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Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst
SCI Events
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Center for Popular Economics Workshop
The Sustainable Community Initiative will bring us a Saturday workshop
on economics sometime this spring (2008). Nan Wiergersma has arranged
for the Center for Popular Economics from UMass to offer a workshop at
UUSA on alternatives to global corporations. At the presentation by
Nan earlier this year on the ten principles for sustainable society,
it became apparent how little I (and I imagine others) understand
about the past and changing philosophies of global economics. I find
myself noticing remarks on the radio and television these days for
which I have a new appreciation or with which I now disagree, based
just on the short time talking with Nan. Global economics already
affects us all, and will certainly be a part of our children's and
grandchildren's lives.
Green Sanctuary Workshop on Sustainablity
A Discussion Course on Sustainability will be offered by the Green
Sanctuary Committee on four Sundays from 12:00 - 2:00 PM downstairs
in the Sanctuary: February 17, February 24, March 2, and
March 9, 2008.
A number of people have already signed up, but there are places
still available. If you are interested in registering for this
course, please sign up with Eve Posada during Social Hour this Sunday
or contact her by phone or at eposada (at) gis.net. The discussions
will be based on readings from the course book which costs $18 and we
need to order the books as soon as possible to allow for shipping time
and preparation for our first session. If you are planning to attend,
please make out the check to Eve Posada and mail it to the UUSA, P.O.
Box 502, 121 N. Pleasant St., Amherst, MA 01004-0502 or give it to
Eve Posada during Social Hour.
Congregational Conversation Nov. 18, 2007: Alternatives to Economic
Globalization, discussion led by Nan Wiegersma.
At the Congregational Conversation Nov. 18 after the morning service,
Nan described to the group the ten principles for sustainable societies
put forward by the International Forum on Globalization in the book
Alternatives to Economic Globalization. These principles could
also be labeled "anti-corporate globalization," or
"pro-global justice." If you missed this discussion, there
are still copies of the chapter detailing the principles on the table
at the back of the sanctuary.
Here is a brief description of each principle, to illustrate the wide
range of applications our work for sustainability might take. You will
notice, also, that there are overlapping (interdependent web-like) relationships between these principles. Some of these principles
describe changes that will be very difficult, if not impossible, to
bring about.
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Democracy - more than just the establishment of fair elections. Includes
the idea of local town meetings, where decisions are made by those who
will bear the consequences. Governments should serve the people and
communities, not global corporations. Accountability is central.
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Subsidiarity - what can be done locally should be done locally. The
reempowerment of local communities and economics.
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Ecological sustainability - reproducible resources, biological diversity,
restore ecologically good practices by creating the appropriate balance
between politics and economics, eliminate mega-agricultural corporations.
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Defend the commons - keep life's basic necessities (water, air, forests)
out of the private sector, require accountability of any private
ownership that does occur.
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Maintain diversity - healthy and interesting society includes cultural
and social diversity as well as biological diversity. Global
corporations are unhealthy as they promote homogenization for their own
economic gain. Diversity is key to the vitality, resilience, and
innovative capacity of any living system.
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Human rights - political and civil rights, as well as the right to
basic needs and sustenance and health care. Diversity and human rights
can sometimes be in conflict - human rights trumps diversity.
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Maintain a livlihood for everyone - fire the military and build schools
instead (for example...)
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Food security - corporate control of food and seeds threatens life on
earth. More limits on the World Trade Organization. More local
decision making. Self-reliance, such as community supported
agriculture.
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Equity - reduce the gap between the rich and the poor. Cancel the
International Monetary Fund and Third World Debt.
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Precautionary principle - wait till new technology and products are
proven safe before they are used. Think ahead to foresee negative
potentials. These decisions should not be made for military or market
considerations.
by Alison Wohler