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NOTE: SLW! ENHANCED Simpler Living Daily Nudges contain all of the legacy episodes of The Common Good Podcast, Simple Living Works! Podcast and Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--mostly in chronological order.
The Life Principles of Voluntary Simplicity
HELPS: Simple Living QUOTES || SLW! Podcast: The 5 Life Standards || Thematic Index: Living More with Less
Week One--Life Principle #1: Do Justice
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Spirit of Simplicity:
Quotes & Art for Simpler Living and Global Justice. More ART
1/1-
New Year's Day. Reflect. "The Lord of hosts is exalted by justice." -Isaiah 5:1
Legacy SLW! Blog: Life Standard #1--Do Justice!
Legacy Podcast--
The Common Good Podcast: Episode 1 :: Introducing Jubilee Economics. Called by many names, a jubilee economy is just what we need in the 21st century. We'll introduce ourselves and the biblical idea of Jubilee and explain how it captures our interest as a way to envision change in economics today.
1/2-
Voluntary Simplicity is not about following rules, but about living by
principles. Living more simply is about personal responsibility. It's seeing
where our lives may be extravagant, even out-of-control, and deciding what
to do a little at a time to cut down on overconsumption. Don't begin cold
turkey. You might get frustrated and give up.
See what's happening on the California Central Coast: San Luis Obispo Co. Social Justice eNews No log-in required.
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Podcast: Episode 2 :: Metanoia
To live sustainably on our one planet, we need deep change (metanoia) in the story we live, shifting our economic choices and the world view they express.
Legacy SLW! Blog: Enter Now to Win a SIMPLIFY T-shirt! 1/7/14
1/3-
20% of the world's population - the Overconsumers - use 80% of the resources
and the other 80% - the Sustainers - use only 20%. Our planet cannot sustain
life if everyone lived like the Overconsumers. The motto of voluntary simplicity
begins to make sense: Live simply that others may simply live. This
calendar challenges us Overconsumers - virtually every person in North America,
Western Europe and Japan - to offer up an Environmental Tithe, to reduce
consumption of all resources by at least 10%. God put us on Earth to be stewards
of Creation - sustainers, not abusers; protectors, not dominators.
Relish Spirit of Simplicity ART: Voluntary Simplicity
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 3 :: Prophetic Imagination, Envisioning a New Economy
If we cannot imagine the structures of a new economy, we cannot get there. The eyes of our inner artists can see ways to go. Lee discusses how any of us can rely on our inner artist to lead us to a world that reflects our deepest values, thus influencing how we move in the world.
1/4-
Living more simply may mean dealing with our own resentment when others
don't "get it." When we are making corrections to live more responsibly
and others don't seem to have the slightest inclination to change their wasteful
ways, we may feel angry. We can be living testimonials. We are not judgmental
but we speak up whenever we have the chance.
Legacy SLW! Blog: New Year--New Daily Inspiration (Simpler Living Every Day Calendar)
Legacy Podcast--https://traffic.libsyn.com/thecommongood/Episode_4____Market_as_a_Functional_Religion.mp3\"> The Common Good Episode 4 :: Market as a Functional Religion
This show looks at how we can see the Market and the macroeconomic picture as a functional religion. That is, how it takes on deity-like qualities, and is supported by figures akin to high priests, and has with it a narrative mythology of progress, ultimate worth, sin, and so on.
1/5-
Simplicity is not "living on the cheap." It's more than being frugal, far from being a tightwad, and surely not being a miser. In some cases it may mean actually paying more for tools that are Earth-friendly. Instead it's a journey to find more meaning, more joy, more fun in life by getting out
from under the burden of so much stuff - to remove the barrier of stuff that
keeps us apart from other people, from God and even from ourselves.
We avoid fads, convenience and deprivation. Instead, we believe in abundance -- there's enough for everyone's need, not anybody's greed.
SLW! Legacy Blog: SLW! eNews #28 -- No $$ Appeal | NEW Design | Living More with Less UPDATED 1/3/14
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 5 :: Jubilee Economics Video. JEM's one and only VIDEO podcast is no longer available. However, two YouTube videos by Lee Van Ham help explain Jubilee Economics:
1/6-
Epiphany. Consider using Alternatives' An Epiphany Celebration, in your congregation.
Or read it here.
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Spirit of Simplicity:
Quotes & Art for Simpler Living and Global Justice
More ART
SLW! Quarterly Digest--links to posts and podcasts from many colleague organizations--Lots of Help!
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 6 :: Juanita Van Ham: Education from the Ground Up
Lee's spouse Juanita is our first guest on the podcast. She talks about her work at the San Diego Cooperative Charter School, where their grandson went to school. She liked the role of managing the compost train so much that she stayed at the school even after Tyler moved on!
1/7-
The first principle is not "Think about Justice," or even "Believe in Justice."
It's "Do Justice!" Besides our prayers, our contributions, and our
pressure on governments, we help the world's poor by consuming less, thereby
making more available for others. Biblical justice reflects God's great love for
the poor and our parallel call to live in a way that positively responds
to their needs.
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 7 :: David Funkhouser and Fair Trade for Dummies
David Funkhouser of Fair Trade USA (formerly TransFair USA) is Strategic Relations coordinator for FTUSA in Oakland. He talks about his attraction to and involvement in the movement, the origins of FT, the processes for certifying cooperatives that produce the goods, and how FT meets needs of smaller producers better than the so-called free trade market, ensuring that participating farmers and artisans can remain situated in their homelands, as dignified and productive citizens.
Legacy SLW! Blog: Alternative MLK Day, Jan. 15 1/10/14
Worth a Look! See SLW! Blog archives in SLW.org, window #2 or the right margin of any SLW! blog.
1/8-
In face of an economic system and an advertising industry that pressure
us, we CAN take control of our own buying patterns! We can beat this addiction
of overconsumption day by day... and then share ideas of simpler living with
others.
Legacy SLW! Podcast--Episode #2::Life Standard #1: Do Justice!
Legacy SLW! Blog: Richard Foster's Guidelines for Simplicity 1/11/14
For more information this week:
Living More with Less, pp. 22-29
Treasury of Celebrations,
Introduction and pp. 127-129
To Celebrate, pp. 27, 87-89
View Alternatives' video Break Forth into Joy!: Beyond a Consumer Lifestyle,
Main Segment.
Spirit of Simplicity QUOTES: Simple Living
Spirit of Simplicity ART: Voluntary Simplicity
Sing Justice! Do Justice! and Carols with Justice
Return to Table of Contents
Week Two--Life Principle #2: Learn from the World Community
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Spirit of Simplicity:
Quotes & Art for Simpler Living and Global Justice
More ART
1/9--Reflect. "And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and
to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" - Micah 6:8. We have
a great deal to learn from people in Developing World countries, most of whom
live simply by necessity, not choice. More about food in October.
Lee Van Ham OneEarth Jubilee Blog--Biodiversity Loss as Important as Climate Crisis
Legacy SLW! Blog: YES! Magazine's 7 Ways to UnStuff 1/14/14
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 8 :: Community. Land. Trust.
This episode features two guests from the San Diego Community Land Trust, where Lee Van Ham is the board chairman. Richard Lawrence, ordained in the Methodist Church, has a long history in social justice work, affordable housing efforts and community building in Chicago and San Diego. Anastasia Brewster, coordinator, has experience in Real Estate consulting and has worked with a Phoenix area CLT before coming to San Diego and working with the local CLT.
1/10--All things are connected. We want to help those poor people with
THEIR problem OVER THERE. However, we need to realize many of their problems
are caused by OUR problem OVER HERE, our overconsumption.
Relish Spirit of Simplicity QUOTES: Simple Living
Legacy SLW! Blog: Blinded by Progress 1/18/14
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 9 :: Sabbath, Solstice and Spirit
Lee goes it alone to talk about a season that is filled with holidays in so many traditions, most related to the solstice and its cosmological implications of downtime and ultimate promise of renewal. The shorter days are nature's way of modeling what the ancient Hebrews called the Sabbath: a punctuation in time, a bit of downtime for rest and renewal. Nature heeds this by default, but humans have, particularly in the last century, brushed that pattern aside with the go-go-go schedule operating at all hours on all days of the year.
1/11--A black bishop from Africa said, "White folks... yes, they're the people
who can sing and NOT move at the same time." African music can help liberate
other Christians.
Legacy SLW! Blog: Faith and Money Radio -- Making the Connection 1/28/14
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 10 :: Nancy Cassidy and Cooperatives
Nancy Cassidy is the General Manager of the Ocean Beach People's Organic Food Market, a cooperatively owned retail store in San Diego. OB People's concentrates in selling vegetarian food, but the cooperative as a business model can be applied to any kind of business that is now run by a corporation. The difference of course, is that shares are held in a one-owner, one share manner and no one can accumulate shares and the influence that goes with them.
Worthwhile! Population Balance, The OverPopulation Podcast and Blog
1/12--For every Christian that North America and Western Europe loses, Africa
gains three! We have something profound to learn from our African brothers
and sisters.
This is Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
Legacy Podcast (TCG #89): Sr. Shirley Fineran::21st Century Slave Trade--Helping Victims Recover from Human Trafficking
Resources from NCTSN: National Child Traumatic Stress Network.
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 11 :: Jan Schalkwijk on Green Investing
Jan Schalkwijk kicked off his financial advisor career in the traditional mold. But after a sweeping tour of the world in 2005, he came back energized to approach his career life with new vision for how to keep moving people toward sound investments but with an added criterion: to invest in companies and ventures that have the sustainable ethic in mind.
1/13--Ask yourself, "What can I live without?" Be uncomfortable. Take
something off - a watch, an earring - as a reminder of less. Are you a slave
to the clock? Are you burdened by too many clothes or jewelry? Take something off.
Legacy SLW! Blog: Episode 13: Let's Get Ready for a Simpler Lent and Easter 1/24/14
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 12 :: Harry Watkins, Teaching Triple Bottom Line
How are business majors being trained for the marketplace in the new context shaped by Earth's pushback on unlimited growth business models? That's where The Common Good goes in this episode with guest Harry Watkins, Professor of Strategy and Sustainability at the Fermanian School of Business, Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego. Harry tells us about his moments that moved him to a passion for incorporating the people and planet into the bottom line, and the drive to get others on board with the triple bottom line.
1/14--Even people from our highly technological medical establishment are now
seeing the potential of learning from native healers/shamans. We are learning
natural cures from the rain forests.
SLW! Quarterly Digest--links to posts and podcasts from many colleague organizations--Lots of Help!
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 13 :: Consciousness, Cosmology, Sheep
If Einstein is right and we can't solve our problems by using the kind of thinking that created those problems, then we have our work cut out for us. When so many issues we face today are the children of a kind of male-dominated, selfish, and limited consciousness, how do we change that consciousness in order to steer the ship of human life another way?
1/15--What do children say when they want to do something they know is
irresponsible? "But everybody's doing it!" Let's try that in our lives. "But
God, everybody's driving a new car.... But God, everybody builds a big, expensive
house that's many times bigger than they need, claiming it's for equity when
the kids leave home.... But God, everybody has a yard that looks like a golf
course so that nobody complains that we're lowering their property values...." Sounds
just as silly and disconcerting as kids' requests to sleep outdoors on a sidewalk
overnight to be in line for tickets to a rock concert.
See Alternatives' video 'Simply Enough: Tony and Shane on Simple, Just Living', + bonus segments.
Legacy SLW! Blog: Why Celebrate Chinese New Year, Jan. 31? 1/22/14
For more information this week:
See late June: Planning Alternative Christmas Events
1/16--Voluntary Simplicity is a consciousness, an awareness. It is a matter of personal responsibility. Before we buy or use something ask, "Do I really need to do this?"
Legacy SLW! Blog:eNews #40 -- New Collaborators and Champions 1/3/15
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 14 :: Last Acts of Caring
Featured: Eric Putt and Andrea Deerheart of Thresholds, a mortuary service that provides home- and family-directed funerals that put the human dimension back into taking care of the deceased--a real alternative to the commercial funeral industry, which by intent or accident has usurped the role of loved ones to care-fully tend to the body.
See what's happening in the Greater Sioux City, IA, area: Siouxland Social Justice eNews
No log-in required.
Also, see Additions and Corrections there throughout the month.
Return to Table of Contents
Week Three--Life Principle #3: Nurture People
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Spirit of Simplicity: Quotes & Art
for Simpler Living and Global Justice
More ART
1/17--We find meaning in life through our relationships with God, the natural environment and
people, not through stuff. Often we allow our things to own us. We go
into debt paying for something. We have to maintain it, then secure it so
nobody steals it! What owns whom?
Martin Luther King Day (Third Monday) (MF) -- more below
Legacy SLW! Blog: Podcast #36-Duane Elgin, Champion of Simple Living Today 1/9/15
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 15 :: Rick Zemlin, Having Enough
Choosing to live on a budget of around $10,000 a year, Rick Zemlin tells how his consciousness has been shaped, how he determines what is enough for him. It isn't a prescription for everyone else, but for those who are looking for ways to adjust to new standard of living suitable for One Earth, Rick might be inspiring. He gives conceptual and practical examples of how one can live a dignified life with less, forgoing the things that might distract him from the spiritually-satisfying life he has led for decades now.
1/18--Create a game with yourself that you can play with your children or
grandchildren. It's OK to admire things in stores and say, "I like that.
I like THAT. I LIKE that." Make it not OK to say, "I want that," or even
worse, "I need that."
Clusters: Alternative Lifestyles for Families and Single People
Legacy SLW! Blog: Dealing with Post-Christmas Consumerism 1/14/15
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 16 :: Lauren Van Ham, A Chaplain for a New Century
Lauren Van Ham has had a love affair with the natural world and has found renewal from being there. She has worked in nonprofit and for-profit settings, ministry settings, corporate settings, and has found herself instructing WalMart employees and management in what sustainability means on a personal level. After some eye opening experiences showing her the great need for someone tuned into the needs of the Earth, she decided to recommit herself as an eco-chaplain, even re-ritualizing her ordination to solidify her commitment outwardly.
1/19--Think of the mall as a museum. Everything there is on display for your
pleasure, but somebody else owns it. As you stroll through the galleries
say, "Thank you store person for putting this here for me to see. I'm so
glad you're responsible for all this stuff and I'M NOT."
Simple Living 101: Toolbook for Activists--Foreword // Introduction: How to Influence Others // 1: Motivational *Speakers
Legacy SLW! Blog: Home-Stay Clubs -- Our Preferred Way to Travel 1/19/15
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 17 :: Michael Johnson: The Eden We Can Choose
Conversation between Lee Van Ham and Michael Johnson. Lee and Michael are collaborating on a project based on Lee's book-in-progress,The Eden We Can Choose: Moving to a One-Earth Economy and the Stories That Get Us There.
1/20--Intimacy... getting to know someone well... opening oneself up.
When we choose to be intimate with our spouse, things can get in the way.
To be intimate we may choose to take something off... to take everything
off. Stuff can get in the way of intimacy in other situations as well. We
can learn to recycle stuff and put relationships first.
