Freeconomy Blog
Sun
30 Nov
364 to go...
So I’m one day into my year without money and I’m still alive – not much of a feat at the worst of times, but even less so considering what we got up to for the whole of the day.
One person who isn’t still alive though is the Wal-mart employee in the US who was killed in a stampede as the shop opened for its first day of the Christmas sales at 5am in the morning.
A couple of questions spring to mind. Firstly, and least importantly, I thought Christmas was weeks away? Secondly, why did Wal-mart have so few security guards on duty – profit perhaps? And thirdly, how does a society get to such a stage that those within it are willing to trample on another human being if it means getting a few dollars off ‘that product they’ve always wanted’? Has it finally gone too far now?
On a more positive note, the Food For Free Feast that we put on in Bristol (UK) last night to celebrate Buy Nothing Day turned out to be an overwhelming success – chefs such as Fergus the Forager and Corrine Wittman, along with a large group of volunteers, put on a meal that would have graced Jamie Oliver's Fifteen, the only difference being that it all came from consumer waste and foraged food, and that it was all done without a penny changing hands. Musicians and volunteers showed up unannounced, people came in their droves, we served over 150 people a three course meal, and at the end of the night we washed down the food using
Andy Hamilton's, (author of the Self-sufficientish Bible) wild foraged Yarrow beer!
(very appreciative diners at the Café Midnimo)
(myself and Fergus Drennan shocked at ALL that perfectly good waste food)
The story of my attempt to live for a year giving and receiving freely went a bit worldwide yesterday (which to be honest I am uncomfortable with, given the fact I haven’t actually done anything yet). Reports, as always, varied, some such as the overly kind article in the Irish Times, to the report on sky news which was featured on the yahoo front page, which, if I am being over-kind, was riddled not just with inaccuracies, but lies. Where it conjured up the idea that I was getting a friend to pay my National Insurance (would that even be possible?) and the fact I had ‘borrowed’ a caravan I do not know. It’s probably because they’ve read the site and know I'm very opposed to the suing culture of western society!
To be fair, it’s not journalists fault though, there are cutbacks all across the media and in general they have to work far too hard in quite time-pressured situations, so they just don’t have time to research stories anymore.
Anyway I must go and save the energy in my laptop battery – its forecast to be cloudy for a while so I’ll have to be conservative with its use. The year really starts in earnest today.
Comment on this Post:
Stephen Kinsella comments ...
Dear Mr Boyle,
I'm highly skeptical of your year without money, but I'm also very interested in seeing how you progress. I've written a short, critical, piece about the project here: http://tinyurl.com/6az2kf, and I've signed up to your forum and blog to keep up to date with what you're doing. I don't agree with it as a model for society, but I'm also fascinated by the story as it unfolds. So, good luck.
Best,
Stephen Kinsella
Mark Boyle comments ...
*In response to Stephen Kinsella*
Thanks for your comment. Needless to say I don't agree with the majority of it. I come from an economics background, same as yourself, and in my 6 years of studying it not once did I hear the word ecology. Fortunately for the next 6 years I studied ecology in various ways.
I think you should maybe do the same. No disrespect, I just think you don't really have a grasp of the deeper issues involved in it all. With freedom of speech should come a responsibility to educate yourself about what you are talking about it - its got to be both, we've too many people speaking today without having gone through any discipline or put in the work to understand all aspects of life. But respect for sharing it anyway.
Stephen Kinsella comments ...
Fair enough, and it is a fair point, although I have read a fair amount on sustainable development and climatology for a book project, hence my interest in your work. I've signed up to the forum and the blog to do just that. I'm open minded, but skeptical. Looking forward to reading your stuff.
Best,
Stephen
Mark Boyle comments ...
*In response to Stephen*
Respect mate, I do understand your skepticism. But just to clarify, I've said it in previous blogs - the reason I am doing it is because I believe that until we have a greater understanding of what we consume, until we respect the real embodied energy that goes into them, environmental destruction is a foregone conclusion. We waste (and hence produce so much) because we have no respect for it. Money, especially non-localised money, is the tool that enables such a disconnection from the things we consume.
Your Truth is your Truth, regardless if you are a minority of one. I may be wrong in my views, but as long as I believe what I do I'll try my best to live it out, erring along the way. I can't change everyone else, I can only change myself. As I learn more, I'll alter my views accordingly, and then try to live them out. Hopefully by the time I'm in my golden years I'll be closer to the Truth - it's a constant striving though.
Hopefully we'll both learn something from each other on the journey. Keep posting.
Maureen comments ...
Hi Mark
Just caught the back end of your story on the BBC News yesterday morning and am interested to follow your progress. I think it's great that you are doing this and will check the website as much as I can.
Just a quick couple of questions:
So you are not allowed to spend ANY money whatsoever on anything ie food, clothes, travel etc or are there some exceptions?
Also, are you registered as unemployed and do you have to pay any council tax or any bills of any kind?
Maureen comments ...
Hi Mark
Just caught the back end of your story on the BBC News on Sunday morning and am interested to follow your progress. I think it's great that you are doing this and will check the website as much as I can.
Just a quick couple of questions:
So you are not allowed to spend ANY money whatsoever on anything ie food, clothes, travel etc or are there some exceptions?
Also, are you registered as unemployed and do you have to pay any council tax or any bills of any kind?
Beth Tilston comments ...
Good luck my friend. Nice photo on the sky website - interesting place to keep your apples! Hope you said hello to Fergus for me.
Sue Varner comments ...
Dear Mark,
Just wanted to wish you ALL the best for your endeavour! I think what you're doing is a wonderful thing, and the reasons for it more so. I'm from Liverpool, where I worked as a nurse for 10 years; I emigrated to Ohio USA three months ago to marry an American guy, and am currently living with him on his folks' 70 acre tree farm. He's a trucker by trade, but has taken a few months off to work on several sustainable energy projects on the farm. Our camper is heated free of charge by way of a 55 gallon drum of water which is heated via piped natural gas, a waste product of an oil well on the farm. The hot water is pumped around a unit and through a couple of radiator heater coils in the camper ~ it's brilliant! The gas can also be used to run an old 1950's army 10K generator, which can give us free electricity too.
His folks have a vegetable garden which hasn't really been used to it's full advantage for some time. We spent a couple of weeks this summer digging it over and mulching it to death! It's now covered in plastic until the spring to let the bacteria do their work and turn all that mulch into rich soil... roll on! I can't WAIT to get planting!
I'm going to blog about your adventure on the website I'm a member of, Multiply.com. I'm sure a good few of my friends will be fascinated to hear about it, if they haven't already. (I caught it on Yahoo news this morning, and I understand your concern about some of the misinformation posted by various media... good for you for setting it straight in this blog. :)
Best wishes! I'm really looking forward to following your progress!
Sue Varner.
Mark Boyle comments ...
*In response to Maureen*
No money, no bills (totally off-grid producing own energy), no income, no expenditure, and not registered as unemployed. Unemployed is a funny phrase - I'm very employed, I just don't accept money as a form of security and substitute for trust. Feel free to ask any questions you like too as they arise.
*In response to Sue*
Thank you for the great advice and support, really love what you are doing, much respect. And thank you for putting it on multiply.com, much appreciate. Total respect.
Maureen comments ...
I'm interested to know how you are coping with this cold weather?