
These facts cut right to the core of sustainability: a market without purchasing power is not viable, and a planet without healthy soil and farmers cannot sustain life. The collapse of these fundamental elements means that the entire system—economic, ecological, and social—is at risk.
If people lack the means to spend, the market no longer functions. If farmers cannot grow food because the soil is dead, the base of human survival erodes. It’s a chain reaction that leads to a landscape where wealth, trade, and progress lose their meaning. Without addressing these foundational problems, any attempts to maintain or expand the current system are built on a rapidly crumbling foundation.
What Will Ultimately Attain the Highest Value to Humans?
The answer is tough, but let’s try. Don’t stop at the obvious answers. Eliminate them one by one to arrive at the last possibility that is staring us in the face, even as we spend our time living our routine, unconcerned lives.
First Guess of the Thing With Maximum Inherent Worth
If we strip away the obvious answers—money, gold, technology, oil, even food—and consider what remains, we are left with something more fundamental and universal: clean, life-giving water. When all else fails, when soil degrades, markets collapse, and systems fragment, the simple, unyielding necessity of water becomes paramount. It’s the cornerstone of life itself, and without it, every other resource, every material possession, becomes irrelevant.
So, my first take, trying to confuse you, is this: in the end, the highest value to humans will be fresh, clean water. When scarcity defines every other aspect of existence, when resources dwindle and life-supporting systems falter, water will remain the ultimate determinant of survival.
Final Answer to the Question: What Is That Thing With the Highest Intrinsic Value?
It is something like fresh water. But no—it’s the soil.
Water won’t disappear as fast as living soil will, attacked from all sides by harmful chemical-rich farming practices, reduced rainfall, urbanization claiming farmland, deforestation, and the loss of green cover. These forces weaken the soil, making it unable to resist the forces of running water.
Soil is at the heart of this crisis. Without healthy, living soil, no amount of water can sustain the agricultural systems humanity depends on.
Soil is more than just dirt; it’s a complex, life-filled ecosystem that serves as the foundation for nearly all terrestrial life. Once it’s degraded—stripped of organic matter, compacted, eroded—it loses its ability to absorb and retain water, its capacity to host diverse microbial communities, and its role in regulating carbon and nutrients. This sets off a devastating chain reaction: decreased rainfall retention, reduced agricultural yields, desertification, and eventually the collapse of entire ecosystems.
Modern farming practices, relentless urbanization, deforestation, and the increasing use of harmful chemicals all contribute to this soil degradation. While water remains a critical resource, it’s the soil’s ability to work in concert with water—its capacity to store it, filter it, and feed the plants that rely on it—that ultimately underpins sustainable life on Earth.
So yes, soil may well be the element that humanity comes to value most. Without it, our current ways of life—our food systems, our economies, and our civilizations—become unsustainable. The recognition of soil’s critical importance may arrive only after it’s severely degraded, but by then, restoring it could be an incredibly difficult, if not impossible, task. The time to value and protect soil is not in some distant future—it’s right now.
Understanding the Core of a Problem Is Not Enough; Its Solution Must Also Be Sought
So, I am not finished yet on this quest of mine—one that has troubled me for the last two decades. I am still trying to answer the question: What is the solution, even if it’s a partial one, that would be better than zero? And how and where should the forces driving such a solution begin?
Finding even a partial solution to such an entrenched, systemic crisis is undeniably challenging. Still, there are steps that, while not comprehensive fixes, could push the needle toward a more sustainable future. Based on what I’ve described, a promising starting point might be a shift in priorities—both at the grassroots level and within decision-making structures—to emphasize resilience and renewal rather than constant growth and extraction.
1. Rebuilding the Soil:
- This would mean promoting regenerative agricultural practices on a global scale—farming methods that restore organic matter, protect biodiversity, and revitalize degraded lands. This isn’t just a theoretical solution; it’s already being proven by farmers and communities who are reversing desertification, improving yields, and making land more climate-resilient.
2. Empowering Farmers and Local Communities:
- The forces of change should begin at the most local level, directly supporting the people who work the land. Financial incentives, education, and policy shifts that favor sustainable farming over industrialized monocultures could reorient the agricultural system. Giving farmers the resources to rebuild soil health—rather than pushing them toward harmful chemical inputs or unsustainable practices—would be a tangible first step.