[ Inauguration Day ]
Legacy SLW! Blog: Duane Elgin, from 'Voluntary Simplicity' to Great Transition Stories 1/23/15
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 18 :: Coffee As a Virtue
Stephan von Kolkow and Laurie Britton, co-owners of the cleverly named Cafe Virtuoso, believe in delivering quality coffee and tea products primarily to wholesale customers. Their product line is all organic. (October is Fair Trade month.) How did Fair Trade look to them as businesspeople with a bottom line to mind?
1/21--Cooperative, non-competitive games nurture relationships. Try
The Christmas Game I,
The Christmas Game II,
The Anytime Game,
Lifestories: a fun board game of telling tales; Futurestories;
and Conversation Pieces: Parents, Kids and Other Animals. See September 19 for more titles.
Simple Living 101: Toolbook for Activists--2: Workshop *Leaders // 3: Event *Organizers // 4: *Discussion Groups
Legacy SLW! Blog: Duane Elgin, from 'Voluntary Simplicity' to Great Transition Stories 1/23/15
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 19 :: Sung Sohn, When a House is More Than a House
Eventually the American Dream proves itself to be otherwise. For Sung and Myra Sohn, arriving in the States from their native Korea, what awaited them was getting established in architectural studies (Sung—quite a renaissance man) and starting a career in pharmacology (Myra) and then joining with the usual frantic and disjointed rhythms of American life. Eventually they found that life not to their liking as its demands took a toll on family identity and cohesion. Sung envisioned an alternative housing arrangement based on shared life and spiritual practice, not just for his own family but for other residents and guests
1/22--A weekly family meeting at a set time helps to coordinate schedules
and gives children respect, inclusiveness and empowerment. It can also diffuse
arguments. At a time of tension, one can say, "Let's take this up at the
family meeting." Take turns taking minutes. Follow with family fun-time.
Spirit of Simplicity ART: Building Community
Legacy SLW! Blog: The Great March for Climate Action 1/26/15
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 20 :: Rev. David Miller, Faith Presence at the Occupy Movement
Lots of stuff in this episode because there is much to report on. We plan to diversify content within each episode so as to keep you abreast of things in JEM-land, to reflect on some notable news, and to build community among our listeners and readers. We're starting to get the hang of this after all this time!
1/23--Reading aloud year-round, as well as telling one's own stories,
builds relationships. When a parent reads to a child, a grandparent to a
grandchild, spouses to each other, the act is as important as the story.
Simpler Living Works! Winter ALERT-
Legacy SLW! Blog: Sustainable Happiness: Live Simply, Live Well, Make a Difference 1/29/15
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 21 :: JEM, The Common Good, and Reciprocity
Now that The Common Good Podcast has been going on for about a year-and-a-half, Lee reflects on how JEM has worked reciprocally to serve content and to be shaped by our guests and friends who have left their feedback for either the podcast or the blog. We'd like to see more of that happening and we encourage listeners and readers to comment and add input that we can use within our blog and podcast.
1/24--"Quality time" can be a myth, an excuse to spend a little time together in order to spend more time working to make more money to accumulate more stuff. Quantity time is also needed for healthy relationships, being there... in sports and fun, worship, talking, the arts. If you find this is a problem,
discipline yourself to keep track of relationship time and increase it 10% each month till you reach your goal.
Spirit of Simplicity QUOTES: Building Community
Legacy SLW! Blog: SLW! eNews 1/16 // Podcast #60: San Diego artist and SL leader Phil Petrie
For more information this week:
Living More with Less, pp. 37-42.
View Alternatives' video Break Forth into Joy! Family & Children Segment.
Spirit of Simplicity QUOTES: 2. Building Community
Spirit of Simplicity ART: Building Community
Clusters: Alternative Lifestyles for Families and Single People
Other January holidays include
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Third Monday) (MF).
Read Treasury of Celebrations, pp. 130-131
To Celebrate, pp. 89-91
Consider Alternatives' "Dr. King Was Right" bulletin insert for your congregation.
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Spirit of Simplicity:
Quotes & Art for Simpler Living and Global Justice
More ART
Return to Table of Contents
Week Four--Life Principle #4: Non-conform Freely
1/25--The forces against living simply are extremely powerful and devious. Some
of them are quiet, unwritten... like how we dress in church, how our house will look at Christmas time. But many of them can be loud, in-your-face forces that work to get as deeply into our pocketbook as possible. (See September for media pressures.)
Simple Living 101: Toolbook for Activists--
5: Media *Workers // 6: Send a Message! Be the Message! // Appendices/Resources
Legacy SLW! Blog: SLW! Weekly Digest, 1/8/16 // Podcast #60: San Diego artist and SL leader Phil Petrie
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 22 :: Lane Van Ham, A Common Humanity
Lane Van Ham is our featured guest for this episode. (Okay, you figured it out. He's related to Lee just like Lauren from episode 16 is. We're a small organization!) Apparent nepotism not withstanding (no one is getting paid, ahem!), Lane's new book, A Common Humanity: Ritual, Religion and Immigrant Advocacy in Tucson, Arizona (University of Arizona Press) just came out and stands fine on its own. Having done his graduate studies in the field of immigrant advocacy, this book emerged from that experience.
1/26--Let's say what overconsumption often represents - addiction. As
any addiction, it is powerful. It takes great will power, faith, and the
right tools to beat an addiction. The addiction of overconsumption is reinforced
by our culture. It is encouraged, fed, promoted by peer pressure and by
advertising. We are told it is patriotic to buy, that our economy depends
on it, that we are "worth it." We are worth much more than our stuff! Destroying the Earth in the name of 'economic growth' is not patriotic!
Guest Podcast: Live Childfree with Erik & Melissa
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 23 :: Challenges in Socially Responsible Investing with Jan Schalkwijk
Jan Schalkwijk is a financial advisor with a specialty in targeting investment options for people who are looking at more than just the \"old\" bottom line of profits alone. Jan was introduced a year ago on Episode 11, but this time around we get into some more aspects of Socially Responsible Investing, of which Jan's \"green\" focus is a component. Jan is approached by Lee who presents himself as a potential client with questions about green investing, community investment options, and how the limits to growth are changing the game of investment strategy.
1/27--Worth Reading: the classic Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin. Check out the recent SLW! Podcast about the latest edition.
View Alternatives' video Break Forth into Joy! Taking Action segment.
Legacy SLW! Blog: SLW! Weekly Digest, 1/15/16 // John 'Affluenza' de Graaf - film producer, author
1/28--Small groups could benefit from: Living More with Less Study Guide; Your Money or Your Life Study Guide, Simple Living / Compassionate Life.
Alternatives' video
Break Forth into Joy!: Beyond a Consumer Lifestyle won a Gold Medal at the Houston International Film Festival!
Legacy SLW! Blog: SLW! Weekly Digest, 1/22/16
1/29--"Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?"-from Matthew
6:24-33. How do my clothes reflect my personality and my values? Did the
people who made my clothes get a fair wage for their work? Go to your clothes
closet. Choose enough clothes to wear a different outfit each day for a week.
Put the other clothes aside. Wear only the clothes you've chosen for the
next two weeks. (from Trek)
Legacy SLW! Blogs: SLW! Weekly Digest, 1/15/17--Simple Living Sanity Suggestions
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 24 :: Jubilee Economics for the Uninitiated
Okay, we have to admit it. Jubilee Economics Ministries has a big idea that not everyone gets. When you're trying (like we are) to take on a world class issue that encompasses a vast swath of history and attempts to deal with the microcosmic and macrocosmic concepts of economics, it gets a little hard to follow. It's a big job trying to get the world to think another way, and while we've done a range of things and employed various media, sometimes we miss the forest for the trees, and things take a bit more explanation why things are how they are with JEM.
Spirit of Simplicity ART: Non-Conform Freely
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Spirit of Simplicity:
Quotes & Art for Simpler Living and Global Justice
More ART
1/30--Shop at Goodwill and other thrift shops. Wear clothes from other cultures.
Support others who break clothing stereotypes. Show the great fraud of "The
clothes make the man" and "Dress for success." Is wearing "nice" clothes
to church a matter of giving God our best? Wearing expensive clothes is giving
our best to ourselves and our clique-mates.
Spirit of Simplicity QUOTES: Non-Conform Freely
Legacy SLW! Blog: Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 1/26/17--SANITY #2
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 25 :: Rev. Deb Mitchell, Shifting to a Paradigm of Service
Deb Mitchell was quite like millions of her time and place, comfortable in a middle class life with a good job at a major corporation. Without meaning to, she held advantage that she didn't even know she had over others. Eventually as her world grew larger than her Midwestern roots reached, Deb became more and more attuned to the dimension of life that had gone unnoticed for so long. Thanks to international travel and a changing corporate landscape, Deb was forced to look at things in a whole new way.
Worthwhile colleague: Institute for Peace & Justice--Parenting for Peace and Justice
1/31--We can object when people suggest dress codes for voluntary events, such
as company parties or church activities. Must men always feel obliged to
wear a tie?
SLW! Quarterly Digest--links to posts and podcasts from many colleague organizations--Lots of Help!
Legacy SLW! Blog: SLW! Weekly Digest, 1/22/17--Taxing Negatives
Legacy Podcast: The Common Good Episode 26 :: Doug Clegg, JEM, and Music's Prophetic Power
Doug Clegg wields a mean guitar. And a mean fiddle. And a mean mandolin. And a mean piano. And a mean resonator guitar. And ... well, just about any instrument in the folk music tool box. But even a bit more dangerously, he sports a formidable pen too. When he puts lyrics down, he just might channel the folk greats and their calls for just labor relations, or a healthy environment, or to call crooked politicians to truth.
For more information this week:
Living More with Less, pp. 51-72; pp. 99-117 (Clothes).
View Alternatives' video Break Forth into Joy! Taking Action segment.
Simple Living 101: Toolbook for Activists
For more 'Non-conform Freely,' see Month 9: Media Literacy
Life Principle #5: Cherish the Natural Order, appears in April and May.
MORE LEGACY BLOGS
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 1/12/17
SLW! Weekly Digest, 1/8/17
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 1/5/17 -- Podcast series: Renowned Biblical scholar Walter Brueggemann on 'Money & Possessions,' part 1
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 1/19/17-- Podcast series: Renowned Biblical scholar Walter Brueggemann on 'Money & Possessions,' part 2
SLW! eNews #64, 1/1/17 - New, Simpler format
SLW! Monthly Digest 1/17 - Complete
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 1/22/18--10 Tips #3
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge + SLW! Monthly eNews, 1/15/18--SLW! Podcast #108 (Walter Brueggemann on Abundance +More) + 10 Tips #2
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 1/8/18--10 Tips for a Simpler, More Meaningful Easter #1
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 1/1/18 -- TCGP: The Casady's on the Climate Crisis.
SLW! Monthly Digest 1/18, Complete
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 1/22/19--Resource of the Month: Who's Risen from the Dead, Anyway?
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 1/15/19: eNews #88--Safe Harbors Network
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 1/8/19--Jerry's Top 10 Progressive Podcasts
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 1/1/19--Sneak Preview of Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast Ep.01/19--Safe Harbors Immigration Center
*In the spirit of non-conform freely, we choose to use month numbers instead of traditional names because the names are inaccurate (the ninth month, September, means '7'?!) and they honor gods and emperors from the warring ancient Roman culture. For more, read Weekly Nudge 8/8/18
Simpler Living Nudge 02/01/20--Free SLW! Resources for Lent/HolyWeek/Easter
Simpler Living Nudge 01/15/20--eNews #100: Birds, Insects, Big Ag and Spirituality
Simpler Living Nudge 01/01/20
Simpler Living Nudge 1/15/21--eNews #112: SLW! Podcast Ep. 0121--Grace Dyrness: Planning Economic Revitalization with Poor People instead of for Them. Wow!
Simpler Living Blog 1/15/22--eNews #124: SLW! Podcast Ep. 0122--Chuck Collins on the Industry That Protects Wealth and How It Hurts Everyone
Return to Table of Contents
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NOTE: SLW! ENHANCED Simpler Living Daily Nudges contain all of the legacy episodes of The Common Good Podcast, Simple Living Works! Podcast and Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--mostly in chronological order.
Celebrating More Responsibly
Week 1: Music/Worship
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Worship Alternatives: Art
More ART
2/1--Musicians are not exempt from the call to offer help to the needy and to
care for God's Creation. Urge your congregation to put on a benefit concert,
including some music of social responsibility. Worthwhile musicals are
Lazarus from Bread for the World, and The Race: A Simplicity Musical
from the ELCA Hunger Program.
Legacy SLW! Podcast #39: Susan Vogt on Alternative Lenten Practices
Blog by Lee Van Ham: Let's Think & Act Jubilee // New Creation: What Christmas Misses
SLW! Legacy Blog: Living Life Outside the Rat Race 2/23/13
2/2--Write a letter to the music publishers your congregation uses the most.
Urge them to use recycled paper and soy-based inks when they print their
music.
World Wetlands Day--Wetlands Action for People and Nature--Value-Manage-Restore-Love Wetlands--https://www.worldwetlandsday.org/home
SLW! Legacy Blog: Three Green Rats 2/23/13
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 27 :: Gerald Iversen, Simple Living, and The Common Good Podcast developments
Change is happening at The Common Good Podcast. We have new studio environment, a new software program, a new opportunity to employ Skype to conduct conversations, and most of all, a new collaborator in Gerald Iversen, our feature conversation partner for this month. With all this change happening at once, Ed reflects on how this puts TCGP into a new era, version 4.
2/3--A great, inexpensive hymnal on social responsibility is Banquet of
Praise from Bread for the World. Give a copy to your Minister of Music
and offer to buy more copies for your choir, youth group or congregation.
Relish Celebrating QUOTES
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 28 :: Simple Living--Practical Implications
Change continues at The Common Good Podcast - new software and a new collaborator in Gerald Iversen. Jerry gives mostly serious insights about how jubilee economics and voluntary simple living come together in practical ways.
SLW! Legacy Blog: Occupying the Flagstaff Bridal Fair 2/23/13
2/4--Alternatives'
Worship Alternatives collection includes hymns, litanies, etc. on global justice. The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada (TheHymnSociety.org or 800/THE-HYMN) has several collections and papers on topics related to Voluntary Simplicity, including Sing Justice! Do Justice!
Worthwhile Guest Podcast--'Jesus for Everyone' from Renewed Heart Ministries with Herb Montgomery
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 29 :: Countering Advertising with Alternative Holiday Celebrations
Advertising is designed to keep us dissatisfied. How can we resist it's pressure? How do we help children? Also, will Jubilee Economics or simple living make any real difference? What does the Future look like? And, Lee and Jerry give Tips for Simpler, More Meaningful Celebrations. Plus the latest JEM updates.
SLW! Legacy Blog: SLW! eNews #29: Jerry's Excellent Adventure 2/2/14
2/5--BWAAG (Better World Artists' & Activists' Guild) says, "Never underestimate
the power within you to make a better world." This non-profit, national
ecumenical network of individuals who are committed to enriching the peace
and social justice ministers of congregations and related organizations has
produced several recordings and songbooks. Visit Better World Series site or FaceBook.
Non-Conform-Freely Celebration: Black History Month
or [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_History_Month ]
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 30 :: Finding Common Cause with Bob Edgar to Resist Dollar Take-Over of Governments
The 2012 elections accentuate explicitly the overwhelming dollars pouring into government in the U.S., whithering democracy in the hot sun of their influence. This is what Bob Edgar actively resists in his work as President and CEO of Common Cause.
