Description of Challenge
Our experience of “the economy” can be diverse but some experiences remind us that
issues such as exploitation, unfairness, or inequality exist in abundance. Looking at the
big, global picture, capitalism is rightly viewed as one of, if not the major cause of the
most pressing issues on the planet. Poverty and a whole host of environmental
problems as well as a lack of human rights all result in order to generate profit for a few
rather than the wellbeing of all.
“Innovative practices at the micro level can only be viable and structurally effective for
social change if they interweave with one another to form alwaysbroader collaborative
networks and solidarity chains of
productionfinancedistributionconsumptioneducationcommunication.”Marcos Arruda
Solution
We can also experience the economy at smaller scales
national, regional or local. And if we actually look at the etymological meaning of
economy, from its ancient Greek origin “oikos” and “nomos”, we find it means “house”
and “law or custom”. This leads us to an idea which roughly translates as “rules of the
house”.
We need an alternative vision of the economy based on people, whose wellbeing is the
main purpose. At the same time, such an economy must be respectful of nature, being
aware that the ecosystems and the services it provides for living creatures are limited.
We must bring ecology and economy together and begin the process of redefining
wealth.
References:
http://ripess.eu/
http://www.socioeco.org/index_en.html
http://reliess.org/?lang=en
Submitted by Altekio
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