Featured Articles

March 2010 Letter to the Community

Submitted by WeStrive on Wed, 03/17/2010 - 09:32

Dear Friends,

WeStrive Logo Leaves

When I first became aware of the WeStrive community (back when it was called the NetworkM) the thing I was most excited about was the prospect of reimagining our economic relationships within such a community and perhaps being part of a catalyst for broader change in our wider communities.

This was a time when social networking was first being talked about as the next phase in a gradual process of “disintermediation.” Disintermediation is the process whereby relationships (often in the economic sphere) shift from between individual and institution to between individual(s) and individual(s). People are no longer reliant on big banks, or big media corporations, music companies, information providers like newspapers or TV stations – they can find what they need often for free or at least cheaper direct from other sources.

Information technology and the Internet have allowed people to bypass traditional institutional sources of what they need even further. Social networking as the second evolutionary step of the internet is a great possibility not only for people to keep track of each other’s mood swings, holiday plans, or look up old high school crushes, it is now becoming clearly a way for political action to be organized in a viral way between interest groups.

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A Story of Two Investments by Paul Krafel

Submitted by WeStrive on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:33

This last summer we installed a playground at Chrysalis for our primary and elementary students. As I watch young children climb and slide and imaginatively play on the structure, I reflect on what a wonderful investment this playground is – from many angles.

First is the investment in the health of the next generation. Kids are swinging across the monkey bars, climbing the ladders, growing strong.

Second, from a financial point of view, for $18,000 we bought and installed a playground that should cost $70,000 or so, installed. This is because one of our parents noticed this playground sitting unused at another school. That school had been an elementary school but it was converted to a specialized high school. The playground, designed for 5-12 year olds, had to now just sit there, creating a maintenance and liability problem for that school district. So we bought it from them in a win-win situation. 

We got a playground in good shape for about a fourth the cost. They got rid of a liability problem, regained use of 3000 sq. ft. of playground area, and acquired funds that would help them retain a teaching position in these challenging state budget times. Plus the Earth benefited because we recycled a playground rather than impose the carbon footprint of constructing and transporting a whole new playground. Read more »

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The Future of Money By Jesse Osmer

Submitted by WeStrive on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 16:19

We live in a time where money rules the world, where low prices are set as an ideal, where humanity is enslaved to working for a living rather then unfolding his unique potential. Money, today, has taken on a life of its own. It has started doing business for itself rather then representing the exchange that takes place between one person and another.

The ideal of low prices has crept into the cultural-fabric to such a degree that we do not give a second thought to the devastating consequences it has for the world, namely, the decrease of available income worldwide. On top of this, there is the perception that each person must work for a living, must earn a wage, that he is paid for his time, his labor, rather than the result of his labor.

How did humanity arrive at this situation? Must humanity accept these circumstances or are they in fact maya, illusions we have given effect to because of an inadequate understanding of Money and therefore perceive as real? Are we, in fact, living in a world where each human being has the potential to understand Money and use it as a tool to create a world where everyone receives enough income to support himself and his dependents, where he is no longer a slave to earning a wage? What is Money, anyway? Read more »

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Haiti: Seeing Destruction and Joy by Lukas Mall

Submitted by WeStrive on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 15:50

Lukas Mall, photographed by Annie SauerlandLukas Mall went with a group of representatives from Friends of Waldorf Education Rudolf Steiner to help with the aftermath in Haiti. This article is a sharing of what Lukas and his colleagues experienced amidst the devastation, and hope.

Crossing into Haiti on the 11th of February from the Dominican Republic offers us an insight into the busy, chaotic border region where international aid piles up while local, small businesses try to make and take their part of the cake. We are on our way with fourteen educators, psychologists, art therapist, doctors, nurses and experiential educators to do an emergency education intervention with the "Friends of Waldorf Education Rudolf Steiner" to help stabilise children, possibly traumatised by the earthquake of January 12th.

Lukas Mall, photo by Annie Sauerland

As we arrive in Port au Prince, one of the images that struck me and stayed in my head was of people searching in a totally destroyed mall for corpses; the smell of decomposition was in the air, and people were staring at the flattened building as others climbed up and down in the ruins, at the risk of falling themselves.