SLW! Legacy Blog: Let's Celebrate an Alternative St. Valentine's Day 2/8/14
2/6--Investigate Alternatives' booklets and recordings Sing Justice! Do Justice!
and Stories and Songs of Simple Living.
Legacy SLW! Blog: Let's Celebrate an Alternative St. Valentine's Day
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 31 :: How Actions for the Common Good Equal Spiritual Practice
This podcast features some of our thoughts about learning to live in the Presence of the sacred. JEM followers have urged us to talk about how we link the Common Good practices that we talk about on this show to our spirituality; to do it explicitly, not just vaguely. So in this episode we give it a go.
SLW! Legacy Blog: Social Media Post #1 -- Intro 2/11/14
2/7--In Celtic Christianity, the wild goose is a symbol for the Holy Spirit. Wild Goose Songs from the Iona Community in Scotland are very direct and powerful.
Worship Alternatives: Lent/Holy Week/Easter
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 32 :: Vet for Peace, Barry Ladendorf: \"Peace on Earth\" Is Better Economics Too
Barry Ladendorf is a veteran of the VietNam War. But by the time he was into his third tour of duty, on a naval ship stationed off the coast, he no longer believed that the war was succeeding nor that it was making the world safe for democracy. The U.S. gov't persisted in claiming both.
SLW! Legacy Blog: Days of Presidents & Remembrance 2/12/14
2/8--After the Bible, the hymnal often is the second most important book to
many Christians. If you do not have one, buy your denominational hymnal for
your office and home for private and family daily devotions. Read one hymn
per day as poetry. Sing the ones you know.
Spirit of Simplicity ART: Celebrating Lent/Easter
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 33 :: Voices for a Just Economy: Richard Lawrence, ML King, Other African-Americans & Our Planet
Martin L. King, Jr.'s speech, \"Where Do We Go from Here?\" gives us inspiration to give voice to what others are remaining silent about. African-Americans have repeatedly raised their voices and marched their feet for right relationships in America when America's too-white leadership kept silent, retaining their positions of power unfairly.
Richard Lawrence tells us of his experiences giving voice with King and others to how the economic system was ruled by whites in ways that acutely excluded blacks. Richard was present in Selma (1965) and led clergy in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood in an important business and bank boycott which King joined in.
SLW! Legacy Blog: Perceived Value 2/14/14
More on celebrating more responsibly in November and December.
For more information this week:
Living More with Less, pp. 188-208 (Celebrations)
Treasury of Celebrations, pp. 10-13, 39-126
To Celebrate, pp. 11-26.
Other February holidays include
19th-Day of Remembrance (To Celebrate, pp. 94-95)
Purim (MF) (To Celebrate, p. 95 )
Chinese New Year (MF) (To Celebrate, p. 96)
Black History Month
Return to Table of Contents
Week 2: Preparing for Lent, Easter and Other Spring Festivals
2/9--Celebrations belong to people. They are not natural resources to be strip-mined
each year for the sake of profit.
Treasury of Celebrations channels
our desire to celebrate into activities that truly nourish the human spirit,
express our solidarity with all the Earth's people, and respect the environment.
If you are not satisfied with consumer-oriented celebrations, this big book
of creative ideas will help you resist consumer pressures and celebrate in
a more spiritually fulfilling, joyful way.
Lenten sermon series
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 34 :: Harry Watkins: Green Business Is Better Business
Harry Watkins, former marketing consultant to businesses, and currently teaching in the Fermanian School of Business at Point Loma Nazarene University, shares his conversion to sustainability, how generating sustainable businesses is part of what his evangelical faith requires, and how he's joined with other faculty to change the curriculum to show that being sustainable in business is no longer a nice option if you can work it in, but is essential to good business.
SLW! Legacy Blog: Living Room Revolution -- Cecile Andrews' Latest 2/19/14
2/10--"Freedom from anxiety is characterized by three inner attitudes. If what
we have we receive as a gift, and if what we have is to be cared for by God,
and if what we have is available to others, then we possess freedom from
anxiety. This is the inward reality of simplicity. However, if what we have
we believe we have gotten and if what we have we believe we must hold onto,
and if what we have is not available to others, then we live in anxiety.
Such persons will never know simplicity regardless of the outward contortions
they may put themselves through in order to live 'the simple life.'" --Richard
Foster (a Christian theologian and author in the Quaker tradition, best known for his 1978 book 'Celebration of Discipline'; also 'Freedom of Simplicity,' 1981; 'Longing for God' with Gayle Beebe, 2008)
SLW! Quarterly Digest--links to posts and podcasts from many colleague organizations--Lots of Help!
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 35 :: Harry Watkins part 2: Green Business Is Better Business
How many businesses can you name that you use because they are on the sustainability journey? Harry Watkins, professor in the business school at Point Loma Nazarene University, returns to TCGP to tell us about a few businesses that he knows of PLUS a guide for online shopping that helps us pick the most sustainable version of whatever product it is that we're looking for. Businesses on the sustainability journey help us walk it too.
SLW! Legacy Blog: Toting My Water 2/23/14
2/11--Alternatives' numerous
Worship, Study & Activity Guides for Lent and Easter include
"An Easter Seder" (meal) and
"A Passover Seder."
Some resources are intergenerational.
Blog by Lee Van Ham: Let's Think & Act Jubilee // Resisting Superpowers Through the New Creation
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 36 :: Chuck Hassebrook: Standing Up for the Small Family Farmer
From 1971-1976, Earl Butz was Sec'y of Agriculture under Presidents Nixon and Ford. He had a mantra for farmers across America: Get big or get out. On this episode we're talking about people who never believed Earl Butz.
SLW! Legacy Blog: An Alternative Ash Wed. & Lent 2/25/14
2/12--'Who's Risen from the Dead, Anyway?' collection
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 37 :: Rob Hogg: A Senator Who Speaks Out About Climate Crisis
What happens this century -- ever-worsening climate disasters or effective action to fight climate change --depends on the knowledge and action of every American. Sen. Rob Hogg provides information and stimulus in his new book America's Climate Century: What Climate Change Means for America in the 21st Century and What Americans Can Do About It.
SLW! Legacy Blog: Social Media Post #2 -- A Helpful Resource 2/27/14
2/13--Alternatives' numerous 40 Day Calendars for Lent (as bulletin inserts, a poster or booklet) can be used within lectionary cycles or not. Some also come in
Spanish; one is for children.
For more information read Treasury of Celebrations, Part III, pp.127-227
2/14--On Ash Wednesday (beginning of Lent) we are reminded of our mortality.
What do we really want to accomplish in our lifetime? Daydream about people
living in harmony in a clean environment. Make the fantasy as positive and
fun as possible. Focus on the people and the Earth interacting, not on "stuff,"
things, possessions or money.
Treasury of Celebrations, pp. 135-140;
To Celebrate, pp. 97-100
Worship Alternatives: Lent/Holy Week/Easter
Lenten sermon series
Spirit of Simplicity Art: Celebrating Lent/Easter
Lent/Easter Index
Who's Risen from the Dead? collection
Podcasts: Let's Get Ready for a Simpler Lent and Easter and Susan Vogt on Alternative Lenten Practices
2/14--St. Valentine's Day
Treasury of Celebrations, pp. 132-133
To Celebrate, pp. 92-94
Spirit of Simplicity
St. Valentine is the patron saint of prisoners. Distribute Alternatives' bulletin inserts "The First Valentine:
I was a prisoner and you visited me," or "St. Valentine, Thoreau & Other
Prisoners of Conscience: When Conscience and Government Collide."
V-Day: A Day of Awareness of Violence Against Women Worldwide. OneBillionRising.org
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Spirit of Simplicity: Quotes & Art for Simpler Living and Global Justice
More ART
2/15--"If I give away all my possessions... but do not have love, I gain nothing." -
from I Corinthians 13. What keeps me from giving the gift of myself more often?
What non-material gifts could I give on the various gift-giving occasions
during the year? (from Trek)
Presidents' Day: (MF) What values do we really admire in heroes? Who do we pick to be our heroes?
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 38 :: Jamie Gates: Encouraging Prophetic Living & Embodied Imagination/
Having been raised and schooled in apartheid South Africa, Jamie continues to work with justice and reconciliation as core theological and social concerns.
SLW! Legacy Blog: SLW! eNews #41 -- Who's Risen from the Dead, Anyway? 2/2/15
Return to Table of Contents
Week 3: Rites of Passage
2/16--Treasury of Celebrations: Create Celebrations That Reflect Your Values
and Don't Cost the Earth contains life affirming ways to celebrate
holidays and rites of passage, such as births, graduations and deaths. It
draws material from the six Alternate Celebrations Catalogs published
from 1973-87 by Alternatives and adds new ideas in its 384 pages. To
Celebrate: Reshaping Holidays and Rites of Passage is the predecessor
of Treasury .
Current Simpler Living Blog/eNews/ALERT
Legacy Podcast--Simple Living Works! Episode 1: Getting Acquainted
SLW! Legacy Blog: Global Divestment Day 2/5/15
2/17--Non-Conform Freely Celebration: Season of Lent--Preparation for Easter/Resurrection
Treasury of Celebration: Lent
Legacy SLW! Podcast #13: Let's Get Ready for a Simpler Lent & Easter
Blog by Lee Van Ham: Let's Think & Act Jubilee // Our Critical Choice: Which Macro-Story Shall We Choose in Our Current Crises
SLW! Legacy Blog: PEACE 2/12/15
2/18--The average American wedding now costs over $27,000. We can find value
and meaning without going into debt. Wedding Alternatives (The Alternative Wedding Book) helps
create a beautiful wedding that reflects true family values and doesn't cost
the Earth. It comes in English or in Spanish (Nuestra Boda).
SLW! Quarterly Digest--links to posts and podcasts from many colleague organizations--Lots of Help!
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 2: 5 Life Standards
SLW! Legacy Blog: LENT Preview -- Week Zero 2/16/15
2/19--A January-February, issue of Modern Bride Magazine contained
940 pages! The Alternative Wedding Book offers alternatives to engaged
couples, clergy and others... alternatives to the bridal magazines and
professional bridal consultants. It encourages couples to use their imaginations
as they incorporate their values and family and ethnic traditions in planning
meaningful wedding celebrations. It's a practical planning guide with personal
stories from people who chose more than the status quo wedding.
Voluntary Simplicity study/action guide Session 10: Weddings and Other Merriments
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 3: Saga of Simply Enough
SLW! Legacy Blog: LENT Preview -- Week ONE 2/22/15
2/20--The Alternative Wedding Book details ways to sort out what is important
to you and make your wedding what you want it to be. It gives guidelines
for ceremonies (with eight complete examples) and practical and cost-cutting
tips on food, flowers, decorations, photography, clothing, music, location,
setting, entertainment, invitations, even choosing rings. The Wedding
Timeline/Checklist is a fast and easy way to make sure your plans run smoothly
and that everything gets done. The Budget Worksheet will help you save money and time.
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 39 :: John de Graaf part 1: Affluenza.
John produced the films Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic, Escape from Affluenza, and coauthored the \"Affluenza\" book. The 3rd edition of the book was released Dec., 2013.
SLW! Legacy Blog: Susan Vogt-part 2-Podcast Reminder 2/25/15
2/21--What messages about material goods do I get from my church or faith community?
Do my closest friends push me toward deeper values, or make it harder to
live them out? (from Trek)
Treasury of Celebrations, Part IV: Rites of Passage
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 40 :: John de Graaf part 2: Global Happiness Initiative. John de Graaf is a co-founder and senior partner of The Happiness Initiative. He was a member of the International Group advising Bhutan on its Happiness report to the UN.
SLW! Legacy Blog: Lent Preview -- Week TWO 2/27/15
2/22--New Road Ministries (803/892-2556) offers bereavement seminars and video. The classic Dealing Creatively with Death and numerous children's books dealing with death and grieving are valuable resources. Also natural funerals.
Voluntary Simplicity study/action guide Session 6: Celebrating Death
SLW! Legacy Blog: SLW! eNews, 2/1/16 // Tim Kasser, psych prof., author
For more information this week:
Treasury of Celebrations, Part IV, pp. 228-284
To Celebrate, pp. 169-218
The Alternative Wedding Book
Treasury of Celebrations, pp. 250-264
To Celebrate, pp. 191-201
Podcast: Rites of Passage + Wedding Alternatives
Other February holidays include on Third Monday-President's Day
(Washington's Birthday observed) (MF) (To Celebrate, p. 95).
Return to Table of Contents
Week 4: What Is "Enough"?
2/23--Meditate on the concept of "enough." "Give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that I need." - from Proverbs 30:7-9. "The one who
had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too
little." -II Corinthians 8:15. Do I think a world where everyone has enough
is part of God's vision for humankind?
Welcome to the World of Enough workshop
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 4: Beyond a Consumer Lifestyle - Part 1
SLW! Legacy Blog: SLW! Weekly Digest, 2/8/16
2/24--"Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor
for that which does not satisfy?"-from Isaiah 55:1-5. Do I give the people
who love me what they most want from me? Am I able to spend the time I need
to build special relationships with the people I love?
Guest blog/podcast: The Steady Stater Podcast from CASSE, Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy.
[ https://steadystate.org/learn/the-steady-stater-podcast/ ]
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 5: Beyond a Consumer Lifestyle Part 2
SLW! Legacy Blog: SLW! Weekly Digest, 2/15/16 // Lee Van Ham, Director of Jubilee-Economics.org and TheOneEarthProject.com; author of 'Blinded by Progress'
2/25--What is a good balance of "deferred gratification" and "taking no thought
for tomorrow?" Will the amount of things I own continue to grow throughout
my life, or will I eventually say, "that's enough"? How much do I need
to accumulate before I can do what I really want to do? What am I doing now
to enjoy life?
Legacy Podcast Episode: Richard Lawrence, author of 'Light, Bright, Damn Near White' on The Power of White in a Multi-Color Humanity for Black History Month
Blog by Lee Van Ham: Let's Think & Act Jubilee // In the Uprising of Jesus
SLW! Legacy Blog: SLW! Weekly Digest, 2/22/16 // Speaking at the Paso Peace Circle
2/26--Spend an evening with one of your parents, a grandparent or other friend
who has retired. Invite them to talk about the choices they have made about
how to spend their lives. What choices have brought them the most joy? What
do they wish they had done more of?
'Celebrating' QUOTES
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 41 :: Juli-Ann Gasper: Microfinance on the Ground Slows Climate Change Everywhere.
Juli-Ann Gasper led several student expeditions from Creighton University, Omaha, to the Dominican Republic to see how micro-finance works on the ground. She's also a fascinating fiber artist.
SLW! Legacy Blog: SLW! eNews #65, 2/1/17 -- I Buy Blue. How About You?
2/27--Do I use the things I own to build walls or bridges between myself and
others? What messages do I receive about the need or desirability of "having
my own space"? Who gives me those messages? If a fire destroyed my place,
who would I ask to give me emergency housing?
'Celebrating' ART
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 42 :: Co-Host Lee Van Ham Turns Author with \"Blinded by Progress\" Breaking Out of the Illusion That Holds Us
Visit Lee's blog about his Eden Trilogy at TheOneEarthProject.com
In this episode Lee tells about how he became interested in writing, how this book is his own quest to understand the nonsensical way of living that requires more than one Earth, and some of those who have endorsed the book.
