Attempt to make ethical life choices, by attempting to enact the 5.10.5.10 goals of Australian group, FairShareInternational:
5: reject greed
Redistributing my personal wealth by giving away at least 5% of my gross annual income
10: tread lightly
Reducing my use of water, energy and minerals by at least 10%, based on the national average per capita consumption. [this is 10% per year until you can go no further]
5: connect with (the bright side of) community
Building community through contributing at least 5% of my leisure time in direct, face to face assistance to people who could use my help or with others in my neighbourhood who are tackling social or environmental challenges.
10: build up democracy
Taking significant democratic action at least ten times a year to correct practices associated with greed and injustice that hurt people and the environment.
5 responses so far ↓
1 Chris // Apr 14, 2007 at 8:44 pm
Bryan why is build up democracy seen as being so important. I look at some of so called greatest democracies and have to question their self belief that they are so right? What do you think?
2 admin // Apr 16, 2007 at 2:59 pm
I believe that every form of governance can be used for public good just as it can be used for private gain. Building up democracy for me is important because it is in a democracy that I live. Within this democracy we each are given what some believe are opportunities and some others believe are obligations: to influence the balance between public good and private gain that emerges from it. The cliche that the people get the government that they deserve I think arises from observation that people often complain about what happens to them as a result of the democratic governance which follows from their own complacency. So, I think it is not so much about whether it is ‘right’ that we have a democracy, but whether we are obliged to sculpt our democracy as best we can to ensure that it is just.
3 admin // Apr 23, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Yes I agree with your point getting the government we deserve simply because of our inaction this is often reduced to the lowest common denominator.
I think my problem with democracy is that it can be a very weak expression of community. It seems to me that in its current forms democracy is insistent on one’s individual rights to the neglect of one’s community. I guess if we removed the apathy then the advantages of democracy become more obvious.
Perhaps the 4th point should be contribute to community. This is not in intended as a criticism of the ideals mentioned but rather as a way of contributing to the conversation
Chris
4 Catherine // Jan 26, 2009 at 12:08 am
Bryan, I stumbled across your blog while pursuing my NY resolution to reconnect with old friends; I think we might be one of those friendships that just drifted when you and your partner moved State. Does “green tree snake” evoke memories of classes teaching the identification of insects? Do you remember a student who worked for a chemical company who was trying to convince the global organisation to introduce a less environmentally offensive form of termite control. If so, I was that student. Would love to know if you are the same Bryan. I’m living OS now; it makes you realise just how important friendships are….hence the resolution. I’m trying to keep it. Not exactly the subject of your blog but somehow related – connectivity.
5 admin // Jan 29, 2009 at 7:53 am
Hi Catherine
Of course I remember you and your hopes for CG, and your hopes to live some place in … Belgium (?) and your great house with all the wood…
Would enjoy hearing of your adventures of the last 15 (!) years..
bryan.west@bryan-west.com
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