Affluenza,Timeday and cohousing. | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Fred H Olson (fholson![]() |
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Date: Sat, 25 Oct 2003 16:15:09 -0600 (MDT) |
Graham Meltzer <graham [at] grahammeltzer.com> is the author of the message below. It was posted by Fred the Cohousing-L list manager <fholson [at] cohousing.org> because the message included HTML ; PLEASE do not post HTML, see http://csf.colorado.edu/cohousing/2001/msg01672.html and http://www.harley.com/turn-off-html/ -------------------- FORWARDED MESSAGE FOLLOWS -------------------- Fred wrote: > Dave Wann of Harmony Village cohousing, is editing the book _Stories > from Cohousing_ (Fulcrum, 2004). He also edited the book on affluenza. > > I think there are connections between timeday, affluenza issues and > cohousing. Could someone explain those connections better? This sounds like a prompt. As many of you know, I too have been working on a book about cohousing ... for some years, in fact. It's specifically about issues of affluence, consumerism, environmentalism etc as they pertain to cohousing. I'm getting close to finishing a draft and am looking for a publisher. With luck it will be out before the end of 2004. I think the two books will be very complimentary. Mine is more theoretical and analytical, Dave's will have more exemplars and human interest. Between them, they'll fill a big gap in the cohousing literature. The book's working title is 'Cohousing: Linking Social and Environmental Sustainability'. Using cohousing as a case study, it argues for more participatory and sociable lifestyles as a means of addressing affluenza and consumerism. It talks about empowerment and social change and what a future sustainable society look like. It's hard to answer Fred's question in a nutshell. Suffice to say, that yes, cohousing enables people to lead simpler, less consumerist lifestyles. We know that well enough. In the book I describe a process whereby over time, cohousing residents subst itute material gratification with social satisfaction. Through interaction, social relationships and membership of a community, they realign their values and aspirations away from a consumerist orientation toward a social / environmental one. A problem for cohousing as a model, and for many members on a day-to-day practical level, is that members generally maintain their mainstream, often high pressure jobs. They have mortgages and they still like to take skiing holidays in Winter or trips to Europe in the summer. So they're still in that loop, of having to work to support a lifestyle which requires that they continue working etc. etc. This is where cohousing is way different from most other intentional communities. In a way, cohousers wan t their cake and eat it too. Still, it seems to me that cohousing is important for that very reason. It's an attractive option for mainstream folk. ... who over time get to reassess and realign ... as I said. That's enough of a rave for now. I apologise for my inactivity on this list over recent years. I stopped subscribing for a couple of years there and started again about 6 months ago. I just haven't had the time to get involved. Hopefully that will cha nge when I get this damned book finished. Best wishes Graham graham meltzer contemporary photography 15/27 ballow st, fortitude valley, qld 4006 ph: 07 3257 4852 web: www.grahammeltzer.com _______________________________________________ Cohousing-L mailing list Cohousing-L [at] cohousing.org Unsubscribe and other info: http://www.cohousing.org/cohousing-L
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Affluenza,Timeday and cohousing. Fred H Olson, October 25 2003
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Re: Affluenza,Timeday and cohousing. PattyMara Gourley, October 26 2003
- Affluenza,Timeday and cohousing. Racheli Gai, October 26 2003
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Re: Affluenza,Timeday and cohousing. WOLF1GDSFM, October 26 2003
- "senior cohousing" (was: Affluenza,Timeday and cohousing) Christine Johnson, October 26 2003
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Re: Affluenza,Timeday and cohousing. PattyMara Gourley, October 26 2003
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