degrowth
Degrowth (French: décroissance) is a political, economic, and social movement based on ecological economics, anti-consumerist and anti-capitalist ideas. It is also considered an essential economic strategy responding to the limits-to-growth dilemma (see The Path to Degrowth in Overdeveloped Countries and post-growth). Degrowth thinkers and activists advocate for the *downscaling of production and consumption – the contraction of economies – arguing that overconsumption lies at the root of long term environmental issues and social inequalities. Key to the concept of degrowth is that reducing consumption does not require individual martyring or a decrease in well-being. Rather, “degrowthers” aim to maximize happiness and well-being through non-consumptive means—sharing work, consuming less, while devoting **more time to art, music, family, nature, culture and community.
*great.. but if that is our focus.. won’t get there.. rather.. focus on *art (ittingness)
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adding page this day
via michel fb share
“Degrowth, by contrast, would involve embracing what has been termed the “simpler way” – producing and consuming less.
This would be a way of life based on modest material and energy needs but nevertheless rich in other dimensions – a life of frugal abundance. It is about creating an economy based on sufficiency, knowing how much is enough to live well, and discovering that enough is plenty.
The lifestyle implications of degrowth and sufficiency are far more radical than the “light green” forms of sustainable consumption that are widely discussed today. Turning off the lights, taking shorter showers, and recycling are all necessary parts of what sustainability will require of us, but these measures are far from enough.
But this does not mean we must live a life of painful sacrifice. Most of our basic needs can be met in quite simple and low-impact ways, while maintaining a high quality of life.”
https://theconversation.com/life-in-a-degrowth-economy-and-why-you-might-actually-enjoy-it-32224
article from oct 2014 – Life in a ‘degrowth’ economy, and why you might actually enjoy it
This realisation has given rise to calls for economic “degrowth”. To be distinguished from recession, degrowth means a phase of planned and equitable economic contraction in the richest nations, eventually reaching a steady state that operates within Earth’s biophysical limits.
Everyone knows that we could produce and consume more efficiently than we do today. The problem is that efficiency without sufficiency is lost.
the problem is we are all like whales in sea world.. and have no idea what sufficiency (enough ness) is.. have no idea what we really need/want
Despite decades of extraordinary technological advancement and huge efficiency improvements, the energy and resource demands of the global economy are still increasing. *This is because within a growth-orientated economy, efficiency gains tend to be reinvested in more consumption and more growth, rather than in reducing impact..t
rather *this is because we have not yet been quiet enough to hear/see what our basic needs are.. the busy ness.. for the sake of efficiency.. is keeping us from us
mufleh humanity law: we have seen advances in every aspect of our lives except our humanity– Luma Mufleh
This is the defining, critical flaw in growth economics: the false assumption that all economies across the globe can continue growing while radically reducing environmental impact to a sustainable level.
the critical flaw is thinking we have to measure/account for things
ie: undisturbed ecosystem.. ‘in undisturbed ecosystems ..the average individual, species, or population, left to its own devices, behaves in ways that serve and stabilize the whole..’ –Dana Meadows
what we need most is the energy of 8b alive people
Tinkering around the edges of capitalism will not cut it.. We need an alternative..
Enough for everyone, forever
rather.. let’s focus on equity (everyone getting a go everyday) .. rather than things/resources
Degrowth would liberate us from the burden of pursuing material excess. We simply don’t need so much stuff – certainly not if it comes at the cost of planetary health, social justice, and personal well-being. Consumerism is a gross failure of imagination, a debilitating addiction that degrades nature and doesn’t even satisfy the universal human craving for meaning.
meaning..? i don’t know.. perhaps fittingness.. would make us more free
This would be a way of life based on modest material and energy needs but nevertheless rich in other dimensions – a life of frugal abundance. It is about creating an economy based on sufficiency, knowing how much is enough to live well, and discovering that enough is plenty.. Turning off the lights, taking shorter showers, and recycling are all necessary parts of what sustainability will require of us, but these measures are far from enough.
focus is still on things.. when it needs to be on the energy of 8b alive people
ie: don’t focus on how much is enough to live on.. focus on daily curiosity ie: cure ios city
Through forms of direct or participatory democracy we would organise our economies to ensure that everyone’s basic needs are met, and then redirect our energies away from economic expansion. This would be a relatively low-energy mode of living that ran primarily on renewable energy systems.
let’s org via 8b daily curiosities (detox embed).. to first ensure we know what our basic needs are.. ie: curiosity over decision making
first and foremost, the revolution that is needed is a revolution in consciousness.
which begs we let go of money (any form of measuring/accounting)
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“Growth” is capitalism’s PR campaign. It takes what is primarily a process of extraction and accumulation and peddles it as something natural and good—a framing so effective that few people ever even think to question it.
Original Tweet: https://twitter.com/jasonhickel/status/1310129388655124482
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jason hickel et al
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