Oh, what do I have to expect in the coming days? Read more »

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Women and Economics: Making Invisible Economic Contributions Visible by Barbara Schöllenberger

Submitted by WeStrive on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 12:40

Barbara Schollenberger

Male-Centric History1

When looking at the beginnings of sedentary civilisation, we find that economic activity became increasingly centered on the household, (the oikos in Greek), and its variety of chores. This was where cooking, washing, caring for all household members, bringing up and educating children took place. In medieval Central Europe, the whole house was the basic unit in which all economic activity was pursued – this meant there were no clear divisions between the household and business.

Only during the period of proto-industrialization, when cottage industries, (such as weaving), and manufacturing enterprises emerged, and again later, when industrial factories were founded, economic activity moved away from the house. This marks the emergence of the modern private household.

 

At the same time this was the beginning of a patriarchal history of economic thought.  Read more »

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Societal Finance: Rethinking Economics by Arthur Edwards

Submitted by WeStrive on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 12:11

“The truth is that the economic life of a particular time, and the spiritual life of a particular time (the times are not quite identical), hold the same relation as a nut to its shell; the economic life is invariably the shell which the spiritual life has thrown out. It takes its cast from the spiritual life. Today’s abstract economic life is, therefore, the product of an abstract spiritual life.”

-Rudolf Steiner, Economist. New Economy Publications, Canterbury 1996, p. 83.

Arthur Edwards

The above quotation indicates that if humanity has an issue with the economic circumstances by which it is faced today then it need look no further than its thinking about those circumstances, for they offer us a reflection of our spiritual selves. If we would have different circumstances, then the first and most direct approach one can take is to think differently about them. Economic thinking, in this respect, implies not a divorce from spiritual life but a relation to it. Moreover, the future economic life of humanity will depend on little more than the quality of economic thinking that is brought towards it.

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Featured Blogs

Matt P's picture

What is YIP?

Submitted by Matt P on Thu, 03/18/2010 - 14:44
Never a Memory..Its always a Moment

Dear Strivers,
It was YIP and Mary Hanna that brought me to what looks like a fantastic and inspiring social platform and community and as I look forward to exploring its possibilities, I feel a need to honour the connection that brought me here and wish to shine some light on what my closest network (YIP) really is for me.. Read more »

LesQuestes's picture

Learning the Steps for the Process

Submitted by LesQuestes on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 21:53

I cannot name my piece before I've written it, but sometimes I feel the urge to give it a title. I want to somehow know what it is that I am called to write to, and sometimes it is the title, not the written words that follow, that determine what will be shared. It is clear to me that writing is a written process, or journey, that is important for me, as a means of reflecting, learning or letting go at the end of the day.
  Read more »

Colyn Cameron's picture

The Farmers Today

Submitted by Colyn Cameron on Thu, 03/11/2010 - 02:26

Most farmers don’t have time to write
even if they are gifted and inspired
something needs doing. 
And, so, as they go out to the fields again
whatever the realities
something must be creating through them.
Does the soil not need cultivating?
Well, that is basically a ridiculous question
as we know who first turned the soil.
We know what we must do now.
Look after the soil. Read more »

adrian's picture

Emerson College: Urgent appeal for help: please distribute widely

Submitted by adrian on Sun, 02/28/2010 - 12:18

We are appealing for your help to ensure that the Emerson College campus can be saved for the future of Anthroposophy – and the world. It comes at a time of great need within the world due to international conflicts, failing institutions and increasing mental health problems.
 
We are encouraged to put forward a vision for the future of the campus as a result of the avalanche of supportive – and sometimes deeply moving – emails, meetings and telephone conversations which we have had with many people over the last few days. There is no doubt that many people all over the world are prepared to give free time, money, love and prayers in an attempt to save this site for the future. Everything counts. Read more »

Sam Saunders's picture

Emerson and the Spirit of Renewal

Submitted by Sam Saunders on Sat, 02/27/2010 - 15:56

“Do not go where the path may lead,
 go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
(Ralph Waldo Emerson)
 
Near to fifty years ago, inspired by Waldo Emerson and Rudolf Steiner, the initiative was taken by Francis Edmunds to start a college. Since it’s humble beginnings, Emerson College has provided education off the beaten track. Through training in Biodynamic Agriculture, Waldorf Teaching, Sculpture, Storytelling, not to mention it’s original crowd pulling ‘Orientation Year’ for 18-25 year olds, the College has served students by enabling them to stand their ground with meaning in the world. And in a world that is growing evermore hardened in heart, surely there is a great need for such potentially life-transforming courses. Read more »

Mark McAlister's picture

Words That Nourish New Thinking

Submitted by Mark McAlister on Fri, 02/12/2010 - 13:03

What is that art
A pale butterfly knows
When it lies in the heart
Of a flaming red rose?
 
