Explore New Paths Forward
Now that you’ve seen the GrowthBusters film, if you’re curious about where we go from here, this is a place to start. Let me begin by assuring you I don’t have all the answers. I just have a lot of the questions. My hope is we can all contribute here our ideas on forging a new, post-growth society.
You might begin by exploring our summary page for each of the four issues addressed in the film:
Each page can point you to some useful reading. You may also be interested in reviewing our What Can I Do document.
I’d also like to encourage you to explore the website of one of our partners in this, The Pachacuti Project.
Next, please add your own suggestions in the comment section below. Let’s begin a dialogue here. We all have much to learn. We’ll try some things that work, and perhaps others that won’t.
Thanks for coming along on the journey.
Dave Gardner
Filmmaker
Trackback from your site.
Ralph Van de Vorstenbosch
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Growthbusters,
Love your site and efforts for the cause. I have been talking to Wollongong University about a way to bring in a new trade process that we can value our lives on as well as material wealth. They were amazed and stated I was either amazing or crazy but cannot discount crazy today. I can do this with today’s technology and just need some help getting there. If you could assist with my message as I try to give you the answers. I can prove this and do not ask for much from anyone, but if we all help this is possible. We are one and need to operate as one. Let me do this.
Please check out my cause at http://www.pozible.com/index.php/archive/index/4186/description/0/0
When this is developed and my message goes out even $1 from everyone today is 7 billion dollars to make change
Thank you for your time.
Ralph
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admin
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Richard Heinberg posted 2 days ago in Post Carbon Institute’s Energy Bulletin a great list of things sustainability activists are FOR. I highly recommend you take a look. http://www.energybulletin.net/stories/2011-11-18/what-we-are
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Dave Gardner
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Transition Voice just published a relevant post with ideas about how to unplug from the system: http://transitionvoice.com/2011/11/unplgging-from-the-man/
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Dave Gardner
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This outstanding commentary explains succinctly how we’ve arrived at the end of growth, but also offers a few general ideas about how we should be responding. Richard Heinberg is a great educator:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/nov/30/end-of-growth
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Dave Gardner
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Outstanding, brief interview with economist David Korten about a big part of the economic solution: http://www.thisisnextgen.com/profiles/blogs/do-people-to-exist-to-serve-the-economy-or-does-the-economy-exist
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Mike Hanauer
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Thoughts on Growthbusters, the next step…
I liked the first movie, although it was perhaps a tad long. It was a wonderful combination of stuff that I think could appeal to or teach most everybody. Those who had never thought about growth at least got well exposed to the idea that growth might be a (significant and overarching) problem. Those who had thought about it learned that they are not alone, that the problem is significant, and that it must be part of every groups programs. While some causal evidence was presented for the scientific mind, getting the opinion of experts might be more convincing without too much scientific depth. It did not directly mention immigration (or many other causal factors), which was probably just as well. I think it was a good balance for all audiences and was good in that it emphasized that the current economic model is untenable – the first step to talking solutions.
So, what should be next? Well, I think a sequel still must do all of the above to refresh and educate – and some will not have seen the first film. A sequel should stand on its own while still adding value.
Perhaps more of the time should be spent on factors of growth that should be discussed in open meetings. I’d also say specific actions likely should be stated (and perhaps included in a hand-out).
Possible actions could include:
• Shorter versions (which I understand are in the works), including one that will appeal to (and be acceptable to parents of) kids.
• Personally signing onto CASSE
• Getting a group you are associated with to sign onto CASSE
• Getting together with others and visiting representatives and senators.
• Letters to the editor, articles.
• Expanding discussions to true sustainability rather than a clean river, reducing carbon, reducing trash, etc.
• Being sure that local energy plans have a section on the impact of growth with recommendations (we have done that here in Carlisle, MA and I can let people know what has specifically been included).
• Emulate Dave: Become a Growthbuster, run for or influence local, state or national government.
• Work on a local network of people to become GrowthBustersBoosters for more showings in homes, colleges, organizations, theatres.
Yup, all this is thinking out loud. Everyone else, please add your own thoughts.
~Mike
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Steven Earl Salmony
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A Quartet on Thinking Globally and Acting Locally:
http://www.7billionactions.org/story/1187-steven-earl-salmony
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KkmFuM77qU
http://www.truth-out.org/marching-cliff/1323195281
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XQIxr4gRQM&%3Bfeature=player_embedded
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Dave Gardner
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Restoring and increasing support for family planning will go a long way toward slowing population growth. A LONG way. Here’s a great commentary on the subject: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/03/opinion/kristof-the-birth-control-solution.html?_r=1
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admin
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This looks like an excellent 3-part series to aid our exploration. The first part, here: http://www.EnergyEconomyOnline.com/As_Growth_Fails_Part_I.html
explains well how we got where are today.
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James Berk
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As far as I can see from the trailer, it’s just another documentary asking a lot of questions but not offering any concrete solutions.
I’m urged via this site to donate – for what purpose exactly?
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Dave Gardner
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James, the trailer is designed to get your interest. The film offers a few solutions, but the most important solution is actually for us to be aware of our growth addiction and the cultural forces that keep us pursuing growth even in the face of evidence that is not in our best long-term interest.
I believe the film will take some of the power away from those forces, freeing all of us to begin making better choices.
As for donations, this is a non-profit project. It costs us money to promote the film, produce new films, YouTube videos, etc. and manage the process of distribution, sales and screenings. It’s a full-time job for me, and sales of the film does not provide enough money to pay me even a modest regular salary. So we do need your help.
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Daniel Turner
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I go to a monthly meeting of friends concerned about the “growth” dilemma, and another participant suggested I look at your web site. I watched about half a dozen short videos and want to refer some of them to my friends. However, I found I was unable to find them again. They came up on a “soft menu” of video choices that would fill the video window after a clip finished playing. Is there a list of all these short videos somewhere on your site (couldn’t find one)? Is there a way to send links to specific videos to my friends?
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Dave Gardner
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Search for GrowthBusters on youtube and you’ll find the “GrowthBuster” channel. That is where you’ll find all the short videos. If you see a video you want to share with friends, you can click on “Share” and get a link which you can email to friends or post on your wall on facebook.
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Dave Gardner
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Here’s a new post on Transition Voice that offers a good to-do list: http://transitionvoice.com/2012/07/the-time-for-action/
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Pete
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My wife and I have no children, therefore no grandchildren. Everyone should do the same, then the human race will be over.
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