Gaia: Conscious Capitalism ~ Joyful Evolution!

Re: Does Money Ease Pain?

http://inspiration.gaia.com — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:26:24 GMT

If you've ever been hungry then you know that money does ease the pain.. smile
As spiritual Beings.. in a physical body.. money is important.
We have all created this system of exchange.. we call it money rather than shells, beads or blankets being exchanged.
I've been working online since 95 and love it. I love that my work.. is helping others.. and I also love having utilities.. for which I exchange money.

By paying attention to what we don't like about our economy.. our business standards.. we only add another log to the fire.
I also have discovered something about people..even "spiritual" people who don't like all the physical possession.. stuff.
When I give away free ebooks.. or offer to coach for a small donation.. you know what happens?????? Want to guess?
If people get the book.. they don't read it.. and since the coaching is so "cheap" people don't honor it and the energy of the work.
I realized a long time ago that I don't create this world all by myself.. I work with others. I also realized that I don't have to play with or interact with things that don't line up for me.
I create my own life experiences.. and by paying attention to.. being emotionally attached to things outside of myself.. I bring them in so they can matter to me.
LOL
Not fussing.. just explaining what I've experienced.
Not one of us created this planet alone. It's a joint effort. I don't have to interact with things I don't enjoy.. like I don't have to eat spinach.. yuk... lol
Money is important. It's the way we've all set things up. Money is important.
The # 1 reason for misery is not money.. it's not the root of evil.. the reason people are not happy is they don't remember who they are .. how powerful they are.. they forget they are powerful creators.. and can change things for themselves in a shifting of believing.
Wow.. long winded.. huh???
Smiles,
Donna

Re: Does Money Ease Pain?

http://gardenplanetproject.gaia.com — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 14:33:28 GMT

Thanks rugged gurl! These are some good thoughts. It is very true that the assumption of "never enough" is embedded within the doctrine of capitalism. Very interesting results, in challenging the Econ 101 professors on this one! Because what if we all DID learn, somehow magically overnight, what the heck ENOUGH is? Wouldn't that be a HOOT? Bye bye to capital gains, to the prophets of profit, to the mindless momentum of progress and to the grossest of gross national product (GNP). Bye bye to mountain-top removal, to life-depleting agribusiness, to labratory-born food-induced disease, torpitude and death, and to the ten-thousand brands of toothpaste and other zillions of earth-hungry non-essentials, which are ceaselessly, for christ's sake, criss-crossing each other in oil-belching cargo-transports on our national and international byways...

sheez! We think we are so smart!

So this idea of "keeping up with the Joneses'" has been around since i was a kid. I haven't ever suffered the affliction, so i can't really speak to it from personal experience. But i can speak to the dissatisfaction that besets us as we pursue happiness, discovering as we do, like children on christmas, that no matter what delights us in one moment turns stale the next, and we are forlorn for the thought that christmas will not come again for a whole year.

This dynamic eggs us on through acquisition after acquisition throughout life, until of course, the individual happens to notice that, beyond the first blush of excitement, it never actually works. Which is sadly as close as many people come to happiness. Such a tragic misunderstanding! Which keeps us as children, as hamsters on the wheel of commerce, mindlessly powering the very beast that consumes us!

And this question, can money ease pain? I think if perhaps we could use it to construct casts for broken limbs, or use it as tinder for a warm fire to brew healing teas and tinctures, perhaps it can help. But otherwise, it is only a key to the padded cells of our imagination. Seeking clothing, i can be happy. Seeking food, shelter, medicine, i can be happy. Seeking for my children may be a bit more anxiety-producing, though!

The misunderstanding is that happiness is a product. It is decidedly NOT! It is a state of being, a dimension that opens to us when we come to understand this radical, revolutionary concept of ENOUGH.

Which, my Econ profs scoffed, will NEVER happen. Let's prove them wrong, okay?

Thanks so much for your post, rugged gurl.

