Happy Degrowth and Human Revolution

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Happy Degrowth and Human Revolution A cultural change for economic, environmental and social change Luca Madiai [email protected] http:// creazionedivalore.blogspot.i t/ July 2012

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Transcript of Happy Degrowth and Human Revolution

Page 1: Happy Degrowth and Human Revolution

Happy Degrowthand

Human RevolutionA cultural change for economic, environmental and social change

Luca [email protected]

http://creazionedivalore.blogspot.it/

July 2012

Page 2: Happy Degrowth and Human Revolution

The current system is in crisisEnviroment

Increasing evironmental impactFossil resources (limiteted and concetrated)Climate change

EconomicsDifficulties to continue to growUnemploymentderegulation and offshoring marketfinancial speculation

SocialSocial differences in growth (poor-rich)Uncertainty, disappointment, fearDepression, stress, suicide, violence, racism

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Approach to the problem

Question:Thinking of approaching the various issues with dedicated strategies without considering their strong interdependence, acting with the same methods that created them?

therefore

Aim always on economic growth?

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How can we continue to grow?Possible solutions to the question:

1. Seek new resources in other planets (space colonization);

2. Relying on the discovery of new technologies and energy sources with unlimited potential and no harmful effects;

3. Destroy in order to reconstruct (wars and disasters)

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Are we really sure?

In general, growth is now given as the cure for all problems: global warming, unemployment, financial crisis, divide the north/south, social problems

New examples of growth: Green economy, sustainable development

but…

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Economic growth makes us happier?

Extract from“Manifesto per la felicità” di Stefano Bartolini (2009)

«Several studies suggest that people living in countries with very high energy consumption are often less happy than people living in countries with lower energy use»

«Quality of life and energy consumption are strictly correlated during basic economic development of a country, but they are not correlated in affluent nations»

From “Energy for a sustainable world” di Nicola Armaroli, Vincenzo Balzani

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Economic growth is possible in a finite world?

The layer of atmosphere is very thin (12 km troposphere, the Earth diameter than 12000 km);

The Earth is a closed system (only radiation from space and from the Sun);

Impossible Hamster: video

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Science and technology can solve all the problems?

“Una fede cieca nella scienza è incoscienza” L.M.

“A blind faith in science is unconsciousness”

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“Turn off the tap”

Quit a socio-economic system based on following of economic growth (GDP)

Undertake the direction of a “Happy Degrowth" as alternative socio-economic model (because happy?)

"When your bathroom is flooded, is sufficient to dry on the ground?"

asks Persanyi Miklos, former Hungarian Minister of Environment.

"Personally, I begin with closing the tap"

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Sense of limits and sense of possibility

Sense of limits "According to the

fundamental law of thermodynamics, the heritage of mankind is limited," says Gergescu-Roegen

awareness of the limits of finite materials and resources accessible and usable

awaken in themselves the sense of limits coincides with perceiving the true nature of our existence in this world, means to appreciate and enjoy our life without imposing on it and on the environment that sustains us

Sense of possibility

"The ability to design experiences that have as their reference point the achievement of better conditions of life" or "the ability to design changes, that is, the alternative" [Bartolini]

awareness that the economic and social environment is a human product, and as such can be oriented towards the welfare

Growth is not the solution, but in reality is the causeWe need new cultural paradigms

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Happy Degrowth in 5 points

1. Self-production and exchange

2. Localization3. Sobriety4. Energy and

Technology5. Non-violence and

human relations

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Self-production and exchangeSelf-produce (return to land, recover skills)Manual ability and creativity (to recover,

restore, repair, reuse, recycle)Install small renewable energy systems:

depending on local resources and the specific characteristics of the site

Create groups of exchanfge and aid based on neighborhood relations

Take your time to assist children and elderly person in a reciprocal way

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Localization

Local economy: production-services-jobLocal resources (agriculture, renewable

energy, cultural)Valuing tradition and local knowledgeEnhance local cultural and artistic heritageRethinking the distribution and transport in a

local waySupplementary local currencyPromote sociability and relationships not

based on moneyRethinking life on a “human” scale

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SobrietyChanging lifestyles and mentalitiesNo need to make sacrificesReduce, Repair, Reuse, Recover,

SlowingQuestion certain concepts:

poverty-sobriety, abundance-wealth, easy-outdated, limit-obstacle, commodity-good, cheap-convinient

Simple, small, genuineResponsible attitude towards

themselves, others and the environment

Sobriety as a means for better living

"The reality is that on average more than half the energy consumed by Europe's citizen need to heat the rooms in which he lives, and nearly another third is used to power its cars. The first thing to do then is put on a sweater and lower from 21 to 19 degrees the temperature of the house, which reduces fuel consumption up to 20% for heating and saves a lot of money on gas bill “

Armaroli, Balzani

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Energy and TechnologyPromote policies for energy

conservation and efficiencyPolicy support for research

projects and construction of renewable energy technology with low environmental impact of small scale and local use

Develop the use of a simplified technology for the production of large-scale use, associated with the strong reduction of refuse and waste

The technological complexity is not always advantageous

"The energy crisis can not be overcome with a surplus of energy. It can only be dissolved, along with the illusion that makes the well-being depend on the number of energy slaves a man has "

Ivan Illich

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Non-violence and human relations

encourage the development of direct human relations based on dialogue, sharing and exchange

a society based on cooperation instead of competition,

reduce the role of some “social disruptive” objects (TV, internet, phone, car),

facilitate socialization, respect differences of all kinds

resolve conflicts through peaceful dialogue and exchanges

reference to the principles of non-violence (self-government) in any situation.

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Why do not we change?To make a real change of system is not

enough to know where to go

A different society based on respect, fairness, dignity needs a basic condition

What needs to change in parallel, is not only our lifestyle, our mentality, our economic and social model. We need a reform of the human spirit.

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Human Revolution

Transform our “little-self", which is a narrow and limited view of reality, in the "great-self" by opening our lives to the immense potential at its origin

Working on ourself, changing our inner condition to real happiness

"Through a transformation of inner spiritual people can awaken to a true sense of the sacredness of life, which contrasts with the indifference and distrust of existence that are at the root of all the errors of contemporary society. This inner transformation is thus the basis for achieving both individual happiness and a peaceful society

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Principle of onenessNo separation of life and environment is the

basic principle of ecology

The environment and life are two aspects of the same reality (save the planet?)

Only by transforming ourselves we can affect our environment (to activate the environment)

“Be the change you wish to see”

M. Gandhi

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Circolo MDF di FirenzeBorn: 1° april 2012

Four groups of activities:

Know how to do university - Retrieve the know-how-to-do, discover techniques and practices go out of use, repair, reuse, build

Study and discussion - Discussion of issues related to the degrowth and its philosophy, through the study, the comparison, the debate, the design of projects and proposals.

Transition Town - How in the city we can create an alternative life, consisting of sustainability, sociability, conviviality, public gardens, energy saving, waste reduction, wise use of resources.

Education – Degrowth by “teaching” the younger, education as a creative act of a new culture. Activities with children and school.

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ContactsContatti del Circolo MDF di FirenzeEmail: [email protected]: http://mdf-firenze.itFacebook:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/decrescitafelice/Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/decrescitafi

Personal contactsLuca [email protected]://creazionedivalore.blogspot.it/