Economics - Transition Whatcom2024-03-29T09:56:51Zhttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/forum/categories/economics-1/listForCategory?feed=yes&xn_auth=noGreece, Limits to Growth, and My Papertag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2015-07-07:2723460:Topic:1029272015-07-07T05:06:21.120ZDavid MacLeodhttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/DavidMacLeod
<p>by David MacLeod, originally published at <a href="https://integralpermaculture.wordpress.com/2015/07/03/greece-the-limits-to-growth-and-my-paper/" target="_blank">Integral Permaculture</a> and <a href="http://www.resilience.org/stories/2015-07-06/greece-and-the-limits-to-growth" target="_blank">Resilience.org</a></p>
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<p>My paper, “…</p>
<p>by David MacLeod, originally published at <a href="https://integralpermaculture.wordpress.com/2015/07/03/greece-the-limits-to-growth-and-my-paper/" target="_blank">Integral Permaculture</a> and <a href="http://www.resilience.org/stories/2015-07-06/greece-and-the-limits-to-growth" target="_blank">Resilience.org</a></p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2060941442?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2060941442?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p>
<p>My paper, “<a href="http://integralpostmetaphysics.ning.com/forum/attachment/download?id=5301756%3AUploadedFile%3A61805" target="_blank">Patterns for Navigating the Transition to a World in Energy Descent</a>,” to be presented at the upcoming <a href="https://integralpermaculture.wordpress.com/2015/07/01/join-me-at-integral-theory-conference-2015/" target="_blank">Fourth International Integral Theory Conference</a> on July 18th, is about resource depletion (“energy descent”) and the unsustainability of current economic structures, which may indicate we are entering a new era signaled by the end of growth.</p>
<p>In a recent post entitled “<a href="http://cassandralegacy.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-limits-to-growth-and-greece.html" target="_blank">The Limits to Growth and Greece: Systemic or Financial Collapse?</a>“, Ugo Bardi writes, “could it be that all the financial circus that we are seeing dancing in and around Greece is just the effect of much deeper causes? The effect of something that gnaws at the very foundations not only of Greece, but of the whole Western World?</p>
<p>Let’s take a step back, and take a look at the 1972 study titled “The Limits to Growth” (LTG). Look at the “base case” scenario, the one which used as input the data that seemed to be the most reliable at the time…”</p>
<p>Bardi concludes: “If the LTG study is right and the crisis is generated by the gradually increasing costs of production of natural resources, (and <a href="http://www.chelseagreen.com/business-economy/extracted" target="_blank">there is plenty of evidence</a> that these costs are increasing worldwide, see also <a href="http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/3/10/1866" target="_blank">here</a>) then, <span id="f18c6405-49ad-4600-884d-7f5c0153d155" class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark"><span id="b2d60dd3-f46d-496b-a8b3-de82c6560f90" class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark">collapse</span></span> cannot be avoided, at best it can be mitigated by acting at the system level. By means of such measures as renewable energy, efficiency, and recycling, the system can be helped to cope with a reduced resource availability. But the economic contraction of the system is unavoidable. It is a contraction that we call financial collapse, but that is simply the result of the system adapting to lower quality (i.e. <span id="cd11e188-ca19-405f-ba17-ca39866e5b8f" class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark">more</span> expensive) resources.”</p>
<p>To corroborate, I will share an excerpt from <a href="http://integralpostmetaphysics.ning.com/forum/attachment/download?id=5301756%3AUploadedFile%3A61805" target="_blank">my paper</a> mentioned above:</p>
<p>“…Richard Heinberg, senior fellow at the Post Carbon Institute believes we have reached <em>The End of Growth</em> (2011), as does energy economist Jeff Rubin (2012), who understands that “the real engine of economic growth has always been cheap, abundant fuel and resources.” However, this wasn’t the training he received as an economist:</p>
<p><em>Nearly every economics exam I wrote dealt with the idea of maximizing economic growth. It wasn’t until I had years of real-world experience under my belt as chief economist of an investment bank that I began to understand what the textbooks were missing…After watching GDP growth shrink in the face of steadily rising oil prices, I couldn’t escape the notion that growth might someday become finite. During my formal training, steeped in conventional economic theory, the idea of static growth was never even considered. It doesn’t matter which school of economic thought you subscribe to or where you belong on the ideological spectrum, the notion of growth is an unquestioned tenet of the discipline</em> (ibid, pp. 26-27).</p>
<p>Thomas Piketty (2014) caused a sensation when his rigorous academic economics book was translated into English, and became a bestseller. Piketty provides good evidence that we will not likely see again the levels of growth experienced in the 20th century. One reference he cites is even less optimistic. Robert J. Gordon, economics professor at Northwestern University forecasts a 0.2 percent growth of real disposable income for the majority of the U.S. population over the next 25 to 40 years. He names four “headwinds” contributing to this self-described “gloomy forecast”: demographic shifts, educational attainment, increasing inequality, and the ratio of debt to GDP at all levels (<a target="_blank">Gordon, 2012</a>; 2014). This projection does not include resource constraints.</p>
<p>“Rogue” or “heterodox” economists who recognize the validity of biophysical constraints (limits to growth) include E.F. Schumacher (1973), Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen (<a href="http://homepages.rpi.edu/%7Egowdyj/mypapers/RSE1998.pdf" target="_blank">Gowdy and Mesner, 1998</a>), Herman Daly (Daly & Cobb, 1994), and Peter Pogany (2006). Taking a thermodynamics perspective on economic growth, Pogany argues that entropy applies to matter, not just to energy. Therefore eternal substitution and recycling among materials is an illusion in a closed system (with regards to matter) such as our terrestrial sphere of earth and atmosphere. Technology cannot, in the end, overcome entropy, which means that the Pulse of Growth ultimately hits a peak, based on the availability of quality resources not yet dissipated.</p>
<p><em>In principle, they could replace copper wires with carbon polymers and make gold from scraps of copper, but in practice they could not do it if they had to pick through the ofals of low-entropy substance in search of other material inputs…between “can be done economically” and “cannot be done physically” there is a tipping point: “Can be done physically but not economically”</em> (Pogany, 2006, p. 123).</p>