Just ask the young moon
Now drfiting on high
At the roof of the noon
On a gold summer sky.
 
- Wilson MacDonald Read more »

WeStrive Chronicle

The Impacts of Moving Your Money

Submitted by WeStrive on Tue, 03/02/2010 - 10:17
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Moving your cash out of big banks and into local banks and credit unions is one way to move your money, but even this choice doesn’t address one of the major issues I have with banks, regardless of size: how are they lending the money I’ve deposited? Can you even find out if their lending practices align with your own values?
Two years ago, I embarked upon an effort to move my money away from Bank of America (where I had my checking account) and ING Direct (where I had the bulk of my cash savings, both in a savings account and in several laddered CDs), and into banks whose activities I felt were more aligned with my own values. Read more »

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Balance for Zimbabwe - The Rimbi Farm Project

Submitted by WeStrive on Mon, 03/01/2010 - 12:35
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The Rimbi Farm Project is a concept to create a community based, supported and benefitting Biodynamic farm in Eastern, rural Zimbabwe. Through community engagement, the wish is to introduce a new type of agriculture that not only has the potential to boost harvest quantity through crop rotation and Permaculture, but also create job opportunities, a space for cultural exchange and, ultimately, a new source of hope. The intent of this project has many different levels and aspects but one main goal is to harvest awareness to the potential that lies within this community, in and of itself. The aim is to create a space to start conversations that can lead to healthy community development; through Biodynamics, create a new way for people to work together, closer to the earth, and from that work, build deeper relationships with one another that will perhaps fulfill a wish for a more integrated, supportive community where no one is left to fend for themselves. Read more »

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Co-creating Intimate Partnerships

Submitted by WeStrive on Tue, 02/23/2010 - 22:25
rla2005pic_perlas.jpg

Nicanor Perlas was interviewed by David Schubert on the components of relationships and intimacy. Nicanor is the winner of the Right Livelinhood Award (the alternative Nobel Peace Prize) in 2003 and is now running for president of the Philippines. His words here on how we can find the right relationships, shape them, and understand the beauty of love--and its authenticity, naturally, will inspire anyone. Read more »

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UK Farming is on the threshold of crisis - Soil Association

Submitted by WeStrive on Wed, 02/10/2010 - 10:36
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SIXTY years of farm intensification has put the UK food system on the threshold of crisis, the UK’s leading organic lobby has warned at its annual conference ... - Wednesday, February 3.
 
Patrick Holden, Soil Association policy director, painted a bleak picture of UK agriculture which he said had been farming unsustainably for too many years. 
 
He called for a seismic change towards low input farm practices ‘before it’s too late’.  “Business as usual is not an option. Our vision is for a radical transformation of agriculture within the next 15 years,” he said, adding organic farming was the only truely sustainable option. Read more »

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The New Economy Challenge: Implications for Higher Education

Submitted by WeStrive on Wed, 02/10/2010 - 10:26
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Institutional change is perhaps the most important and yet most neglected of the crucial changes we must navigate. If we humans are to adapt to 21st century reality, we must restructure or replace the economic institutions of the 20th century, which lock us into a dynamic of perpetual economic growth, with institutions designed to support ecological balance, shared prosperity, and living democracy...
This presents an unprecedented challenge for institutions of higher learning organized to prepare young graduates to succeed in a world that we must now put behind us. They are ill-equipped to prepare people of all ages for their necessary roles in creating and staffing the institutions of a new civilization. They must rethink, retool, and reorganize. Read more »

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This Emerging Food Source May Get Banned from Organic (and it's not GMOs)

Submitted by WeStrive on Sun, 01/24/2010 - 12:21
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Debate heats up about sustainable agriculture.
 
The USDA's National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), which determines which products can be certified organic and carry the valuable organic sticker, is leaning against allowing innovative growing systems, such as aquaponics, from the program.
 
Why? Because, according to their logic, food not grown in soil cannot be organic, even if no pesticides, herbicides or hormones are used. Yet vegetables grown in recirculating systems are proven to have exactly the same nutritional value as any other and are perfectly healthy. Decades of research have shown this. Many vegetables on our store shelves now are grown hydroponically, but this question of plant health or nutritional value has not come up.
  Read more »

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