Site Testimonials
If you love the site, tell us, we all need inspiration.
If you think the site is an atrocity to humanity, tell us, we need to hear it.
If you think it is great but could be improved, tell us, we are on a steep learning curve here.
But most of all, if you love the site, don't just tell us, tell others, and let them become a part of this amazing community also.
Site testimonials left by others so far:
| shiraz - 05 Aug 2008 06:58:56 |
| just wanted to say I love this website.
i've only used it a couple of times yet as its still quite a new way of doing things for me, but we had a meet-up of our local members last night and it was great! We're now planning on making it a regular thing and are trying to plan some events but not fully sure what type as of yet. watch this space! |
| jess - 04 Aug 2008 20:15:33 |
| Yes it is true this site works in the exchange of opinions and encouragement to others. It is also a forum for Mark to share whatever is going on at any given time in his life, which is fine. It seems that the most dynamic and radical part of why it was set up, the part which would create real change in humanity falls short. we shouldn't delude ourselves that that part is working. when you email the 500 people or so in you area and the response is try gumtree one dispairs. never mind - it will become just a blog site - which it claimed not to want to be, with lots of people at the end of computers anonymously sharing ideas- but that;s all. |
| Alexander - 15 Jul 2008 11:47:27 |
| Fantatic Site. Well done
I am over the moon at finding this site as I was starting to beleive thre were only a few of us serious about this. I have purchased a large peice of agricultural land in spain to set up my community as it would be hopeless in the Uk with all the laws and legislation and the prejudice that thrives there. for anything different. I have solar and wind power, spring water and compost toilets that are eco friendly and neighbours that beleive in living off the land. I shall teach English at the local school if I need anything but wont accept cash. anyone interested in joining me and are serious please email me at akbdv@yahoo.co.uk |
| SusanJoy - 06 Jul 2008 10:55:59 |
| I watched Sunday life today and through the BBC website found this one and i am really pleased I did. It is inspirational. Well done |
| Joyful - 06 Jul 2008 10:03:10 |
| Just watched you on TV Mark. Just a shame it didn't mention the website by name. Looked good fun in Bristol though. |
| bhavyasalapu - 21 Jun 2008 10:59:24 |
| hi friends,
i am too new for this community...i think its gret |
| Robert Howes - 21 Jun 2008 10:17:05 |
| I love the site, and we certainly all need inspiration, I don't think it is an atrocity to humanity.
*** I think it is great, but it doesn't seem to be working in the way that it should, and I am wondering why. *** I wonder if the other members understand it the way I do. Do I understand it in a wrong way? I've contacted the other members in my area to get together but no-one seems to be interested. *** I'm planning a door knocking campaign, not because of this site, I was planning it anyway, but I can recommend this site to anyone interested, and use this site as a vehicle for a local group, because our principles are the same. *** I understand that it's okay to use in this way, but tell me if I'm wrong. *** If the present members in my area misunderstand the principles, such as: (It's about making the transition from a money-based communityless society to a community-based moneyless society), then the question is, why are they members? *** It is very hard for any of us to be convinced that a complex world could operate without money in some form, and I wonder if many of the members really appreciate what is involved. I have spent around a half century working on this problem. In some senses it seems simple, and so it would be for a handful of people on a desert island. They could choose to co-operate and not use money. But they might very soon start to use barter, which is a kind of money (since money is a form of barter). *** True co-operation needs no money or barter, but is very rare, and this site is asking a lot. So I am looking into ways to ease our passage from money to a moneyless society. This will need a dedicated website, but more than that it will need local groups to really become active. *** I wonder if it is asking too much for someone from each local group to email me (Bob Howes) at robertcircle1@yahoo.co.uk to discuss it. *** Positively yours, Bob Howes |
| Jill - 14 Jun 2008 04:49:17 |
| When I saw this site, and realized the possibilities and the potential of this, I was blown away. This is the the kind of world I want to live in. Here is the opportunity to "be the change". Wonderful.!!!! |
| scambusters - 07 Jun 2008 07:14:12 |
| Great idea.
When are we gona see some organising? Can we have more on exposing the shameful and barbaric commercial exploitation of our social society and perhaps get an idea who or what is worth suporting and who or what needs to be avoided. So far I have yet to see anybody who is worthy of my vote as all we see are ambitious gangsters and plunderers of our society. |
| pranjal mitra - 02 Jun 2008 09:56:39 |
| good site |
| digger - 01 Jun 2008 15:58:57 |
| I am blown away by the potential of this site. It is a piece of inspired vision. We do have to think differently. Behind this huge world problem is a gift of equal magnitude; 'reconnection'. The only way forward. There are many pessimists amongst us. I am not one. I am excited by the possibilities. |
| suresh - 26 May 2008 12:28:32 |
| thank for creating this site,this sie will help for all. |
| MadhuKumar - 26 May 2008 10:53:05 |
| Now a days most of the people believing "World and relations depends only on money", why because they are thinking like a father. This site is proven absolutely above quoted sentence is wrong. This is the happiest moment, “after a long period, in this site I got members, who thinking like a mother”.
It’s amazing community, I’m feeling a rivalry in revival world. Regards Madhu Kumar Koppula |
| sireesha - 26 May 2008 01:11:50 |
| This is a great concept,definetely I would like to follow it& introduce to my friends too
|
| sherlyn - 25 May 2008 09:14:57 |
| May God Almighty bless you with lots of energy and stability. May HE protect you from all kinds of dangers. keep the good work going.
|
| Lokesh Singh - 10 May 2008 15:52:41 |
| A great concept. Read about it in the Sunday Times of India.
This initiative reminds me of how Gandhiji sarted his Ashram where all the members worked and helped each other with whatever skills they had. A great initiative and i am happy to have become a part of it Lokesh Singh |
| Daring Donna - 09 May 2008 23:17:27 |
| Gorgeous ones
What a way to model "love in action" by cocreating this fabulous online tool. Thankyou so very much. Since I was very young I knew deep in my heart that we as a species on planet earth needed to learn the share from our hearts where their are no boundaries as we all have enough to share and enough to spare. In 2005 we = welcome everyone, cocreated a physical space called Swanson Sanctuary in Aotearoa. The space is thriving and in the flow of a gift economy where everyone gives if they resonate to give with great love and they receive with great love. This site makes my heart sing and I dropped everything I was doing to create a profile and add Swanson Sanctuary to the sharing space. With big love and huge smiles, lots of giggles and jiggles Daring Donna |
| Vijay Sairam - 09 May 2008 11:36:23 |
| Hello People!
I read about this website on the Sunday Times of India and visited this site and was very much interested in learning more. All I can think of when I think regarding this website and its founder is a great quote from Mother Teresa. "Helping hands are better than praying lips" Kudos to you guys for doing an "extra ordinary" work. All the very best in your venture and my email address is vijay_sairam@sify.com and do let me know if I can be of any help to you. Regards Vijay Sairam |
| Taabish Akhtar - 08 May 2008 14:55:51 |
| That’s it man!!!!
that is one of my dream to make the world forget the word \"money\". bUt bUt bUt i have an idea to share. In my view the root cause is not money,it’s actually the concept of BARTERING. So why don’t we try to wipe out this bartering. |
| Supriyo - 08 May 2008 09:39:49 |
| I read about the community in today’s newspaper. I have joined it .
I am very happy that a platform is created to say that money should not be given the higest chair in human mind. A the same time i must warn that the activities here should not be our reactions to the negatives of money culture but a positive and coscious effort to make corrections for a historical blunder humanity has commited. Best Wishes to all members. |
| dikshith - 08 May 2008 06:59:26 |
| This concept is very good example to explain "whether man makes money or money makes man".With globalization, money has become the tool to measure everything but this helps people to look at the humanity side of themselves and help each other for the love of it |
| sunanda - 07 May 2008 07:31:03 |
| Hi
Congratualtions !! At the day of the day this spells human bliss ...with respect for eachother, no matter however important money can be for some - this is the only method one knows to appricate another . Great begining - wish you good luck the thought behind your mission certainly is making people pause to thinking for sure, they may be shy to admit though !!! Sunanda : Bangalore |
| Rashmi - 06 May 2008 14:17:09 |
| I heard about this site about an hour ago... check it out and Man im impressed.. its a nice initiative...and has a feel good factor attached to it.. All the best... !! |
| Shanta - 06 May 2008 09:07:08 |
| I agree with the concept of barter being a viable way to build a cashless economy; however, barter must extend not just to services but to goods as well, for it to work. Goods in exchange for work, work in exhange for work, or goods in exchange for goods. 360 deg barter, in other words. Whatever, let’s make a start, by all means! But is this just an intellectual exercise, I wonder... |
| Karan - 06 May 2008 07:41:02 |
| We need to first understand that money in the first place essentially developed as a convenient medium of exchange for services. It is not possible to transition to an entirely moneyless society and even if done, it would not wipe out exploitation by a few people who desire to be in power.