3. Changing Cultural Narratives:
- A broader cultural shift is needed, one that redefines success and progress. Instead of measuring success by short-term profits or GDP growth, it might focus on long-term ecosystem health, community well-being, and food security. This shift won’t come overnight, but starting with education, storytelling, and public campaigns that highlight the value of living soil, healthy ecosystems, and sustainable livelihoods can lay the groundwork.
4. Policy and Institutional Reform:
- Governments and international institutions have to play a role. Redirecting subsidies away from destructive practices, enforcing stricter environmental protections, and investing in regenerative research and infrastructure are steps that large-scale actors can take. The forces driving a solution must also include these institutional frameworks—changing how public funds are spent, how land is managed, and how markets are structured.
5. Global and Local Collaboration:
- While the solution begins locally, it needs global support. Knowledge-sharing networks, cooperative ventures between farmers, scientists, and policymakers, and a push for shared best practices can accelerate progress. It’s not a single hero or top-down mandate that will solve this; it’s thousands of smaller, interconnected efforts that create a ripple effect.
Where to Start?
In a word: soil. Begin with the earth beneath our feet. Build awareness, support those already working on the ground, and encourage small-scale changes that, over time, add up to larger transformations. By focusing on soil health and local empowerment, we can create a cascade of positive changes—restoring ecosystems, providing more secure livelihoods, and ultimately shifting humanity toward a more balanced relationship with nature.
A Grassroots Renaissance: The Path Forward
I see only one possible answer—a fight for survival starting right at the grassroots level, from the soil tillers themselves. This movement would consist of pockets of realignment spread out all over the globe, mostly independent of the influence of the poisons of modern civilization, mostly disconnected from each other. But it must also happen that many individuals with clear vision will join this renewal of nature.
This will be a bottom-up renaissance—a worldwide grassroots movement in which small, self-sustaining, largely disconnected communities take charge of their own future. These would be pockets of individuals, farmers, and visionaries who share a common goal: to regenerate the land, restore soil health, and live in alignment with nature’s principles. By working outside the influences of a civilization steeped in consumption and exploitation, these communities would build resilient, localized systems of food, water, and culture.
It’s a vision of survival through renewal, where change begins with the people who are most directly connected to the land. The tillers, farmers, and stewards would lead the way, using traditional knowledge, innovative practices, and a deep respect for natural cycles to rebuild ecosystems from the ground up. Their efforts would be supported by like-minded individuals who see the urgency of the moment and bring their expertise, energy, and resources to the cause.
Even though these pockets might initially be disconnected, their shared values and practices could form a kind of silent, global movement. As these independent hubs of renewal multiply, they would create a mosaic of resilience—a patchwork of places where the soil, water, and local communities begin to heal. This isn’t just a theoretical solution; it’s one that places real people, real land, and real actions at the center, rejecting the hollow promises of quick fixes and instead focusing on slow, steady restoration of life’s most fundamental systems.
A Convergence of Like-Minded Individuals
A few like-minded people from all strata of society will come down from their high perch and join these grassroots groups, finding no alternative. I am sure this situation has already started as we speak.
It’s quite possible that this shift has already begun, even if in subtle and scattered forms. As the larger systems falter and traditional models of success lose their appeal, more people from diverse backgrounds are recognizing the need to reconnect with what sustains them—both the land and the communities they live in.
A few of the more insulated and privileged groups may find their own security erode and come down from their “high perch,” not out of charity, but because they understand that survival is intertwined with the health of the grassroots.
This convergence of like-minded individuals—be they former executives, academics, urban professionals, or members of rural farming communities—might be driven by a shared realization: that the current path is unsustainable and that joining forces with those who are directly tending the soil offers not just a way out, but a way forward.
These people bring not only their labor but also their knowledge, their networks, and their ability to influence policy and culture, amplifying the efforts of the grassroots groups.
While this scenario may still be in its early stages, signs are emerging in the form of regenerative agriculture movements, small-scale land restoration projects, and local food sovereignty initiatives. The shift might not be happening fast enough to feel like a global transformation yet, but the seeds of change are undoubtedly being sown.