<p>Of course there are many economists who strongly dispute the voices above; but more and more are questioning the status quo, with some arguing that we need to embrace a “degrowth” alternative (<a href="http://www.resilience.org/articles/General/2015/05_May/A-Degrowth-Response-to-An-Ecomodernist-Manifesto.pdf" target="_blank">Caradonna, et al., 2015</a>). Certainly there is reason to pause and to question the idea of infinite economic growth on a finite planet. This is one more “myth of the given” that should not be taken for granted. Edgar Morin referred to “development” as:</p>
<p><em>The master word…upon which all the popular ideologies of the second half of this century converged…development is a reductionistic conception which holds that economic growth is the necessary and sufficient condition for all social, psychological, and moral developments. This techno-economic conception ignores the human problems of identity, community, solidarity, and culture… In any case, we must reject the underdeveloped concept of development that made techno-industrial growth the panacea of all anthroposocial development and renounce the mythological idea of an irresistible progress extending to infinity</em> (Morin, 1999, pp. 59-63).</p>
<p>Addressing this “myth of the given,” Pogany pokes fun at his own profession:</p>
<p><em>Historically, geocapital [matter ready to be used to feed cultural evolution] has registered a net increase; additions and expansions more than offset exhaustions and reductions. This long-lasting successful experience led to the culturally ingrained confidence in the possibility of its eternal continuation. Economic growth theory keeps “deriving” the same conclusion over and over again: Optimally maintained economic expansion can continue forever. Translated from evolutionary scales to our own, this is analogous to “Since I wake up every morning I must be immortal”</em> (2006, p. 118).”</p>
<p><strong>References</strong></p>
<p>Caradonna, J., Borowy, I. Green, T., Victor, P.A., Cohen, M., Gow, A. … Heinberg, R. (2015). A degrowth response to an ecomodernist manifesto. Retrieved from: <a href="http://www.resilience.org/articles/General/2015/05_May/A-Degrowth-Response-to-An-Ecomodernist-Manifesto.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.resilience.org/articles/General/2015/05_May/A-Degrowth-Response-to-An-Ecomodernist-Manifesto.pdf</a></p>
<p>Daly, H. & Cobb, J.B. (1994). <em>For the common good: Redirecting the economy toward the community, the environment, and a sustainable future</em>. 2<sup>nd</sup>, updated edition. Beacon Press.</p>
<p>Gordon, R. J. (2012). Is U.S. economic growth over? Faltering innovation confronts the six headwinds. <em>Center for Economic Policy Research, Policy Insight No. 63</em> (September 2012).<br/> <a href="http://www.cepr.org/sites/default/files/policy_insights/PolicyInsight63.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.cepr.org/sites/default/files/policy_insights/PolicyInsight63.pdf</a></p>
<p>Gordon, R.J. (2014). The demise of U.S. economic growth: restatement, rebuttal and reflections. NBER Working Paper No. 19895 (February 2014).</p>
<p>Gowdy, J. and Mesner, S. (1998). The evolution of Georgescu-Roegen’s bioeconomics. <em>Review of Social Economy Vol LVI No 2 Summer 1998</em>. The Association of Social Economics. Retrieved from: <a href="http://homepages.rpi.edu/%7Egowdyj/mypapers/RSE1998.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://homepages.rpi.edu/~gowdyj/mypapers/RSE1998.pdf</a></p>
<p>Heinberg, R. (2011). <em>The end of growth: adapting to our new economic reality</em>. Gabriola Island: New Society Publishers.</p>
<p>Morin, E. (1999). <em>Homeland earth: a manifesto for the new millenium</em>. Creskill: Hampton Press.</p>
<p>Morin, E. (2008). <em>On complexity</em>. Creskill: Hampton Press.</p>
<p>Piketty, T. (2014). <em>Capital in the twenty-first century</em>. translated by Goldhammer, A. Cambridge: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.</p>
<p>Pogany, P. (2006). <em>Rethinking the world</em>. Lincoln: iUniverse.</p>
<p>Pogany, P. (2013a). Al Gore, Stephen King, and Jean Gebser are related. How? Retrieved from: <a href="http://blog.gebser.net/" rel="nofollow">http://blog.gebser.net/</a></p>
<p>Pogany. P. (2013b). Thermodynamic isolation and the new world order. Retrieved from: <a href="http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/49924/" rel="nofollow">http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/49924/</a></p>
<p>Rubin, J. (2012). <em>The big flatline: oil and the no-growth economy</em>. New York: Pallgrave Macmillan.</p>
<p>Schumacher, E.F. (1973). <em>Small is beautiful: economics as if people mattered</em>. London: Blond & Briggs.</p>
<p>Schumacher, E.F. (1977). <em>Guide for the perplexed</em>. New York: Harper & Row.</p>
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<p></p> We Can't Grow On Like This - Affluenza Eventstag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2014-03-13:2723460:Topic:962852014-03-13T18:30:36.661ZDavid MacLeodhttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/DavidMacLeod
<p><strong>Tonight, join <span style="text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; line-height: 17.01px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; word-spacing: 0px; float: none; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">filmmaker, author, and…</span></strong></p>
<p><strong>Tonight, join <span style="text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; line-height: 17.01px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; word-spacing: 0px; float: none; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">filmmaker, author, and activist John de Graaf, to answer the question:</span></strong></p>
<p><strong>Affluenza: Is All That Coal To Make Stuff for Us?</strong><br style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"/><span style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; float: none; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; float: none; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Time:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #004276; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; text-decoration: underline; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;" href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/event/listByDate?date=2014-03-13">March 13, 2014</a><span style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; float: none; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>from 6:30pm to 8pm</span><br style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"/><span id="eventLocation" style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Location:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a style="color: #004276; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/event/listByLocation?location=YWCA">YWCA</a></span><br style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"/><span style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; float: none; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Street:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><strong style="text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; line-height: 17.01px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">1026 N Forest St</strong><br style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"/><span style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; float: none; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">City/Town:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><strong style="text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; line-height: 17.01px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Bellingham</strong></p>
