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Iceberg Economics

There is a beautiful article in The Huffington Post today, by Rebecca Solnit.  I have to quote you a few lines from it:

The Iceberg Economy
Who wouldn’t agree that our society is capitalistic, based on competition and selfishness? As it happens, however, huge areas of our lives are also based on gift economies, barter, mutual aid, and giving without hope of return (principles that have little or nothing to do with competition, selfishness, or scarcity economics). Think of the relations between friends, between family members, the activities of volunteers or those who have chosen their vocation on principle rather than for profit. …What actually sustains life is far closer to home and more essential, even if deeper in the shadows, than market forces and much more interesting than selfishness…

We tend to think revolution has to mean a big in-the-streets, winner-take-all battle that culminates with regime change, but in the past half century it has far more often involved a trillion tiny acts of resistance that sometimes cumulatively change a society so much that the laws have no choice but to follow after.

When I started writing a post this morning, the phrase stuck in my head was: Christmas is so depressing, this compulsive consumerism while tipping points are passing by each day.  I didn’t want to write that, so I went and played in the garden in the rain instead.

And then I read this article, and the thought changed.

The wonder of Christmas, of all numinous moments, is totally built in the “iceberg economy.”  One of the “trillion tiny acts of resistance” is to refuse to allow it to be hijacked, and with such acts of resistance we can cumulatively change a society.

So have a wonder-filled Christmas.

Posted in Ethical

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6 Comments

  1. Julie

    I’m finding it hard not to feel a bit “bah-humbug” with all the silliness going on around me at the moment, so thank you for the link, it was very refreshing!

    All the best for the festive season, may 2011 be just as simple & productive for you and your family 🙂

  2. dixiebelle

    Thanks for linking Gavin to this, as I followed the link and am reading it now.

    I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, and warmest wishes into the New Year too, may it be filled with little acts of resistance… those little choices we make, that make a difference, and also happen to make us happy while we do them!

  3. Nerissa

    Linda,

    Seeing that you’re a green advocate I wanted to reach out and see if you were interested in an article that I recently have written. It’s on the Olympics and the steps they’re taking to go green and decrease the environmental impact that it has. While sports is something far from the topic of your blog, I think that you will find it interesting and informative, and not overwhelming on the sports content, besides a few facts on the last Olympics, it is primarily about the Olympics going Green.

    I’m looking to spread awareness of the fact that even though the Olympic Games are fantastic and unifying, they are it’s quite a carbon-rich event and are not that environmentally sound. I think you and your readers of (https://witcheskitchen.com.au/) will find it a unique topic and a fun read.

    Also if you’re not interested in posting my article, I would be interested in hearing about any advertising opportunities you may have at the current time. I look forward to hearing back from you!

    ———
    Nerissa Barry
    nerdbarry@gmail.com

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  5. Diana Eriksen

    Dear Linda ,You light up my life . Am so glad you have reappeared and that you are now doing self sufficiency small scale so that all of us town dwellers can relate to it. I agree entirely with your comments about the overindulgence and excess that the current Christmas hype encourages but my greatest regret is the excising of the real reason that Christmas has been celebrated for the last 2 thousand plus years. I am not overly religious but the story of a baby born in very impoverished circumstances that grew to be a gentle man who urged us to love and be kind one another. The last 2 Christmases have merely urged us to have a good time and spend spend spend.
    It soothes me to follow your wise words and hints to minimize waste and to enrich our gardens and lives and hopefully not leave an unviable mess for our children.

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