Archive for February, 2010

An early draft of the Declaration of Independence had an unalienable right to the ‘Pursuit of property”, but Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin supported the phrase “pursuit of happiness” which was ratified by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. For more of this story  Read Wikipedia  

Watch video of Nobel Prize winning economist, Joseph Stiglitz speaking on Problems with GDP. Watch Video.

A talk by David Orr on what we need to do. Six myths about the foundations of modern education and  six new principles to replace them. We are accustomed to thinking of eduction as good in and of itself. But as environmental educator David Orr reminds us, our education up till now has in some ways created a monster. Read article (PDF).

Read why an Austrian Millionaire is giving away all of his money.  Read Article.

Shorter working week soon inevitable, forecasts nef

13 February 2010

A shorter working week is set to become the new norm, according to a report out this week from nef (the new economics foundation), the UK’s leading independent think tank.

The study, 21 hours, forecasts a major shift in the length of the formal working week as a consequence of dealing with key economic, social and environmental problems. And this can be seen as a positive opportunity, say the researchers, rather than a threat.

According to nef, there are several forces pushing us towards a shorter working week: lasting damage to the economy caused by the banking crisis, an increasingly divided society with too much over-work alongside too much unemployment, and an urgent need for deep cuts in environmentally damaging over-consumption. These combine with a growing interest in people spending more time producing and delivering a share of their own goods and services – from co-produced care and neighbourhood-based activities, to food, clothing and other necessities.

“So many of us live to work, work to earn, and earn to consume. And our consumption habits are squandering the earth’s natural resources”, says Anna Coote, co-author of the report and Head of Social Policy at nef. “Spending less time in paid work could help us to break this pattern. We’d have more time to be better parents, better citizens, better carers and better neighbours. And we could even become better employees: less stressed, more in control, happier in our jobs and more productive. It is time to break the power of the old industrial clock, take back our lives and work for a sustainable future.”

If we are to seize these opportunities, says nef, the inevitable consequence is a much shorter standard working week, with 21 hours as the goal.

Read full article.

Download the full report 21 Hours.

Don’t Worry. Be Happy.

Published: February 3, 2010 Times Argus Newspaper, Letter to the Editor

One way our legislators can evaluate proposed budget cuts is by using “Gross National Happiness” (GNH) measurements. The urgency of using GNH concepts is gaining strength locally and internationally, with the support of governments and Nobel Prize winning economists.

From this perspective, our legislators should weigh what policies truly enhance Vermonters’ well being.

Using this test, the governor’s proposed cuts to services for our senior citizens fail miserably.

GNH researchers in England say there are five keys to well-being: 1) staying connected with family, friends, and community; 2) staying active; 3) remaining engaged in the world around you; 4) being a lifelong learner; and 5) giving to others.

The devastating budget cuts to a wide array of senior services runs absolutely counter to these measures. Drastic cuts to the Senior Companion program, Neighbor-to-Neighbor, and the Foster Grandparents program would mean: lonelier, less connected, less active, and less engaged seniors. That is, these cuts would seriously undermine our seniors well-being. And what Vermonter wants that?

This is a tough, tough time for the Vermont budget — but using a GNH filter may make some of the decisions easier to reach.

Ginny Sassaman

Calais

Maryland Steps Up!

Here in Vermont, we’ve been focusing on organizing a conference in June. That will be kick-off our statewide movement in support of using Gross National Happiness measurements when making decisions at all levels of government, as well as on the job and even in our homes.

Because Vermont is a small and progressive state (and because it’s where most of us live!), this seemed like a good starting point for building national momentum.

So imagine our surprise – and pleasure! – to learn that the state of Maryland has already stepped up to the plate. They are not using the GNH terminology; rather, they have developed a “Genuine Progress Indicator” – but it’s a very similar approach.

Here in Vermont, we’re a movement of citizens. The Maryland actions are actually part of the state government. Very exciting – and hopeful!

We might have some different ideas of how to go about it, but there’s a lot of interesting material to digest at their site: http://www.green.maryland.gov/mdgpi/

And how cool is it that the home page includes this message from the Maryland Governor:

“Just as the elements of our natural world must be balanced to ensure a healthy ecosystem, so too must be the elements of how we judge our success as a State. A strong economy, a clean environment and a healthy citizenry go hand in hand; none can be a true measure of success without supporting the other two. We developed Maryland’s new Genuine Progress Indicator to help us ensure that our economic growth will not come at the cost of our natural resources, and that they both support our progress toward a sustainable future and a better qualify of life for all Maryland families.”

So, GNH-type activity in Vermont and in Maryland. How ‘bout the remaining 48 states and the District of Columbia? Who’s next?

Ginny Sassaman