However, having said that, I believe that money need not be the only means of exchanging services. We must encourage sharing of services without using money not as a means of replacing money altogether but to popularise the thought that even today, services can be exchanged for other services without the use of money. This awareness needs to be propagated to the masses. I believe that this website will aid in achieving that goal and that is why support this venture. |
| amrutha lakshmi - 06 May 2008 07:13:51 |
| while wasting away life without any clue to do something worthwhile, your mission has given a ray of hope and willpower to do justfortheloveofit. i wish u great success. |
| Suhail Rastogi - 05 May 2008 06:58:44 |
| It’s a basic human trait to mould their circumstances to progress in a new direction. To move to a moneyless society would mean giving up many of these trappings of a daily life like communication, fast travel etc. In a freeconomy, somebody (individual or a group) who controls an airplane or a telecommunication network would naturally demand a whole lot of ’tools’, ’skills’ and ’space’ as these services are needed dearly by all. The premise of equality is violated yet again and we will have to find a new medium of exchange. Money, in that sense, is a convenient medium of exchange.
At the same time, I am not ignoring the damage that our lust of money has caused to the environment. There is a big question mark on our survival, if we continue to live like this. I believe that movements like Freeconomy are direct manifestations of the immiedate need of preserving our environment and restoring the list glory of our habitat. |
| Manish - 05 May 2008 06:39:46 |
| Really impressing ....everyone think to get out of the mess but few dare to take step in that direction ...Requesting ppl to be a part of this relevant movement..
Regards Manish |
| Ankush Chauhan - 05 May 2008 06:39:05 |
| Way to go ! The most difficult thing in life is to break from a pattern. When it comes to breaking free, one really needs some guts ! So all you friends out there, come along and make this world a beautiful and peaceful place to live. This is not only for our immediate future but for generations to come. !
I also improvise on this concept. Why only a cashless community, why not a casteless, religionless, and most importantly a THOUGHTLESS community. |
| Sanat Prasoon - 05 May 2008 05:00:14 |
| Its really and amazing and awesome idea to establish a community based money less society. But , I will be slightly critcal to this idea in terms of its popularity and penetration level, though I am fully in accord with the idea.My basic point of contention and question is when human realise that he doesn’t need money for earning and sustaining his life.Not every one thinks on this line.Majority human think that they are born to get education , get good job , earn huge money , marry, have kids , become old and die.When human becomes old he realises he has never thought what fruitful things he has done in his life... he has just followed a normal prescribed way of living life which tends to agonise him and he finally give him self to religious activities and try to inflame spiritualism in him self....but already time has slipped from his hand. So my intention is why not burn the candle of spiritualism at early stage of life where money and materliastic will play a very trivial role.Though its not possible because it happens with few and this moneyless community is excellent forum where these few can and have the capability to change the world we are living in. |
| ranjana - 04 May 2008 19:14:25 |
| WOW!Kudos to this GREAT idea,coz money comes and goes,values come n grows... Lets keep the flame burning.
Ranjana |
| Akshay Shah - iWeb - INDIA - 04 May 2008 17:26:57 |
| Lets follow this Gandhian Philosophy and be a self reliant economy and force.
Lets push money, cash and credit out of the system and live a much more meaningful and RICH life, in the true sense as in the end this money grabbing rat race takes us no where and please do remember all my friends - Its Really Lonely at the Top :-)) |
| Rahul Jadhav - 04 May 2008 16:02:58 |
| There is a virus in the site as opened it ,Macafee gave this signal I don’t know forget about it ,this a great idea of being as clear as water,the same thing I watch on Discovery channel’s Man V/S Wild..........this idea is here to stay.......walk................walk....& it would some day start running. |
| gurupaad - 04 May 2008 15:05:47 |
| This freeeconomy concept was first infact pioneered in at Anubhava Mantapa, at Kalyan(now Basava Kalyan in Bidar - Dist), in Karnataka, India, about 900 years ago by Prophet Basaveshwar, the then Prime Minister of the Kingdom of King Bijjala, in the local dialect called Dasoha concept. All the members of Anubava Mantapa were used to share thier skills of life and materials like food grainsetc., basic needs for ecommunity feeding themselves with every one doing one’s Kayaka (Work) according to their skills and levels. Though Basava was the PM he used to submit all his salary to the community sharing.
Mr Boyle I thing you are an incarnation of Basavaeshwar reborn in England it seems, You shuld study the phylosophy of Basaveshwar. Contact me for literature if you are intereste: suragond@yahoo.co.in I whole heartedly join this group Gurupad Suragond Bangalore India |
| shanta - 04 May 2008 11:27:55 |
| Hi All -
I’ve just joined this community after reading an article in the Sunday Times of India about the Freeeconomists and Mark Boyle’s attempt to travel to India by working his way across. I’ve got to say that this is not some brave new enterprise. I’m a baby boomer turning 60 next year and remember those intrepid souls who hitched passage on cargo boats, working their way from the UK to India in the 60s. I also remember - and who doesn’t - the communes of the 60s and the 70s. I couldn’t do it then for many reasons - but can now. That’s why I’ve joined up. In the hope that there are kindred souls out there looking to do the same; live on a commune in North India, that is. People with building, farming, dairy and other skills. So we can build a self-sufficient community. Would love to hear from you! Cheers, Shanta. |
| Amit Jain - 04 May 2008 11:05:17 |
| Hi! I want to be part of this community..its really a very good initiative and I want to be part of this. |
| alankar - 04 May 2008 10:44:03 |
| i m really glad ...to b part of this site....its really something that i was searching from ages....
and at last presently i m in allahabad ...and will be here for another one year ..... if in this duration of time anyone want any type of help please do inform me with any means ...... |
| NilamDoctor - 04 May 2008 08:03:25 |
| Welcome to India. Do give me a call. I will help anyone with the best possible way I can. |
| james - 01 May 2008 14:01:32 |
| Brilliant - have signed up here in Edinburgh and there are already tonnes of members. Very impressive. |
| GEORGIE - 01 May 2008 13:33:17 |
| Indebted to you lot, just learned how to do a bit of graphic design for my own project!
How can I give something back? Thank you |
| Unbelievable - 29 Apr 2008 10:44:26 |
| What an utter crapfest. It’s so bad, i just keep coming back to stare at this train wreck. Keep up the aimless dithering. |
| Anthony - 28 Apr 2008 20:17:53 |
| Good. I am glad to have found this super website.
I have been looking for a way to overthrow capitalism (without bloodshed) for some time now and I assume the Internet will be the medium to do it, and sites like this one, the tool. I’ll contact my local independent candidate, and try and get lots more people involved through him too ! [ I invite you all to exploit my skills ] |
| mags - 20 Apr 2008 13:27:06 |
| *** great idea and very easy website to use - can’t wait to get started! *** |
| D Owen - 18 Apr 2008 12:02:08 |
| Would love to look further, but MacAfee says you have a virus, I can’t remember the name, something like PSYME.
Good luck. |
| Miss Frugal - 15 Apr 2008 07:10:07 |
| Love it love it love it! Have just met some great people through this website in the last week, such a relief knowing I am not the only one out there who thinks and acts like this!!
Ever thought about using Babel Fish to translate the site for you?? Just an idea. |
| Kathy - 14 Apr 2008 23:06:15 |
| It is really hard to ask for favours without knowing if you can do anything in return. It would make it much easier, if, like www.swapaskill.com you have a space for people to list what skills they need as well as what they’re offering.
Apart from it being so hard to ask, its a wonderful idea, and I’ve been searching for a website that does this for years!!! |
| Aunty Ann - 12 Apr 2008 14:15:53 |
| Hi Im house sitting in W9 and moved my marker then asked for an electrician scrolled down, pressed find and the same page returned again and again so what did I do wrong??( blog says I dont exist) |
| Joyful - 30 Mar 2008 07:40:58 |
| I just want to say thanks to the great people on this Website. I not only have help in sorting out my Garden but in the process I am enabling other people to have a garden to grow vegetables in. We all have to remember not only how much we can gain from giving help but also receiving it. |
| GERRY MAC - 29 Mar 2008 21:51:42 |
| well lad glad to see your still at it ,never mind the begruders.keep er lit. |
| ginger - 27 Mar 2008 08:21:12 |
| I signed up at the start of the year with a view to getting some help with my own web-site, but it took me until yesterday to work up the courage to ask for help with it! But after talking with a friend who has used this before, I finally got the courage!
And woke up to a lovely email this morning from a lad who said he’d really like to help and so we are starting to work on it next week. Feel a bit stupid now for not asking earlier though! It’s all very exciting for me. |
| Rafael - 26 Mar 2008 22:11:23 |
| I just signed up last month and have learning how to darn my old wool socks and have learning how to play the violin. I hope to learn english also and teach spanish to some other.
