December 13, 2004
In his now classic essay “Buddhist Economics,” Fritz Schumacher imagines an economic system informed by the teachings of the Buddha. Key to such a system is simplicity and non-violence. . . . the Buddhist economist would insist that a population basing its economic life on non-renewable fuels is living parasitically, on capital instead of income. … Continued
October 20, 2004
We have to change our concept about how we measure value in things, and get people to be willing to pay more for something that’s well made, made locally, and that they would have for a long time. . . . This is a new way to operate. It’s about stepping outside your business and … Continued
October 16, 2004
We can’t afford, now, to have these national borders. We can’t afford to have racism. We can’t afford apartheid. We cannot–it’s one of those luxuries that we can’t have anymore as human beings. We’ve got to think now, in real terms, for that seventh generation. And we’ve got to move in concert. We’ve got to … Continued
June 18, 2004
In April of 1981 the Schumacher Center convened a conference called “Community Survival in the Age of Inflation.” Schumacher Center President, Robert Swann addressed the conference on the theme “The Place of a Local Currency in a World Economy: Toward an Economy of Permanence.” In his talk he laid out the steps for implementing a … Continued
May 30, 2004
When they heard of the Schumacher Center’s June 25th conference “Local Currencies in the Twenty-First Century,” the editors of Berkshire Trade and Commerce asked for an essay on the subject for their June issue. The request came simultaneously with the sad news of the loss of a local banker to cancer. Gene Hannon was one … Continued
April 17, 2004
As a young man in the early 1900s, Edwin C. Riegel was compelled by the vision of a more just world for all human kind. His private research led him to two important insights: 1. The central role of the monetary system in determining the conditions of social and economic life; and 2. A recognition … Continued
March 27, 2004
But why local currencies? In today’s global economy our national currencies tend to flow where money is concentrated, rather than where money is scarce. As money is centralized, so is the productive economy the part of the economy that produces real wealth. Manufacturing locations are chosen based on access to cheap labor and technology rather … Continued
September 1, 2003
To my ear, discussion of the war in Iraq is generally reactive in nature rather than pro active. By reputation Americans are positive, self-directed, problem-solving people, but in this tragic, muddled conflict we are rendered powerless to influence the course of events. We are reduced to commenting on the comments of one government official or … Continued
June 1, 2003
Recently at the Schumacher Center we have found ourselves engaged in conversations asking some variation of the question: What is the best way to work to achieve an equitable and environmentally sustainable economy given the present political and cultural climate? A popular approach has been to work to change consumption patterns—and certainly this is important … Continued
March 10, 2003
Some carrots build soil and community. You know the kind of carrots I mean the kind growing in the raised bed next to the coriander, where the brussel sprouts were last year, the bed just before the fence, near the raspberries. The CSA members like those carrots the best—dark orange, firm, and good for … Continued
March 4, 2003
Our Berkshire neighbor, Michael Lipson, author of The Stairway of Surprise (Anthroposophical Press 2002), recently reminded me of the story of Joe Hill. Hill was a union organizer falsely accused of a murder. His supporters lined the path to the gallows, shocked and overcome with sorrow. It was reported that Joe Hill called out to … Continued
March 1, 2003
With a heavy heart we must announce the passing of long-time Schumacher Center board member, Gustav Petersen. Gustav was a businessman, a poet, and the brother-in-law of Fritz Schumacher. Concerned with the ominous events taking place in Germany, Gustav moved to America in the late 1930s and entered into an international trading business working with … Continued