Living Autonomously by me!

Alternative Lifestyles

Abstract

An alternative lifestyle is a way of living that is unusual, especially when you choose not to have the type of home and job that is considered normal in modern society. (Collins)

Some alternative lifestyles are very known, such as Gay or Lesbian Communities (based on sexual orientation), Punk, Hippy or Gothic (visual identification, share of a same music style,), Vegetarianism or Veganism (based on food), among others. More and more these lifestyles are accepted in the modern society, even if there are still marks of discrimination and sometimes hatred against the people involved.

Looking at the examples of different lifestyles, and my own experience, I noted three points:

Everyone can choose and build the way of living he wants to have

The words of alternative lifestyle are applied to a community sharing common ways

All these alternative lifestyles are opposite to one or some features of the normal way

The alternative lifestyles I want to know more about and be inspired by are more oriented in a sustainable development way. The three main characteristics of sustainable development are:

Economics

Social

Environment

The alternative lifestyles I will study here are:

Complementary Currencies

Ecovillage

Fairtrade

Sustainable city

Sustainable consumption

Buddhist way of living Ghandism

Goal : sustainable consumption

http://www.dragageshk.com/

Complementary Currencies

The main aim of complementary currencies is to develop the economy on a smaller size. Meaning that the complementary currency can only be used in a defined geographic field, or on the benefit of local enterprises, and sometimes associated with a lower price on local products. In most cases, the complementary currencies are traded for 1 to 1 with local money.

Some cities in France have started to use these alternative currencies, with benefit. Inhabitants feel closer to the sellers, have the conviction of giving their money to the good persons and of enhancing local economy and feel less reluctant to spend more.

But what are the true benefits and risks of these currencies for local economy, populations and environment?

There are different kinds of currencies: LETS (local exchange trading system), Time currencies, Paper currencies, Nu-spaarpas (literally NOW-incentive card), and these currencies may serve various objectives economic, social, environmental and ethical by encouraging different consumption and production patterns and fostering local trade, and by re-evaluating work, wealth and labour in a more equitable way. Alternative currencies have emerged in different contexts, in response to particular problems faced by specific communities.

Benefits :

Encourage people to participate in the social economy

Reward and encourage the genuine valuable work of social reproduction

Help the redefinition of what is considered valuable, what is wealth, what is work

Rebuild and strengthen social ties

Provide a framework for an extended network of support that can be missing

Enable people to exercise some degree of economic self-determination

Enable the gain of access to goods and services where conventional money is short supply

Money cannot leak away as it is geographically bounded

Limits :

Thought to be a solution to specific issues in specific communities

Has to be set with a deep knowledge of the context

Currently no alternative money deals with all the priorities for sustainable consumption

Five priorities have to be achieved in order to build an economic strategy for sustainable consumption :

Localisation : strengthening local economies

Reducing ecological footprints : recycling, changing consumption patterns, sharing facilities and resources

Community building : sustainable communities are robust, resilient, inclusive and diverse

Collective action : acting collectively to influence decisions and address questions of institutional consumption

Building new social institutions : alternative systems of provisions

As a conclusion, the success of a community currency is rooted in the adaptation in the particular context, in strong and maintained objectives. If none currency can achieve the criteria for success by itself, in an effective sustainable strategy a diverse range of alternative exchange mechanisms is required.

A link has to be made with the ghandian doctrine with micro-group economic organisation.

Buddhist an Ghandi doctrines

Ghandi

Ghandis doctrine rose during the Green Revolution in India and deals with a strong refusal of the Wester civilisation way of living, based on three motives the relentless pursuit of power, profit and pleasure and a strong will for freedom for India.

The response to the issue of freedom for India is rooted in three principles. Swadharma, a set of own spiritual or sacred values that lead us to act in a true, genuine and unique way, and we need to follow these values. Swadeshi is a will for growth, self-determination and freedom, for the soul. Swaraj is a will for self-determination and self-rule for India, represented by the spinning wheel emblem of indigenous craft and a symbol of peoples self-reliance and self-esteem.

The economic approach of Ghandis view is a micro-group organisation. The main advantages are the mutual care for the members, their security and dignity , the preference for equal spare in any increment of income, and the avoidance of an increment of income leading to an increase in inequality within the group. The comments that have to be made are the fact that this model of economic organisation requires a high and strong level of moral inside the group, and the fact that this model has to be thought in a more global way linking the micro-village with the global-village in trade, commerce and peace-keeping efforts.

Buddha

Buddhism is a spiritual tradition that focuses on personal spiritual development and the attainment of a deep insight into the true nature of life. Adepts seek to reach, as Siddhartha Gautama Buddha went on a quest for Enlightenment, a state of nirvana. This path to enlightenment is found through practice and development of morality, meditation and wisdom.

Buddhists believe nothing is fixed or permanent and that change is always possible, that life is both endless and subject to impermanence, suffering and uncertainty these are the three signs of existence.

Endless individuals are reincarnated over and over again, experiencing suffering throughout many lives.

Impermanence no state, good or bad, lasts forever and our belief that things can last is a main source of suffering.

Uncertain when we examine our experience, no knower can be defined and no enduing essence of experience can be located.

Siddhartha was born in a royal family, 2500 years ago, in present-day Nepal, and lived a luxury life until he encountered for the first time an old man, a sick man and a corpse. This encounter led him to become a monk and to live in harsh poverty. Not this path neither the luxury life satisfied him so he decided to seek for a middle way, a life without luxury nor poverty. The Buddhist belief is that one day Siddhartha meditated deeply and reflected on his experience of life until he became enlightened, and became known as the Buddha or awakened one.

The Four Noble Truths contain the essence of the Buddhas teachings.

The truth of suffering

Suffering comes in many ways, and the three obvious kings are old age, sickness and death. According to the Buddha, the problem of suffering goes much deeper and is settled in the fact that life is not ideal and that human beings are subjects to desire and craving. Even when we are not suffering from outward causes, we are unsatisfied. That is the truth of suffering.

The truth of the origin of suffering

In the second of the Noble Truth Buddha claims to have found the cause of all suffering, which is much more rooted desire itself. Desire comes in three forms, or three fires greed and desire, ignorance or delusion, hatred and destructive urges.

Buddha said that the attachment to positive, negative and neutral sensations and thoughts is the cause of suffering.

The truth of the cessation of suffering

Buddha is the living example that liberation is possible in a lifetime. One way to achieve the cessation of suffering is to estrange sense conditions form the truth. A Buddhist aims to know sense conditions clearly as they are without becoming enchanted or misled by them.

Attaining nirvana means extinguishing the three forms of fire. It is a state of profound spiritual joy, without negative emotions and fears.

The truth of the path to the cessation of suffering

It is Buddhas prescription for the end of suffering a set of principles called the Eightfold Path, or the Middle Way. These stages are not to be taken in order but reinforce each other.

wisdom

Right understanding accepting Buddhist teachings

Right intention commitment to cultivate the right attitudes

Ethical conduct

Right speech speaking truthfully, avoiding slander, gossip and abusive speech

Right action behaving peacefully and harmoniously

Right livelihood avoiding making a living in ways that cause harm

Meditation

Right effort cultivating positive state of mind

Right mindfulness developing awareness of the body, sensations, feelings and state