I would really like to see this site in spanish but I realise that this is a very big task and that you are all volunteers, I think anyway. If you like I can help. |
| michelle the belle - 26 Mar 2008 19:41:18 |
| I just want to say I love this website! I got my bike fixed last night, learned how to change my spokes and then showed Marie (the lovely bicycle repairwoman and new friend :-p) how to make great curry!!!!!! Well I would say that :-p
Anyway thank you to all of you in this community and especially to Marie xxx |
| red faced spelling genie - 26 Mar 2008 18:22:09 |
| eeerrr. That should be Principal! I’ll get my coat. |
| spelling genie - 26 Mar 2008 18:05:34 |
| Mike Fairclough - I’m shocked that you are a headmaster/principle and can’t spell gullible and believe!!!!! Whatever is today’s education coming to!!!! :) |
| Joyful - 25 Mar 2008 22:41:36 |
| For those of you who say this site is not working I say keep trying. I have given services to a few and been helped by a few. Hopefully those that do not want to respond will remove their profiles but why not try getting a meetup for coffee with people in your area? That way you can add faces to profiles and overcome barriers. |
| Saoirse - 25 Mar 2008 10:57:48 |
| Just noticed a few testimonials here which caused me a bit of concern as it is something we have been looking at for a while.
LucyDoo is correct in that some users may not be getting emails from this website and hence not be able to respond. There are a couple of things everyone can do to help us overcome this - 1. Mark the ’noreply@justfortheloveofit.org’ and ’admin@justfortheloveofit.org’ email addresses as safe in your Hotmail / Yahoo / Outlook etc inbox. Because the word ’free’ (as part of the title ’the freeconomy community’) appears in the email, a lot of filters stick it into spam. We are working on this but what we can do is limited. 2. We ask you to keep the ’new MESSAGE alerts’ on, as otherwise it could be days or weeks before you get to respond to someone who asks for help with something, and hence could be too late by then. However, feel free to turn off ’new member alerts’ in your profile area as I am aware at this rate of growth the messages may get annoying! 3. If you do not plan to use the service then we ask you to either state you are inactive until a certain date on your profile page or else to delete your account. We obviously want everyone to be part of this but it is only wasting other peoples time if you do not plan to use it. I hope that helps improve the service for you all. It is a matter of numbers though. I am also a part of schemes such as ’couch-surfing.com’ and ’liftshare.org’ and know that I have to send at least 5 emails in order to get a couch or a lift. But that’s a little price to pay to be able to live a more money free life. Having said all that, there also seems to be a lot of areas around the world where it seems to be really active. I wonder if those areas have organised freeconomy events and hence seen more activity. Email me at saoirse@justfortheloveofit.org if you have and I’ll compile and publish a resource for people who want to pioneer it in their home town. Any other ideas, feel free to email me with them. |
| LucyDoo - 25 Mar 2008 09:55:41 |
| I just want to say that, like rosemundi, I’ve never heard back from anyone I contaced. Maybe there’s a glitch in the software? |
| rosamundi - 23 Mar 2008 06:23:35 |
| sorry if honesty has given offence. It’s just that I’ve been around a while and I know so many people who have given a lot more than a young man’s life savings without talking about it so much.
I have high hopes for this site and for freeconomy, which, by other names, has been around for a long time and in which I’ve participated for many years. I finally posted a criticism of the pilgrimage side of it, not nearly as harsh as some others, because it’s turned out to be just so much hot air/youthful delusion and to keep it on the site isn’t helpful to freeconomy. |
| keira - 23 Mar 2008 00:17:08 |
| Don’t want to use this as a forum - but to rosamundi - I agree with Steve G. I’ve read some of your comments and to be honest if you were to ask me for some skill-sharing I probably wouldn’t reply either!
Try being nice for a change and see if that effects things in your locality. The guy whom you criticise so harshly in your comments on the blog, from what I can tell from his earliest blogs, set this community up from his life savings and has taken loads of heat to raise attention to the bigger issues at stake here. Give out some love and you might get some back, pretty simple law. I’ve made lots of contacts too and have had many experiences through it. So you haven’t yet, that’s a shame. But has anyone died?! If it is not working for you, leave it, no one is forcing you to be here, and leave those of us who love it in peace! I respect your views but your negativity is unbelievable. respect, keira |
| rosamundi - 22 Mar 2008 16:15:03 |
| not moaning - just wondering! I joined 5 months ago and no one has ever asked me for anything even tho I listed dozens of tools and skills. The few times I’ve put requests to my local people I’ve got no responses at all, not even no’s. But a lot of people seem to talk. |
| Steve G - 21 Mar 2008 21:05:40 |
| In answer to the last testimonial, I’ve used it 4 times and now have two really good friends through it, and pretty much everyone I know who has signed up has used it at least once - it has really taken off here. Although I must admit to being a bit scared to ask the first time! I’ve also helped a couple of people too.
It’s such a good when people help you for the love of it and vice versa!! So just use it and stop moaning about something which can only be of benefit!! |
| rosamundi - 21 Mar 2008 15:34:21 |
| Hang on, has ANYONE actually DONE anything? |
| Dave Arnold - 18 Mar 2008 21:07:33 |
| I have great respect and admiration for this concept and its founders, I am a member of freecycle and one of the rules of the freecycle that I belong to is that when you give something away you cant lend it. I am going to register and offer my tools and skills and my support, I am a great believer in knowing our communitys better for a safer more pleasent way of life.
|
| Gonzferatu - 18 Mar 2008 13:25:31 |
| To me this is just another big Publicity Stunt!
I am shocked and very disappointed in your travel plans. It can only be a British person creating all this huh-hah of going to India for a good cause, to then only make it to France to discover they don’t speak English. I really would like to know how you would have traveled through all the other countries. The whole thing seems to be very much based on the illusion that things just fall your way as long as the media gives you a hype. These sites are not new, there is lot of these exchange websites all over the country.(freecycle,can do exchange....) Instead of trying to get them all together, here we find another fame hungry individual who thinks he knows best. Instead of getting involved in already existing campaigns you need to start another one, of course! It is little bit like in "life of brian" this...... "I am more holy than the others..." I first was just a bit miffed, but then decided to join the site to express myself on the site itself! It just makes me angry, to see good energy being lost than instead of being invested in much more pressing issues. Where is your solidarity to Tibet now? Who of you were on the streets against the second gulf war? All these initiatives seems to be the new way of getting a clear conscience, like I offer to share my talents and my tools, so i must be a good person.... I still don’t give a shit about what happens outside Britain.....because they don’t speak my language anyway!!!!!!! Have you made any contact to France before going there? Have you checked out all the other campaigns like this in Europe? Have you done any research before hand? I pretty much doubt this whole project, if preparation is conducted like this!!!! I managed to live without any money, didn’t make to fuss about it. Made me feel great! I managed four days and nights without food and water, did i make a big fuss? No, it made me feel great! Get real! We don’t need any more messiases or leaders, we need real people who know what they are doing and just get on with it! Hans Schmidt |
| Subhadip Barman - 18 Mar 2008 13:21:01 |
| Came to know about your site today. Your philosophy is so wonderful. Being an Indian I can relate to your philosophy. I was so pleasantly surprised to read about your "philosofree" and found such striking similarity between preachings of the monks and sages and your philosophy. Travelling in the himalayas and meeting the people who lead a simple life is much more closer to nature. It’s high time we modify our habits and drastically reduce our dependence on materialism. Our search for comforts and luxuries has resulted in the environmental mess we are in. The simplest yet the most effective way is to modify our habits and start leading a simple life.
My best wishes for your good work. Thanks Subhadip Barman |
| Danny - 09 Mar 2008 21:53:55 |
| Hi Mark,
Glad to see you are safe. Hope you contine the good work. Regards, Danny |
| Robert Howes - 07 Mar 2008 16:56:44 |
| This website is exactly what is needed. Walking to India has a point, but the main point is for people to get together with their neighbours and build this moneyless economy that people like me have dreamed about for yonks.
*** If anyone wants to do it in the Swansea area then ring me on 01792 792 442, or email me at robertcircle1@yahoo.co.uk *** Join if you haven’t already, and move to Swansea if nothing is happening where you are. We’ll make it happen together. *** You are not too old or too young, too rich or too poor, too black or too white, you are human, and humans are social animals, but our institutions have made us less social than is good for us. *** I’m sixty today, and just getting started. I’ve plenty years left in me, and I’m not as poor as I once was. *** The changes we need to bring about a true moneyless world will cost all the money in the world. We must not be afraid to use money in our quest. Does everyone understand that? Poverty does not help us, it takes away any power we have to help ourselves. Don’t be a slave to money, but don’t throw it away. *** Anyone with money who wants to use it right, ring me for financial advice. I want to see much money invested in agricultural land. It’s the best investment around, especially when used to grow food for local consumption. *** Bob Tel 01792 792 442 You all are invited to visit and stay awhile. Ring first. |
| mike Fairclough - 02 Mar 2008 19:58:36 |
| I am shocked at how gulable some people are in response to the media. Quite often the media reports things which are untrue, just to get a story. In the case of the Community Pilgrims, the reports in the media have been twisted.