SLW! Legacy Blog: Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 2/5/17--SANITY #3
2/28--Meditate on "hospitality." What is the finest gift I can offer a visitor who comes into my life? When have I been received into someone's home or living space with great hospitality? What did they do to make me feel welcome? Who makes me feel most at ease in his or her presence? How does he or she make me feel at ease?
Blog by Lee Van Ham: Let's Think & Act Jubilee // Our Assumptions Determine Outcomes in Current Crises
SLW! Quarterly Digest--links to posts and podcasts from many colleague organizations--Lots of Help!
SLW! Legacy Blog: SLW! Weekly Digest, 2/8/17--Banishing Fake News
MORE LEGACY BLOGS
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 2/26/17--SANITY #6
SLW! Weekly Digest, 2/23/17
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 2/20/17--Podcast guest Cecile Andrews, author and community organizer
SLW! Weekly Digest, 2/15/17--Review of 'From Egos to Eden' on Its Release
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 2/12/17--SANITY #4
SLW! Monthly Digest 2/17 - Complete
February '18
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 2/22/18--10 Tips #7
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 2/15/18--10 Tips #6 + eNews #77--SLW! Podcast #109 (Richard Heinberg of Post Carbon Institute on the End of Fossil Fuels)
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 2/8/18--10 Tips #5
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 2/1/18--TCGP: Richard Lawrence + 10 Tips #4
SLW! Monthly Digest 2/18
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 2/22/19--What's One to Do?
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 2/15/19--eNews #89: One Way God Talks to Me // Reducing food waste and getting a tax break
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 2/8/19--Podcast: Working for a moratorium on new and enlarged animal confinement to keep air and water clean
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 2/1/19
Simpler Living Nudge 02/15/20--eNews #101: Adding New Leadership for the 2020's Climate Challenge
Simpler Living Nudge 2/15/21--eNews #113: SLW! Podcast Ep. 0221--Economist Barry Shelley: Economic Assumptions and Initiatives for Change
Simpler Living Blog 2/15/22--eNews #125: Free Simpler Living Nudges Enhanced
Month 2 Alert
[2/29--Leap Year Day. What to do with an extra day? How can I work for
just enough without tying myself into knots of guilt and despair?]
All excerpts from Trek: Venture into the World of Enough.
Its companions Earth trek and Parent trek.
Also Worth Reading: How Much Is Enough? by Art Simon
Welcome to the World of Enough workshop
Enough blog
Return to Table of Contents
Return to Table of Contents
NOTE: SLW! ENHANCED Simpler Living Daily Nudges contain all of the legacy episodes of The Common Good Podcast, Simple Living Works! Podcast and Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--mostly in chronological order.
Global Justice
Week One: Language
3/1--Our language shapes the way we think. Inclusive language opens us to more
inclusive lives. Inclusive language may seem a little awkward because it
feels new or different, not because it's wrong.
Current Simpler Living Works! ALERT
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 43 :: Mark Rasmussen #1: Aldo Leopold's Legacy, Our Overuse of Soil & Water
The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture explores and cultivates alternatives that secure healthier people and landscapes in Iowa and the nation.
Legacy SLW! Blog--The two primary drivers of the Climate Crisis are OverPopulation and OverConsumption
3/2--Using inclusive language does not assume that everyone is alike or even equal in abilities. It recognizes that each person has different gifts but that we treat all with respect, not with prejudice. All are of equal value in God's sight.
Guest podcast: Ralph Nader: Tax the Rich!
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 44 :: Mark Rasmussen, #2: Teaching Ag at Iowa State U., GMO's & Biofuels in Iowa Fields, World Food Prize
See Episode 43: Mark Rasmussen #1: Aldo Leopold's Legacy Addresses Industrial Agriculture's Overuse of Soil & Water
Mentions in This Episode: World Food Prize Summit | Occupy the World Food Prize Summary Report
// Related Material
Legacy SLW! Blog: SLW! eNews #30 -- Alternative Rites of Passage 3/1/14
3/3--When we hear the term "politically correct" or "PC," someone may be denigrating inclusive language.
Peace and Justice QUOTES
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 45:: Soren Rundquist on How Biofuels Are Devastating Farmlands!
This podcast assesses the current 'green trend' of increased use of biofuels. Soren Rundquist of the independent, nonprofit Environmental Working Group, shares the results of his research.
Legacy SLW! Blog--International Women's Day (March 8) 3/4/14
3/4--"Sexism," "racism," "ageism" are expressions of prejudice, that we "pre-judge" people by their age, race or gender. We make up our mind about someone before getting to know them. All of these are very real. They combine prejudice and power. We can't escape prejudice but we can catch ourselves, say "Ooops," and instead be open to the person.
Worship Alternatives: Lent/Holy Week/Easter
Legacy SLW! Podcast--Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? Episode 6 - Part 1
Legacy SLW! Blog--The two primary drivers of the Climate Crisis are OverPopulation and OverConsumption
3/5--Our attitudes about global justice are reinforced by language. We may think
of people in developing countries as less than we because of their race or
income. We may take a condescending or superior attitude, wanting to help
"those poor souls." Instead, let's offer our help, not impose it, like we
would want others to offer us help when we're in need. We're all family...
the human family.
70 is the new 50, I'm told. Legacy Blog: My Birthday Wonder
Legacy SLW! Podcast--Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? Episode 7 - Part 2 // Episode 8 - Part 3
Legacy SLW! Blog--New bride calls classic Wedding Alternatives 'essential tool' 3/9/14
3/6--Beware of media and organizations that spread unconscious and excessive
American nationalism, that suggest that Americans are superior than others
because of our great wealth and power, that play on our fear of the unknown.
'Who's Risen from the Dead, Anyway?' collection
Legacy SLW! Podcast--Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? Episode 9 - Part 4
Legacy SLW! Blog--Purim, St. Pat's & Spring 3/11/14
3/7--Do we impose titles on people, such as 'Mr. and Mrs.,' that they have not requested? Do we call people by their first names or diminutives when such may show a lack of respect?
Simpler OneEarth Living Legacy Podcast 03/19: Chuck Collins of the InEquality Project
Legacy SLW! Podcast--Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? Episode 10 - Part 5
Legacy SLW! Blog--New 'SLW! Recommends' Literacy Service 3/13/14
3/8--International Women's Day (Treasury of Celebrations, pp. 141-144; To Celebrate, p. 107)
Blog by Lee Van Ham: Let's Think & Act Jubilee // Jesus Before Christianity: How Churches Forgot the Jubilee Worldview Jesus Lived
Legacy SLW! Podcast--Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? Episode 11 - Part 6
For more information this week:
Treasury of Celebrations, Part I: Making Choices, pp. 14-87.
For Worship Items on Hunger
Orthodox Lent usually begins in March.
Return to Table of Contents
Week Two: Hunger and Homelessness
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Spirit of Simplicity:
Quotes & Art for Simpler Living and Global Justice
More ART
3/9--Front line organizations, such as World Vision, Oxfam, Care, Heifer Project,
Self Help, provide direct aid and self-help programs to needy people. Advocacy
groups, like Bread for the World, lobby governments to do more for the needy.
The U.S. government has access to more resources than do private organizations
that depend on contributions. Participate in Bread's OFFERING of LETTERS at your local chapter or congregation or in your home.
Blog by Lee Van Ham: Let's Think & Act Jubilee // Countering Patriarchal Culture & Narcissistic Power
Simpler Living Quarterly Digest
Legacy SLW! Podcast Episode 14: Simple Living 101 - Tools for Activists (shy or bold)
3/10--Investigate global justice magazines, such as New Internationalist: the People, the Ideas, the Action in the Fight for World Development
Blog by Lee Van Ham: Let's Think & Act Jubilee // Called Out Ones: Ecclesia--Our Way Out of Superpower's Ecological Oppressions
Legacy SLW! Podcast Episode 15: author Cecile Andrews, champion of Simplicity Circles and Community Conversation
3/11--Your congregation probably has a Social Ministry Committee. Find out what
the members do. Typical projects are direct help, such as serving at the
local Soup Kitchen, or education, such as a Social Concerns Fair. Resolve
to participate in one project this year.
Spirit of Simplicity ART: Celebrating Lent/Easter
Worthwhile colleague podcast: 'Imagine with Us' (SpiritualProgressives.org, Tikkun.org)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Additions to 'SLW! Recommends' Literacy Service 3/19/14
3/12--Your denomination probably has a national or regional hunger office. Contact
it, find out what it does and consider giving it a contribution this year.
Church World Service (800/456-1310 or ChurchWorldService.org) sponsors the national interfaith CROP
Walks each year. Either walk or sponsor a walker this fall. Help start a
walk if your community doesn't have one yet.
Treasury of Celebrations, Part I-A: Making Choices: Simple Living
Legacy SLW! Podcast Episode 16: Alternative Rites of Passage + Wedding Alternatives
Legacy SLW! Blog--Why Celebrate Farm Worker Awareness Week? 3/20/14
3/13--Worth Reading
Sojourners: Faith, Politics and Culture
WORLDWATCH produces the influential Vital Signs report and the annual State of the World. [ http://www.worldwatch.org\ ]
Bread for the World (800/822-7323) issues the annual Hunger Report.
Visit SimpleLivingWorks.org >> AboutUs >> Links.
For Worship Items on Hunger
Legacy SLW! Podcast Episode 17: author Vicki Robin, co-author of best-seller Your Money or Your Life || Champion of Simple Living
3/14--Check to see if your city and state have a Human Rights Commission. Make
one phone call or read their web site to find out what they do to confront prejudice. Check the
government section in the front of your phone book or do an internet search.
Treasury of Celebrations, Part I-B: Making Choices: Gift Giving
Legacy SLW! Podcast Episode 18: Not Ordinary Times with Peter Sawtell, Eco-Justice Ministries
Legacy SLW! Blog--Social Media Post #3 -- Popular Social Media 3/23/14
3/15--Simplicity is not romanticizing poverty, monks, the Amish or people who
struggled through the Great Depression. We only diminish those people's devotion
or struggle, and we tend to try to make the journey of discipleship look
silly or "for others," unrelated to us, untouchable. Poverty is NOT fun.
Two thirds of the world population live in poverty involuntarily. We have
a choice.
Treasury of Celebrations, Part I-C: Making Choices: Food & Celebration
Legacy SLW! Podcast Episode 19: Hunger
Legacy SLW! Blog--Blessing the Hands That Feed Us 3/25/14
3/16--"Just as you did it to one of the least of these... you did it to me."-from
Matthew 25:31-40. What sense of connection with people in need can unlock
my compassion and generosity? Was there ever a time when I really didn't
have enough money? How did or does that make me feel about people who are
wealthier than me? (from Trek)
Women's History Month
'Spirit of Simplicity' Peace & Justice ART
Legacy SLW! Podcast Episode 20: Tony & Shane UNCUT: part 1 of 8 -- Complete Dialog of Tony Campolo and Shane Claiborne on Simple Living and Global Justice
Legacy SLW! Blog--Contribute to 'WHO'S Risen?' and 'WHOSE Birthday?' 3/27/14
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Spirit of Simplicity:
Quotes & Art for Simpler Living and Global Justice
More ART
Return to Table of Contents
Week Three: Peace/Non-Violence
3/17--St. Patrick's Day (To Celebrate, p. 108). Ponder "If you want peace, work for justice." August 6 is Peace Day or Hiroshima Day.
Current Simpler Living Works! ALERT
Legacy SLW! Podcast Episodes 21: Tony & Shane UNCUT: part 2 of 8 -- Complete Dialog of Tony Campolo and Shane Claiborne on Simple Living and Global Justice
Legacy SLW! Blog--Nurturing Relationships via Social Media 3/29/14
3/18--The pursuit of Peace: 12 steps of peacemaking can make your faith more
than just talk. 1. Pray for peace and for one another. 2. See faces. 3. Learn
names and stories. 4. Take the first step to love. 5. Reach out and touch.
6. Find common ground. 7. Make relationships concrete. 8. Give peace offerings.
9. Learn languages. 10. Eat together. 11. Celebrate together. 12. Stand with
those in danger. -Ann Helmke
'Spirit of Simplicity' Peace & Justice QUOTES
Legacy SLW! Podcast Episodes 22: Tony & Shane UNCUT: part 3 of 8 -- Complete Dialog of Tony Campolo and Shane Claiborne on Simple Living and Global Justice
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews #42 -- New Voices + Weekly Lenten Previews 3/2/15
3/19--Does your denomination have a Peace and Justice office? Investigate Fellowship
of Reconciliation, an association of religious Peace Fellowships. Call
914/358-4601, ask for a copy of Fellowship Magazine.
Treasury of Celebrations, Part I-D: Making Choices: Getting Started
Legacy SLW! Podcast Episode 23: Tony & Shane UNCUT: part 4 of 8 -- Complete Dialog of Tony Campolo and Shane Claiborne on Simple Living and Global Justice
Legacy SLW! Blog--Lent Preview -- Week THREE 3/7/15
3/20--First Day of Spring (Treasury of Celebrations, pp. 145-148; To Celebrate, pp. 108-110). What can you do to reduce street crime? Would you join a brigade to remove gang-related graffiti?
Blog by Lee Van Ham: Let's Think & Act Jubilee // Why Patriarchal Men (and Women?) Can't Love Earth
Legacy SLW! Podcast Episode 24: Tony & Shane UNCUT: part 5 of 8 -- Complete Dialog of Tony Campolo and Shane Claiborne on Simple Living and Global Justice
Legacy SLW! Blog--Lent Preview -- Week FOUR 3/14/15
3/21--Contact Center of Concern: Promoting Global Justice and Peace since 1971 (CoC.org); Pax Christi (PaxChristiUSA.org) which works for peace for all humankind; Pace e bene; Waging NonViolence; Teach Peace Now; War Resisters' League
Treasury of Celebrations, Part II: Gifts
Legacy SLW! Podcast Episode 25: Tony & Shane UNCUT: part 6 of 8 -- Complete Dialog of Tony Campolo and Shane Claiborne on Simple Living and Global Justice
Legacy SLW! Blog--Lent Preview -- Week FIVE 3/21/15
3/22--Simple Living Works! offers many resources designed for children or people who
work with children (like parents!). We hope to affect children's buying habits
early because they are targeted by so many advertisers. A well-intentioned
grandmother said, "I like to spoil my grandchildren when they're little.
But when they turn ten, I CUT 'EM OFF." We're hoping to be a little more
helpful.
Non-Conform Freely Celebration: World Water Day
Legacy SLW! Podcast Episode 26: Tony & Shane UNCUT: part 7 of 8 -- Complete Dialog of Tony Campolo and Shane Claiborne on Simple Living and Global Justice
Legacy SLW! Blog--YES! 3/24/15
3/23--Read Alternatives' "War Toys and Christmas: A Contradiction in Terms"
and "Organize for Peace: How to Start a Peacemaking Group in Your Church."
