Freeconomy Blog
Thu
03 Jul
Inspiration to get you through any situation...
| 17 comments |
Life has been a bit hectic over the last few weeks, hence my lack of blog writing on here lately. All for the best of reasons though (I hope). I got a call from the BBC at the start of the week as they were looking to do a programme on The Freeconomy Community for an ethics programme called Sunday Life.
So they came down for a couple of days to do some filming, some of which was done at the first and amazingly successful Freeskilling evening that the local Bristol Freeconomy Community hosted. A local freeconomist came and gave the most passionate display of bread making you’re ever likely to see, and 40 people left, not only knowing how to make a wide array of delicious breads, but as newly found friends. I really recommend it to any member who is looking to get their own local freeconomy group together.
Anyway as regards the filming, I was really in two minds about whether to do it or not. I personally parted company with the TV many moons ago, mainly due to fact that I believe it’s complicit in both the breakdown of our sense of community and the attempted murder, through its endless advertising of consumerism, of the planet that is Mother to us all. So it’s fair to say I’m not an advocate.
So given that stance, I should have said NO. But when I was told it would go out to 2 million people who would otherwise probably have no idea this community exists, I couldn’t refuse. Which I must admit doesn’t sit pretty with me. As with every choice I make in life, I asked “What would Gandhi do?”, and I feel pretty certain he would have done the opposite to what I did. But it’s a hard choice to make as I want this way of life to be as accessible to people from all walks of life. I’m hardly being the change I want to see in the world though. Can the end ever justify the means? I know the answer to that yet I still do the opposite. I don’t know…
Anyway, if anyone wants to learn more about the philosophy of this community and what is happening through it as an example here in Bristol, UK, then it is worth a look. For those of you in the UK and parts of Ireland you can watch it on normal TV on Sunday, 6th July at 10am. For those in the rest of the world, you can watch it through the BBC’s iplayer, as can those in the UK who don’t have a TV. For those with no TV or computer, go and enjoy a walk in the woods and listen to the birds sing, I can guarantee you that you’ll learn a lot more from them than from anything that will ever come out of my mouth.
Before I start, I should add that from this point on I will only be using this blog to communicate to you guys any ideas, inspirations and issues relating to ‘Freeconomy’ and its by-products that I stumble upon. For those of you who are interested in my ‘Transition Experiment’ - my new way of life that involves eating only organic, vegan, locally grown food that uses no plastic packaging and no bin (and living without oil in general) - you will soon be able to follow my progress through a magazine called Resurgence. As a last remark on it in this blog though, I have never felt healthier and it has reaffirmed my belief that even in the field of food and diet, your heart understands things much better than our ever changing scientific opinion ever will.
I feel this segregation is important as I want this blog to become a resource for the community, not a running commentary of my life. I am also happy to open this blog up to the community, so if anyone wants to contribute to a wide audience of both members and non-members, feel free to email me. anytime with a proposal for a piece.
In the midst of the chaos of the last few weeks though I tried to draw upon those things that give me the inspiration I need to keep going, and so I thought what better than to share some of it with you! So I decided to give you my ‘Top 3’ of everything I can think off, in the hope that some of it will give you the strength you need in whatever challenging situation you find yourself in -
Top 3 Poems:
1. Woody Harrelson – an elegantly put together collection of powerful visual thoughts.
2. Jim Willis and one poem in particular called"We are their heroes"
3. The legendary but somewhat unknown Wendell Berry
Top 3 Musicians / Groups:
1. Seize the Day – feel your back stiffen as you listen to a mix of some of the most thought provoking lyrics you’ll ever find coupled with some amazing folk music.
2. Michael Franti – Again it’s that rare mix of powerful lyrics with music that completely engulfs your body.
3. Martha Tilston – Beautiful voice meets a beautiful mind…but alas the good ones are always taken. Darn.
Top 3 Transition-based Blogs: (I know, its four, who cares)
1. Rob Hopkins and the phenomenal Transition Towns movement.
2. Fergus the Forager and his beautifully insane attempt to live off foraged food for an entire year. I have the privilege of going for a forage with him this weekend, so I will be sure to share with you whatever I learn.
3. Brighton’s brightest radicals Jo Nean and Beth Tilston
4. John Webster and his Year without Oil
Top 3 Books (OK Top 5 as I can’t decide again!)
1. The Prophet – Kahlil Gibran. Read it. Read it again. And keep reading one line every day ad infinitum.
2. Moved by Love – a collection of Vinoba Bhavé’s thoughts and works.
3. Walden – Henry David Thoreau. The greatest argument ever for the simple life. Stunning.
4. The Buddha and the Terrorist – Satish Kumar’s version. Great man, great tale.
5. Siddharta – A Hermann Hesse classic. Life changes after this one.
Top 3 Films
1. Earthlings – Stunningly beautiful and totally horrific at every other moment.
2. The 11th Hour – I think it is important to congratulate those blessed with a voice when they use it for positive means. Well done Leonardo.
