Freeconomy Blog
Fri
25 Dec
Happy Christmas!
| 16 comments |
I just want to say a huge Happy Christmas (and Winter Solstice!) to all of you, and a massive THANK YOU for being part of Freeconomy over the last year, whether it be helping and sharing with people in your local community, or joining the debates on this blog.
I have felt and experienced a huge shift in general opinions and attitudes over the last twelve months, especially in mainstream culture, and I am now so full of hope for the future. The fact that Rage Against the Machine are the Christmas No.1 in the UK, with a song called 'Killing in the name', is a sure a sign as any that people now want change, and that they themselves can make it happen.
OK, Copenhagen turned out to be a bit of a farce, but we are in danger of falling into the trap of thinking that politicians, and not us as the people who buy the stuff they want us to buy, dictate how many degrees the global temperature will increase by. There's only a couple of thousand politicians, and there are billions of non-politicians!
As long as we stop buying crap we don't need, as long as we reduce our food, heating and transport miles to the absolute minimum, and as long as we start sharing and cooperating instead of hoarding and competing, we're going to be fine. It really doesn't matter that our politicians couldn't come to an agreement - we can do it ourselves. We can all make our own agreements with our hearts and minds today to stop buying junk and thinking we've a right to have it all. Simple as that.
We've had enough, we really have. Lets make 2010 the year that we all, in Gandhi's words, 'Be the change we want to see in the world.' Enough is enough. Are we really waiting for the politicians to tell us how to make the change? We already know what we need to do, and so for the sake of our future generations lets start doing it.
As Hillel says, "If not you, then who? If not now, then when?"
I've just hitched home from Bristol (south West UK) to the north west of Ireland, without money, for Christmas to spend the day with family and friends and to finish the book before the end of next week. It took two full days but was a fantastic adventure and I met so many wonderful, generous souls along the way, and even made a few friends. It's now my second Christmas living without money, and the longer I live like this the more natural it feels.
Once the book is done then work begins immediately on a proposal for the first real life Freeconomy Community, a home where any member will be welcome to come and visit and experience and live in. It'll take around three months to get a basic proposal together, and I will then put it forward to all of you to get your initial feedback - it'll be as much your home as anyone else and so your input will be vital.
I hope you all have a wonderful day with your families and friends, or whatever it is you chose to do on the day. It really is a pleasure and a privilege to be sharing this absolutely fantastic planet and beautiful experience with you all. Much love and respect.
THE FREECONOMY BLOG is written by Mark Boyle, founder of the Freeconomy Community who lives without money.
Comment on this Post:
claude comments ...
it feels so good to see people like you doing what we are doing; it brings us out of our lonelyness and isolation. It gives us a breath that puts a glitter in our eyes and tells us the long winter is over !
comments ...
Merry Christmas Mark....
The run-up to this festive period has been quite unique, for our family.
During the period prior to COP15 we sewed squares for climate quilts, marched on the Walk Against Warming in Perth and eagerly awaited the next issue of Permaculture Magazine, where you told your inspiring story.....thank you Mark!
This Christmas has been lots of fun, but so different from the last..... The boys had many presents, but all from the Salvos Op/Charity/Thrift Shop and wrapped in junk mail too.
We didn't buy any new decorations, crackers or other paraphernalia, but used up what we had or made our own.
We shared food with friends and neighbours and made things for each other.
I am so confident that next year we can be as happy with less things tangible.....except your new book of course (which I will endeavour to order from the library).
Happy holidays everyone xxx
Sandie comments ...
Sorry, last comment from Sandie. I forgot to put my name again !!!
comments ...
I'm glad you managed to get home for christmas!
Hard to enjoy today having had bad news yesterday but recieved some gardening gifts so been planning my garden which has kept me and my eldest busy and happy!
Good luck with getting the book finished. And when you build the community we will definetely be coming over to visit!!!
The ZaZ comments ...
I think the following statement: "It's now my second Christmas living without money, and the longer I live like this the more natural it feels." is the most hopeful and seasonal sentiment I've seen. These are the words our leaders should be speaking, not the rare individual. This is the brainwashing the planet could really use. It's aphelion to everything we see around us, this mass-marketing televised nightmare we survive daily. It's just so refreshing to see truth peaking out of the darkness.
unstranger comments ...
Nice one. Don't know how you do it but I compliment your resourcefulness.
Christopher Hardy comments ...
Awesome! Such positivity and passion. And what you say about Copenhagen is true; We are in danger of blaming the politicians for not making the change when the real power lies in our hands..
Love always, Chris
Aidan McGrath comments ...
Hello Mark, I'm Grainne's bro. I've been interested in what you have achieved and think it is brilliant. Keep up the great work and Happy Chrimbo.
Ash comments ...
Well done. You are an inspiration to many people...we need to do something like this here in crazy materialistic Japan. Best wishes for the new year from Tokyo.
Ash
iansecoblog comments ...
Right on Mark! It's all very exciting, I'm hoping to be a part of the Freeconomy Community in some way myself. Good luck and love and respect to you too! Ian xx
Henrique da Silva comments ...
Mark Boyle and Freeconomy
Greetings from Brasil.
Happy Christmas, Feliz Natal.
Henrique
Dora carroll comments ...
Brilhant your blog....I liked that's idea freeconomy!!!
I hope to see more people around here!
Good Luck
Ytrish comments ...
Happy New Year everyone ! ... I wrote a Happy Christmas one but I think I forgot to press "submit"!
I'm looking forward to hopefully being more a part of the transformation that has started here .
Thanks to Mark for the great inspiration and to all the brilliant people on here and elsewhere for bringing it on,
Love :-)
Penny (in Vancouver, BC) comments ...
I love to read your blog entries. They keep me sane in 'this thuggish petro-state ........the greatest obstacle to a deal in Copenhagen' (to quote George Monbiot).
I have tried in vain to get fellow N Americans to read your blog. It's just so beyond that they can comprehend..... Here people have lost an understanding of the difference between a 'convenience' and a 'neccessity'.
I wished a bon voyage to a friend visiting his son and family in Paris for Christmas. He complained bitterly that is wasn't going to be any fun at all, because his son doesn't heat the apartment when no one is at home, so it's cold for at least half an hour when they return....... Thank heavens, he said, we aren't forced to live like Europeans over here.
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