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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?

posted by Frauke Godat on 11/26/2007 11:44 am | COMMENTS (4)
Comments (4)

Yes, the idea that living a more simple community based existence is absolutely fine. Self-suffiency all very laudable, and fine. All these things should be encouraged....but this is going to make little real difference to the BIG PROBLEMS of the world UNLESS THEY HAPPEN AT RECORD TIME!! Infact, it is immoral to continu e with small is beautiful if overtakes the most pressing global issues!!

See my research, and development project.

kheper.net/essays/Transfinancial_Economics.html

Robert searle

posted by Searle88 on 11/30/2007 9:54 am

I work for an organization (Amarado Connections) that educates and consults on local sustainable living. The economic academics behind our approach has been published in the book "The Economics of Happiness" by Mark Anielski (New Society Publishers). two of our most basic tenets are autopoiesis & biomimicry, where the most sustainable structures, like crystals, grow spontaneously from the ground up.

posted by amaradodave on 11/30/2007 4:17 pm

Frauke Godat, I believe that these, indeed, are wonderful insights about cultural transformation, and that they are essential discussion points. In my own work, I have needed to step back very far into the process of human culture in order to see a way out of the mess we're in.

For me, I believe that the core issue is understanding human nature and unwinding some of the confusing concepts that have bound our cultures to unsustainable patterns. These patterns began thousands of years ago and ultimately manifest in our currently having no idea how to modify our cultures to address centuries of conditioned education dismissive of our environmental constraints. In this, I believe that European cultures are generally more mature than American culture in dealing with dysfunctional conceptual relationships with religion, ideology and technology. On the other hand, American culture, in its adolescence and impulsiveness, may, paradoxically, be more adaptable to change.

My own thesis is that without understanding the inherently primate nature of humans, we will be stuck in our current confusion and panick about our apparent inability to live sustainably. Taking a holistic approach, I know that our tribal nature immobilizes us when confronting situations where we, ourselves, are the problem. It is far easier to mobilize action against a foreign threat, which unconsciously serves to distract our attention from the inner transformations necessary to respond to global crises.

We humans are a wonderful species, but not nearly so bright and omnipotent as we like to believe. At the same time that we must work together to create sustainable cultures, we must also find ways to diminish our fear and stress so that solutions emerge from our communities rather than being imposed by ruling authorities, as you also have stated above. I'm working on a book about that, but have not generated much interest. Your work is very encouraging to me.

Peace,

Earon

www.divineprimates.com divineprimates@aol.com

posted by Earon on 12/10/2007 1:41 pm

I address the confounding dilemma of the double bind below: mypinksalmon.blogspot.com

posted by wwatman on 6/26/2009 8:28 am

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