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X Congreso Nacional de la Ciencia del Suelo 33

values in the world, regardless of culture, gender, age or other class are; honesty, compassion, fairness, responsibility, and respect (Glenn and Gordon, 1999).

TOOLS OF HOPE

Can we move nations and people in the direction of sustainability? … If we actually do it, the undertaking will be absolutely unique in

humanity’s stay on earth

W.D. Ruckelshaus (Meadows et al., 2004, p.265)

There are hundreds of governments or quasi-governments, and several thousand languages that bond us into groups, yet our world is still structured more like “a commons” - alone and in potential danger of collapse - than a sustainable integrated planet hurtling through space. As a human species we have developed a fantastic plethora of unimaginable commodities and institutions. This legacy of exceptional growth, however, has not been sufficient for a peaceful, exciting, continual development of humanity in a world where future generations are as important, or even more so, than ours.

A Revolution of Sustainability will need to use data gathering, systems thinking, rational analysis, computer modeling and the clearest words possible. These are some of the usual scientific tools that can encourage peaceful restructuring of our current world system. But more powerful, meaningful and essential are the interpersonal tools; visioning, networking, truth-telling, learning and loving (Meadows et al., 2004).

And this, my friends, brings my stories back to soils and the lessons they hold for us. Horizons are markers of change, of development, of transitions. A clear vision of what lies beyond the obvious is the far horizon – the horizon of Hope - at the beginning of a sustainable global habitat with harmony among humans and the ecosystems of their sustainability. Be a champion for that vision, never lose sight of the brilliance and comfort it kindles for all of humanity.

Networking with others, our spouses, friends, colleagues, institutions and individuals everywhere - with knowledge to share about sustainability is truly powerful. In a network all are equal – some may facilitate but they do not control. Ideas, techniques, experiences are everywhere and we can tap into each other’s strengths and knowledge and overcome weaknesses and misunderstandings. Consider how far the Internet has brought us in a capacity to network globally as well as locally. Never under estimate the changes that individuals can and do make. Be active and network.