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At the Trilogue – a meeting of EU parliamentarians, academics, civil society, the arts and independent organizations – a debate that took place within the discussion of re-thinking growth/development was that of “Moving Beyond GDP” as a measure for social and economic progress.
“We are not throwing out GDP,” said Jerome C Glenn, Executive Director of the Millennium Project in Washington. “It is only recently that governments are beginning to think about it and so it is important to have this discussion.”
In many arguments on moving Beyond GDP, it has been seen as creating a false image of progress, or excluding the social wellbeing of a nation.  What it did do, however, was show that if a country produced, consumed, and wasted more – irrespective of its implications on the environment and social wellbeing – its GDP went up.
Sadly this was, or still is, considered progress by many Economists and governments.  It has now been established – at least amongst some economic movements and circles in Europe – that it is a very flawed indicator. 
 Read Blog notes.

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Take for example a lovely segment broadcast on NPR’s Morning Edition on September 2nd all about the joys of canning locally grown fruits and vegetables.  As Linda Wertheimer describes the various recipes and treats, and you hear the sounds of canning in the background, it’s all quite delicious!  A treat for all our senses.

In a GNH world, I imagine policies — government, community-based, and within a family — that would support the teaching of growing and preserving our own food.  I know I’m trying to learn, bit by bit, but still find canning intimidating.  Perhaps we should start teaching this in elementary school?

Anyway, for your listening pleasure, here’s the NPR link:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129402166

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Vermont will have an index that will measure the overall happiness of its citizens on a statewide basis. Eventually the indicator should also be measureable at the municipal level as well as well as different economic levels.

Read the VSP Public Policy Position on a Vermont Happiness Index

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Hylton Murray-Philipson finds scientific research supporting 2,500 year old Buddhist belief that the best way to find personal happiness is through showing kindness to others. The search for happiness is intensifying. Faced with recurring financial and political problems, environmental degradation and climate change, an increasing number of people are questioning the direction in which the world is heading.
Although we are far richer than we were 50 years ago, are we any happier ? is personal isolation and the loss of community a price worth paying for the ever increasing amount of “stuff” in our lives ? is the pursuit of growth still feasible in the context of finite resources and an exploding population ?These, and other questions, are in the public domain as never before. 

The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World

His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler
Hodder & Stoughton, UK, 2009
ISBN 978 0 340 79440 1 

Read or Download article

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Read or download the entire Speech Transcript. Thanks to Neils Gudme from Visao Futuro in Brazil for forwarding these.

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“Dear Friends,

Sometimes ‘climate change’ can seem like an abstraction. That is, until you see it in action, as we have this summer in Pakistan, in the mountains of China, in Ladakh, and in the overheated peat bogs of central Russia.

This is all part of the reality we face in our current world of 392 ppm CO2. Our main work is to try and slow down the climate crisis before it gets worse–by getting to work on climate solutions that can get us back to 350.

But working to create a safe climate future doesn’t mean we don’t need to try and help the victims of the climate crisis along the way. When our comrades and colleagues issue a call for assistance, we do everything we can to respond.

The recent floods in Pakistan have displaced 20 million people, and nearly a fifth of the country is literally underwater.  The scale of the suffering is difficult to fathom–and though relief efforts are underway, reports from the ground indicate that the response has been far too small and slow to provide the level of relief needed.

That’s why we hope you’ll take a moment to send some money off to the relief agencies and local groups dealing with the recent climate disasters:

www.350.org/disasters

All of the countries recently devastated by the floods, mudslides, and heatwaves were hugely active in the International Day of Climate Action last October 24 (check out the photos below) and they’re all planning events for 10/10/10: the Global Work Party. It’s both tragic and inspiring to see the pictures of a fifth of Pakistan underwater–and in those same areas see amazing events registered 10/10/10.

In the face of a changing climate, we hope you’ll send some money to the victims of climate disasters–and that you’ll keep working in your community to build this movement.

Many thanks,

Bill McKibben for the 350.org Team”

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http://steadystate.org/wp-content/uploads/SteadyStater_vol3_iss3.pdf

http://steadystate.org/learn/blog/

Thanks to Eric Zencey for passing these along to us.

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