Newsletter:20080823/Shannon
From EcoReality
Moves and changes
The result was that the buyers accepted our counter offer and a couple weeks later, they removed the conditions of that sale, and released their deposit, committing them to the sale.
The August 1st closing date for purchase of EcoReality Huge had been carefully negotiated by Jan, in his role as land purchase steward and communications steward. As a result of this negotiation, and generous loans by members to EcoReality for more cash payments to the deposit amount on Aug 1, EcoReality entered into a loan situation with Three Point for the remaining closing amount on EcoReality Huge. With the timely sale of EcoReality Lite, we will be in a position to pay the principal and interest on this loan at the end of August this year.
Money & the Times We're In
This portion of the message contains excerpts from some "Activating" rallying letters written by Jan Slakov, an EcoReality member who lives on Salt Spring and who has added EcoReality to her busy schedule of Peace Activism and Environmental Actions. It is a call for us to think deeply about our values and how to give life to them in the world we live in – by supporting EcoReality as an Advisor in whatever ways you are most called to contribute!
Although many of us participate in socially worthwhile causes, we are all involved in an economic system that does not reflect our values: In 1998 (according to the UNDP) the amount spent on ice cream in Europe was some $11 billion, one billion less than would be required to provide reproductive health care for all women in the world, 2 billion more than would be needed to provide clean water and sanitation for all. Even the Canada Pension Plan invests in tobacco, weapons manufacture and other dubious ventures.
According to the Stern Report on the economics of climate change, it would cost about $430 per person per year to prevent the most disastrous effects of climate change by cutting greenhouse gas emissions. In that same year, Canada spent some $490 per person per year on its military.
As citizens of this global economy, it is we who are financing the things we disagree with, that do not represent our values for a socially-just, ecologically-sustainable future.
To live by our own values in a real way, perhaps we could all take some time to understand our role in the economy; if we acquire money and spend money, if we have money in a Bank account/GICs/RRSPs/Pension and other investments, then we each have a role. Check out Mike Nickerson's "Life, Money and Illusion" for a clear explanation of the economic situation we have co-created.
Help bring financial and human capital closer to home, investing wisely and locally as much as possible.
Joining with EcoReality's Vision and Mission in whatever way you feel able to contribute (research, writing, building, donating time/money/materials/plants) is a way to make a difference in this economy. The world for our children will depend on people re-learning to co-operate and share resources, rather than to compete in the capitalist ethic. We can (and many already do) produce the necessities of life locally as we wean ourselves off of dependence on non-renewable resources, including fossil fuels.
EcoReality is purchasing good, organic farmland that is easily accessible and right next door to a large tract of farmland that is to be donated to Salt Spring for "community farming" under a community land trust.
We want to thank the Advisory Council for having the insight and inspiration to join EcoReality and to support us along our path up to today. Please, read our vision once more and give it some more thought. Together we can create ways to make this a reality at "Eco-Reality Huge".
