developing a new consciousness
April 10 , 2008
Chuck Turner’s presentation at the 2007 Building Sustainable Local Economies
Seminar helped tie together the entire event. After discussion of
developing and implementing community land trusts, local financing
structures, and worker owned enterprises, the question remained, Where to
begin?
Chuck’s passion has led him to organize tenants, the unemployed, anti-racist
demonstrations, and transitions to worker owned businesses. His current
role as a Boston City Councilor, representing the Roxbury/Dorchester
district, has allowed him to become a voice for his constituency who are
struggling with the dehumanizing problems of urban disenfranchisement.
In his closing remarks at the seminar Turner spoke of the economic models
presented, and being implemented throughout the world, as the beginning of a
change in our mode of thinking. They embed a more appropriate way of
relating to each other and to the natural world. As the old paradigm of
materialism that is causing social, ecological, and economic injustices
crumbles, it is essential to consciously participate in the shaping of a new
paradigm. Communities that are evolving place-based institutions for land,
labor, and capital will be the support for this new system.
Turner closed by saying that the beginning lies with the seminar
participants. Each has the power to start a local project that will be a
root for developing an entirely new consciousness. All we must do is start.
Chuck Turner will again be a member of the core faculty for the Building
Sustainable Local Economies, May 21st to May 25th, joining Eric
Harris-Braun, Elizabeth Keen, Chris Lindstrom, Joseph Stanislaw, Alex Thorp,
and Susan Witt.
Building Sustainable Local Economies is a five-day residential training
seminar for citizen activists. Workshops cover the model programs of the E.
F. Schumacher Society, including community land trusts, SHARE micro-credit,
BerkShares local currency as well as worker ownership and local energy
production. For more information visit
http://www.smallisbeautiful.org/seminars.html
Participation is limited to 25 people, so please reserve as soon as possible
online, by phone, or by returning the printable registration form.
Chuck Turner's 2007 Annual E. F. Schumacher lecture will be available in
pamphlet form at the beginning of May. Please refer to the publications
page of the E. F. Schumacher Society's website.
Sincerely,
Michael Gordon
E. F. Schumacher Society
140 Jug End Road
Great Barrington, MA 01230
http://www.smallisbeautiful.org
Board of Directors: Jessica Brackman, Starling Childs, Merrian Fuller,
Hildegarde Hannum, Eric Harris-Braun, Constance Packard, Joseph Stanislaw,
Nancy Jack Todd, and Charles Turner.
Board of Founders: Ian Baldwin, David Ehrenfeld, Satish Kumar, John
McClaughry, and Kirkpatrick Sale.
Advisory Board: Tanya Berry, Thomas Berry, Wendell Berry, Lisa Byers, Olivia
Dreier, Hazel Henderson, Wes Jackson, Amory Lovins, John McKnight, David
Orr, Michael Shuman, Cathrine Sneed, Lewis Solomon, John Todd, Greg Watson,
Barbara Wood, and Arthur Zajonc.
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