3. Gandhi – see the potential that Satyagraha has of changing the world forever.
SO - Any moment you’re a feeling a bit weary, take your pick from any of the above and feel your back stiffen and your doubts fade away.
What has inspired you to go out and make as much of a positive difference as you can? Please feel free to let us know by clicking on comment below.
Comment on this Post:
Don comments ...
Go for the TV thing, Saoirse! Television is now the world's campfire, so use it to get the idea out!
Thanks, too, for the Best Three (or Four, or Five) of things. I loved your previous selection a few months ago.
Beth Tilston comments ...
TV. Don't have one, hate it, but I'd still go on it. Just think that thehalf hour people spend watching you is half an hour they aren't watching celebrity big brother. I wish they didn't edit everything like the viewers were five years old though. Sometimes I think that tv people must have a profound disrespect for their viewers. Ooops. Went into a tirade there. It's a Good Thing that freeconomy is on tv though.
Your loving brighton radical
xxx
Matt-M comments ...
Hi Mark,
I'll keep this short as i had a large post a few moments ago which was lost when i clicked add :(
I have only recently acquired a TV due to changing circumstances, which have also led to me rarely being on here. Quit job, partner moved in, got new job, hectic etc.
I watched the Sunday Life program and found it very pleasant to see something that i would class as genuine reality TV. My definition being a view of life in the real world, rather than a manufactured piece of nonsense where a number of assorted extremes and stereotypes are bundled into a house and forced into absurd situations. It was good to see the promotion of traditional skills and values.
Many years ago, i saw programs where families were placed in remote parts of Scotland and America. Due to their surroundings they were forced to survive from the land and their own hands. I thought this was an excellent idea and would have loved to be part of it. Surely there are remote locations such as those which are not currently used and could be acquired for a more prolongued exercise. Perhaps one of the worlds great entrepreneurs Richard Branson could afford to make something like this happen. Whilst his empire has grown in the material world, he has the vision to step outside the boundaries expected.
Whilst my skills are predominantly IT-based, i often feel i would be equally (if not more) happy out in the open air working the land, enjoying life without monetary confines and getting back to traditional roots.
The world has progressed but with the great discoveries and breakthroughs there have come many negatives and sometimes i wonder which outweighs the other. Back in 'the olden days' there were hard times, but people as a whole got through it, communities strived side by side. Crime was lower etc etc
Possibly rambling now, but i'm sure you all get the idea.
Best Regards To All
Matt-M
SusanJoy comments ...
Wonderful blog I watched the Sunday Life and through that found this website. Poems and musicians quoted here are great. This blog has made my day
Iain Parkes comments ...
Just saw the clip on BBCi, fantastic to see us getting more recognision! also nice to see some mention of things like Freecycle etc.! The free economy is becoming more mainstream - gosh, we are almost becoming popular!
Vicky Cottrell comments ...
Thanks for doing the Sunday Life TV thing. I saw it and am here now because of it. Really interested in living a more ethical & community based lifestyle and hope this website will be able to provide inspiration & advice.
paul brown comments ...
I wonder if you believe in Karma? The most important thing that you can do is live your life according to your moral code. If you are meant to get extra help with your website it will not be as a result of getting me to vote for some award. I am surprised by the pestering and the sales speak (only two days remaining...etc) I imagine the ethos of this site is all about people being in physical contact with their neighbours. It is only at that point when we can physically see others reactions, hear their joy, that any real progress will be made. It is about not insulating ourselves in a surreal world but interacting with those around us. If this is successful it will be exponential.
paul brown comments ...
After some further thought, the internet is just a tool like any other. If it becomes a drug or a god then it is the user that has problems, just like any other tool. I publicly pulled Mark up on the e-mails that I have been receiving for voting for an award that would make his life far easier in allowing this site to continue and grow. That was a mistake on my part. I think that his intentions are noble and this is not just some sales pitch. He has taken a moral stance and his ethos is to help others and make his own life more fulfilling. His observations make me think about my own life and that is the best I hope for when meeting new people.
Taos Food Not Bombs comments ...
Hi Mark,
I'm very inspired by what you are doing. I also went on a 500km walking pilgrimage with no money and no possessions last year. It was very challenging but a wonderful and enlightening experience.
Here are a couple of websites you might find interesting:
www.zerocurrency.blogspot.com
www.groups.google.com/group/gathering-of-spiritual-practice-traditions
www.freegan.info
namaste, love, light and blessings! :)
twinklepie comments ...
Hi Mark, great to see that you're still, erm, doing bugger all.
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