Social change for a sustainable and meaningful lifestyle

Last Saturday, I presented We Are What We Do (www.wearewhatwedo.org) at a forum “For a better world” at the Rudolf-Steiner-House in Berlin. Another guest was a representative from a network movement called “differently better living” (www.anders-besser-leben.de). They are calling for social change in Germany for a sustainable and meaningful lifestyle in solidarity. The network has published a declaration that people can sign and which is giving us guidelines for a more future-oriented lifestyle. Here are some excerpts that I find inspiring and a good starting point for me to initiate dialogue meetings around personal sustainability in Berlin in 2008:

“There is a remarkable contradiction between our knowledge, our ideals, and our lifestyles”

“A different, better lifestyle cannot be imposed from above it can only be created by ourselves.”

“The movement is not about morals but about being happier.”

“There is a culture change needed in order to gain quality of life.”

“Self-responsibility and political design need to work together. Someone who demands political action without changing ones own life is not trusted.”

A representative from the World Future Council (http://www.worldfuturecouncil.org/) quoted some UN figures at the forum and it is a fact that quality of life has gone down since 1979 while economic growth is constantly increasing. Why is society still demanding economic growth instead of actively improving their own lifestyle? What change can the individual make in order to improve his/her personal quality of life?