What Truly Endures: The Intrinsic Value of Human Connection
This cannot avoid the inevitable massive collapse, but maybe much of what is truly valuable might be saved—not the original Mona Lisa painting, but the Baul songs of Bengal, to cite a simple example. Not the piles of gold or diamonds, but the hearts of humans.
In the face of massive upheaval, what truly endures is not the material artifacts of wealth, but the cultural, emotional, and spiritual treasures that connect us to our humanity. The Baul songs of Bengal, with their wisdom, simplicity, and profound connection to life’s deeper truths, symbolize these treasures. They represent a continuity of the human spirit that can survive the collapse of material systems.
While the original Mona Lisa or mountains of gold may vanish, the essence of what it means to be human—our songs, our stories, our capacity for love and empathy—can be preserved. This is not about salvaging objects or monuments; it’s about nurturing and passing on the values, knowledge, and relationships that give life meaning. In that sense, even if the world as we know it crumbles, these intangible riches can remain and serve as the foundation for renewal, reminding future generations of what truly matters.
The Highest Intrinsic Value: A Powerful Metric for Humanity
This is what I now term as the things with the highest intrinsic value—a powerful metric ironically used for evaluating stocks.
Indeed, when applied beyond the realm of financial analysis, the concept of intrinsic value takes on a far richer and more profound meaning. The Baul songs, shared human traditions, the capacity for compassion, and the wisdom accumulated over generations—these are the “stocks” of human culture and spirit that hold the highest intrinsic value. Unlike market investments, their worth doesn’t fluctuate with economic trends or geopolitical shifts; it is rooted in their enduring contribution to what makes us human.
When we measure intrinsic value in this broader sense, we start to see that the most valuable assets are not material wealth or even material culture alone. Instead, they are the deep, living connections—between people, between generations, and between humanity and nature—that sustain us in times of both prosperity and collapse. As a metric, this kind of intrinsic value helps us prioritize what truly deserves our care and effort, guiding us toward preserving the most meaningful elements of life.
Evaluate Everything Through the Lens of Intrinsic Value
Evaluate everything from the point of view of finding its intrinsic value, critically. Then all will be clear to all.
Once we shift the lens to intrinsic value, clarity begins to emerge. By critically examining everything—ideas, traditions, resources, relationships—through this metric, we can start to separate what is truly enduring and meaningful from what is fleeting and superficial. The notion of intrinsic value becomes a guiding principle, helping us focus on what nurtures life, fosters connection, and sustains the human spirit.
When we apply this framework consistently, the illusions of excess and short-term gains fall away. What remains is a clearer picture of what truly matters: the practices, knowledge, and values that hold their worth regardless of market forces or material wealth. It’s a paradigm shift that can lead individuals, communities, and societies toward more thoughtful, sustainable, and meaningful ways of living.
Isn’t It a Powerful Way to Transmit the Messages We’ve Relentlessly Discussed?
Evaluating everything from the perspective of intrinsic value is not only clarifying—it’s a deeply compelling way to communicate the essence of what I have discussed till now. It’s an approach that resonates across cultures, ideologies, and levels of understanding, because it speaks to the fundamental question of what truly matters.
By framing issues and choices in terms of intrinsic value, we provide a powerful, relatable lens that can cut through complexity and help others see the bigger picture. It’s a way to articulate the urgency of shifting priorities, the importance of preserving what’s most meaningful, and the necessity of aligning our actions with long-term, sustainable principles. This metric doesn’t just convey information; it inspires reflection, dialogue, and ultimately, a broader awareness that can lead to meaningful change.
The Power of Intrinsic Value Lies in Its Core Concept
The power of this metric lies in its ability to abstract away from surface-level, short-term measurements and reach the essence of what makes something genuinely valuable. Intrinsic value isn’t about what something can fetch on the market, or how it appears on the surface—it’s about its fundamental contribution to the well-being, longevity, and meaning of life. This abstraction allows us to consider worth in a much deeper, more enduring way.
By distilling everything down to its core essence—its intrinsic value—we strip away distractions and focus on what truly sustains and enriches humanity and the planet. That’s why this metric is so powerful: it’s not bound by fleeting trends or external pressures. It provides a lens through which we can see the enduring worth of ideas, traditions, resources, and relationships, allowing us to prioritize wisely and act accordingly.