Blog by Lee Van Ham: Let's Think & Act Jubilee // He Froze Me with His Question
Legacy SLW! Podcast Episode 27: Tony & Shane UNCUT: part 8 of 8 -- Complete Dialog of Tony Campolo and Shane Claiborne on Simple Living and Global Justice
For more information this week:
Spirit of Simplicity QUOTES: 4. Peace & Justice
Spirit of Simplicity ART: Peace & Justice
Return to Table of Contents
Week Four: Advocacy/Boycotts
3/24--Central America Week
Treasury of Celebrations, p. 141
To Celebrate, pp. 110-111
Coming Non-Conform Freely Celebration: Holy Week/Palm Sunday
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 46 :: Brian Czech: Creating a Strong Economy That Does Not Grow. The best response to obesity is not cheering it on. In this episode we hold our applause. Brian Czech talks with us about a strong, steady, less volatile economy.
Legacy SLW! Blog--Lent Preview -- Holy Week 3/24/24
3/25--Over the years people of faith have used boycotts to reduce poor social
practices among businesses, such as Nestle Company's practices in the Developing
World. The organizer of that boycott is still at work for other causes - Corporate Accountability International
(formerly InFact.org:
Challenging Corporate Abuse, Building Grassroots Power, Since 1977).
Most denominations have an advocacy office. Contact
yours and find out what they do. Alternatives' "Reaching Out Through the
Media" helps promote events and causes.
Simpler Living Quarterly Digest
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 47 :: Diane Hesselhuf: Sharing the Dream--Fair Trade, a Tool for People and Planet vs. Free Trade, a Weapon of Domination. Let's update ourselves on a really powerful tool available to us to increase fairness for our environment and for low-income people -- Fair Trade. WORLD FAIR TRADE DAY 5/13/22 - World Fair Trade Organization
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews #54, 3/16 // Activist Frank Cordaro
3/26--Small, every day protests can be effective. Businesses listen to buyers.
Most want to avoid controversy. Most want to do business quietly as usual,
even if some results are harmful or wasteful... as long as they're profitable.
The strongest way to challenge such businesses occurs when we might diminish
their "bottom line." Change to a different maker of a similar product that
is less wasteful. Then write a letter explaining your concern or join an
organized boycott to make sure that the egregious company gets the point.
Coming Non-Conform Freely Celebration: MORE Holy Week/Easter (4/10-17/22)
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 48 :: Frances Moore 'Frankie' Lappe' Shares Her Co-Creative Way to Ecological Healing.
Author/co-author of 18 books including the three-million copies sold, Diet for a Small Planet. Released by Nation Books 9/_/11, is EcoMind: Changing the Way We Think to Create the World We Want, winner of a silver medal from the Independent Publisher Book Awards in the Environment/Ecology/Nature category.
[UPDATE: The latest edition of Diet for a Small Planet was released in 2021.]
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest, 3/7/16
3/27--Assertive folks buy one share of an offending company's stock, file
shareholder resolutions, attend the annual meeting and verbally protest the
company's policies.
'Spirit of Simplicity' Peace & Justice ART
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 49 :: Jeff Severinghaus: How 800,000 Year Old Antarctica Ice Confirms Earth's Changing Climate & How to Respond. Geoscientist Jeff Severinghaus is rigorously committed to saying neither more nor less on climate change than what science can determine. With unassuming presence, which comes through in the interview featured on this episode, he presents the results of his field work extracting cores of ice from the Antarctica. From ice that dates back up to 800,000 years, he can tell what the atmosphere was like then and compare it to what is happening today. He answers the question: How much climate change is cyclical and how much of what's happening today is different from anything in the history of our species? He also shares his hopes for humanity coming together in new cooperative ventures in the face of the challenge.
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest, 3/15/16 // Peace Organizer, Blogger Ken Sehested
3/28--Non-Conform Freely Celebration: Holy Week/Good Friday
Blog by Lee Van Ham: Let's Think & Act Jubilee // Living in a Time of Dying
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 50 :: Colin Richard, part 1: Living a Sustainable Culture--Yes We Can
Permaculture. It may not be a new word to you, but can you describe it? Is it, for example, a way of gardening, of transforming your yard, or making sure the animals and plants on your farm are happy and healthy? If the 'perma,' part of the word is short for 'permanent,' could it be that 'sustainable culture' is a synonym for permaculture? Does the 'culture' part of the word suggest a pretty complete way of living? Will it help your household live more sustainably? What elements of permaculture might you already be practicing? Guest Colin Richard tells us of his attraction to permaculture and why on this 50th (jubilee) edition of TCGP.
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest, 3/23/16 // Peace Organizer, Blogger Ken Sehested
3/29--An organization like WorkingAssets.com/CREDO (800/548-2567) provides long distance,
credit card and investment services and is an advocate for change. Their
profits go to a wide variety of grassroots organizations, voted on by the
customers annually.
Legacy Blog: Easter in the Grand Canyon
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 51 :: Colin Richard, part 2: 'Table of Contents' for a Spiritually-Infused, Sustainable Culture
MultiEarth's worldview has so fervently separated spirituality from science and knowledge that one of the challenges for living the OneEarth way is articulating how the sacred infuses all of life. In this second interview with Colin Richard on The Common Good Podcast, he tells us of the yearnings he has to live inside a spiritually-infused, sustainable culture. It's a yearning many share.
3/30--Find out who your local, state and national government representatives
are. Your local library, League of Women Voters or an internet search can provide a list of names,
addresses, phone and e-mail. Write at least one letter expressing your support
for laws (and lawmakers!) that protect the environment, not degrade it. And send one not supporting climate change deniers. You can also call your senators' and representative's office in your part of
the state. Check directory assistance or search the internet.
Voluntary Simplicity Study Action Guide Session 5: Easter--I Was Thirsty And You Gave Me to Drink
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 52 :: Kathleen Beck: How Falling in Love with a Bioregion Speeds the Change We Need
Kathleen Beck has lived a chunk of her life on one mountain, demonstrating the satisfaction and power of one whose ecological, spiritual, and educational orientation have roots in a particular place. Her relationship with Volcan Mountain includes the sense of the sacred there--an experience long recognized by the Kumeyaay People of Southern California. Loving Volcan has led Kathleen to be a nature interpreter and guide there. She tends its rich, fragile biosystems. Along with other artists of the area, Volcan inspires her artistically and spiritually.
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews #66, 3/1/17
3/31--Government officials are influenced by hand written letters instead of
signed form letters or "petitions." Most organizations will supply a sample
letter on an issue that you want to address. You can then word it in your
own style. Address your letter to: Senator ___, United States Senate, Washington,
DC 20510; Representative ___, House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515.
Or call the Capitol switchboard (202/244-3121) to talk with your members
of Congress or to get their FAX numbers or e-mail addresses. Close a letter
with "Please let me hear from you on this issue." Most will respond, at least
with a form letter presenting their position.
Guest Blog: RedLetter Christians--Dismantling the White Nationalist Jesus
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 53 :: Dan Swanson: How U.S. Policies in Latin America Drive Immigrants North for Survival
Dan brings us a mighty important perspective on the economically and politically driven immigration of Latinos to the U.S. He helps us know some effective ways to respond in conversation and action. Dan has been involved with Jubilee Economics since its founding and continues to be involved as a board member. He is a skilled liaison for people who are interested in one of our 'opening the eyes' immersions to southern Mexico.
MORE LEGACY BLOGS
March '17
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 3/26/17--SANITY #10
SLW! Weekly Digest, 3/22/17--Banishing Fake News #5
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 3/19/17--SANITY #9
SLW! Weekly Digest, 3/15/17--A Different Way: Living Simply in a Complex World
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 3/12/17--SANITY #8
SLW! Weekly Digest, 3/8/17--Banishing Fake News #3
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 3/5/17--SANITY #7
SLW! Monthly Digest 3/17 - Complete
March '18
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 3/22/18
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 3/15/18/eNews #78--SLW! Podcast #110: Author/educator Mark A. Burch on a Possible Utopia + 10 Tips #10
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 3/8/18--10 Tips #9
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 3/1/18--TCGP: Don Hall of TransitionUS + 10 Tips #8
SLW! Monthly Digest 3/18
Month 3 '19
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 3/22/19--Wholistic Simplicity
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 3/15/19--eNews #90: More Income Tax Wrinkles
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 3/8/19--Recognition for 30 Years of Service
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 3/1/19--SLW! Podcast: Chuck Collins of the InEquality Project
2021
Simpler Living Blog 7/15/21--eNews #118: SLW! Podcast Ep. 0721--Matt Brennan: An Advocate for Your Congregation and Nonprofit on How to Install Solar Power
Simpler Living Nudge 6/15/21--eNews #117: SLW! Podcast Ep. 0621--Carrie Radloff: MidWest Environmental Activism
Simpler Living Nudge 5/15/21--eNews #116: SLW! Podcast Ep. 0521--Neddy Astudillo: Adding Environmental Actions to Our Spiritual Practices
Simpler Living Nudge 4/15/21--eNews #115: SLW! Podcast Ep. 0421--Arborist Robin Rivet on Reversing Climate Crises Through Informed Tree Actions
Simpler Living Nudge 3/15/21--eNews #114: SLW! Podcast Ep. 0321--Mike Little: Faith and Money Network
2022
Simpler Living Blog 7/15/22--eNews #130: SLW! Blog Goes on Pause
Simpler Living Blog 6/15/22--eNews #129: Dealing with Inflation
Simpler Living Blog 5/15/22--eNews #128: Think Sustainable Population!
Simpler Living Blog 4/20/22--eNews #127: Traveling Back to Iowa
[ used: Simpler Living Blog 3/17/22--eNews #126: Lent and Taxes ]
Return to Table of Contents
NOTE: SLW! ENHANCED Simpler Living Daily Nudges contain all of the legacy episodes of The Common Good Podcast, Simple Living Works! Podcast and Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--mostly in chronological order.
Return to Table of Contents
Month 4*
Early April SLW! Legacy Bonus Episode: Time for Healthcare for All--the Majority Want It and California's Nearly There
I recommend April 17 legacy episode of Best of the Left Podcast: #1178 Economic Evolution (Capitalism, Consumerism and Beyond), especially segments on Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist (Mar 29, 2018) by Kate Raworth
Worthwhile SLW! Series--Simple Living SANITY
'I Buy Blue' and a list of states by color.
Healthy Political Practices & Spiritual Disciplines
Legacy SLW! Blog: Banishing Fake News
Mid-week Sabbath: Catch up on the latest nudges or relish these Care of Creation QUOTES & ART
Return to Table of Contents
Week 1: Earth Care
Care of Creation QUOTES
Voluntary Simplicity Life Principle #5: Cherish the Natural Order
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Spirit of Simplicity: Quotes & Art for Simpler Living and Global Justice
More ART
Week 1:
Water
4/1--Read the Story of the Creation in Genesis chapters 1-2. Reflect
on 'And Lord God put the human in the Garden of Eden to take care of it.' -Genesis 2:15.
Non-Conform Freely Celebration: April Fool's Day
[ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_Fools%27_Day ]
Legacy Podcast--*SLW! Episode 31: Bob Sitze, author, blogger || Champion of Simple Living
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews #31 -- Not Ordinary Times 4/2/14
4/2--Our water is both precious and finite. While water covers 3/4 of the
Earth's surface, 97.4% is salt water; 1.8% is frozen; only 0.8% is fresh
water. Let's challenge the wasting and poisoning of our water supply. Over
1.5 billion people lack safe drinking water. Here's an invitation to conserve!
Financial Literacy Month
SLW! Legacy Podcast Series Episodes 32-35: WHOSE Birthday? -- Inspiring Reflections (with discussion questions), Fun Activities, Daily Calendar based on liturgical cycle B (Gospel of Mark)--TEXT
Legacy Podcast--Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? SLW! Episode #32: What Happened to Christmas? | Why a Simpler Christmas? | Alternative Giving: What Jesus Wants for Christmas | How to Use These Resources | Picture Your Child with St. Nicholas | Igniting Simplicity Within Our Hearts: A Daily Calendar/Journal - Pre-Advent-Advent 1 | Reflection for Advent 1: Creating Unforgettable Christmas Traditions - Katerina Katsarka Whitley | Different Kind of Wish List - Kathleen Connolly [11/1]--
TEXT
Legacy SLW! Blog--Pentecost Convergence 4/8/14
4/3--Turn the water off when not needed while washing hands, shaving, brushing
teeth. Washing hands with tap running constantly takes two gallons; only
one with the tap off and on. Shaving, tap on, 20 gallons; tap off, only one;
brushing teeth, tap on, 10; tap off, only 1/2!
Recent Simpler Living Works! ALERT
Legacy Podcast--Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? SLW! #33: Calendar: Advent 2-3 | Reflection: Advent 2 - Waiting with Mary, Preparing with John the Baptist - Susan Vogt | The Gift of Ritual - Meg Cox | Reflection: Advent 3 - Giving to the Wrong People - Art Simon | Making the Holidays Meaningful for Your Children -
Betsy Taylor [11/15]
Legacy SLW! Blog--Passover and Easter Seders (meals)
4/4--How much water would I use each day if I had to pump or carry it by hand?
(from Trek) Normal toilet flushing uses 5-7 gallons. Fill a small milk jug and put it in the tank. Better yet, install an efficient toilet that uses fewer than 2 gallons.
Legacy SLW! blog: Toting My Water
Legacy Podcast--Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? SLW! #34: Calendar: Advent 4 - Christmas Day | Reflection: Advent 4 - Daniel Berrigan | Christmas Memories - Amy Beveridge | Reflection: Christmas Eve - William Sloane Coffin | Send a Message! [12/1]
4/5--A small leak from a faucet can waste 50 gallons of water per day. Fix leaky faucets. When using public facilities, report drips to the proper authorities. Ask why automatic sprinklers are running in the rain. Why do we water the street? When appropriate, recommend a drip system instead of sprinklers for lawn and garden.
Guest Podcast--The Green Flame Podcast: Bright Green Lies--How The Environmental Movement Lost Its Way and What We Can Do About It
Legacy Podcast--Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? SLW! #35: Calendar: Christmas 1-New Years | Reflection: Christmas 1 - Gretchen Denton | Carols with Justice: We Wish You a Merry Christmas | Reflection: Epiphany - Epiphany Gifts - Susan Briehl | Celebrating Epiphany - Barbara Howard | About Alternatives [12/15]
Legacy SLW! Blog--Alternative Easter Ideas 4/12/14
4/6--The average washing machine uses 40 gallons per load. Can you wash fewer loads each week? Review your rationale for washing. Is it based on global solidarity, health considerations or advertising? "Sparkling clean" sells more soap but might do nothing for our health.
Legacy Blog by Lee Van Ham: Let's Think & Act Jubilee // Living in a Time of Dying // Democracy and Authoritarianism in Nature and Jubilee
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 54 :: Lan Richart: Pressing for Justice in the Ecosystems Where Life Thrives or Dies. Lan Richart created healthy wetlands for many years in the business he and his spouse, Pam, owned. She led municipalities in planning their futures, helping them factor in the environmental issues. They retired early from their business, sold it, and formed the nonprofit Eco-Justice Collaborative
[ ecojusticecollaborative.org ], based in Chicago. They've moved south to Champaign, Illinois, putting them in the middle of the state and much closer to the vast Illinois coalfields being mined to meet our species' voracious appetite for energy.
