A New Story

I live in a world of health, well-being and deep relatedness for all people and all of life. By cherishing the life we have been given and following the example provided by billions of years of the manifest natural systems of our living world, we have created a world that works for all people and for all of life.

Each day we enjoy healthy, delicious food that is grown in the gardens, farms and orchards that surround our dwellings. Everyone in my community willingly participates in a culture of growing, preserving and preparing nutritious tasteful food. The resulting health and vitality provides a foundation for each person to express their unique gifts for the good of the whole. We act in alignment and with the nature of our own bodies and with the natural world in which we are embedded.

Our wealth is counted in the quality of our relationships, and we find everything we need close at hand with which to cultivate those relationships. We need little in terms of material resources and they are found close at hand. We use the abundant natural energy and resources that are present right where we are.

Because it is convenient and efficient to meet our real human needs using local resources, we need to import very little, and peace prevails in our community and in our world. Gone are the days when precious resources were spent on war, prisons and police. Gone are the days when we exploit and attack each other in mistaken attempts to meet our needs, at the expense of other people and the natural systems upon which our life depends. Each one makes their contribution, and it is a joy to do so and be valued for that contribution. Committing crimes large and small is unnecessary and virtually nonexistent.

Financial systems are now based on contribution and sharing abundance, and no longer on artificial scarcity and fear. Debt and interest as the basis for monetary currency has been replaced by community-generated currency backed by real resources and value. A circulation incentive ensures that wealth is evenly distributed and shared by all. Consumption is no longer a driving economic force as people seek that which is of enduring value. It is relationships, and not possessions that are the focus of what is important.

All members of our community are co-learners and co-creators. Learning is based on curiosity and passion. People participate in projects of their own choosing and their pursuits are aligned with life's authentic expression. Each one takes responsibility for creating the world we live in.

There is a rich cultural life of stories, songs, theater, art and cuisine. Beauty and celebration are an integral part of every experience and activity. There is ample opportunity for fun and all manner of games are enjoyed by all. Cultural exchanges between communities enrich and foster the experience of diversity and the appreciation of differences across the face of our world.

Time is often spent outdoors in natural settings, and there is a deep respect for wilderness. In fact, the separation of wild and human places seems to be diminishing over the years. Our way of living ensures that all species have room to flourish and thrive. The valuable lessons that each species contributes to the whole are a continuing source of inspiration, and we take measures to ensure that each one will live on to inspire all future generations.

Management of infrastructure occurs largely at the community level. When necessary, there is coordination between communities for the common good. Regional councils address only the challenges that affect the larger whole. Communities are connected through the internet, and all people have access to it. Each person and each group has the capacity to be a contributor as well as a beneficiary of the entire base of human knowledge

Technology is clean, efficient, durable, easily replaced and easily recycled. Employee-owned cooperatives are devoted to making the best available using the fewest resources. Energy systems work with Nature rather than against it. Houses and other buildings are built largely from natural materials and designed to take advantage of the sun and the earth for heating and cooling. Most needs are met within our community, and walking and bicycle- riding are the primary means of transportation. Travel and transport are available in shared cars and light trucks, and light rail. Flights to distant destinations are available, but on a far less frequent schedule. Life is so satisfying right here, why would I desire to leave?

It is simply amazing that all this has become possible in a few short years. Everything that now makes such a life possible was always here. What made it real was wide commitment to wake up and step into our role as creators of our world, and allow the ineffective habits and practices of the past to dissolve into memories. Thank you for joining me in creating a world that works!