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At 14:11 4/02/99 -0800, Dena Marchant <denam@fsr.com> wrote:
>I've really been enjoying this particular turn of the discussion.
>And would like to get some amplification, sub-discussion going on
>one aspect of it: namely moving away from work that is not directed
>at your (our, my) own personal values and goals into activism that
>more directly matches those goals.
>
>Anyone who's done this? Have any observations? thoughts?
> ...
>I don't have a computer at home -- or running water for that matter.
>
>I've spent the last couple of years finding a point in my life where
>i don't feel "owned" by other peoples values. but lately have felt
>that the next personal revolution will come at work.
>
>Dena
>(in Idaho)
>
** Dena: this morning I was sent a copy of these two e-mails (below the
dashed line). It backs up what I said some years ago:
"[My wife and I] had drifted apart, starting about fifteen years ago
while I was still working hard as a teacher to support our growing family,
and under nearly overwhelming stress.
The contrast I think is stark: I worked too hard and I was on my own -
now I do nothing and am at ease, and I have her very welcome company (she
has a PhD in BioPhysics) and interest in me: she looks me straight in the
eye, now, when a decade ago and more recently, she wouldn't.
It's obvious to me that: "working hard", "improving productivity",
"pulling your weight", and other Protestant Work Ethic (& more recent
neo-liberal economics) pressures on the individual must be resisted, before
they cause a breakdown.
Further, the _real_ option of cutting back the amount you earn from your
work, perhaps to zero, _must_ be available to every worker. This is
evidence of the _need_ for a Citizen's Income/ Universal Basic Income."
The work and the income don't have to be directly connected.
and on:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/3142/DsWorkHard.html#08:03:21
(click Stop on your browser when the text appears: it's very long.)
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Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 12:49:28 +0100
To: davd@geocities.com
From: b.macclement@auckland.ac.nz (Bera MacClement)
Subject: Re: Quality of life/Saving the planet
> Hi folks, I have just gone on the internet.
Something I feel strongly about is the need for the Greens to look at
policy that would commit us to looking at reducing hours of work. It is
only when people have more time for recreation that they will become aware
of the environment around them. I recently had women staying at Hecate
House who talked about their work experiences in Canada - one woman an
engineer told of how instead of laying people off her company switched to a
four day week and she loved it. Another told me that it became compulsory
to take five days leave without pay in government departments annually.
Saved heaps of $$$. She also job shares month on month off with a one day
crossover, says she wouldn't go back to a 40 hour week again. It makes sense.
Regards, Cynthia.
>
Working hours:
Well, I worked only 30 hours/week in average for 6 years in Germany.
I had lots of time to relax and "stir up" green issues.
I also needed less money as I had time to do/fix more things by
myself. During this time I also had no car because I had time to go
to work by bicycle or wait for the bus, train etc.
When going on holidays, which usually wastes lots of energy
resources, I was able to stay for months at the destination country
and at least improve the benefit/waste ratio in comparison to a
number of short time trips.
The argument, that people spent more money when the working hours
does not stack up with my experience. The opposite was the case: I
would save more money by having more time than I lost in less pay.
(I have to say here that the pay was not as bad as it is usually in
kiwi-land)
Basically it is mostly the best for the environment if people show
less activity and are more relaxed and "lazy" - which is the opposite
to the economic growth preached by our mother of the nation*. (I was
impressed lately how emotional she can be if a press photographer is
around)
[* Jenny Shipley, Prime Minister, centre-right govt. of New Zealand.]
Well, back to simple life is seen as a relief for the environment by
many. I doubt if we should settle in caves though....
cheers
sigi
Sigi & Silvia from Nelson, N.Z.
Organic Products Site: http://www.BioGrains.co.nz
(No credit card is required for orders within New Zealand.)
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sent by David.
** http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/6783/index.html#top
David MacClement <davd@geocities.com>
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/3142/index.html#top