Saorise and Eric visited the School where I am the Headteacher last week. They worked for free on two major projects over a period of two days. They saved the school around £600.00 in manual labour and cost the school less than £6.00 in food (which we had to almost force them to have). They gave an assembly to nearly 300 children and adults about helping eachother and inspired the entire community. They left without asking for anything in return. Please think before beleiving everything you read in a newspaper or hear on the radio. |
| Daniel Garcia - 02 Mar 2008 13:02:24 |
| I came here to find out more about Mark Boyle "Saoirse" after an article published in the Guardian on 01/03/08 about the trip to India he sadly had to cancel.
It really was a surprise to find someone who had the same ideas and ideals I have had all my life e.g. traveling the world without a penny working for food etc; and more recently e.g. creating a freeconomy-type website; and having acted upon it when I haven’t, as yet. So you have been a great inspiration proving to me that the idea of freeing ourselves from money and establishing a network of human interaction is at the heart of a lot of people and that it will eventually work, giving it time and space to develop. Your trip should also serve as a lesson to all in that our ideals have to be molded into reality for them to succeed. It is a huge, complicated world out there and we have to go into it with the utmost respect and use the tools of knowledge we have at hand to be the most prepared we can to encounter them e.g. books to learn about foreign cultures, learning basic language skills etc . It is only an exercise of self-indulgence traveling the world expecting the kindness of the people just because we have a romantic ideal with which they should empathyse with as fellow humans without even being able to understand us. We should be the ones to make the effort while immersed in their own environment. (Ask the U.S. infantry in Iraq). In a way it is disheartening to see Mark gave up so soon just because he couldn’t find vegan food to eat...for one day...and facing "starvation"...when people go without food for weeks out there... Also lack of foreign languages knowledge shouldn’t be an obstacle for basic communication. I have communicated non-verbally in China and other Asian countries and never had a problem being understood when explaining my basic needs... I thank Mark for sharing his vision with others like me and despite the criticism directed to him it must be acknowledged he has gone from word to action and in the process we all make our own mistakes. The fact that I am spending a Sunday afternoon writing this proves he has set the wheel in motion in people like me for which I am thankful. But remember that to truly go global you must first go "local"... |
| PixieKat - 01 Mar 2008 16:46:25 |
| Ah my darling, it must be tough to be you and shine the beautiful light you shine with so many people’s opinions and expectations being thrown at you. You still do a grand job though sir...nobody could do it better! Wilson and I are very proud. We think you are so very brave, full of integrity, wise and so strong. Everything is in divine accordance m’dear!
You continue to be an ongoing inspiration. Much love, respect and blessings brother. xxx |
| Ingemar - the Swede - 01 Mar 2008 13:15:52 |
| I read about the pilgrim walk in a swedish newspaper - and I was shocked!
The trip was discontinued in Calais - because the french people could not talk english. The ethnocentrical reaction is absolutely shocking to me. Maybe I would not have been so shocked if the story was about an american. But this naive reaction from an englishman was really unpleasant. We in England are the center of the world! We call ourselves ’The British Empire’. How does it come than other people do not speak our language? Don’t say that the have another culture! Don’t tell me that they actually eat snails...! There is an astonishing ethnocentricity in the behaviour of many americans. But I really did not expect this from an englishman. |
| Nathalie - 01 Mar 2008 10:53:08 |
| I am French and live in the UK. I just want to say, don’t be put off by your negative experience in France so far. There are a lot of associations in France whose purpose is to share skills ie mechanics showing you for free how to do oil change yourself etc. Remember though that a lot of French people struggle as unemployment is high and around Europe , the majority of people do not speak English well enough to understand what you are trying to do |
| anthony gillett - 01 Mar 2008 01:47:33 |
| Well done. This is a message from pollutionville (mexico city). Really impressed by your efforts.Let me know if you want to do anything in Mexico. |
| mike Fairclough - 29 Feb 2008 15:20:04 |
| Visit to West Rise Junior School
I asked Sairise and Erik to visit West Rise Junior School because socialisation, tolerance and the ability to interact and communicate with people from varying walks of life is increasingly at the heart of the Primary School Curriculum. Our visit from the two travellers has been a valuable, possibly ‘once in a lifetime’ learning experience for all of us at the school. The Government’s ‘Every Child Matters’ agenda states that children should be given exciting, first hand opportunities to become effective and informed members of the community. Learning about different lifestyles and beliefs is always valuable. Over the past twelve months we have invited a wide spectrum of people to the school including Rock Musicians, war veterans, film makers and religious leaders. Our latest visitors have inspired the children to ask questions such as: Where are you from?’ Where are you going?’ ‘How long will it take you to walk to India?’ ‘Why are you doing this?’ Will you walk home again?’ The travellers have told the children that they are encouraging community mindedness, to love thy neighbour, they are walking for peace and have faith in higher power, God/the Universe. Sairise and Erik have encouraged the children to employ positive thinking and to be an inspiration to each other through the act of giving. This is identical to the Christian message and the message in several world religions. Money being no more than a useful tool, helping others, having faith and doing good is also the main message of Christ. Over a period of two days, Sairise and Erik have helped to make a willow withy outside the classroom, created an organic vegetable garden, cleared the school hall for the dinner ladies and given an assembly to the children about helping people. It has been a pleasure to have them at our School. Mike Fairclough Headteacher |
| david - 29 Feb 2008 14:11:39 |
| i wish we all had a bit of giving inside of us its so easy to get bogged down in it all the everyday struggle |
| Dimitris - 29 Feb 2008 13:49:35 |
| Dear friend,
I respect your good will and noble ideas and I’m in agreement with most of them (i.e. money-obsessed world, notion of freeconomy, oppressive/distorting media, etc.). BUT the face that you only managed to accomplish only about 5%, if that, of your intended trip sends out a powerful message to all of us that I think we should take time to listen. My take on this is the following: being idealistic does NOT mean being naive, simplistic or impractical. It means guiding your life according to certain ideas or ideals (mainstream or not) and not according to passing fads, money or other, in essence, meaningless objects. Setting out to walk the earth all the way from here (UK) to India is something I totally dig. Seriously. But COME ON, don’t shoot yourself or your ideas down with such sloppy thinking and childish wishing (for all to go as planned, as if by magic). Again as I see it, if ever Freeconomy comes to replace modern-day capitalism, which I wish will be the case, make no mistake - it’s going to be much harder than now, much much harder. Because we would have to actively think and act much more than now for things to flow freely and fairly. In other words, it’s going to take constant and continuous effort by all (which , by the way, it’s one of the reasons that ideas like these are hard to catch on: people don’t want to try/think/feel responsible or even, one can argue, be essentially free). To cut the long story short, don’t give up. BUT think and plan, seriously and responsibly. Expecting, for example, to get by without any knowledge of other language except English goes directly against all the ideas in this website. I would be less disappointed if you’d admitted sponsorship by Nike and Coke! Shape up! |
| Arturo Dekko - 29 Feb 2008 12:06:08 |
| If one was walking to India, it would seem to make sense to translate the purpose of the journey into the languages of ALL the countries you would be walking through and carry these with you. Learning French, while admirable, will only get you to the other side of France. Best of luck in your journey. |
| eric whitfield - 29 Feb 2008 11:39:02 |
| I love your aims, I like the site, but I am now too old (retired) to do any serious work, I find I have enough to keep me busy at home.
