Mike and Claire Nickerson contributed this article in 2023 as part of their 7th Generation Initiative.
Summoning a new order
Would you like to see society aim directly for a healthy, secure humanity on a thriving planet?
Shifting from the present economic model of perpetual expansion to one that is in balance with the Earth requires vision.
Such vision is embodied in these four words: “More Fun, Less Stuff.”
Enjoying ourselves is a key to securing the future.
While this may seem an odd solution for today’s social and environmental issues, it makes sense in another way of thinking. The old way of thinking suggests solving our confrontation with planetary limits by cutting back on material consumption. The new thinking is to expand the fulfillment one gets from living to the point that one doesn’t have time for, or interest in, much material consumption. They both address overconsumption, one from a discouraging perspective, the other from an attractive one.
What is proposed here IS NOT meant to replace anything else you might be doing to address Climate Change or any other issue. What it can do is augment your efforts by advancing a cultural form where generations of fulfilling lives can be enjoyed on a vibrant planet.
Putting a Handle on Economic Change
By spreading the meme “More Fun, Less Stuff,” in addition to the obvious message, we can create a handle to draw into public view the issue of what we want from our economic system. Are we best served by aiming to maximize private wealth, or would we do better to use our economic creativity to secure humankind and the well-being of the living Earth?
The full introduction is at:
www.sustainwellbeing.net/Key.html
The task is to mention “More Fun, Less Stuff” when you communicate with people, particularly if they are concerned about the future. It makes people smile.
Legitimacy Orders Society
People want to be good and, without a lot of independent thought, that means following the conventional legitimacy. At present, this means earning and spending as much money as possible. The new legitimacy is to live lightly, get as much fulfillment from living as we can, and to manage the material world in ways that will serve the interests of the children and grandchildren.
There are many ways that you can help bring this shift in legitimacy about.
Most important is to share the meme through whatever connections you have. We provide the bumper stickers shown at the “ways you can help” link above, at no cost.
Design a Poster
If you are artistically inclined, perhaps you can come up with designs for graphic presentations of “More Fun, Less Stuff” that could be printed on regular paper for people to post where the adhesive-backed versions would be too permanent.
Volunteering
There are more communication possibilities than we can get to. If you’d be interested in lending some of your time to this effort, let us know.
Donating
We are happy to provide materials for free. That said, it is not always the same people who can spread ideas around who can afford to help pay for them. Financial contributions are always welcome.
Money raised is used for printing, postage and occasionally office supplies, to distribute the “More Fun, Less Stuff” materials as widely as possible.
We would also like to hire someone who is proficient at Social Media to expand the scope of this outreach process.
Hoping you will join us in establishing the new legitimacy.
Yours, Mike & Claire
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Much would improve:
– the economy,
– the environment and
– human relations.
If we loved what is plentiful
as much as what is scarce.
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7th Generation Initiative / Sustainability Project
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