Vancouver Canada has always been known as a very peaceful and beautiful city. It was almost always safe to walk the streets.   However, it appears that things have changed, at least for now.   Hardly a day goes by that there is not a report of another gangland style murder in the local newspapers and on TV.   Gang violence, murder, drug selling, murdering of prostitutes and homelessness in our beautiful city are now commonplace. Unfortunately, we are not alone in this situation. All around the world people are wreaking havoc on each other.    Why? What is happening that is making these occurrences so commonplace?   There are many reasons. Today I am going to hit on a few of them. Then we can look at what we, as individuals, can do about the situation.   First, the end of the Roman Empire occurred after many years of decay in the social fabric. There were more people than the land and system could support in a healthy manner. People were forced to live too close to each other so there was little room “to breathe”. As a result of this closeness, they began acting in ways that they would not normally have considered. They had lost the awareness of their relationship with each other. There were too many people to recognize and treat as individuals, so it became socially acceptable to violate other members of society just because they didn’t know them.  Sound familiar?   How often today do we deal with road rage, gang violence, people selling illicit drugs, people altering illicit drugs in order to cause addiction by others and so much more?   Secondly, whether you believe in cosmic forces, God, astrology or anything else one can’t actually see, it does not change the fact that we are in a transitional time. According to Astrology, the Holy Bible, Nostradomus and the Mayan Calendar, we are embarking on the most significant change in all the history of our planet: The transition from rule from the head to the joint ruling by the head and the heart.   Because we are in this transitional time, it would be acceptable to say that the energies are driving us crazy. More and more people are committing acts that in another time they would never have considered; and they are not conscious of the repercussions caused by their choices.   Our mind is used to being the boss. It is having grievous difficulties in accepting that it has to change and allow the heart its rightful place in decision making. It is resisting and it is causing the craziness. It doesn’t want to save the earth, it just wants to make money and have fun, the stuff it has always done.   The third reason I speak of is related to the first two, a symptom of both and what I think is the first step we need to recognize and implement in order to regain our sanity as things continue to change.   What I speak of is the loss of family and community within our society. The distancing of each individual to a point where no one else matters is at the bottom of all the woes we stress about. Children are not getting enough attention as they grow so they don’t learn good rules for healthy living, homes have become investment commodities to the point that the average family cannot afford to either own their home or eat just to support another person’s greed.   Here in Vancouver , families from other countries have purchased homes in our area, then left their children here to fend for themselves while the adults return to the homeland. These children need family but since their genetic family is far away, they gravitate to the easiest group accessible. We call these gangs.   In other cases, either the family is composed of only one parent or two parents who are working tirelessly to support the family, leaving the children without adequate supervision and guidance. Since the parents are not around to supervise, the children often gravitate to the easiest group accessible. We call these gangs.   If we are to get through this current round of turmoil successfully, I feel that we each, as individuals, need to stop for a minute and look at what we are doing and not doing that is resulting in the necessity of these gangs.   It is a rule of life that where there is need, there is an answer. Where there is no need, there is no need for an answer.   It is very challenging to access and provide a bountiful life style for our families these days. We believe we are doing our best, and according to our beliefs we are doing our best. However, if we truly believe that we can make a difference for ourselves, our families and society as a whole, then we need to really look at how we are currently creating and promoting the energy we know as gangs and the inherent violence; and make some new decisions to live our lives differently.   How? Maybe we can be a little less materialistic so we don’t have to work so many hours. This would allow us to spend more time with our children so we can guide them to live healthier lives. Maybe we can job share so there are less unemployed people. Maybe we can recognize other people when we are out in society with a little smile.   Maybe we can end our own violent and disassociative tendencies and become friends with ourselves again. Maybe instead of taking that drink or toke tonight, we could go for a walk outside and appreciate the wonder of being alive in the greatest moment of human history.   Maybe we could quit watching violent programming on TV and in computer games. Turn off those police shows and gangster shows that immortalize the bigger than life good guys and bad guys.   And how about this for a finale, maybe our governments can quit going to war and beating up other people. Isn’t it amazing how Canada , a country known for its peaceful people is now, at this time of the worst violence on its streets, is engaged for the first time in our history as an aggressor in a foreign land.   How come it is okay for the government to play shoot’em up, but it isn’t okay for its citizens to follow suit?   I realize there are some major issues going on in the Middle East but just maybe there is a peaceful way to make change that does not require violence.   Let’s make peace with ourselves as individuals. Let’s take the time to be friendly and peaceful with our friends and neighbours. If each of us could do these simple tasks, how long do you think it would take before gang violence and warmongering by the governments would come to an end?   What would happen if the government declared war… and nobody showed up?   After you finish reading this little blog, how about going to your significant other and your children and give them a hug. Tell them that you love them and that you are grateful that they are in your life.   There is a simple to use tool that makes it easy to end gang violence, it is called love.   Namaste   Monty C. Ritchings www.powerofsafety.com