I can't stop thinking about this. Can you imagine with me one more time?

Imagine. Humans are interconnected groups of cells, which are themselves interconnected groups of molecules. Humans form interconnected social groups, and are part of the web of life, the interconnected ecosystem. The Earth itself is like a cell within the superstructure of the galaxy, which is part of a galactic supercluster within the observable universe.

Imagine we treated individual homes like cells within a larger interconnected organism. Imagine each home regulated its own temperature, produced its own food, collected its own water and power, and cleansed or reused its own waste. Each human or group of humans would be responsible for helping to build their home, and for looking after it, and the plants and animals and systems within it. The technologies have been pioneered by Earthships, but I imagine that the designs could be taken even further and implemented globally.

Imagine homes were grouped in communities who agreed to support one another in the event of one home having a shortage or emergency, with the internet allowing the organization of all the individual homes into local and global networks. If somebody wanted to join a community, the whole community would help them build their home, bonding them to the group both socially and spatially. The wider network could support communities if there was a wider or more serious problem. However, there should be no shortages if the systems are working correctly, and being maintained by their inhabitants. This global network could also use computers to track the world’s resources and their use, as well as the environmental and human impacts of our actions. The computer network would also need to be a completely free and open information sharing platform, available to all.

If we lived like this, I imagine we could end poverty, the need for money itself, and even the need for laws.

In the event that someone causes harm to someone else, imagine communities protected and helped the victims, instead of harming the harmer. It is almost never clear at first who has been harmed and how and by whom, and those who cause harm have almost always been harmed themselves. Imagine we repaired damage instead of causing more harm. Sometimes it is necessary to act to prevent harm from occurring, but we must always try not to cause it.

Imagine all seven billion of us knew that we all had enough good air and water and food and shelter, and understood the systems that gave us these things. Imagine we all knew that we and our community would receive immediate help and protection from harm and agreed to help others suffering harm. Imagine no need for laws, and a completely open information sharing network. Imagine what we could do. Imagine what we could learn. Imagine how deeply we could love one another. Imagine.