Monday, 08 May 2017 20:00

Thriving communities & the solidarity economy

A green economy is not an end in itself. Rather, […] it is a means towards a shared and lasting prosperity. But what exactly does prosperity mean? We propose a definition of prosperity in terms of the capabilities that people have to flourish on a finite planet. It is clear that a part of our prosperity depends on material goods and services. Living well clearly means achieving basic levels of material security. But prosperity also has important social and psychological components. Our ability to participate in the life of society is vital. Meaningful employment, satisfying leisure, and a healthy environment also matter. […] Thriving communities are the basis of shared prosperity. — Tim Jackson and Peter A. Victor (2013: 6)

In 2009, Professor Tim Jackson catalysed a step-change in the conversation about the ‘growth imperative’ that is structurally built into our economic system. In a report for the UK Sustainable Development Commission, Jackson dared to name the elephant in the room by asking whether “prosperity without growth” was a possibility, stating clearly why ‘business as usual’ was no longer an option (Jackson, 2009a).

[This is an excerpt of a subchapter from Designing Regenerative Cultures, published by Triarchy Press, 2016.]

The report showed that while the global economy has more than doubled in size in the last 25 years, it has severely degraded more than 60% of the world’s ecosystems without delivering a more equitable sharing of wealth. To the contrary, inequality has grown both within and between nations. We live in a world with 5 billion poor and the bottom fifth of the world’s population have to make do with just 2% of global income. According to a Credit Suisse report, the richest 1% of people now own more than half of the world’s financial wealth (Treanor, 2014). This extreme inequality drives a series of devastating chain reactions, affecting health, community cohesion, national and international security, and the environment.

[Full Article]

Featured Events

clean-up.PNG05 Apr 2025
08:00AM - 12:00PM
Spring Clean Up
nightAtTheRaces.PNG06 Apr 2025
04:00PM - 08:00PM
Night At The Races
easter egg hunt.jpg19 Apr 2025
11:00AM -
MUMC's annual community Easter egg hunt
bingo.PNG27 Apr 2025
01:00PM -
Bingo Fundraiser
01 May 2025
Rotary Scholarship Accepting Applications & Essays DEADLINE
fire-co-sportsmans-raffle-2024.jpg25 May 2025
04:00PM - 05:00PM
Sportsman's Raffle (Fire Co)
05 Jun 2025
Citizen of the Year DEADLINE
summer craft fair.PNG14 Jun 2025
10:00AM - 03:00PM
Summer Craft Fair
ConcertInThePark.PNG01 Jul 2025
04:30PM - 08:30PM
Concert In The Park
annualGolfTournament.PNG14 Sep 2025
12:00PM - 06:00PM
Annual Golf Tournament
halloween.PNG19 Oct 2025
02:30PM - 05:00PM
Barrett Township Halloween Parade
celebration.PNG05 Dec 2025
06:00PM -
Holiday Celebration & Tree Lighting

Social Media

 

Subscribe via Email

 

Facebook Groups
Disclaimer: We are not affiliated with any of these Facebook pages or groups

 

 

Flag of the United States DoS ECA Color Standard.svg

Flag of the United States DoS ECA Color Standard.svg

Flag of the United States DoS ECA Color Standard.svg

Flag of Pennsylvania.svg 0 min