Legacy SLW! Blog--New Service! Blog Previews
4/7--Take only the number of showers you really need. Try one fewer this week. Need a shower to wake up? Wash your face instead. Install low flow shower heads. A regular shower uses 25 gallons; tub bath, 36. But a wet-down, soap-up, rinse-off shower uses only about four gallons! Turn off the water while soaping.
Guest Organization/Site: Campaign NonViolence Events
[ paceebene.org/events ]
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 55: Larry Kurschner: Fixing the Electronic Waste Problem. What do we do with our old cell phone, computer, iPad, television, sound system components, lightbulbs, and all the other electronic waste in our business and home? Do we know how to dispose of them safely? And just how toxic are they anyway? Larry Kurschner, Chief Executive Officer of Secure E-Waste Solutions, our guest this time, will help us know more about the rapidly emerging field of E-waste recycling.
Legacy SLW! Blog--Murder and Resurrection
4/8--It takes 1000 gallons of water to produce one pound of aluminum. If your state does not have a deposit on beverage containers, petition your state representatives to require it. Reduce or cease using aluminum cans altogether. Both producing and recycling aluminum are financially and ecologically costly.
Legacy Blog by Lee Van Ham: Let's Think & Act Jubilee // Saving Western Civilization
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 56--Carol Watkins: Shared Housing--a Step Toward OneEarth Living. In previous episodes Lee has mentioned that he and his spouse Juanita have moved into Shared Housing with Harry and Carol Watkins. This episode interviews Carol to get more details on how they came together, prepared for creating life together, bought a house this past summer, and then, in October, moved into their joint venture. As you listen, do ponder whether shared housing sounds to you like a step toward OneEarth living, AND whether it might be an option for you.
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Worship Alternatives: Art
More ART
Holidays that usually fall in April:
Ramadan--4/2/22-5/1/22 (MF)
Second Week before Mother's Day-National Farm Worker Week
Holy Week (week before Easter),
including Palm/Passion Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday
Easter Sunday (MF) (Resurrection of Jesus)
First Day of Passover (MF)
Orthodox Easter
April is Financial Literacy Month
Learn more about these holidays in Treasury of Celebrations and
To Celebrate.
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Worship Alternatives: Art
More ART
Return to Table of Contents
Week 2:
Energy
4/9--At church, home or office heat only the part of the building you are using, not the whole thing, with high efficiency space heaters.
Simpler Living Quarterly Digest
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 36: Duane Elgin, part 1, social visionary; author of the classic 'Voluntary Simplicity' || Champion of Simple Living
Legacy SLW! Blog--What Can I DO for Earth Day? 4/20/14
4/10--Set thermostats no higher than 68F in the winter and no lower than 78F in the summer. Dress appropriately. Style is no excuse to waste energy! Layers of clothing can be put on or taken off to keep comfy. Use the body's natural heating and cooling systems.
Legacy Resource--Stories & Songs of Simple Living: Foreword // Introduction // Resources
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 37: Duane Elgin, part 2--Great Transition Stories
Legacy SLW! Blog--What a Week!
4/11--Consider using spot lighting rather than general lighting. Convert incandescent bulbs to fluorescent or other high efficiency bulbs. Turn off incandescent lights whenever not in use; turn off fluorescent lights if you do not expect to return within an hour.
Legacy Resource--Stories & Songs of Simple Living: ninety-five and counting by Jym Kruse--text & audio
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 38: *Susan Vogt, author, speaker, blogger [2/1] || Champion of Simple Living
4/12--Wash the dishes by hand today; get somebody to help; tell jokes. Hang the clothes out to dry this week. Inquire about an energy audit from your local utility.
Non-Conform Freely Celebration: Easter Sunday / Resurrection of Jesus
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 39: *Susan Vogt + LENT [2/15]
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Podcast #19 -- Simply Delicious Cookbook + More! 4/26/14
4/13--Plan recreation that gives physical exercise and/or builds relationships
but uses little fuel or other nonrenewable resources. Take only short trips
or carpool, walk, bike or use public transit.
Legacy Resource--Stories & Songs of Simple Living: 9 enough is as good as a feast
by Joyce 'EarthMama' Rouse--lyrics & audio
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 40: Joel Zaslofsky, author, blogger, podcaster, event organizer [3/1] || Champion of Simple Living
4/14--Turn your water heater thermostat down to no higher than 120F. After heating and air conditioning, the water heater is usually the biggest user of energy in a house. Wrapping it in a thermal blanket will increase its insulation and your savings.
Guest Blog--Eco-Justice: Good Friday, Sacrifice and COVID-19
[ http://www.eco-justice.org/E-200410.asp\ ] (4/3)
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 57 :: Marco Tavanti: True Sustainable Development Merges Local Wisdom with Justice-Based Resources. Marco Tavanti throws a lot of light on two words that have come to have a dubious reputation in some circles -- 'sustainable development.'
What kind of development locally or internationally can truly be called sustainable? And what lessons have been learned that give us reason to believe that 'sustainable development' is being re-imagined so that the common good is being served? Do listen to this episode.
4/15--Worth Reading - Creation Care Capsules and Eco-Justice Notes
Care of Creation QUOTES
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 41: Sarah van Gelder, editor of YES! Magazine [3/15]
Legacy SLW! Blog--Social Media Post #4 -- Web Site 4/30/14
4/16--Read the Story of Noah in Genesis 6-9:17. Reflect on 6:19-22 and 9:8-17. God does not want the Earth harmed.
Legacy Podcast--Simpler OneEarth Living Episode 04/20--CoronaVirus: A Devastating Natural Disaster with a Message--Live Differently
For more information this week:
Living More with Less, pp. 43-50
Spirit of Simplicity QUOTES: 5. Care of Creation
Spirit of Simplicity ART: Care of Creation
Eco-sermon
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Spirit of Simplicity: Care of Creation
Return to Table of Contents
Week 3: Chemicals & Waste
4/17--Reflect on the implications of the Prophet. "Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?" - Ezekiel 34:18
Recommended Podcast--CrazyTown: Post-Carbon Institute
[ postcarbon.org/crazytown ]
Legacy Blog by Lee Van Ham: Let's Think & Act Jubilee // The Call to Earth-centered Living
4/18--Reduce the use of make-up by at least 10%. Let your natural beauty shine! Be aware of the pressure on women to conform to "Madison Avenue's" standard of appearance. Read labels. If you must use make-up, only use brands not tested on animals.
Climate Action Across America--Legacy Guest Blog: 'Only Rebellion Will Prevent an Ecological Apocalypse' by George Monbiot
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 58 :: Veronica Lozada: Lawyer Defending Common Person vs. Powers in Mexico
It's noble, right, and good spiritual practice to defend ordinary people being marginalized by great powers. And it's dangerous! Recent reports of both the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and Amnesty Int'l speak of the challenges and dangers in the Americas to all who defend human rights. 'In Latin America and the Caribbean it is increasingly common to see human rights defenders facing unfounded accusations and unfair detentions. It is of the utmost concern that the authorities are failing to stop the misuse of the justice system as a means of repression,' said Nancy Tapias Torrado, Amnesty Int'l. Talk with any human rights attorney. They can tell you about the calls received in the night; the threats to them and their family. How can we be in solidarity with these attorneys and strengthen them?
4/19--Reduce the use of chemicals for cleaning. Then use only biodegradable, "green" products. Are our standards based on health or appearance? Can our Earth afford the "whitest white"?
Legacy Resource--Eco-sermon
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 43: *Jeff Yeager, much more than a Cheapskate [4/15] || Champion of Simple Living
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews #43 -- Clyde, Jeff, Greece, FinLit
4/20--Reduce chemicals on your lawn and garden. Consider a low-maintenance lawn (like Buffalo grass) that requires less water and mowing. Reduce lawn mowing by at least 10%. An average gas mower cutting an average American lawn pollutes as much as a 300 mile car trip.
Climate Action Across America--Guest Blog: Ed Fallon
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 59 :: Doug Clegg: Why Some Artists Avoid the Entertainment Industry
With ticket prices to concerts up in the stratosphere, at least for the high profile artists, is it true or false that the artists we listen to in parks, subways, coffeehouses, street fairs, churches, and bars are inferior? Or are they intentionally sharing their art from their heart with us, preferring to meet people where we are instead of being part of the high-end venues? What kind of art best serves the Common Good? Our guest this time speaks to some of these questions. He's following his call to be an artist for change, and an artist who wants to be with the people in common settings.
Legacy SLW! Blog--Why New Celebrations?
4/21--The first R is the most important... and hardest for Americans... REDUCE. That's what Simple Living is about. As important as recycling is, it is not an excuse for waste. It's more important to REDUCE consumption and waste.
Simpler Living Quarterly Digest
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 46: Jared Brock, abolitionist, author, filmmaker [6/1]
4/22--Earth Day. The Earth belongs to God and therefore cannot be held perpetually. -Leviticus 25:23
Guest Blog--Eco Justice: We Don't Have Another 50 Years
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 60 :: Christle Balvin -- Extreme Drought Teaches Value of Water for the Common Good
Christle deepens our understanding in this episode of how California is and is not prepared to manage a coherent response to water shortages across California as the state wide drought continues into the 5th year. Christle helps us sort out the following:
1. Separating fear and panic from the real concerns we have about water across the state.
2. The preparedness of the water boards to establish clear guides for all sectors of California's economy, cities, rural life, etc.
3. The exceptions being given to industrial agriculture and fracking in the early restrictions: Are these simply caving to economic powers or are other factors also involved?
4. What longer term solutions do you consider vital to how we steward water?
5. Religions of the World, including First Peoples, regard water to be sacred, not to be commodified. How can such a worldview be part of long term solutions?
4/23--How can I learn to say joyfully, "Here. Take this. It is the best that I have." When have I most joyfully given to someone in need? What allowed me to give so joyfully? (from Trek)
Legacy Guest Blog from The OneEarth Project: Becoming an Eco-Spiritual Guide to Assist Our Relocation from Ego Civilization to Earth's Sacred Community of All Life
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 47: Susan Stephenson, Interfaith Power and Light [6/15]
Legacy SLW! Blog--More Than a Cheapskate
4/24--E the Environmental Magazine is a bimonthly, independent publication that works to inspire people to educate themselves on issues in order to take action to effect change personally and/or politically. Visit EMagazine.com
Climate Action Across America--Legacy Guest Blog: Bill McKibben's book, 'Falter:' This Is How Human Extinction Could Play Out
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 61 :: Pope and Pando: An Encyclical and a Conference on Reversing Climate Change
Pope Francis released his encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si' [ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laudato_si'\ ] , on the day we pre-recorded this podcast. Many reviews, affirmative and critical, are already appearing online. Study guides will follow in the months ahead. In the Fall, 2015, Pope Francis will address the U.S. Congress and the U.N. General Assembly. How great will be the impacts of the encyclical? Much depends on whether users, Catholics and all others, maximize or minimize it.
This episode does not, however, major in the Pope's encyclical, but in a conference called 'Pando Populous: Seizing the Alternative'--an int'l event on thinking that gets us to an 'ecological civilization.'
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews #55, 4/16 // Live Like You Give Damn! by Tom Sine
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Spirit of Simplicity:
Quotes & Art for Simpler Living and Global Justice
More ART
Return to Table of Contents
Consumables
4/25--Think of the implications for the Creation of John 3:16-21 - "For God
so loved the world..." People, animals, plants, all Creation.
Arbor Day (last Friday of April)
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 48: Mike Mercer, Northwest Earth Institute [7/1]
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest, // [ Peter Sawtell, former Exec. Dir., Eco-Justice Ministries]
4/26--Use cloth napkins. Throw a paper napkin away only after it's completely used.
Legacy Guest Blog--Eco-Justice: What We Know--Earth Day
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 49: Laird Schaub, Fellowship for Intentional Community [7/15]
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest, // redmoonsong, war tax resister with NWTRCC
4/27--Share at least one newspaper or magazine subscription with a friend or neighbor or read it at the office or the library. Renew subscriptions based on need, not out of habit. It takes 17 trees to make one ton of paper from non-recycled sources. It takes about 280 gallons of water to produce one large Sunday paper (after the trees are grown).
Current Simpler Living Works! ALERT
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 50: musician Joyce 'Earth Mama' Rouse [8/1]
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest, // New Service Coming in May: Our Simple Living Daily Nudge
4/28--Recycle paper, metal, glass, etc. Set up properly marked bins at home, church, work, school. Volunteer to help get the materials to the recycling center. If your community does not have curb-side pick up of recyclables, petition City Council to start it, even if it means an additional fee or tax.
Lee Van Ham Recent OneEarth Blog-- Can Acts of Caring, Sharing, and Justice Generate a OneEarth Economy?
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 62 :: Jeff Lincer: Heroic Efforts to Manage Habitats of Endangered Species--Are They Succeeding?
Scientists continue to speak out on the ecological crises we're in. Jeff Lincer, our guest on this podcast, is one of them. The signature on his emails includes two quotes that tell us quickly what he's about. 'Ecosystems are not only more complex than we think, they are more complex than we can think.'-- Frank Egler
'It is reckless to suppose that biodiversity can be diminished indefinitely without threatening humanity itself.' Edward O. Wilson
He's a principle at Lincer & Associates, LLC, a woman-owned business, and president of Researchers Implementing Conservation Action. He's also Research Fellow, San Diego Zoological Society (Institute for Conservation Research) and Research Associate, San Diego Museum of Natural History.
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Monthly Digest - Complete
4/29--Take your own mugs, plates and silver if you go to a fast food restaurant. Use them instead of disposable cups and plates. Keep these items handy in your car or on your bike. Make a list of other disposables to avoid.
Worthwhile Colleague: Interfaith Power and Light
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 63 :: Judie Lincer, Naturalist Educator for SDCaN
Judie Lincer has taught preschool-high school for over 25 years, is a Naturalist Educator and a board member and co-education lead for SDCaN, San Diego Children and Nature. She works as a Program Manager on various projects around the county that are designed to bring Schoolyard Science Lessons into schools.
One main emphasis of the programs she leads is to empower teachers to use the outdoors to engage children in science, enhance their scientific- inquiry skills and to inspire and develop an appreciation of the environment and ecosystems in San Diego County. Judie also is a Naturalist Guide for SD Audubon and leads 4th grade curriculum-based hikes at the Silverwood Wildlife Sanctuary in Lakeside, as well as hikes for Outdoor Explore!-an after school program that takes children on hikes in nearby nature. Judie has a lifelong passion for sharing her love of nature with all.
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews #67, 4/17--Loving Your Enemy Now?
4/30--Non-Conform-Freely Celebrations--COMING 5/2-5/8/22--Screen-Free Week (formerly TV Turnoff Week and Digital DeTox Week, the last week in April) from the Center for Screen-Time Awareness. Escape the Fantasy - Get Real! No more radiation, laugh tracks or gratuitous violence. And once you try real life, you may never want to go back to the simulated variety again. Visit ScreenFree.org
Recommended Site: TreeHugger--terrific blogs! [ treehugger.com ]
Living Simply and Loving It audio
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest,--Hazel Henderson of Ethical Markets Media
MORE LEGACY BLOGS
April '17
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 4/26/17--SANITY #14
SLW! Weekly Digest, 4/22/17--Banishing Fake News #9
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 4/19/17--SANITY #13
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 4/12/17--SANITY #12
SLW! Weekly Digest, 4/8/17--Banishing Fake News #7
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 4/5/17--SANITY #11
4/18
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 4/22/18--Guest Blog from The OneEarth Project: Becoming an Eco-Spiritual Guide to Assist Our Relocation from Ego Civilization to Earth's Sacred Community of All Life
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 4/15/18/eNews #79--Susan Taylor of Just Money Advisors, on her new book 'What About Our Money? A Faith Response,' Part 1 on wrestling with systems
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 4/8/18
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 4/1/18--Early April SLW! Podcast Bonus Episode: MediCare4All Calif.
