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106 | THe Puttosopuy or Eco-Potitics obstacle to their recognition is not ignorance, but a lack of power of imagination and self-confidence. The majority of people are incapable of imagining any other sort of life. They experience their vulnerability in all areas of life, so they think that their lives would collapse and their living and security would be endangered if they tried to follow any path other than the one assigned them by the ruling institutions. They attempt it only if they have an idea of the life they would like to live and hope that it can be realised. Therefore, the most important ecological goal — which includes all the others — is the creation of a more joyful, more fulfilling way of life. It is only with reference to this that we can claim that we are striving not against something, but towards the achievement of something positive. 5. (freedom from plenty!) Everyone, if they thinks not of humanity, but only themselves, knows on what their happiness depends. — It primarily depends on others, on things which we cannot acquire from them with our power or wealth, things which they can only gift us with freely. Above all, therefore, we desire the love, appreciation, respect and care of our fellows and need substantial, strengthening relationships. Let us call this a need for a community. — But we cannot be happy without good work. Our self-identity and self-esteem are inseparably connected with seeing the value of our work, with using and developing our abilities through it and with creating something appreciated by others as well. — We need the knowledge requisite for communicating with each other and holding our own in our various social roles. We need education so we can value and enjoy what is beautiful and for differentiating between good and evil and important and unimportant; for arguing for our truth. (We would need a great deal of knowledge, yet our heads are filled with a great amount of worthless information from early childhood.) — For social institutions that ensure that we do not have to fear, not even from strangers or our enemies. Living in security and receiving proper treatment and assistance from our fellow-humans, acquaintances and strangers alike, is a basic need. Let us call it the need for social security. — The maintenance and restoration of our health is closely linked to the above, but primarily to treating ourselves well. Most of our issues arising from treating ourselves badly. Needless to say, all kinds of social necessities, fear and lack of love play a role here as well.