<p>Free<br style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"/><br style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"/><span style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; float: none; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">We know the dire impacts of coal mining, transport, and burning. We know exploding oil trains are destroying families and communities across the country. We know our colossal use of energy is changing the chemistry of oceans and affecting global climate patterns.</span><br style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"/><span class="text_exposed_show" style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><br/> But do we really realize the demand for fossil fuel is created by our own consumption patterns? Our affluenza, defined by the book’s authors as “a painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety, and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more,” is the cause. The appetite that drives us to spend most waking hours almost wholly dedicated to getting and spending has broken our connection to what it means to be creators, rather than consumers.<br/> <br/> Join our community for an important conversation, led by author John de Graaf, on how we can work together to overcome affluenza and regain our creativity, control, and time.<br/> <br/> John de Graaf is author of Affluenza: How Overconsumption is Killing Us and How to Fight Back, Take Back Your Time: Fighting Overwork and Time Poverty in America, What's the Economy For, Anyway?: Why It's Time to Stop Chasing Growth and Start Pursuing Happiness.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br/> <br/> <em>Co-hosted by Village Books, Community Food Co-op, Mount Baker Sierra Club, and RE Sources.</em></span></p>
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<p><strong><span class="text_exposed_show" style="text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; line-height: 17.01px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Next Tuesday: Join Transition Whatcom and the Pickford Cinema as we show the new John De Graaf movie:</span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span class="text_exposed_show" style="text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; line-height: 17.01px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Escape from Affluenza</span></strong></p>
<p><span class="text_exposed_show" style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><em><span style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; float: none; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Time:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #004276; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; text-decoration: underline; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;" href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/event/listByDate?date=2014-03-18">March 18, 2014</a><span style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; float: none; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>from 6:30pm to 8pm</span><br style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"/><span id="eventLocation" style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Location:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a style="color: #004276; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/event/listByLocation?location=Limelight+Theatre+Bellingham">Limelight Theatre Bellingham</a></span><br style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"/><span style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; float: none; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Street:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><strong style="text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; line-height: 17.01px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">1416 Cornwall Avenue (Limelight)</strong><br style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"/><span style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; float: none; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">City/Town:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><strong style="text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; line-height: 17.01px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Bellingham WA</strong></em></span></p>
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<p><span class="text_exposed_show" style="font: 13px/17.01px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><strong style="text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; line-height: 17.01px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; line-height: 19.63px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; word-spacing: 0px; float: none; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Escape from Affluenza shows how people can declare their independence from the epidemic of rampant consumerism and materialism ailing Americans and our environment by adopting the practices of simple living. This sequel to AFFLUENZA uses expert commentary, thought-provoking vignettes and humor to show how people can reduce their consumption and simplify their lives. With stories of real people from Seattle to the Netherlands who have altered their lifestyles and re-discovered the joy of living, ESCAPE FROM AFFLUENZA offers the antidote to debt, stress, time-pressure and possession-overload. Sponsored by Transition Whatcom- stay after the film for an audience discussion and thoughts about what we can do locally to escape affluenza!</span></strong></span></p>
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<p><strong><span class="text_exposed_show" style="text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; line-height: 17.01px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; line-height: 19.63px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-variant: normal; word-spacing: 0px; float: none; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Affluenza Articles:</span></span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span class="text_exposed_show" style="text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; line-height: 17.01px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; line-height: 19.63px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-variant: normal; word-spacing: 0px; float: none; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Lifestyle Change Needed to Stop Need for Coal Power-produced Products<br/> by Crina Hoyer and John De Graaf</span></span></strong></p>
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<p style="font: 14px/20px Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; margin: 20px 0px; padding: 0px; outline: 0px; border: 0px currentColor; border-image: none; color: #333333; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; max-width: 620px !important; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">If Whatcom's proposed coal port is approved, as many as 18 more trains per day would pass through Bellingham, all to feed the coal-fired power plants of Asia. In exchange for all this coal we would get more flat screen TVs, plastic bags, toys and millions of other disposable products being made for the "consumers" in our "market." But that's not all! We would also receive a greater volume of polluted air blown here from Asia, and related toxic deposits in Lake Whatcom, the drinking water source for most of Whatcom County.</p>