Month 4 '19
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 4/22/19--Offsetting the CO2 We Release in Our Lives: An Action for Earth Day. . . and Beyond
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 4/15/19--eNews #91: Legacy Interviews of Jerry
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 4/8/19--SLW! Podcast: Banker Pat Trahan
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 4/1/19--Nature's Warning Cry
4/20
Simpler Living Nudge 5/1/20--Living Generously
Simpler Living Nudge--eNews #103 4/15/20: SLW! Podcast Ep. 0420--CoronaVirus: A Devastating Natural Disaster with a Message--Live Differently
Simpler Living Nudge 4/1/20: Celebrating Easter with Covid-19
4/21
Simpler Living Nudge 4/15/21--eNews #115: SLW! Podcast Ep. 0421--Arborist Robin Rivet on Reversing Climate Crises Through Informed Tree Actions
4/22 -- all
Simpler Living Blog 7/15/22--eNews #130: SLW! Blog Goes on Pause
Simpler Living Blog 6/15/22--eNews #129: Dealing with Inflation
Simpler Living Blog 5/15/22--eNews #128: Think Sustainable Population!
Simpler Living Blog 4/20/22--eNews #127: Traveling Back to Iowa
May 2-8--Screen-Free Week (formerly TV Turnoff Week and Digital DeTox Week, the last week in April) from the Center for Screen-Time Awareness. Escape the Fantasy - Get Real! No more radiation, laugh tracks or gratuitous violence. And once you try real life, you may never want to go back to the simulated
variety again. Visit ScreenFree.org
Return to Table of Contents
Return to Table of Contents
Month 5*
TheDailyNudgeIndex
Return to Table of Contents
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Pacific_American_Heritage_Month\ ]
Earth Care - The 4 R's
Week 1: ReDuce
5/1- Ponder: "There are two ways to get enough. One is to continue to accumulate
more and more. The other is to desire less." - G.K. Chesterton
Reflect this week: Environment - The 4 R's: Reduce
Non-Conform-Freely Celebrations-- May Day: a spring festival, marking the revival of nature after winter. Our lives are much better because the labor movement won the struggle for an eight-hour work day.
Ramadan (MF) ends (30 days) [ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan ]
5/2--During a family or community meeting ask, "Are we committed to work through
the Simpler Living calendar together? What is our 'comfort level' in reducing consumption?
(10%?) How far are we willing to stretch? How do our faith and church help
us or hinder us to make a commitment to God's Creation?"
5/2-8--Screen-Free Week [ screenfree.org ] (formerly TV Turnoff Week and Digital DeTox Week, the last week in April) from the Center for Screen-Time Awareness. Escape the Fantasy - Get Real! No more radiation, laugh tracks or gratuitous violence. And once you try real life, you may never want to go back to the simulated
variety again. Visit ScreenFree.org
Care of Creation ART
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews #32 -- Tony and Shane Uncut May 1, 2014
5/3--Conduct a Personal Environmental Audit. How much waste do I produce? How much of how many resources do I waste? How do I overconsume? Make a list. Add to it as you go. For help, try Better World Handbook.
Simple Living Works! Spring '24 ALERT & NUDGES
World Press Freedom Day
[ en.unesco.org/commemorations/worldpressfreedomday ]
Legacy SLW! Blog--Social Media Post #5 -- eNewsletters May 6, 2014
5/4--So many positive changes are possible. Don't try to do them all at once.
Start now, even if you're unsure of the result. Getting started is what's
important. As we succeed, we're more open to doing something new. Take this
pledge or write your own. "For the sake of myself, of others and of God's
Creation, I pledge to learn about my overconsumption and to do what I can
to curb it."
Legacy Podcast--Simpler OneEarth Living Ep. 0521 Neddy Astudillo: Adding Environmental Actions to Our Spiritual Practices [HOME window #3]
Blog by Lee Van Ham:
Election Time: Whose Kingdom Do We Want? Whose Will Do We Trust?
Let's Think & Act Jubilee // Our Food Choices Are Moral and Spiritual Choices/
5/5--Avoid toys and products that use batteries. When batteries are unavoidable,
use only rechargeable batteries.
Non-Conform-Freely Celebrations Cinco de Mayo [ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinco_de_Mayo ]
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 51: Steve 'Champion of Change' Beumer [8/15]
Legacy SLW! Blog--Alternatives' Media Legacy May 12, 2014
5/6--Evangelical Environmental Network produces Creation Care Magazine and has issued several books. It encourages small groups and conducts service projects. Visit CreationCare.org.
Religious Campaign for Forest Conservation conducts a series of explorations of nature
(weekend seminars) and other activities. Visit EcoStewards.org.
Guest Blog: Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out? by Bill McKibben
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 52: Kristina Kahl's Ph.D. Dissertation on Alternatives [9/1]
5/7--Until our son graduated from high school he had not been able to save money. Despite all of our modeling of frugal behavior, he spent it as fast as he made it. Then he said, "Ya know, Dad, if I don't spend so much money, I don't have to make so much money."
Guest Blog: Eco-Justice--Planet of the Humans--NO [ eco-justice.org/E-200501.asp ]
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 53: World Community Cookbooks updated [9/15]
5/8--We hope that our children will not succumb to the pressures of overconsumption that most call success. There are two ways to have the money we need. We can earn more, or we can spend less. Voluntary Simplicity says we'll have more time and energy for what really counts - for God and for
the people in our lives - if we choose to spend less on things we really don't need.
Non-Conform Freely Celebration--Mother's Day (MF) (Treasury of Celebrations, pp. 158-164; To Celebrate, pp. 116-122).
Prayer for Mother's Day: O God, bless mothers to care for their own offspring and those who care for orphans and others' offspring in need. And bless those who choose not to have children to help curb overpopulation for the health of Mother Earth and survival of all her inhabitants. Amen.
Legacy Resource-- The Good Life curriculum: 5 lessons to nurture simplicity and goodness in Christian community #1
Other May holidays include:
1st-May Day (To Celebrate, pp.115)
Ascension Day (MF)
Shavuot (MF) (To Celebrate, p. 116)
Day of Pentecost (MF) (coming of the Holy Spirit)
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Worship Alternatives: Art
More ART
Return to Table of Contents
Week 2: ReUse
5/9--ReUsing means to use something over again. RePurpose: use it again in a different way. ReFuse single-use consumables, such as styrofoam cups. Use things that can be repaired. That's not easy because so many thing are designed to break. It's called 'planned obsolescence.'
We can buy tools and appliances and shoes that can be repaired but we need
to do our homework to find them. It's not convenient.
Simpler Living Blog/eNews [HOME: window #2]
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 54: *Paul Canavese on Pope Francis [10/1] || Champion of Simple Living
Legacy SLW! Blog--A Personal View of the Ascension May 19, 2014
5/10--Most denominations have an office dealing with Creation Stewardship or Eco-Justice.
Contact yours, or Northwest Earth Institute (NWEI.org).
Guest Blog: Eco-Justice--Holy Disorientation [ eco-justice.org/E-200508.asp ]
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 64 :: Paul Canavese: Why the Pope's Encyclical and US Visit Matter
Legacy SLW! Blog--Easter in Grand Canyon May 20, 2014
5/11--Educate yourself a bit about the subtle but powerful forces working against
Earth. Petition state and national governments to require "full pricing"
of goods. Full pricing includes the environmental impact of the making and
disposing of goods.
Legacy Resource-- The Good Life curriculum: 5 lessons to nurture simplicity and goodness in Christian community
Legacy Podcast-- The Common Good Episode 65 :: Mel Lions: Why Food Choices Are Our Best Portal to Making Differences Ecologically
Mel Lions, program manager at Wild Willow Farm and devoted educator, on how we can best create alternatives to the destructive practices of industrialized agriculture and factory farming.
5/12--Help reduce pollution. For example, learn about the detrimental effects
of golf courses. In Hawaii the runoff from the rapid growth of golf courses
for tourism is killing fish and making many residents sick.
Legacy Podcast-- SLW! Episode 55: *David Shi, author, educator, speaker, consultant [10/15] || Champion of Simple Living
Blog by Lee Van Ham: Praying the Lord's Prayer with Understanding -- A Counterpoint to Christian Nationalist Prayers
5/13--"If riches increase, set not your heart on them."-Psalm 62:10. "Those
who trust in their riches will wither."-Proverbs. 11:28. "Do not store up
for yourselves treasures on Earth." -Matthew 6:21, 19. The biblical injunctions
against exploitation of the poor and the accumulation of wealth are clear
and straightforward. The Bible challenges nearly every economic value of
contemporary society.
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 44: Livin' Simply 'n Lovin' It! (part 1)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Tony and Shane Uncut, Part 2 May 22, 2014
5/14--Some European countries require manufacturers to be responsible
for the final disposition of their products. That should make manufacturers
a lot more concerned about how the product is built, repaired and recycled.
Petition government to make the manufacturers here responsible for an item
after it's been used.
Legacy Podcast-- SLW! Episode 45: Livin' Simply 'n Lovin' It! (part 2)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Alternative Pentecost and Ordinary Time May 24, 2014
5/15--Put a bucket in your shower to catch the cold water while you're waiting
for the hot. How many relatively easy uses can you think of for the water
in the bucket besides watering your indoor plants?
Legacy Resource-- The Good Life curriculum: 5 lessons to nurture simplicity and goodness in Christian community #3
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 56: Ken Wiegel on Advent Conspiracy [11/1]
Legacy SLW! Blog--Social Media Post #6 -- Email Lists May 27, 2014
5/16--"Do not damage the Earth or the sea or the trees." Revelation 7:3.
Legacy Podcast-- The Common Good Episode 66 :: Dan Swanson: What's Trending in Jubilee's Paradigm-Shifting Mission
In this episode, a conversation between Dan Swanson and Lee Van Ham while they are participating in a border immersion in Nogales, Sonora (Mexico) peaks into what's trending in Jubilee's paradigm-changing mission.
To begin with the border immersion itself, it's important to note that it was a pilot venture by SCUPE (Seminary Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education), Chicago, as they seek to shift their pedagogy into modules conducted at various hotspots for ministry. Nogales is a hotspot for border crossings and deportations. So after two days of visiting many sites that hold the dynamics of the border, serving meals to deportees and listening to their stories, our hearts were opened to think in new ways about what kind of ministry and service make sense in this volatile, transformative context.
Blog by Lee Van Ham: Wisdom from the Margins
Return to Table of Contents
Week 3: ReCycle
5/17--Recycling means making something new out of something that's already been
used. We recycle glass, paper and metal. We drop a can in the bin and carry
the bin to the curb on recycle day. That's a start. But that's really the
easiest and least necessary part of the whole cycle.
Simple Living Works! Spring ‘24 ALERT & NUDGES
Legacy Podcast series--Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? // SLW! Episode 57--Advent 1 & 2--part 1 [11/15]
5/18--Even more important is pre-cycling - evaluating a product
before buying it to make sure it is environmentally sound. Reduce
the need for recycling. Avoid products that use excess packaging. Let
manufacturers know you care. Chide the wasteful ones. Praise the helpful
ones. Go shopping with a cloth bag. If you forget, request a paper bag and
later use it to line your trash can. Decline plastic bags. Reuse all bags.
Non-Conform Freely Celebration: Graduations
It is not enough to leave these important passages to commencement rituals nor to treat them as new occasions for needless consumption. Observances at home, with friends and in one's religious community can give these passages the attention they merit and aid the graduate to move on to life's next stage.
SLW! Episode 58--Advent 3 & 4--part 2 [12/1]
5/19--Then close the loop... buy products made of recycled materials,
such as plastic lumber. It does little good to recycle if we don't then buy
the products we use made of recycled materials. Recycling is not an excuse
to keep on overconsuming as long as we recycle. Buy only the paper products
you really need. It may for the time being cost a bit more to buy and use
recycled paper. Sometimes it costs more to do what's right. Can we
afford not to care for the Earth?
SLW! Mission Reminders #1
'Live simply that others may simply live.'
Extending the spirit and resources of Alternatives, promoting faith-based voluntary simplicity since 1973
'Equipping people of faith to challenge consumerism, live justly and celebrate responsibly'
SLW! Episode 59--Christmas & Epiphany--part 3 [12/15]
Legacy SLW! Blog--Social Media Post #7 -- Blogging May 29, 2014
5/20--If a solicitation arrives that does not contain the recycled paper logo,
send it back in the postpaid return envelope with a protest letter.
Legacy Resource-- The Good Life curriculum: 5 lessons to nurture simplicity and goodness in Christian community #4
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 60: San Diego artist and SL leader Phil Petrie [1/1]
5/21--Worth Investigating
Forum on Religion and Ecology. Visit ReligionAndEcology.org, part of EmergingEarthCommunity.org
Earth Island Journal from Earth Island Institute. Visit EarthIsland.org
The Forum on Religion and Ecology at Yale. Visit fore.yale.edu.
Legacy Resource-- The Good Life curriculum: 5 lessons to nurture simplicity and goodness in Christian community #2
Legacy Podcast-- The Common Good Episode 67 :: Raising Up the Common Good & Living More Simply--Two Components in Earth-Size Living
Hear cohosts Lee and Jerry comment on multiple themes comprising the common good, and the common people for whom those themes are a primary activity of their lives. It could be that the cohosts learned more than anyone else from the 2015 podcasts. They certainly increased connections to the people interviewed.
5/22--We get so much junk mail, phone calls and email. To prevent your name, address and home phone number from being used for direct mail or telemarketing purposes, register free of charge with the Direct Marketing Association's Telephone Preference Service, PO Box 9014, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014. Visit http://www.dmaconsumers.org/offtelephonelist.html
[ Obsolete: For more information visit NewDream.org, click on Junk Mail. ]
Legacy Resource-- The Good Life curriculum: 5 lessons to nurture simplicity and goodness in Christian community #5
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 68 :: Convergence of OneEarth Living and Voluntary Simplicity
The impetus for this podcast came when TCGP cohost Lee Van Ham was one of the presenters at 'Seeking Simplicity: A Workshop for the Soul and the Planet,' hosted at St. Paul's Cathedral 1/16. The search for simplicity, not austerity, can get us closer to using only the capacities of our one planet instead of several. Yet, just what simplicity is varies widely; what size fits you? And does your size fit the planet?
5/23--"The Earth is the Lord's and all that is in it."-from Psalm 24:1-6.
Contemplate a flower very closely. Notice the detail. Watch a sunset long
enough to see it slowly evolve. Be in awe of Nature. But beware of "Bambi
Talk," thinking and speaking of animals as "cute." The balance of nature
is held by life and death competition among animals and plants. All creation
deserves respect. Beware of cartoons that trivialize animals and nature,
and of animal-based fads that sell more comic books, clothing and other stuff.