I do hope thet youngsters are inspired though, as I find it a good idea to help other people and get help in return, I think it would really help young people who feel the need to accomplish something. All the best in your members endevours! |
| gerry mac - 23 Feb 2008 12:13:39 |
| well lad glad to hear your safe and well.everyone keepin track of your progress good luck with the decision making,was chattin your da last night all very happy with your progress to date. |
| rdm - 22 Feb 2008 09:39:48 |
| Life
Ok here it is... check it out ........a one and a two and a three... wisdom is the key for all of you to be .....i cant convince you of what you dont want to believe... expections change the conditions of how you feel....excuses only satisfy those who use them.....hemp is not pot....age is a number and a thing of mind over matter if you dont mind it dont matter,,,,,teach the people how to get along with one another cuz we already know how not to......you can change how you feel but you cant change what you feel......if you think you can or cant your right.....I am lost, I have gone out to look for myself, if I should return before I get back, please ask me to wait.....smile.....Marriage is the number one cause of divorce...keep it radical...sk8boarding is not a crime.....if you dont have nothing nice to say dont say anything at all....... give,give, give,- never take...be thankful for what you have some people dont even have that...help others selfishly,,,, give to those who dont have.....help one another we are all we have....learn to love and forget how to hate......live love and laugh thats what its all about.....smile smile smile... |
| Neil Teng,kuching,E.malaysia - 21 Feb 2008 11:44:22 |
| one small step for him but one giant leap for humanity.my hope and wishes for him to walk round the world and teach all capitalist the other side of life.what god have given to you is really amazing. keep on walking. idios. |
| ivan singapore - 19 Feb 2008 03:49:19 |
| i have the same thought like saoirse. can people around the world give me inspiration if it si possible for me to contribute or give it a try despite or my obstacle of flyiny there and start with him . i can exchange my massage skill in healing touch work that i can do along the journey contributing in shoulder head or foot massage and neck . please advice the singapore flying therapist angel ivan if it is possible in the will of life i join him in this walk the talk of life my email is dolphinecare@yahoo.com.sg singapore handphone is country code is 65 my hp 96704852 ivan i am 44 want to do some adventure challenging for change to happen in my life ..... plase advise me ..... i am in singapore . ilive in limited society which is not easy to express my artisitic massage chair angel therapy ........ i use to work in the sea side rest doing clothe on chair back massage by the sea wave now this possiblilty of doing massage is not so possible easily in singapore
dolphinecare - ivan from singapore |
| Chan - 17 Feb 2008 01:34:15 |
| Protecting whats good |
| Joyful - 16 Feb 2008 19:38:11 |
| I have helped and been helped throughout this site. It is a great vision so thanks Saoirse for setting it up. Take care on your journey.
Respect Joy |
| Robert Howes - 15 Feb 2008 11:07:48 |
| Yes it is a brilliant idea to get rid of money, I’ve been saying the same thing for forty years or more, but it can’t be done by magic, or desire, or by a vow of poverty. Can it be done by walking to India? I’ll leave history to judge that one. I have my own way, and I’m willing to teach others what I know or debate with others on the best way forward. Here’s the challenge, I can almost guarantee no-one will contact me to take advantage of what I know and the help I can give them. Prove me wrong. robertcircle1@yahoo.co.uk
|
| GERRY MAC - 14 Feb 2008 14:39:18 |
| was talkin to your dad last night at football training all very proud of ye take care cub |
| GERRY MAC - 14 Feb 2008 14:36:53 |
| was talkin to your dad last night at football training all very proud of ye take care cub |
| stephen - 14 Feb 2008 13:50:36 |
| well lad, the word is spreading fast and wide, sick of looking at you in the papers! glad to hear all going well...keep her lit... |
| william-newton - 13 Feb 2008 19:47:00 |
| step by step thats what life is all about , go in a strait line and you can go anywhere, stay on point. dont get side tracked or fall off the trail, life is full of side track. wish i was walking with you. |
| Michael Begley - 13 Feb 2008 19:29:28 |
| fair play to ya ozzie , best of luck with the rest of the journey. |
| Lillian - 12 Feb 2008 00:43:36 |
| I noticed someone posted a YouTube music video and thought I’d do the same. It’s called "What about me?" by a monk named Mipham. Brilliant really.
object removed "Only a life lived for others is worthwhile." -- Einstein "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." -- Ghandi Many blessings to you all. |
| Lillian - 12 Feb 2008 00:39:02 |
| I’m inspired beyond belief - and, honestly, it couldn’t have come at a better time. Many things in life come too easily for me, and I wound easily. I came home feeling overwhelmed by myself. After checking my e-mail, I found a link to this site (thanks to the Daily Good newsletter from charityfocus.org). I am so thankful that humanity is making progress to be more humane. Thank you and many blessings to you - all of you, on whatever journey(s) you pursue. |
| David Downey - 09 Feb 2008 13:40:06 |
| Yes ozzy. Heard ya on the radio there. Sounded good. Theres great interest in your travels here so keep up the good work. Gaa dinner dance tonight. I’m guessin you wont be there!!! I’ll have an auld chat to ur dad. Take her easy boss and keep her country!! |
| GERRY MAC - 09 Feb 2008 11:33:05 |
| well cub just heard ye on the radio there with paddy clancy,fair play safe walkin lad take care. |
| fool - 08 Feb 2008 19:19:21 |
| i have just recieved a wicked 2 minute you tube video from karma tube and im attempting to post it here.
its called tree and it sums up what "be the change" is all about but even more importantly i want to be something you see saoirse, especially on the days when you need encouragement on your journey, because you are the small boy in this video if the embedded link doesnt work, then copy and paste this link video removed enjoy object removed |
| Patrick travers - 08 Feb 2008 10:58:49 |
| Hey Kid, Glad to hear you’re keeping well, hope the blisters clear up.. will be keeping track of your journey, lots of love and respect.. you will be in our hearts and prayers.
Paddy |
| fool - 07 Feb 2008 00:52:02 |
| what an amazing week I’ve had and its all as a direct result of Saoirse setting off on his journey
the day after he left I had my own eureeka moment when "i got it" the giving is recieving message he talks about, and I made a decision to follow his example and dedicate each day to living the philosophy of "how can I help you?" since then I have not only become more human and considerate, by doing the little things like picking up bits of litter in the street but I’m having loads of fun by going that one step further and I feel so connected and in rhythm with life that its unreal the other day when asked to give directions to a driver who was lost I offered to get in the car and take the journey with them to make sure they got where they wanted to go. they accepted my offer and couldnt thank me enough for doing so, while I was madly thanking them for giving me the "opportunity to give". I’d have never risked offering in the past for fear of what they would think of me, but because I was solely concerned with offering regardless of their response it was easy to do and I loved doing it. since then I’ve also seen a look of surprise turn to utter bewilderment, then to amazement and unbridled joy on the face of the bloke who stopped me to ask if he could buy a cigarette off me. I said sorry I don’t smoke and walked off, but 30 seconds later i thought "hmmm how can I help him?" so I walked back, into the shop he was stood outside of and bought some rolling tobacco and rizzlas. when I gave it to him he looked a bit surprised, but you should have seen the look when he realised i was giving him the whole packet. money couldn’t buy that look or how I felt then today when someone else asked for me for some change I gave them some and then I offered for them to come back to my place where I’d make them some soup and a cup of tea. they turned me down, but not without expressly thanking me because "nobody had ever offered them that before" I tell you living like this is amazing critic mask : "oooooh, get you, mister look how wonderful I am, using beggars and the homeless to get his kicks and then reporting it to the freeconomy community to look like the hero" fool : "fair enough, if thats what you think, but I know that’s not why I’m doing it. I’m doing it as a thank you to saoirse, to prove that giving is recieving and because I really do want to help but yes I’ll admit it, also because it feels great, however, isn’t that what freeconomy is all about" ;0) thank you saoirse and keep up the great work |
| Ana - 06 Feb 2008 11:37:58 |
| Caminate son tus huellas Walker, your footsteps are
el camino y nada mas. the path and nothing more. Caminante, no hay camino, Walker, there is not path, se hace el camino al andar. the path is made by walking. Al andar se hace el camino Walking you make the path y al volver la vista atras, and turning to look behind se ve el camino que nunca you see the path you never se ha de volver a pisar. again will step upon. Caminante no hay camino Walker, there is no path sino estelas en el mar. only foam trails on the sea. Antonio Machado Thanks Walker, you’re inspiring so much goodness! |
| Rorschach Rothchild - 05 Feb 2008 19:12:15 |
| Hey Saoirse, am glad people are keepin’ track of you ...too bad you aint walking my way yet ...i.e. passin’ by Malaysia! hehe... cheers! |
| TIINKU(Dubai,U.A.E) - 05 Feb 2008 15:30:35 |
| hi saoirse,
glad to see your latest marking on the map and i am relieved to know that you are fine and in good spirit. waiting to receive your latest blog.god bless you all the time. lots of love tiinku Dubai (United Arab Emirates) |
| the_lady_ragz - 04 Feb 2008 15:02:52 |
| May the road rise to meet you and the wind be at your back, oh and keep your feet dry and your shoulders warm. |
| Senti - 04 Feb 2008 06:25:57 |
| Mate, All the best on your amazing journey. I know you are not coming as far as Australia. But if you do, you know that you ve got what Gandhiji said the basic needs of a man, khana/kapda/makaan.. i.e. Food/Cloths/Place to Stay..
Senti. sensar@hotmail.com |
| Freeconomists worldwide - 03 Feb 2008 21:15:18 |
| To the HM Inland Revenue (as if), you can’t tax kindness! |
| HM Inland Revenue - 02 Feb 2008 17:31:41 |
| You have missed your tax deadline - please could you explain where you are and what you are doing
|
| Pedja - 02 Feb 2008 14:30:40 |
| There is more to life than increasing it’s speed.
Gandhi |
| Pedja - 02 Feb 2008 14:28:55 |
| Everything ever created or accomplished by mankind started just as a thought |
| Pedja - 02 Feb 2008 14:26:49 |
| "The source of all wealth is giving".