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<p style="font: 14px/20px Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; margin: 20px 0px; padding: 0px; outline: 0px; border: 0px currentColor; border-image: none; color: #333333; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; max-width: 620px !important; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">An undiagnosed disease lies beneath this exchange, the single-minded pursuit of money and stuff regardless of the costs to our fellow Americans, our communities, our health, our democracy and our environment. We call that disease "affluenza." It's a contagious virus with symptoms ranging from "feverish expectations," to chronic congestion, chilled communities, killer stress, resource exhaustion and industrial diarrhea, all exacerbated by our dogged pursuit of "more." As the virus spreads among us, we pay little attention to its consequences. Since World War II, Americans have consumed more resources than everyone who ever lived before then. We have reduced our fisheries, soils and fossil fuels by half, caused the extinction of countless species and dramatically changed the climate...</p>
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<div style="font: 10pt/normal sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; outline: 0px; border: 0px currentColor; border-image: none; width: 1px; height: 1px; text-align: left; color: #000000; text-transform: none; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: baseline; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">R<br/> Read more here: <a href="http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2014/03/08/3512167/lifestyle-change-needed-to-stop.html#storylink=cpy">http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2014/03/08/3512167/lifestyle-change-needed-to-stop.html#storylink=cpy</a></div>
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<p><strong><span class="text_exposed_show" style="text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; line-height: 17.01px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; line-height: 19.63px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-variant: normal; word-spacing: 0px; float: none; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><a href="http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2014/03/08/3512167/lifestyle-change-needed-to-stop.html" target="_blank"><strong>Read More</strong></a> </span></span></strong></p>
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<p><strong><span class="text_exposed_show" style="text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; line-height: 17.01px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="text-align: left; color: #222222; text-transform: none; line-height: 19.63px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-variant: normal; word-spacing: 0px; float: none; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">We Can't Grow On<br/> by John De Graaf, Earth Island Journal</span></span></strong></p>
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<p class="dropcap" style="font: 0.9em/19.43px Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 9px 61px 11px; text-align: left; color: #000000; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> Is</span> economic growth sustainable? Is it desirable? First, let’s define our terms. I’m speaking of material growth, more products for more people. Non-material “development” – including improvements in health, education, and leisure time – may well be sustainable and desirable. But further material growth, especially in rich countries, is much harder to justify.</p>
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<p style="font: 0.9em/19.43px Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 9px 61px 11px; text-align: left; color: #000000; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; background-color: #ffffff; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">The twentieth-century environmentalist<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a style="color: #f58426; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.earthisland.org/index.php/aboutUs/legacy/">David Brower</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>pointed out that, since World War II, population and economic growth have resulted in greater material consumption than in all previous human history. In that period – one one-hundredth of a second if we compress the age of Earth into a single week – we have reduced our fisheries, fossil fuels, and soils by half while causing the extinction of countless species and dangerously changing the climate....<a href="http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/eij/article/degraaf/" target="_blank"><strong>Read More</strong></a> </p>
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<p></p> Exploring the big picture of the Gateway Pacific terminal development. How does it impact Economics of Happiness?tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2012-12-02:2723460:Topic:852482012-12-02T19:45:22.068ZEmily Farrellhttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/EmilyFarrell
<p><b><i> </i></b>This discussion was inspired by Trish Knox of Transition Woodinville, who looked at the coal export/terminal development situation in terms of nine measures of community happiness. The Economics of Happiness movement originated when Bhutan began to measure economic success, not by growth in GNP, but by growth in “gross national happiness” - the factors that contribute to well-being for all. Economic progress that reduces the suffering of poverty is but one factor. This…</p>
<p><b><i> </i></b>This discussion was inspired by Trish Knox of Transition Woodinville, who looked at the coal export/terminal development situation in terms of nine measures of community happiness. The Economics of Happiness movement originated when Bhutan began to measure economic success, not by growth in GNP, but by growth in “gross national happiness” - the factors that contribute to well-being for all. Economic progress that reduces the suffering of poverty is but one factor. This discussion is to support a conversation that brings people together around what is becoming a very divisive issue.</p>
<p>Please respond to any part that you have passion about. Other questions you would ask? Would you be interested in participating in a community-wide open space process about this?</p>
<p><b>Democracy</b> – So far the process appears to be representative, but the role of huge amounts of money brought by Gateway Pacific to their publicity campaign and legal representation could undermine that process. How can TW support the integrity of the decision process?</p>
<p><b>Short- and long-term material well-being –</b> This is a very critical question, since the crucial argument that Gateway Pacific is making is that the jobs provided will promote economic development. How can we assess the economic impact of a large shipping terminal that will: provide some local jobs, provide profits for Gateway Pacific which will be removed from our community, and adversely impact on the overall prosperity of Bellingham by increasing noise, pollution and traffic congestion along the shoreline – one of our community’s most precious assets? </p>