Blessings!

mary ;-)

Does Money Ease Pain?

http://discoverfarther-w-humanity.gaia.com — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 04:46:28 GMT

I have the longest urge or desire to write about $ woes. Since past weekend, or the past few months, there were not just money woes, there were political undertones along with $ issues. There would be some crossover with some policies and money.
For the complete article: http://discoverfarther-w-humanity.gaia.com/blog/2009/6/does-money-ease-pain

Feeling Stuck? Stagnant? Stressed

http://wealthymindwaves.gaia.com — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:20:50 GMT

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Re: networking, skillsharing and promotion for a better world :-)

http://gardenplanetproject.gaia.com — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 01:00:22 GMT

thank you! that sounds so exciting, to be young, and surfing of any sort, whether mind or matter -- Nice!

please do let us know what you find! I am particularly interested in the incorporation of worker morale as the powerful resource that it so obviously is, but which is so often neglected in the ledger books...

thank you for sharing!

mary ;-)

networking, skillsharing and promotion for a better world :-)

http://skillsurfers.gaia.com — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:54:14 GMT

Hey all of you
we are a group of around 10 young people (part of us livin in a community for longtime) doin a project called “skillsurfers”

we will be travellin round together in our 3 busses this winter and spring in france, spain and portugal
to exchange ideas and experiences and discuss with different people about a better world ;-)

our main topics will be
education networks, fairtrade and solidarity economy, lohas, open source and other… (see our profile)

we want to visit projects, communities, groups… of people
see how they live..
learn from them
and share our ideas and experiences with organisation forms
and visions for a better world

we thought using the internet and cool social networks would be a good chance to meet interesting people from these countries who might be interested in our tour and help us on our way
- so here we are on gaia :-)

if you are interested we would be happy to meet you on our way!

have a look at our profile and our website www.skillsurfers.eu
as well as www.couchsurfing.com/people/skillsurfers

thanks guys
love&peace :-)

Re: Business model

http://econsciousmarket.gaia.com — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 02:59:48 GMT

eConsciousMarket.com is a "For-Benefit" online commerce site based in Boulder. We purchase ecologically and socially responsible products, sell them at or below suggested retail price, and donate half of the after-cost profits from those transactions to the exceptional non-profit organizations listed on our website.

What we are not here to do is to promote guilt-free over-consumption - after all, the greenest purchase you can make is none at all. What we are here to do is provide customers with responsible options when they need to purchase something.

We'd love feedback on the site: www.econsciousmarket.com.

Thanks so much!

Jenn@econsciousmarket.com

Re: Conscious Capitalism, an oxymoron?

http://whatreallycounts.gaia.com — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:02:28 GMT

Oxymoron or a new culture? Your critique of capitolism is not uncommon to many participants here. It is the development of a new form of organization, call it what you wish, that drives the discussion of "social capitalism" and "conscious capitalism".

I appreciate your skeptisism but am anxious to hear your suggestions of a new model. It is easier to critize than it is to suggest a solution. In an ideal world they are done together.

I look forward to reading your creative ideas. Don't worry about the titles.

Tom

Conscious Capitalism, an oxymoron?

http://goodworld.gaia.com — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:54:35 GMT

Why I arrived here is a complicated story but the essence is indicated in a post to a blog that is getting increasingly unwieldy.

I am a longstanding private student of social history/change and passionate about saving our world from its own folly before it is too late.

This is why I need to critique what I think is the illusion that capitalism in its current form can save the world; i.e. the illusion that "the leopard can change its spots", or that it is safe to put "sharks in charge of the swimming pool".

I hasten to add that I am not referring to human beings trapped in an unreformed capitalist structure, but to a-human creatures of law endowed with capacities not enjoyed by humans, yet having the legal status and privileges of persons.

Re: Business model

http://whatreallycounts.gaia.com — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 04:47:08 GMT

Spungey,

I'm not sure if this is the best place to discuss your business ideas but it is one place where the audience is receptive. I personally would be very interested in your thoughts and ideas. Please plant the seeds and see if it grows.

Tom

Re: Business model

http://spungey.gaia.com — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:46:19 GMT

I just joined the Gaia community.

I have at least one interesting business idea that is socially responsible, environmentally responsible, profitable, and transformative. The idea arrived just a couple of days ago so there's still a ton of work to do even before getting to a practical business plan or organization.

Is this the right place to talk about this?