Budha |
| Richard - 02 Feb 2008 10:22:43 |
| I met him on 31st January 4pm at Higher Odcombe, asking the way to Tinkers Bubble. We had a chat about Yeovil Town Football Team. My neighbour Harold joined us and took him in for a cup of tea. Hope you’re feet aren’t getting cold in this weather! |
| Tiinku(Dubai,U.A.E) - 02 Feb 2008 05:58:12 |
| Dear Saoirse,
hope you are safe. i understand,you mast be going through some places where there is no internet access,but the moment you get a chance pls let all of us abt you.we all are worried abt u. as an an Indian i know what Mahatma Gandhi has done for us, and i feel very proud of him that i’m an Indian too.but your vision,your dedication,your strength is not less than any of those great mentor.now in 21st century when people don’t even have time to think abt their own people,everyone is only running to earn money ,but on the contrary at this young age you have taken a path which is beyond of all,which is so pure,so spiritual,so true.you have touched my heart like anything.though i’m in my house,but every moment just thinking abt you,how your path will be! i know it will not be always smooth,you may have to face some difficulties,i pray to all mighty to support you on your journey.though physically i have not taken any part but by heart me and my kids are with you.there are very few people on earth who dedicated everything for others.you are one of them.one day Lord Buddha left his palace and all humanly pleasure to get inner peace and today after seeing your journey i can only think abt that great mentor Lord Buddha.anxiously waiting to know abt you.god bless u. may god gives you all strength and may your journey be smooth. rgds, tiinku (Dubai,United Arab Emirates) |
| ...... - 01 Feb 2008 19:07:09 |
| where ever you are,i hope you are safe and fine.whenever you can get an access pls let us know that you are fine.some times people are so restless that if they don’t get any update information they feel as if they will loose interests abt you and your blog,i understand this ,as we all are very normal people,but we must understand that you are above all normal people and that’s why you have so much patience to go out of your way to spread humanity.my request to all the readers;pls have patience and show respect to his journey.pls don’t just seat and think that why he is not responding?rather have patience and show your generosity to him and just pray for his safety .this blog is certainly not a joke. |
| steve in denmark - 01 Feb 2008 17:06:22 |
| It would be nice to know where you are and how the travelling is going. Who you have met, how you have overcome difficulties.
If you do not keep in touch with your well wishers I think your site could sadly soon become redundant. |
| avocadosun - 01 Feb 2008 13:41:45 |
| i wrote this to you on the eve of your departure. i would have given it to you, along with my rangzen bracelet which i wear, a tibetan symbol of freedom and peace, but it didn’t seem appropriate as you prepared to leave to give you anything, you had everything you needed in your heart. now though, i’d like to write it down here, just to tell you how you have made me feel, how my world changed a little bit on wednesday too.
pardon the disjpointedness of it. the sentences don’t flow, they stand alone, but each of them has truth. dear saorise, i’d like to give you my wishes for the journey that lies in front of you, and say these things. i hope that you find hope and love, joy and compassion in the hearts of those you meet. i want to say thank you for stoking the fires of inspiration within me, bringing my dreams closer, and giving them new meaning. i almost cry at the thought of you, your love, and this rich symbollic, spiritual, long journey. the thoughts which you inspire are so pure, so dlicate, so close to the heart of my soul that i can do nothing but be shaken, shaken into a higher consciousness. the little i have got to know of you has made me feel very warm towards you. and for the values and the ideals which you wish to dedicate your life to, i love you. i do not believe that your journey is anything less than magical. and i don’t believe that the message and vision of life which you and others wish to impart is anythingother than pure and true, intoxicating and realistic. to dream dreams that come from the soul and realise them in an imperfect world is not always easy. you have touched my heart in a way that i believe you can touch many, as we all can. the whisper of change is in the communication. thank you for reminding me of the importance of my own dream; to take a journey of my own to India and Tibet, through worlds so often depicted as so foreign but where i am sure people love just like me. i’m not ready for my journey yet, and the i have not discovered the true nature of the dream, but more real each day it will become. i hope that you discover beauty, inspire peace and love, find connections with many who appear different, and are treated well by all. i hope to be a part of a world that we have helped to create. i dream of this world. i will follow you and your journey. with love, your new friend, Dan |
| Mike - 01 Feb 2008 13:34:48 |
| If you need a place to stay or food and drink + 31 650 860 464 |
| Michaela - 01 Feb 2008 09:46:56 |
| I really admire what you are doing and wish you all the best on your journey! Should you come through the Chelmsford area on your travels, there is a room, food and a computer for you to use!
|
| tiinku (Dubai,UAE) - 01 Feb 2008 09:17:03 |
| Hi Saoirse,
i really don’t know how appreciate your effort towards humanity.our blessings and feelings are will be always with you.once lord Buddha left his palace to find his inner peace today i can relate you to that great mentor.i have taken a small step towards the Freeconomy by trying to publicize what you have started ; i hope to promote what you are doing in any possible way,as i believe good thing should be shared and that’s what i’m trying to do by spreading the word of freeconomy.i’m not as brave and courageous as you are but i also still believe in humanity,but only didn’t know the way to express it the minds of the modern people. good luck and may god bless you in your every step.our heartfelt feelings are with you. |
| gary - 31 Jan 2008 22:40:45 |
| journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.Congratulations on taking that step. wish i had the dedication ,resilience and opportunity.
i would like to know about the visa situation from the blog. Best wishes gary (portsmouth) |
| Dora - 31 Jan 2008 20:38:27 |
| I just want to say i met with Saoirse in Ilchester at around 1pm. He told me about this homepage but i missed the password.He said to me to write in here so his mum wont worry that much.So this is for his mum.
He is fine and enjoying it very much, I gave him a bagel with veggie burger in it a banana and a big bottle of drink. He is amazing!!! |
| TIINKU - 31 Jan 2008 19:13:49 |
| Hi there,
Today morning when i opened the local news paper I read an article that filled my heart with optimism believing that there are still individuals who are willing to teach THIS world a thing that is essential for Humanity . I am glad to have been part of this and will always wish him all the best and all support from our side, a great deed is taking shape which will be fulfilled I am assured off. Best rgds, Mrs.Tiinku Ghosh |
| Dawn in Oman - 31 Jan 2008 17:28:12 |
| Congratulations on your depth of conviction. It is truly something to admire and support. As I have just noticed, the countries represented on this site has risen by one to sixty seven as I have registered, it is so clear that little by little, things can spread around the entire globe because good things dont stay a secret for long. May your god give you every ounce of help along your way, as it easy to join a bandwagon, but the hardest job to drive the train. PLEASE keep us all updated as often as you can! |
| Saravanan Sellathurai - 31 Jan 2008 15:00:47 |
| Faith in humanity never fails. The entire world keeps swinging around it. So, definitely there’s no doubt about reaching your mission. I wish I join your journey. Good luck. |
| gerry mac - 31 Jan 2008 13:38:58 |
| well cub glad to see your goin well so far,keep the faith and take care tried ringing ye the day before ye left but no luck thanks for the text at 410 in the morning keep her lit lad mac |
| jane yu - 31 Jan 2008 13:04:41 |
| your amazing idea makes me exciting.
All the best! We are always on your side, keep it up! |
| Tam - 31 Jan 2008 12:45:55 |
| I am deeply inspired and moved by the idea of this community and Saoirse’s journey to India! One thing though: I am trying to rss feed his blog but the feed isn’t valid. Can anyone working on the site make it a valid feed? So many thanks! I really want to follow the blog. xoTam |
| Phil. - 31 Jan 2008 10:01:21 |
| This reminds me of a book that I have read called ’No Destination’ by Satish
Kumar. He walked from India to America without any money. Quite a remarkable achievement. I sincerely hope that you have a successful journey and wish you all the luck in the world. |
| Paul - 31 Jan 2008 09:19:06 |
| Just read this by chance...amazing idea....God Bless and keep you well....contact me if you are passing through Romania, Constanta....we’ll be happy to put you up and give you a warm meal...
all the best!! |
| Vicky - 31 Jan 2008 08:41:36 |
| Hi, I just learned about your journey through reading a news item and then discovered this fantastic website!
I just wanted you to know that if you are planning on passing through Switzerland (near Zurich) on your amazing journey, there is a meal and a bed for you, as well as internet access to update your blog! Looking forward to reading more about your experiences - it must be incredibly liberating to get through life without money. Well, I hope it is encouraging to know that you have the support of strangers as well as friends and family.... GOOD LUCK !! |
| Deep - 31 Jan 2008 04:51:32 |
| I read about you from bbc new webpage. And from I came across your website. You have chosen a path less taken .. must have took you a lot of courage and determination. You are an inspiration.
Best of luck to you |
| Venkat - 31 Jan 2008 02:57:44 |
| I chanced upon your site while reading a news item. Indeed walking from UK to India with no money is a brave thing to do. I wish you all the best. I pray for your safe journey and hopefully you will have quite a lot to tell us all about it. I do look forward to it!!