<p><b>Psychological well-being –</b> What is the psychological impact of noise, congestion, pollution? Who will be most impacted? What about the underlying stress of knowing that our community is contributing to global warming by allowing coal exports from our shores? How many people would be impacted? What about the positive effect of some people with better paying jobs? How do we talk about all of this?<b> </b></p>
<p><b>Work-Life Balance and work experience –</b> Would there be impacts here?</p>
<p><b>Natural Environment</b> – These are being thoroughly explored through the scoping process. I think also about how this will impact our community relationship with the shoreline that many of us feel very connected to.</p>
<p><b>Social Vitality and Connection –</b> Does the creation of this terminal impact the social vitality of this County? How? Would it strengthen the community of Ferndale by adding prosperity and a larger industrial area? How would it impact the community life of Bellingham?</p>
<p><b>Education –</b> Will any of the profits of this endeavor go to support education in our community, or the arts? How do we educate our children about sustainability and systems thinking, if a significant employer in our community is exporting coal that is polluting our environment, impacting historical native sites, and contributing to global warming?</p>
<p><b>Arts and Culture -</b> Is there likely to be an impact here? Can we use the arts to explore these questions?</p>
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<p></p> The Need for a Paradigm Shifttag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-08-30:2723460:Topic:647102011-08-30T13:11:56.672ZBehrouzhttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/Behrouz
<div><p>Our current dominant way of looking at the world ("worldview" or "ideology") is rooted in the economic system (capitalism) that has been around for at least 500 hundred years (dating back to late 14th century of Italian city-states i.e., Renaissance with the advent of private but cooperative manufacturing and banking) taking best hold in England (16th century) and reaching full force in large-scale industrial England by late 18th century - early 19th century. This economic system…</p>
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<div><p>Our current dominant way of looking at the world ("worldview" or "ideology") is rooted in the economic system (capitalism) that has been around for at least 500 hundred years (dating back to late 14th century of Italian city-states i.e., Renaissance with the advent of private but cooperative manufacturing and banking) taking best hold in England (16th century) and reaching full force in large-scale industrial England by late 18th century - early 19th century. This economic system evolved out of necessity (i.e., survival advantage) to improve production for a rising population and providing competitive advantage to the feudal factions at first before breaking out on its own and asserting its political as well as economic dominance (e.g., by mid 16th century century in England with the English Civil War and the "Glorious Revolution"). This economic system had its ideological (worldview) manifestations in "philosophies" such as empiricism (e.g., Newton, Lock), rationalism (e.g., Voltaire, Rousseau, leading thinkers of American Revolution) collectively known as Englightment and more specifically "age of reason" with outcries of "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" climaxing in the French Revolution. However, one man's reason proved to be another man's unreason. Appeals to common sense (e.g., Paul Revere during American Revolution) later but soon proved to be a superficial call for unity against a common enemy masking the inherent class conflicts that existed in this new economy (e.g., Shays' Rebellion in Massachusetts 1786-1787). The increasing number of conflicts (from legal to battles, wars, and world wars) revealed a new class system with competing interests with the capitalist class continuously rationalizing their decisions in the face of a stark reality that exposes the hollowness of their dominion. </p>
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<p>I presented this historical perspective (much too briefly I am afraid) to underscore the nature of "paradigm" shifts. First the way at least I understand and use this concept is that it represents a radically different way of how we live our lives. To be a genuine, this change must be rooted on irreconcilable contradictions within the existing "paradigm" (human life system). These contradictions must affect our survival (not just individually but on a much broader scale i.e., globally). Thus necessity for survival is the driving force for a true paradigm shift - i.e., system change. Therefore, change in the means of survival (i.e., economy) is at the heart of a true paradigm shift. This change in the economic system, exemplified by the evolution of the capitalist system, has then its reflections in the way people think (i.e., worldview / ideology) as well as all the other superstructure (in contrast to economy as the infrastructure) elements of their lives (e.g., politics, culture, spirituality / religion, etc.). The necessity for reorganization of society based on new survival needs (i.e., change in the economic system) forces a paradigm shift in the neural organization of our brain (i.e., the way we frame ideas and concepts, relate them to one another, remember them, express them). Matter / nature / evolution at work. From a change in our natural environment to a change in our behavior and "spirit". </p>
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<p>Of course it is the greater nature that decides the terms. Due to our limited consciousness we can only hope and struggle to find the way, through experimentation, to genuine sustainable change (i.e., survival advantage for the species) thus proving "'better', because we are joyfully living it while others suffer". To this end we must use the most objective tools (i.e., genuine experimental "science", devoid of private bias = private funding which renders "science" into another "religion" / instrument of profit) instead of the old more subjective tools (e.g., "reason" / rationalization / religion / other dogmas) to access the bigger nature / reality. Finding the most effective organization (i.e., collective / cooperative rather than individualistic / competitive) would also increase our chances of survival. Thus, the means and the struggle to find and adopt them through this journey (where the greater nature / survival is the judge) help to bring about the paradigm shift / system change.</p>
</div> What should Guide our Personal Finance Decisions?tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-08-30:2723460:Topic:647062011-08-30T03:16:07.036ZBehrouzhttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/Behrouz
<p>There is a lot of talk in the alternative economy movement including those seeking a more sustainable lifestyle such as Transitions about the idea that spending locally and supporting local businesses is a better alternative than what most people do now thoughtlessly in their shopping / finance practices commonly. Although this makes some sense on a strictly ecologic regard (i.e., fewer carbon emissions) I would argue that the argument denies the bigger economic reality and trend. First of…</p>
