Not too long ago I caught a great blog (or re-blog, rather) from Colin Beavan, the writer and “star” of the No Impact Man documentary I posted a bit ago. The discussion of a single payer health care system was the impetus for Beavan’s musings.  And while I know that a public health care option can be a divisive issue for many–I think some of the lateral points Beavan makes in his blog are worth sharing.

Exchange of Love, from No Impact Man site

“[The] economic policy in the modern world is generally about strengthening the bonds between corporations and individuals, rather than the other, potentially more meaningful, relationships.” Beavan points out that our relationships with corporations and the private sector are important–that’s where we get our jobs, our health care, our retirement funds, among other things.  That forms a pretty dependent relationship.  However, when the economy goes sour, and things get tight for both individuals and corporations, that same relationship can’t sustain itself.  As we can see from what’s happening around us today–layoffs happen, companies shrink, growth tappers off–and corporations make decisions to survive that can be very detrimental for individuals.

“Meanwhile, because we have invested so much in the relationships with  corporations, the other relationships are weakened, which means that they can’t provide sustenance when the corporate bond breaks. Why would neighbors help neighbors when they barely even know each other?”  It’s a question worth asking.  Are our bonds within our families, communities and neighborhoods weakened by our growing dependence on the private sector to provide what we used to look for internally?

I think about this a lot living here in Mexico.  I met an American family the other day that has recently moved down here to spend two years abroad in Oaxaca.  They had two simple reasons for the move (1) The parents wanted their 8 year-old daughter to learn another language, and (2) They wanted to expose her to the Mexican family identity.  Here in Oaxaca (and in much of Latin America) the bonds between families are very strong.  As an example, most children live at home until they are married and in a house of their own. Grandparents, aunts and uncles often live under the same roof, or within a few blocks.  And everyone eats supper together, every day.  While certainly there can be some drawbacks in that kind of familial dependence, you can also see the benefits.  Families help each other, depend on each other.  And even when things get rough–and they very often do here–most people have their families to count on.  I remember when I first moved to Mexico and mentioned to a neighbor that I was looking for work; she said, “Well, even if you can’t find work, you’ll never go hungry here.  Your neighbors won’t let you.”  In a system like Mexico, where corruption at high levels, massive poverty and marginalization can make for an extremely challenging and fluctuating environment, people have learned to depend on each other heavily within their family units.  I wonder how much stronger that system could work if it extended beyond just our families, to our neighbors, our communities, our region.

Beavan continues, “So what if, instead of investing government money only in corporations to bolster that bond, President Obama also invested in strengthening local community and familial relationships? Suppose he invested in local farming and local business and general strengthening of bonds between people at the proximate level? If he did that, when the crises came, and the corporations shrunk, wouldn’t that mean that we might have the relationship with family, friends and local business that allowed us to rely on each other? Wouldn’t that mean, too, that even if the boom money went away, we would still have the enduring satisfaction and support of a strong community?” Food for thought!  Thanks to Beavan for raising some good questions.

I’m going to let Beaven’s ideas help remind me today to reinforce those relationships I have with my own community–my family, the schools I’ve attended, my neighbors, my work colleagues, the guy from whom I buy my milk every week, this community here at HarmonyWishes.  When times like these squeeze us tighter, it’s good to remember to lift up our heads and look outward for help–help we’re able to give and receive.  We may be surprised by what’s out there.  And if HarmonyWishes can help you do that “reaching out” then make sure to drop by and find an uplifting image that can help you reconnect; that’s what we’re here for!

Cheers,

Megan

A new documentary was released in September, following a writer and his family as they attempted to live a full year without making a large impact on the natural world around them. No electricity. No toilet paper. No imported foods.  Check it out.

The journey for Colin Beavan and his family continues on his blog.  There you can read about some of his observations and ideas concerning climate change, community, health, you name it!  And if you’re interested in taking a gander at the full length film, the No Impact Project has partnered with the Center for a New American Dream to draw attention to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.  They are screening the movie in communities nationwide, followed by a discussion on “to talk about the impact of holiday spending on [our] lives and the environment.”  You can check out the screening dates and locations here.

Why not send your circle an e-card to remind them about the UN Climate Change Conference this year from December 7th through the 18th?  It’s always a good time to start thinking green!