Unfortunately we Indians have forgotten Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave. The Sarvodaya movement is dead in India. Hopefully your travels can revive interest. Again all the best to you, I will keep tracking your travels. |
| Nygel Rigby - 31 Jan 2008 00:08:33 |
| Truly great concept! Very well done! I hope this site, and sites like it, with similar "sharing and uniting" concepts flourish and spread throughout the world! This site gives me hope for mankind and the planet! |
| stevo - 30 Jan 2008 23:40:30 |
| well ozzie (forget saoirse, you’ll always be ozzie to me!), great to see things are going so well!!! feckin tried ringing you all day yesterday but either no answer or phone was off...wanted to wish ya the best of luck but i guess you know that already at this stage!! keep up the good work anyway, all the miles you put up in mundays field will not go to waste...keep in touch kid.. |
| Sher - 30 Jan 2008 22:51:09 |
| I came across your story throught an internet news page - it seemed to be the only good news of the day - and I signed up straight away! Whatever happens, having the courage to even attempt to acheive such a goal is to be admired and when those moments of weakness kick in remember it’s not just your family and friends behind you - when I signed up I think I was number 3003 so you’ve got quite a following already who will be wishing you well every step you make.
Enjoy! |
| Paula - 30 Jan 2008 21:42:19 |
| You very brave to follow this journey, but if this is what you mean from the bottom of your heart and soul, God will look upon you and help you every way and protect you. Have faith and know that people care & love you especially your dear family & friends. Though you don’t know me, but I wish you all the best in the whole world and someday I hope you can sit back and relax and say I’m so proud to have achieved all this. God bless and may he be with you every minute & second. Take care Mate. Paula x |
| maya - 30 Jan 2008 20:38:00 |
| amazing, the most authentic and true way of living your life. |
| Heidi - 30 Jan 2008 19:55:46 |
| This is THE most sensible thing I have ever read on the internet. LOVE IT! |
| Joban zacharias - 30 Jan 2008 18:19:09 |
| It’s thrilling !!! Good LUck !
May God bless You . thax |
| Joe Oldfield - 30 Jan 2008 17:29:33 |
| Best of Luck
I envy you and admire your courage. |
| eric the fool - 30 Jan 2008 17:26:55 |
| well done mate, you only left today and already you have 3 threads on the red issue message board
and im already regretting not joining you, but ill just carry on with the fun revolution you are the change ;0) |
| Rorschach Rothchild - 30 Jan 2008 17:15:05 |
| good luck mate !!!!
- 30th Jan 1948 - Gandhi gunned down by Godse! - 30th Jan 2008 - Your prilgrim that’s inspiring me to break my personal barriers and set myself free ... - 31st Jan 2008 - happens to be birthday!! hmmm |
| nick sweetman - 30 Jan 2008 17:00:47 |
| Great idea and philosophy all the best for your trip ahead ! |
| Clo - 30 Jan 2008 16:58:48 |
| This is amazing, i have never seen or heard anything like this and im amazed by what you are doing and trying to prove, 2 1/2 Years is a v long time!, i wish you luck on your journey and hope things go well, Specially Crossing the channel to france. I do hope people understand what you are trying to prove and help you on your way.. :) The best of luck to you x |
| Chaz - 30 Jan 2008 16:53:29 |
| Well done!!! Best of luck to you. My thoughts will be with you and I will be sending you distant reiki to help you on your way. Wish I could help more really. |
| Kelz - 30 Jan 2008 16:44:23 |
| Good on ya mate!!
I wish you all the best of luck and i have always wanted to do what you are doing!! But it takes someone like you who has the guts and self determination to actually go ahead with it. I am sure there is a small ounce of humanity left in this world somewhere today - if so - people help him when you see him, which will give us all some hope for the future!! Good Luck And Stay Safe xxxxxx |
| Eimear - 30 Jan 2008 16:43:39 |
| Go n’eirigh an t’ádh leat! (good luck) |
| Steve in Denmark - 30 Jan 2008 16:39:08 |
| I appreciate what you are trying to do but would be interested to know how you will update this site on a regular basis without funds. I am also interested to know if you bought your ferry ticket before Wednesday 30th which would be OK because you did not start the quest "Proper" until that date. |
| Damian - 30 Jan 2008 16:37:22 |
| Best of luck to you! ! ! |
| Filipa - 30 Jan 2008 13:42:13 |
| I wish you the best of luck. :) |
| fijau - 20 Jan 2008 08:38:23 |
| I had enough of rat race in my own life so I decided to set off on a hitchhiking journey to China, which has been my dream place for last several years. I had not much money and relied on help from others a lot. People didn’t disappoint me, so now I just KNOW that better future without money is possible! We indeed can coexist in love and harmony. Now I’m going to join you guys and see what I can do to help others :)
I wish you Saoirse all the best on your pilgrimage! I would join if I could :) |
| starlyte - 13 Jan 2008 23:51:36 |
| A pioneer in the making of great accomplishment for the better of our people. I am looking forward to see how we will all prosper by giving and helping one another.
Peace be with you my friend and good health. |
| aigiarm - 10 Jan 2008 14:01:44 |
| I chose to live like this a few years ago when I lived in a run-down part of the city I grew up in. I am a single mother and was experiencing health problems which prevented me from working at the time. Fortunately, my parents helped me out by paying my rent, etc.. Unfortunately, most of my neighbors were not very good people. There was a lot of drug abuse and violence in the neighborhood. I lent one neighbor my garden tools and never got them back. I would let other people’s kids play at my house for hours and seldom did anyone offer to watch my kids. However, I did become aware of child abuse that was happening in three of the local families and made reports to the authorities when I moved out. In retrospect, I am glad that I was able to help those children, but I am more cautious about getting to know my neighbors these days. |
| Becky - 04 Jan 2008 10:33:33 |
| It would be great if we could pipoint the location by entering our postcode rather than zooming with the map. Also, the home page and index crash my internet explorer so I can’t see my local members. Is there an address for the listing of local members by name / distance? |
| marg - 31 Dec 2007 12:24:42 |
| I have just joined the site and feel it is a step in the right direction for me to be able to express myself in this medium which I am not too familiar with. However I must give it a go as my resoloution is to move out of my comfort zone and extend the hand of friendship on a deeper level and even a more practical level to others that I wouldnt normally be in touch with. So heres to a bigger conncection for all of us having found this site and working with its ethos. For me a scottish person this is the eve of letting go of the past and letting in new beginnings which is itself very timely. So may I wish everyone an inspiring and fulfilling New Year love Marg xxxx |
| Pinar - 30 Dec 2007 18:46:57 |
| I had been feeling uneasy, restless, wanting to leave it all behind... I couldn’t quite get what it was that was bothering me until recently and more so when I stumbled across this site on a blog I frequent. I feel like I’ve come out of a cocoon, emerging into a different world looking at it from a very different perspective. I am ready, willing and able to do more for Earth and all it’s inhabitants be it human, animal or plant life.
This initiative is very noble and my faith in it’s success is strong. May this be the start to a new world for us all, it certainly is a start for me. I would also like to echo all the wonderful sentiments thus far. Love, Pinar |
| Minnaa - 28 Dec 2007 09:49:11 |
| Thank you for a brilliant thought,which has created a brilliant concept,which will create a brilliant reality,THANK YOU to all members for getting involved.Please Helen,focus on the bigger picture,why let a few words that have been used for how long?temporarily take your focus away,from the purpose of this site.Its an amazing site,Im sure you agree!!!!!!!!! |
| Saoirse - 21 Dec 2007 13:34:18 |
| I have made a point not post anything in here before as it’s for the community to say what they think about the community, both good and bad.
All I will say about the last few posts is that if you would like to debate certain issues, the forum is a great place to do so. If there is anything you want to mention to the team you can email feedback@justfortheloveofit.org. |
| clare - 21 Dec 2007 11:09:35 |
| This looks so great! But please, unless you’re happy to be called a Chairwoman when you’re a bloke, don’t go round bashing feminism! This kind of community runs on very different lines from the rest of the world, and the rest of the world has run, very successfully in terms of money and expansion, on patriarchy. That’s just the way it is, no need for any of us to get angry about it.
It’s not about ’wimmin’ hating anything a la Millie Tant, it’s about mindfulness. Anyway, Hoorah for Just for the Love of It, hoorah for all of us here. Best wishes Clare (Married. To a MAN!) |
| Remotehob - 20 Dec 2007 20:43:30 |
| I’ve just joined but I will leave if there are anymore time-wasting references to ’sexist’ tiltles like Chair’man’ etc. Let’s stop all this feminist rubbish and get on with helping each other. |
| Leguminosa - 20 Dec 2007 10:40:46 |
| great site! I remember finding other initiatives like this one in the internet, maybe a year ago, but there was not a chapter in my area. They worked with a "credit" system, so every skill/tool had a "virtual price" and if you offered 3 hours of "maths lessons" you got some credits that you could change for "hours of lawnmower rental".