<p>There is a lot of talk in the alternative economy movement including those seeking a more sustainable lifestyle such as Transitions about the idea that spending locally and supporting local businesses is a better alternative than what most people do now thoughtlessly in their shopping / finance practices commonly. Although this makes some sense on a strictly ecologic regard (i.e., fewer carbon emissions) I would argue that the argument denies the bigger economic reality and trend. First of all the poor and unemployed who are in perpetual state of stress and even terror related to their survival prospects, do not get to choose. They have to stretch their "dollars" as far as it goes even if that means eating / shopping at the biggest offenders (e.g., McDonalds, Walmart) with their many local branches who then in turn undermine "local businesses" - the big corporations can do this because of the economics of scale (and their related political clout) thus outcompeting the little "local" ones. Furthermore, "local businesses" ("green" or not) work under the same economic imperatives of profit that got us here. Please note that almost all big and giant corporations started as "local" businesses sometime in history and through competition ("eat or be eaten") got to their current state. We have to understand that capitalism is based on growth. It is in the nature of capital to want to be accumulated as much as possible due to the competitive process. It is focused on its survival in the short term. If the people under its command thought of tomorrow they would be competed out, i.e., destroyed. So the leanest and the meanest and the most crooked and "smart" gets to rule, i.e., the ones that generate the most capital. This does not just happen out there but also locally - because locals also are part of the same system. In this sense "local businesses" cannot be truly local because they also rely on capital which in turn relies on "free market" (i.e., not local) to flourish. Furthermore, since capital is a product of theft (i.e., the productivity of labor that is not distributed among the workers but rather pocketed by the capitalist) it is consequently and directly linked to poverty. This is especially true when you consider that the technology labor produces is more and more (in an exponential measure) used to render him superfluous thus leading to increasingly massive unemployment (and other forms of it e.g., underemployment, employment without living wages). </p>
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<div>Thus, labor is in perpetual battles of defeat as the history of the union movement has shown. With unemployment and poverty on perpetual rise globally while production is much easier and efficient than previous generations we have to realize the screaming reality that it is the <u>private ownership</u> of the means of production that is the ultimate root of this global catastrophe - one that touches all aspects of our lives including our health / environment / climate change. We cannot ignore the massive numbers of the unemployed and poor that are increasing greatly by the minute due to the above internal contradictions of capitalism. We cannot also dictate to them how to live as their desperate lives will turn more and more of them to turn against the environment, each other, and us (and indeed eventually even the very rich) in our relative comforts. Furthermore, we must take heed and realize that no matter how comfortable a life you may have today, and no matter how off-the-grid or disconnected you are living from the larger global society, you will not be immune to its consequent disasters (crime, epidemics, wars, witch hunts, weather events, pollution, pests, etc. etc.). <span style="text-decoration: underline;">It behooves us to realize that we are tomorrow's poor / unemployed / otherwise ravaged.</span> The historical experience of "The Great Depression" speaks volumes to this not to mention the more recent grotesque examples in more impoverished lands of the "underdeveloped" world not to mention pockets of such economically devastated areas like Detroit and New Orleans. Indeed understanding the internal contradictions of the capitalist economic system helps to predict the epic scale of the destruction yet to come. That is unless a new economic system with more harmonious i.e., communal / cooperative means of production, exchange, distribution, and above all ownership (i.e.,<span style="text-decoration: underline;">common / social ownership</span>) replaces the current private / competitive / predatory / selfish / short-sighted / speculative and virtual / destructive ways on a global scale. "The Great Recession" will turn into "the Greater Depression" and "The Greatest and Endless Depression" (the "developing world" e.g., China /Russia / India / Brazil to quickly join in). We should not be surprised to see more and more Hoovervilles, and tent/trash towns prop up with utter pollution and destruction of the environment and wildlife as the desperate poor resort to desperate measures especially against the more vulnerable, e.g., wildlife / environment, children / elderly / immigrants. In a desperate move to keep up the profit margins banksters and their corporations increasingly sideline pollution / climate-change concerns as they claim hurting jobs while they use further privatization and technology sidelining more and more workers again for the almighty profit - the heartbeat of the system. On a desperate attempt new escape goats used as pretext for grotesquely macabre "creative destruction" measures (e.g., perpetual world war, real or created epidemics, etc.) will be invented with increasing use of fear for control. The fastest growing fields will be in the technology and crowd-control (military and judicial industrial complexes with comprehensive surveillance and control measures). The scale of climate-change events and habitat change will reach the range of "colony collapse" level for the human species in many parts of the world.</div>
<div>There is no escape. It is only a matter of time before this affects the rest of us. Because we are all interconnected. Just like the ecological concepts many of the TW members espouse.</div>
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<div>Sustainable economics is necessarily the foundation of a genuine sustainability movement and a sustainable environment. We must get our priorities straight. We must consider tending to our species in a comprehensive manner in the forefront of our efforts to help the environment and other creatures we depend on. Only a sustainable economic system that does not pin us against each other in a competitive battle of survival, one that rather forces us to act cooperatively, can be expected to also help the environment. Sustainable environmental movement would only be sustainable if it becomes a sustainable economic movement. This requires finding viable solutions for inclusion of the poor / unemployed / otherwise ravaged with collective / cooperative production, exchange, distribution, and above all ownership. Only a true community ('unity through commonness i.e., sharing') can be expected to commune with nature. Our personal finance choices must not overlook these essential fundamentals.</div> This Sunday: John de Graaf and the Happiness Initiativetag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-06-25:2723460:Topic:558252011-06-25T04:50:41.510ZDavid MacLeodhttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/DavidMacLeod