The Path to Qualitative Growth
As we stand at the crossroads of collapse and renewal, one truth becomes undeniable:
The path to sustainability, peace, prosperity, and happiness lies in shifting from crude quantitative growth to meaningful qualitative growth. This is not just a choice—it is a necessity, not only for humanity but for all living things on Earth, including nature itself.
For too long, we have measured progress by the wrong metrics: GDP, stock prices, and material wealth. These numbers tell us nothing about the health of our soil, the well-being of our communities, or the resilience of our ecosystems. They are illusions, flickering lights in the vast darkness of a system that prioritizes short-term gains over long-term survival.
Qualitative growth, on the other hand, is about value, not volume. It’s about:
- Regenerating the soil so it can sustain life for generations to come.
- Empowering farmers and local communities to thrive in harmony with nature.
- Redefining success not by how much we accumulate, but by how deeply we connect—to each other, to the Earth, and to the intrinsic value of all living things.
This shift requires a fundamental change in how we think, act, and measure progress. It means:
- Prioritizing well-being over wealth: Investing in education, healthcare, and mental health rather than endless consumption.
- Valuing ecosystems over economies: Protecting forests, rivers, and oceans as the lifeblood of our planet.
- Embracing stewardship over exploitation: Recognizing that we are not separate from nature, but deeply interconnected with it.
The beauty of this path is that it benefits everyone—humans, animals, plants, and the planet itself. When we keep nature happy, we create the conditions for our own happiness. When we nurture the soil, we nourish ourselves. When we protect the forests, we breathe cleaner air. When we honor the intrinsic value of all life, we find a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment.
This Is Not A Utopian Dream; It Is A Practical, Achievable Vision
Around the world, grassroots movements along with large-scale efforts are already leading the way—regenerating degraded lands, building resilient communities, and redefining what it means to live well. These efforts may seem small, but they are the seeds of a new paradigm, one that prioritizes quality over quantity, connection over consumption, and life over profit.
As we reach the end of this exploration, one truth becomes clear: Only qualitative growth, not quantitative growth, can lead to a sustainable future for humanity, all life forms, and nature itself.
Permaculture: The Foundation for a Qualitative Civilization
To truly embrace qualitative growth, we need a framework that guides our actions and decisions. Permaculture, a design system based on ecological principles, offers such a framework. It provides a holistic approach to creating sustainable human settlements and agricultural systems that integrate harmoniously with nature.
At its core, permaculture emphasizes:
- Care for the Earth: Regenerating soil, conserving water, and protecting biodiversity are central to permaculture practices.
- Care for People: Building resilient communities, ensuring access to resources, and promoting social justice are essential components of a permaculture approach.
- Fair Share: Recognizing the limits of growth and sharing resources equitably ensures the long-term well-being of both humanity and the planet.
Permaculture principles can be applied to various aspects of life, from urban gardening and food production to architecture and energy systems. By integrating these principles into our daily lives and decision-making processes, we can create a civilization that thrives within the ecological limits of our planet.
Key Permaculture Practices:
- Regenerative Agriculture: Employing techniques like composting, cover cropping, and crop rotation to build healthy soil and enhance biodiversity.
- Water Harvesting and Conservation: Implementing strategies like rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling, and drought-resistant landscaping to conserve water resources.
- Renewable Energy: Utilizing solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
- Natural Building: Constructing homes and structures using locally sourced, sustainable materials that minimize environmental impact.
- Community-Based Food Systems: Supporting local farmers, community gardens, and food cooperatives to enhance food security and reduce reliance on industrial agriculture.
By embracing permaculture principles and practices, we can create a civilization that is not only sustainable but also resilient, equitable, and deeply connected to the natural world. This is the foundation upon which a truly qualitative civilization can be built.
Permaculture at its foundation and distributed leadership based on Blockchain technology model should have enough resilience to build the future sustainable civilization.
With both the frameworks already quite well known, transitioning to a form of fusion of the two won't be unattainable. That will be the way forward.
The choice is ours. We can continue down the path of quantitative growth, chasing illusions of progress until the soil turns to dust and the markets collapse. Or we can choose the path of qualitative growth, embracing a future where sustainability, peace, and happiness are not just possible, but inevitable.
Let us choose wisely. Let us choose life.