Anyway, I wanted to post a link that came to me not long ago and that I think fits with the philosophy of this site: www(.)storyofstuff(.)com (remove parenthesis) It’s long... I know, but it’s worth it! Keep up the good work! |
| Sam - 19 Dec 2007 21:15:51 |
| Only been here 5 mins and really like it already! Its a fantastic idea.
Great words there Leanne :) |
| SFlint - 19 Dec 2007 16:52:34 |
| I was going to join this as it seemed like a great idea - until I read the testimonial from \"helenthevicar\" regarding \"sexist\" language and references to cameraman etc. within the skills area - and that killed my interest dead. As a female I have been a Chairman of various groups for years - it’s just a word to describe a role, and surely anyone can see beyond that. Surely the world has moved beyond such kindergarden views about sexism - yes, address true evidence of sexism but lets set the horizon beyond simply (& innocent) longstanding nouns - being a chairman might defin my role but it doesn’t describe or restrict me. |
| helenthevicar - 09 Dec 2007 21:46:22 |
| hi,
what a fab idea, well done! i’d really like to see one thing resolved tho - the skills section contains *many* sexist references - ’repairman’, ’cameraman’, etc. how about ’repairperson’, ’cameraperson’? let’s get the language changed! as long as sexism is contained in language, it will thrive and that is not good for ANYONE. helen |
| leanne - 06 Dec 2007 09:10:52 |
| For the love if it.
Things are going to get easier, Things are going to be fine. Keep an eye on the aims, the long view, The big picture- why i do this, what its all for, my dreams and hopes and plans and more. I do it because i like a challenge I do it because i care I do it for me, i do it for the community I do it for the experience I do it for the joy And the pain, after all, these are two sides of the same coin. I do it to make a difference, I do it because i know i can I do it because it’s important But i also know it’s really not in the general scheme of things (or is it?) I do it because i’m guided The universe moves through me Every step is one i take willingly, and if i pay attention I’m generally shown which way to go. I do it because i’m needed, but also trying to show that actually i’m not I’m a facilitator, a co-ordinator A mover and a shaker on a small scale In my own way, each and every day. The universe conspires to help those who help themselves and if you manage to lend a hand to others too, Then good for you, you can be sure you are greatly appreciated- a blessing on you. Some people have ideas Some can do the legwork Some are good at paperwork others are decorative Some can sing, some can dance. But we all know, given half a chance, We can do something great We can make a difference, we can help ourselves and those around us To be the best we can. I do it for the love of it. |
| eric - 28 Nov 2007 23:56:12 |
| this site is such an inspiration. now it really is possible to start creating wonderful social and community projects regardless of "funding" issues.
we can now create the world we want, all thats needed is the vision of the way we want it to be. get in there ;0) eric the great fool |
| inez - 27 Nov 2007 14:28:42 |
| Hi Mark,
You are such an inspiration. This site is so positive and just what is needed to remind us of what really matters: friendship, community, trust, love. All the stuff money can’t buy. Thanks so much. Inez |
| ralph - 26 Nov 2007 01:43:47 |
| i hitched for the first time last night, it was very liberating... do you think a hitching/car pool could be added? it would be amazing if this site could pull together strands from all the good stuff on the internet thats all split up at the minute. |
| Donnadoop - 22 Nov 2007 23:33:52 |
| This is a step forward/upward from FreeCycle, if we can all come together as a comunity and help eachother out then the rewards will be unlimited, you can meet people, help people, be helped. Have you had a service yet? or given a service? I recently ’gave’ a service ’Justfortheloveofit, and BOY did I feel good!!?? I gave my time and service to a charity and the reward to me was fantastic - I helped change the lives of people in my own small way! you just need to let yourself go and do what you do for the love of it - the feeling of being an important part of whatever you do and just becaus you can, is what you do it for!!!
PS....Im shy about asking for help |
| bellabelle61 - 20 Nov 2007 20:41:10 |
| Blimey I’m a charity fundraiser - stumbled across this site, reading your ehtics on here and not sure if you will accept someone who makes a living from fleecing people for a good cause :-) |
| Trác - 18 Nov 2007 21:13:47 |
| Here for: Education and the sharing of objects, concepts and ideas
I am a native English speaker, interested in learning Spanish. I don’t know any other languages but I am articulate and appreciate intellectual discussion. |
| raj - 13 Nov 2007 17:26:55 |
| somebody gave me a free curry last night at the bus stop |
| billythekid - 13 Nov 2007 12:09:36 |
| I really hope this catches on. I’m all for tax-free working. People have too much emphasis on cold hard ca$h these days, it’s nice to share the love.
Get your friends to sign up now!!!! |
| L0vEarTh - 03 Nov 2007 01:10:34 |
| Freeconomy--finally something beautiful
a lifestyle that will truly help the environment a life of peace and serenity a community dedicated to its cause a leader that was born to do this something i know will prosper and i will never leave ..:Love and Peace:.. ...:LovEarTh:.. |
| Eric - 30 Oct 2007 15:59:10 |
| Get in there
Awesome What else can i say ;0) |
| Victoria - 13 Oct 2007 08:42:12 |
| I have no doubt this will work. I got back from a trip not long ago, where complete strangers invited me into their homes along the route and shared what they had with me. There are a lot of people out there who think the same way. Just centre yourself between the sky and the earth. |
| MARIAN - 09 Oct 2007 12:14:25 |
| SO PROUD OF YOU I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT |
| rmship - 04 Oct 2007 17:40:55 |
| I’m in, seems to be what I’m missing. My inner feelings are alive as I ponder this site, possibilities as well...
Bob S. |
| Elisabeth - 02 Oct 2007 11:35:13 |
| Socialism meets the angels meets activism meets love! I know this will work! |
| shaz - 30 Sep 2007 14:58:32 |
|
the angels are proud of you, well done lad for taking the helm ! freida mai x |
| kat - 28 Sep 2007 17:17:36 |
| Power to the people!
Fantastic concept - one we all dream about but rarely instigate in such an accessible way and on a world wide level. Incredible site, incredible people and incredibly inspirational. Congratulations sir for doing something and every single member for being part! Together we are strong and will change the world. Much love |
| Rob - 28 Sep 2007 12:14:16 |
| The underlying idea of encouraging local communities is exactly what the UK and developing countries need. I love the idea of getting together and sharing skills and agree with most of the stuff said on the website.
But are you sure that the idea of getting rid of all money is truly the way for the entire world to live in harmony. You are suggesting a socialist regime all over the world... but as we have seen from history this has so far not worked. Look more at the current government in the UK. They accept that capitalist counties are the most developed countries on earth. They are using this idea to develop but still trying to keep at the heart of what they do, a socialist view: all basic needs provided free or at minimal charge. Public health - NHS whatever state it is in is still free, your water that comes out of your tap is of good quality and not overly expensive. etc By having money it makes people work harder, means they are more driven and do not become lazy, it allows people with skills to excel, and so on. I agree - let’s rebuild our communities, tackle the issues of climate change locally and globally, campaign for equal rights, address the UN Millennium Development goals and actively see to try and solve them. Use our consumer power to change the way things are done. |
| kevin dennis - 27 Sep 2007 16:09:33 |
| May the road rise up to meet you
May the hand of a friend always be near you. May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks, may your heart be as light as a song |
| Claire - 25 Sep 2007 17:09:37 |
| Looking forward to seeing your real life examples of the ways stangers help one another out. I’ve no doubt that this website will enable the philosophy to spread. All the best! |
| Norman Thomas di Giovanni - 23 Sep 2007 15:15:09 |
| You have rescued the pure and beautiful concept of pure communism or call it anarchism or mutual aid from the dustbin of history. More power to you, more power of this kind to us all. Heartfelt best wishes. |
| Ahkasheia - 20 Sep 2007 20:14:51 |
| shine on brother...* |
| Laura - 19 Sep 2007 23:28:11 |
| Amazing project! I don’t want to call it an idea because I want to see it in action! Have just spent a long time (enough for two teas!) emailing everyone I know to come on board! I would have spoken to people too but it’s a bit late for some :-)! x |
| GERRY MAC - 19 Sep 2007 11:07:34 |
| GOOD LAD OZZIE KEEP HER LIT |
| Raf - 18 Sep 2007 22:09:58 |
| . "Don Quixote’s misfortune is not his imagination, but Sancho Panza" - Franz Kafka
. "Life is what happens while you are making other plans" - John Lennon |
| Rapsu - 17 Sep 2007 15:27:41 |
| Awesome idea, the web site is looking wicked! Finland says KIITOS and will spread the word! |
| Emma - 28 Aug 2007 22:28:22 |
| Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant - can’t wait to see this take off. Will spread it round the Freecycle network (when ready) and Transition etc.
Em x |