<p>I am excited that John de Graaf is in town this weekend along with Linda Musikanski, and speaking at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship Sunday service. <a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/pursuing-happiness-instead-of" target="_self">More details about the event here on our events page</a>.</p>
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<p>de Graaf, author of "Affluenza" has inspired an international sensation with the Happiness Initiative in Seattle.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Check it out:</p>
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<p>"The…</p>
<p>I am excited that John de Graaf is in town this weekend along with Linda Musikanski, and speaking at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship Sunday service. <a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/pursuing-happiness-instead-of" target="_self">More details about the event here on our events page</a>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>de Graaf, author of "Affluenza" has inspired an international sensation with the Happiness Initiative in Seattle.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Check it out:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>"The Happiness Initiative provides a <strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">comprehensive assessment</span> o</strong>f well being and <span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>engages & inspires</strong></span> people, organizations and policy makers to action. Seattle has become the first Gross National Happiness City and the goal now is to <strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">spread Happiness Initiatives</span></strong> across our nation and internationally."</p>
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<h3>Background</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">"In1991, Sustainable Seattle became the first organization in the United States to develop local indicators of well-being as an alternative to GDP. To do it, we partnered with dozens of other local organizations and agencies. Our work led to similar projects in more than 100 American cities and name recognition around the world. For our 20th anniversary, Sustainable Seattle is again taking the lead, as we begin to collect and publicize the first set of happiness (or well-being) indicators for any city in the United States. Together with our partners, we are creating a model of survey results and metrics for well-being and social justice that can be replicated in any city to catalyze citizen dialogue and action in pursuit of happiness — sustainability and love."</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.sustainableseattle.org/sahi">http://www.sustainableseattle.org/sahi</a></p>
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<p> </p> Cherry Point Shipping Terminal: Viewpointstag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-06-02:2723460:Topic:537692011-06-02T15:56:02.838ZKyler Boyeshttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/KylerBoyes
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>E-mail Submitted to mayorsoffice@cob.org June 2, 2011</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Hello Mr. Dan Pike,<br></br> <br></br> I am a <b>longtime resident of Bellingham</b> Washington- I am 27 and have lived here on and off since I was about 4 years old.<br></br> <br></br> <br></br> <i>Please consider in the Impact Study for the Cherry Point Terminal</i>:<br></br> <br></br></p>
<ol>
<li><b>The noise, air, water, and ground pollution</b> from <b>cradle to grave</b> with this project- …</li>
</ol>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>E-mail Submitted to mayorsoffice@cob.org June 2, 2011</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Hello Mr. Dan Pike,<br/> <br/> I am a <b>longtime resident of Bellingham</b> Washington- I am 27 and have lived here on and off since I was about 4 years old.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>Please consider in the Impact Study for the Cherry Point Terminal</i>:<br/> <br/></p>
<ol>
<li><b>The noise, air, water, and ground pollution</b> from <b>cradle to grave</b> with this project- <b>Resources used-</b> studying the project, mining and transporting the coal, transporting products and resources, etc... <b>Everything at every stage!</b></li>
<li><b>The Political impact- </b> The <i>United States needs to become a leader in the fight against climate change, environmental degradation, and social justice</i>. This project needs to consider what the long-term political consequences could be if this project goes through.</li>
<li><b>Long-Term Economic Impact</b>- People move to and stay in Bellingham because of it's quality of life which includes a reputation for strong community, environmental standards, social justice stances, and small business support. We need to consider how this project will impact Bellingham in a Long-Term and Wholistic perspective.</li>
</ol>
<br/> I am available to be involved to lend my support in efforts to Keep Bellingham Great and Make Bellingham Better. I am a recent community college student who has no interest in any jobs being created in a project like this. I want jobs created where we are Creating Value here Locally.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>Alternatives to Cherry Point Terminal:</i><br/> <br/><ol>
<li>Look at Finland for ideas of how to create high quality and durable products on a small scale. Manufacturing in Bellingham- Small scale is acceptable.</li>
<li>Support Organic and Natural Farming in Whatcom County.</li>
<li>Support Alternative Markets- small farmers markets, street vendors, mini-businesses, local currencies.</li>
<li>Find ways to get businesses sprouting out of the Community College, University, and Technical College.</li>
<li>Support Businesses that Re-Use waste Products rather than Mining Dirty Resources.</li>
<li>Support Businesses that Focus on Environmental and Economic Sustainability AND Social Justice.</li>
</ol>
<br/> <br/> <br/> I am available for questions, comment, and Support.<br/> <br/> Kyler Boyes<br/> 1234 XYZ Street Bellingham WA, 45678<br/> (360) 888-7777<br/> Should we THINK BIG for some sustainability projects?tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-04-26:2723460:Topic:489512011-04-26T15:30:41.179ZKyler Boyeshttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/KylerBoyes
<p><span class="font-size-3"><a href="http://blogs.worldwatch.org/nourishingtheplanet/bringing-sustainability-home-buckminster-fuller-challenge-solar-power-village-plant-chicago-chicago-sustainable-manufacturing-center-blue-ventures-marine-protected-areas-fishnet-center-for-ocean-solut/" target="_blank">Cool Sustainability Projects</a></span></p>
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<p><span class="font-size-3">This is a link to a page on the World Watch Institute website which gives a short description of a…</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><a href="http://blogs.worldwatch.org/nourishingtheplanet/bringing-sustainability-home-buckminster-fuller-challenge-solar-power-village-plant-chicago-chicago-sustainable-manufacturing-center-blue-ventures-marine-protected-areas-fishnet-center-for-ocean-solut/" target="_blank">Cool Sustainability Projects</a></span></p>