Organizational Synergy

http://Azcension.gaia.com — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 09:10:59 GMT

We have arrived at a time in our world that a Revolution is coming. From Hock's Chaordic Organization, Robertson's Holacracy, the positive psychological movement to advances in sustainable practices, its time to bring all three positive aspects together illustrating how they may be mutually be beneficial. A cross-nourishment of between the liberating aspect of self-organizing and regulating practices (Hock) houses nicely such corporate cultural practices in a company system that redefines power and decision-making from top-down to top-down and bottom-up (Robertson). Embedded within both practices is the vaulted importance of ‘employee' which is, more and more, quickly becoming too weak of a word, especially within a Chaordic organization. Intrapreneur illustrates company people who manage their own affairs behaving proactively in the business while the manager take on the role mentors and coaches to these advancing members of the business. To operate at peak condition, the whole (mental, physical, spiritual, family, etc) wellness and development of the Intrapreneur/company person takes center stage. This, in turn, cuts overhead costs in healthcare which helps to increasing profitability for a business giving them more money to invest in the business infrastructure which includes Intrapreneurial development. Once again, mutual benefit nourishing all parties which in turn increases the profit of the business is fast becoming the new business model of the 21^st century aka Organizational Synergy.

Re: The greatest business model in the world!

http://whatreallycounts.gaia.com — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 13:29:11 GMT

Is it possible to leverage the benefits of MLM to develop a business plan that not only helps those who subscibe but also economically and socially helps those that it serves? Can this model then be spread through the internet for worldwide access and to the "last-mile" in the third world where internet is not-yet?

Business model

http://whatreallycounts.gaia.com — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 13:24:04 GMT

The world is smaller, flatter, more socially conscience, more environmentally focused, and ripe with opportunity. I believe in charity but I believe in building systems that help people help themselves, and others, more. I would like to develop a business model that will provide a platform that will help others provide for themselves, and extend the benefits to others. The macro trends in the world today: Aging population of the developed contries, desire of the baby boomers to "give-back", technology making our world smaller/flatter, concern for the environment, evolving energy resources, etc, serve as driving forces to implement this social capitalism model.

I would enjoy hearing your ideas on this idea. The proof is turning ideas into strategy and ultimately action.

Re: Reduce Paper Use

http://gardenplanetproject.gaia.com — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 16:59:02 GMT

What an amazing resource! Thank you!

I always see paper as once-living trees, re-using whatever possible. I even resorted to a symbolic plastic christmas tree when the kids were little - now an old family friend we pull down from the attic still adorned with garland and lights from last year, to celebrate not contributing to the death of a little tree. Not that this is deep forest ecology, and i know it is really just a small symbolic act, but it is in my heart an acknowledgment that the death of a tree is no cause for celebration, whether in my living-room or beneath a bull-dozer. And I speak this truth whenever the occasion arises, as a way of watering seeds...

So we put presents beneath the molded dinosaur-bones as symbolic of christmas, and something tells me the Christ-Krishna-Buddha is smiling!

If only we could set some sort of criterion for depth of understanding before we are allowed free rein, free reign over any living being! To think of them as resources is somehow deeply offensive to me. As if life can be reduced to a thing to be used to revolve my credit and boost my profits.

But without seeing this distinction, that life is not resource, that we are not units of production and consumption, no matter how smart the economists seem, what elaborate edifices of theory and practice they occupy and solidify like castles in the sand -- that for all their educated pontificating, they can't reduce Life to their terms.

Unless we comply...

Thank you again for your engagement, Inukshuk! I will spread these links around...

mary

Reduce Paper Use

http://shelivesintheforest.gaia.com — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:10:40 GMT

Saving paper means saving forests which we need to slow climate change. The Ancient Forest Friendly website, http://www.ancientforestfriendly.com/ , has the following guide to reducing paper use (http://www.ancientforestfriendly.com/paper-efficiency/home).

A Practical Guide to Increasing Paper Efficiencies

In this section you'll find practical ways to make your paper use much more efficient. Paper efficiency means you are acting smart about your environmental and financial resources. We ask this of our signatory companies, but individuals can practice paper efficiency as well.

The three R's of waste reduction are Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The first ‘R' is the most resource efficient of them all.

At Home and Work

read newspapers online, read magazines from the library or buy digital magazine subscriptions,
have your name removed from catalogue mail lists,
post a ‘no unaddressed mail' notice on your post box and don't print your emails.

And here are more tips for around the office:

Photocopiers

Set photocopy machines to double-sided by default. Your photocopy technician can perform this simple service.
Introduce codes for use of photocopiers. This will provide everyone with insights to their consumption by tracking the paper consumption of various departments. This is particularly helpful and motivating when working towards increasing efficiencies. Add a little incentive to your paper efficiency drive - set up inter-departmental competitions or annual targets for each department based on the previous quarter/year's consumption.
Adjust photocopy machine for recycled paper to avoid any potential of copier jamming. Your photocopy technician can perform this simple service.
When purchasing new printers and photocopy equipment, ensure they can easily print double sided.

Mail

Wherever possible shift to electronic bills and online application forms. For clients who require hardcopies, print double sided bills and application forms.
Reduce the basis weight of the paper - it will save postage costs.
Where possible, reuse envelopes for correspondence. Use address labels to cover original information.
Use inter-office envelopes which can be re-used multiple times.

Computers and the Paperless Office! Use your computer to reduce paper consumption not increase it!

General Office Use

Reduce the basis weight of the paper used in the office and for promotional use. E.g. switch from a 60lb sheet for general office use to a 50 lb sheet.
Post memos on a central bulletin board.
For editing processes, have several people edit the same document using different colour ink and track changes.
Use single sided waste paper for printing drafts.
Maximize formatting by reducing font size and increasing margins.
Buy 100% post consumer recycled copy paper. Many brands are available and they work well in today's machines.

Company Documents and Reports

Reduce size of printed pieces by working with your designer and printer to try creative formatting to maximize use of parent sheets for printing.
Post reports electronically.
Reduce the basis weight of paper used.

Faxes

Use fax stick it forms rather than cover sheet.
Use plain paper faxes
Program your machine to eliminate printed confirmation sheets
Format fax carefully so that excessive pages are eliminated.

Re: Investor Collaboration: Climate Change Action in Capital Mark

http://gardenplanetproject.gaia.com — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 16:22:59 GMT

Thank you, Inukshuk!

What a wonderful innovation in leveraging people-power, uniting in values and vision! And putting our money where our mouths are.

Great!

Re: Working to Live

http://gardenplanetproject.gaia.com — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 16:17:48 GMT

futile ground is right!

actually, i know that was a typo - but seriously, it is really true, because social capitalism is a system providing a matrix for enterprise based on a two-tiered economy, but the enterprise that is possible now must be rooted in the existing matrix of balls-to-the-wall profiteering that embues the enterprises we select for so effectively today.

but i am just now studying up on this, so i may just be blowing smoke! Gotta watch me...

stay tuned... hehe!

Investor Collaboration: Climate Change Action in Capital Markets

http://shelivesintheforest.gaia.com — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 13:32:47 GMT

The following is an excerpt from an article by Jane Ambachtsheer and Jenni Myllynen entitled "Investors Collaborate", from the July 2007 issue of Benefits Canada, "required reading for pension, benefits and investment executives":

INVESTORS COLLABORATE

A demonstration of growing investor interest in climate change and coordinated investor action on the issue is the Carbon Disclosure Project(CDP), a global initiative under which investors have joined together in asking companies to disclose investment-relevant information concerning their greehouse gas emissions.

The CDP now has 27 signatories from Canada who collectively manage more than $1 trillion in assets -- half the market capitalization of the TSX. CDP signatories globally represent more than $41 trillion in assets. This is not an insignificant influence on corporate management of climate risk.

ESG issues continue to attract great interest in public, corporate and political arenas. Activity in the investment community on climate change-related risks and opportunities continues to increase and stimulates the development of analytical tools to determine which companies are best poised to deal with climate change and other ESG issues. The result is that an ever-expanding range of investment products, corporate standards and benchmarks, and collaborative investor initiatives such as the CDP are serving to improve disclosure standards and industry-wide awareness.

With more active engagement and better understanding of the potential impact of ESG issues, Canadian investors can enhance their confidence in the ability of their investments to add value, as well as fulfill fiduciary obligations.

Jane Ambachtsheer, national partner, global head of responsible investment, and Jenni Myllynen, associate, responsible investment, in Toronto. jane.ambachsheer@mercer.com jenni.myllynen@mercer.com

Working to Live

http://whatreallycounts.gaia.com — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 10:21:59 GMT

I've started this new discussion because I want to air the benefits and disadvantages of this much talked about and selectively implement business format, social capitalism. On the surface it appears to be a win-win endeavor. The company is a self sustaining business entity that either directly or indirectly provides benefit to other individuals and society as a whole. Ideally, they practice teaching people to fish, rather than feeding them fish. If in fact, this model is all that it appears to be on the surface, why are there not more? How can we promote the establishment of new social capitalistic organizations? Where are the seeds and where is the futile ground?