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<p><span class="font-size-3">This is a link to a page on the World Watch Institute website which gives a short description of a couple of projects that are competing for $100,000 in The Buckminster Fuller Challenge.</span></p>
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<p><span class="font-size-3">I found out about this post from following BuckyFullerInstiute on Twitter.</span></p>
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<p><strong><span class="font-size-3"><span class="font-size-4">I want to ask the question:</span></span></strong></p>
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<p><span class="font-size-3"><span class="font-size-4"><em>How big is big enough when planning sustainability projects?</em></span></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><span class="font-size-4"><em><strong>Example:</strong></em></span></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><span class="font-size-4"><em>If you watch this (<strong>short)</strong> video on youtube:</em></span></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><span class="font-size-4"><em><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1clRcxZS52s" target="_blank">BIG IDEAS: Desmond Despommier's Vertical Farming</a></em></span></span></p>
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<p><span class="font-size-3"><span class="font-size-4"><em>you may get what I mean about BIG IDEAS.</em></span></span></p>
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<p><span class="font-size-3"><span class="font-size-4"><em>Thanks,</em></span></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><span class="font-size-4"><em>-Kyler<br/></em></span></span></p>
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<p><span class="font-size-3"><span class="font-size-4"><br/></span></span></p> Meeting Yesterday With Sheriff Elfo Re Pending Economic Collapse- See My Blog Posttag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-04-20:2723460:Topic:487722011-04-20T19:47:53.998ZJohn Hammellhttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/JohnHammell
<a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/meeting-yesterday-with-sheriff">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/meeting-yesterday-with-sheriff</a>
<a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/meeting-yesterday-with-sheriff">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/meeting-yesterday-with-sheriff</a> Move Your Money: Make Whatcom County A Resilient Local Economytag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-04-15:2723460:Topic:481442011-04-15T18:35:38.553ZDavid MacLeodhttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/DavidMacLeod
<h2><span class="font-size-2">Congrats to TW member Caitlin who has articles about Move Your Money Day in both Whatcom Watch and Cascadia Weekly. Check them out, and remember to attend on Saturday!</span></h2>
<h2>Make Whatcom County A Resilient Local Economy</h2>
<div class="auth">by Caitlin Quigley, <a href="http://www.whatcomwatch.org/php/WW_open.php?id=1282" target="_blank">Whatcom Watch</a></div>
<div class="auth"></div>
<div class="auth"><em>Caitlin Quigley is a member of the Transition…</em></div>
<h2><span class="font-size-2">Congrats to TW member Caitlin who has articles about Move Your Money Day in both Whatcom Watch and Cascadia Weekly. Check them out, and remember to attend on Saturday!</span></h2>
<h2>Make Whatcom County A Resilient Local Economy</h2>
<div class="auth">by Caitlin Quigley, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.whatcomwatch.org/php/WW_open.php?id=1282">Whatcom Watch</a></div>
<div class="auth"></div>
<div class="auth"><em>Caitlin Quigley is a member of the Transition Whatcom Personal Finance Workgroup.</em></div>
<p class="ednote"><em>Editor’s Note: On Sat. April 16, Transition Whatcom’s Personal Finance Workgroup will host a free event: “Move Your Money Action Day” from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship Sanctuary at 1207 Ellsworth Street. The event will include a discussion on how to move your money out of big banks and into local banks and credit unions. Speakers include Kristi Laguzza-Boosman, an economic policy researcher, and Jared Gardner, of Real Wealth Portland, along with representatives from local banks and credit unions. The event, hosted by the Transition Whatcom Personal Finance Workgroup, revolves around how to build a resilient local economy in Whatcom County.</em></p>
<p>In 2003, Bank of America purchased my local bank and suddenly I had a Bank of America debit card in my wallet. I carried on as usual, delighted that there were big red ATMs on every block in every city I visited. At an orientation for a new job, they gave me a brochure for a local credit union with a few branches. Sounds restrictive, I thought. I didn’t join.</p>
<p>Then I got a sneaking suspicion that Bank of America was a little bit evil. I began to connect the news stories about shady executives and corporate tax evasion to my little debit card. Why exactly was I banking with them? What were my other options? I looked at the credit union brochure again and learned that credit unions are cooperatives owned by their members. Even though the credit union had only a few branches, it was connected to a huge shared branch and ATM network. I could get cash for free from any 7-11 in the country. Wow, that’s pretty convenient. I opened an account.</p>
<div class="subheading"><strong>Benefits of Local Ban</strong></div>
<p>Slowly I weaned myself from Bank of America, switching over direct deposits and automatic payments to my new credit union over a few months. Then I closed my Bank of America account. Since then, I’ve formed a more solid case for the merits of local banking. For every dollar in your account, your bank or credit union can loan out $9.</p>
<p>That means that when you open a $1,000 account at a Whatcom bank or credit union, someone else in Whatcom County can borrow $9,000. You’re making capital available to your neighbors instead of boosting shareholder profits. That’s why moving your money is not just about rejecting big banks; it’s also about embracing and strengthening our local economy.</p>
<p>Whatcom County is lucky to have so many choices of local banks and credit unions. People’s Bank, Business Bank, North Coast CU, GaPAC CU, Pacific NWCU, ICU, and WECU are all deeply rooted in our community. They have earned our loyalty. Yet, as of June 2010, Bank of America had $347.1 million in deposits in Whatcom County. Chase had $174.1 million and Wells Fargo,$159.9 million. Can you imagine how self-reliant Whatcom County could be if everyone did something as simple as switching his or her bank account?</p>
<p>If you’re trying to decide among Whatcom banks and credit unions, you should definitely attend this event. For more information, go to: <a href="http://www.whatcominvesting.org/moveyourmoney">www.whatcominvesting.org/moveyourmoney</a> and learn about the campaign and how to bring our money home to Whatcom County. For more information on Transition Whatcom, go to: <a href="http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/">http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com</a>. §</p>
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