Mammals, fish, birds and insects are not humans and need to be respected
for their place in God's Creation.
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 61: *John de Graaf, producer and author of Affluenza [1/15] || Champion of Simple Living
Blog by Lee Van Ham:My Decision to Write on Substack
5/24--TargetEarth.org has developed a rainforest conference center in Belize. With the mission
"Serving the Earth, Serving the Poor," CEA has service opportunities in 15
countries; a full semester academic program; a retreat center in the Sierras;
and field stations in Zimbabwe, Brazil and the U.S. Its Eden Conservancy
buys endangered lands.
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 62: *Tim Kasser, psychology professor and author of The High Price of Materialism [2/1] || Champion of Simple Living
Blog by Lee Van Ham: Let's Think & Act Jubilee // How Redistribution and Sharing Differ
Return to Table of Contents
Week 4:
ReStore
5/25--Do you get "Living on Earth" on your local public radio station? If so, tune in or subscribe to the podcast. Visit LoE.org. If not, petition the local manager to carry it and help find an
"underwriter" to fund the broadcast.
SLW! Mission Reminders #2
SimpleLivingWorks.org - daily Nudge; weekly Nudge; twice monthly podcast; monthly eNews; inspirational and educational resources for self, family, congregation or group -- all online and free of charge
We at Simple Living Works! believe that simple living really does work!
Voluntary Simplicity, choosing to live simpler lives, is a faithful, satisfying, effective, comprehensive way of life.
Legacy Podcast-- The Common Good Episode 69 :: Anne Marie Tipton: The Movement to Divest from Fossil Fuels Is Growing Rapidly
Anne Marie Tipton, a volunteer with Fossil Free California, on the campaigns to divest from fossil fuels. She dates the divestment movement from the 2012 article by Bill McKibben published by Rolling Stone magazine. Currently, over 500 entities have pledged to divest from fossil fuels, Stanford University and the City of Seattle are among them.
Legacy SLW! Blog--Livin' Simply 'n Lovin' It -- SLW! eNews 5/2/15
5/26--Restoring... remember what grandmother says, "You got it out. You
put it back!" The most common example is trees. But this also relates to
sustainable agriculture... putting natural, not synthetic nutrients back
in the soil. Restoring helps make up for past mistakes but never should be
used as a reason to make future ones. And some resources cannot be restored,
like oil and topsoil.
Ascension Day (MF) (Jesus ascended into heaven), traditionally celebrated the 40th day of Easter, although sometimes it is celebrated on the following Sunday.
Legacy blog: A Personal View of the Ascension
Guest Blog: Eco-Justice--Voting, Pandemic and Eco-Justice
[ eco-justice.org/E-200522.asp ]
5/27--"A tree farm is not a forest." A forest is an eco-system with animals
and insects. A tree farm is a place to produce a crop to make more paper,
building materials, furniture, etc. Tree farms may be necessary but are not
an excuse for de-forestation or clear-cutting.
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 63: *Lee Van Ham, director of The OneEarth Project, author of Blinded by Progress || Champion of Simple Living [2/15]
Blog by Lee Van Ham: Let's Think & Act Jubilee // Overpopulation--the Multiplier of Current Crises
5/28--At a population of 300+ million, Americans constitute about 5% of the
current world population, yet are responsible for 30% of the total global
resource consumption. We have earned ourselves the dubious distinction of
becoming the most over populated nation on the planet. Over population is
determined not by the number of people, but by the degree to which a population
is out of balance with the environment. [Continued]
SLW! Mission Reminders #3
Simple Living is not a list of rules, nor living on the cheap. It avoids fads, convenience and deprivation. It's so much more than a hobby. We believe in abundance, that there's enough for everybody's needs, not anybody's greed.
Contemporary faith-based simple living is guided by the five Life Standards of Living More with Less, the classic by Doris Janzen Longacre, now updated.
Voluntary Simplicity is both personal responsibility and advocacy for just public policy. It's more than personal happiness, though that's quite important.
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 64: *Frank Cordaro, Catholic Worker activist [3/1] || Champion of Simple Living
Legacy SLW! Blog--In the Steps of St. Paul 5/11/15
5/29--If we do not change, the 567 million people born in the US in the 1990s will cause more environmental degradation than the 915 million born in the global South during the same period. Do we have the right to do that? -John Leon Fish
Legacy Resource--Simply Delicious: Quantity Cooking for Churches Introductory Materials
Legacy Podcast The Common Good Episode 70: William Ostrander:: I Want to Reverse Climate Change by How I Farm. Why Am I Also Running for U.S. Congress?
When TCGP co-host Jerry Iversen heard farmer William Ostrander speak at a Climate Action rally, he knew he wanted an interview for TCGP.
5/30--What does Jesus' cleansing of the temple tell us about our role as disciples?
He was upsetting the status quo. Shall we be about the actual cleansing of
God's Creation? Has it become a den of thieves? How can we prevent it from
continually being corrupted by pollution and greed? Are we willing to deal with the resistance to change from the polluters? Look to 350.org for support.
Non-Conform Freely Celebration: Memorial Day (MF)
Legacy Resource--Simple Delicious: Quantity Cooking for ChurchesRecipes
Legacy SLW! Blog--Livin' Simply 'n Lovin' It! (part 2) 5/23/15
5/31--EarthMinistry.org produces Earth Letter, its "mini-Journal
of Christian environmental spirituality" and a variety of programs, workshops
and resource materials. It's mission is to engage, educate and inspire
individuals and congregations to deepen our relationship with creation and
with the God of creation.
Legacy Resource--Simple Delicious: Quantity Cooking for Churches
Hints, Tables, Resources, Index
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 65: Ken Sehested, Baptist Peace Fellowship activist, author, blogger, pastor [3/15]
Other May holidays include on the Last Monday-Memorial Day (Treasury
of Celebrations, p. 164-166; To Celebrate, pp. 122-124; bulletin inserts).
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Spirit of Simplicity:
Quotes & Art for Simpler Living and Global Justice
More ART
Coming in June: Alternative Giving || Contributions || Volunteering || Planning Alternative Christmas Events ||
One Way to Solve Our Beggar Dilemma
MORE LEGACY BLOGS
May '16
Simple Living NUDGE - Monthly Edition, 6/16
SLW! Weekly Digest, 5/22/16
Simple Living NUDGE - Weekly Edition, 5/19/16
SLW! Weekly Digest, 5/15/16 // Walter Brueggemann
SLW! Weekly Digest, 5/8/16 // Alternatives' Founder Has Died
SLW! eNews, 5/16 // Ed Fallon, Founder, Great March for Climate Action
May '17
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 5/26/17--SURVIVAL #2
SLW! Weekly Digest, 5/22/17--Banishing Fake News #12
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 5/19/17--SURVIVAL #1
SLW! Weekly Digest, 5/15/17--Banishing Fake News #11
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 5/12/17--SANITY #16
Simple Living Works! EXTRA, 5/10/17--Garage Sales and the War Machine
SLW! Weekly Digest, 5/8/17--Banishing Fake News #10
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 5/5/17--SANITY #15
SLW! eNews #68, 5/17 -- Hazel Henderson of Ethical Markets, Part 2
SLW! Monthly Digest 5/17 - Complete
May '18
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 522/18
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 5/15/18 / eNews #80--Susan Taylor of Just Money Advisors, on her new book 'What About Our Money? A Faith Response,' Part 3 on Giving and Investing
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 5/8/18: Curbing Climate Crisis Drivers--Overpopulation and Overconsumption
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 5/1/18--Susan Taylor of Just Money Advisors, on her new book 'What About Our Money? A Faith Response,' Part 2 on Matters of the Heart
May '19
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 5/22/19--Helpful Find: The Sanders Institute
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 5/15/19: eNews #92--Tired of Being Guilted?
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 5/8/19--NO Trump Zone
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 5/1/19--SLW! Podcast: Steve Cornett, Regenerative Farmer
May '20
Simpler Living Nudge--eNews #104 5/15/20: SLW! Podcast Ep. 0520--Life with Covid-19: Heading Toward a More Ecological World
Simpler Living Nudge 5/1/20--Living Generously
May '21
Simpler Living Nudge 5/15/21--eNews #116: SLW! Podcast Ep. 0521--Neddy Astudillo: Adding Environmental Actions to Our Spiritual Practices
May '22
Simpler Living Blog 5/15/22--eNews #128: Think Sustainable Population!
Return to Table of Contents
Month 4*
Early April SLW! Legacy Bonus Episode: Time for Healthcare for All--the Majority Want It and California's Nearly There
I recommend April 17 legacy episode of Best of the Left Podcast: #1178 Economic Evolution (Capitalism, Consumerism and Beyond), especially segments on Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist (Mar 29, 2018) by Kate Raworth
Worthwhile SLW! Series--Simple Living SANITY
'I Buy Blue' and a list of states by color.
Healthy Political Practices & Spiritual Disciplines
Legacy SLW! Blog: Banishing Fake News
Mid-week Sabbath: Catch up on the latest nudges or relish these Care of Creation QUOTES & ART
Return to Table of Contents
Return to Table of Contents
Month 6*--Alternative Giving
Week One
More 'Alternative Giving' Resources
Week 1:
Contributions
6/1--Reflect. Substitute the word "stuff" for money. "No one can serve two
masters... You cannot serve God and wealth."-Matthew 6:24 (also Luke 16:13)
Call for Whose Birthday? 2024 Submissions
Guidelines
Index of past issues
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 66: Peter Sawtell, exec. dir. of Eco-Justice Ministries [4/1]
Legacy SLW! Blog--Social Media Post #8 -- Podcasting June 8, 2014
6/2--Confused by all the requests for money? Call your denominational office
or consider a clearinghouse like IPM -- International Partners in Mission:
An ecumenical ministry for justice and hope -- that focuses on small, grassroots efforts
around the world (ipmconnect.org). They do the homework. You
choose the organizations you prefer or let them choose.
SLW! Digest
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 71 :: Jim Redmond, Mr. Missouri River, on Acting Ecologically Wherever You Live
'Volunteers are Beyond Measure!' Dawn Snyder bestowed the 'Friend of Conservation 2015' award to our illustrious leader, Jim Redmond, during last night's Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center's Awards and Volunteer Dinner.
Jim Redmond, exemplifies the importance of living in ecological consciousness wherever we are. Jim is a leader in the Iowa Sierra Club and has great knowledge about relating to the Missouri River with ecological integrity.
If you're a Sierra Club member in the state of Iowa, what kind of issues are you addressing? If you're not in Iowa, you'll be able to translate all the issues discussed in this podcast into similar ones in your area: protecting fragile habitats, pure water, using the natural world in ways that recognize our interdependence with it.
RIP, Jim [obituary]
Legacy SLW! Blog--Tony and Shane Uncut, Part 3 June 20, 2014
6/3--Most groups now have foundations or endowments that receive tax-deductible
gifts while you're living or after you've died. Check with your denomination. Consider bequests in your will for your congregation, for your denomination and for other worthy organizations.
SLW! Spring '24 ALERT!
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 67: redmoonsong, simple living war tax resister with NWTRCC [4/15]
Legacy SLW! Blog--Let's Learn About RAMADAN June 25, 2014
6/4--Some credit cards give you "cash back," some charge no annual fee, others
have lower interest. The best ones give a percentage of your purchases to charity. Many environmental groups offer these "conscience cards." We use GreenAmerica.org VISA. [Read Lee's blog 'A Credit Card That Does NOT Use a Mega-Bank.']
Shavuot (MF) (To Celebrate, p. 116) Shavuot 2022 begins at sunset on Thur., 6/4 and ends on the evening of Sat., 6/6.
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 68: Ed Fallon, climate crisis activist and host of Fallon Forum [5/1]
Legacy SLW! Blog--Tony and Shane Uncut, Part 4 June 28, 2014
6/5--Most of us use some criteria to decide who and what to support. Several national magazines investigate non-profits and then publish lists of "worthwhile charities." CharityNavigator.org rates thousands of charities according to effectiveness and lists the salaries of the executives.
Pentecost (arrival of the Holy Spirit) (MF) -- The Holy Spirit is neither a heavenly natural phenomenon nor a spirit from the netherworld, rather God's voice to us and among us. // Worship Alternatives // Alternative Pentecost and Ordinary Time
6/5/23 is World Environment Day.
[ worldenvironmentday.global/en ] Celebrated in more than 100 countries, it is the UN's most important day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment. The theme for 2023 is 'Beat PlasticPollution.'
6/6--Investigate FaithAndMoneyNetwork.org (formerly Ministry of Money): Discipleship, Compassion, Stewardship, which offers "Third World pilgrimages," leads workshops and publishes a newsletter. Also, MoreThanMoney.org, a quarterly from the non-profit Impact
Project explores the personal, political and spiritual impact of wealth in
our lives. It has expanded now to BolderGiving.org and GivingCommunities.org
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 69: Walter Brueggemann (part 1), renowned scholar and author [5/15]
Legacy SLW! Blog--Social Media Post #9 -- Internet Radio June 30, 2014
6/7--Development Funds allow you to decide how much of the return you keep
and how much provides credits and small business assistance to poor
microentrepreneurs throughout the world. Community Loan Funds provide
a low but stable return and support small businesses.
For a list of agencies you may wish to contact for more information on a specific area of concern or for the purpose of making a charitable donation, see
Treasury of Celebrations, pp. 285-288
Giving Calendar
Legacy Podcast-- The Common Good Episode 72 :: Walter Brueggemann (part 2) on Sabbath as Resistance to a Nano-Second, Hurry-Up World
This podcast is about resistance to our 24/7 civilization. Quiet, disciplined resistance. Practicing alternative, slower behaviors to the fast food, nano-second hurry of a work week, and living richer because of it. This interview with Walter Brueggemann will surprise, disturb, and delight you!!
The interview revolves around the word 'Sabbath.' It's a surprise, because not so many of us would likely hurry to listen to a podcast on Sabbath. But this half-hour interview with Brueggemann goes to highly unpredictable places. This podcast will destroy the stereotypes about Sabbath.
Walter Brueggemann is surely one of the most influential Bible interpreters of our time. He is the author of over one hundred books and numerous scholarly articles.
[ walterbrueggemann.com/resources/books/books-by-walter-brueggemann ] He continues to be a highly sought-after speaker.
Walter Brueggemann's web site: About, Books, Audio/Video || [ Wikipedia ]
Sabbath as Resistance: Saying NO to the Culture of NOW
6/8--"One's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions."-from Luke
12:13-34. What do I own that is not necessary for the activities I find most
meaningful? What would I do with my free time if I only had to spend half
as much time working? [Trek]
Relish these Alternative Giving QUOTES.
World Oceans Day
For more information this week:
Treasury of Celebrations, Part II: Gifts, pp. 88-126.
Popular among young adults is the concept of Minimalism. Investigate BecomingMinimalist.com, TheMinimalists.com, and JoelZaslofsky.com (Smart and Simple Matters).
To obtain materials on Alternative Gift Markets, see To Celebrate, pp. 44-46.
For a list of agencies you may wish to contact for more information
on a specific area of concern or for the purpose of making a charitable donation,
see
Treasury of Celebrations, pp. 285-288
Giving Calendar
Return to Table of Contents
Week Two: Volunteering
6/9--Reflect. "For the love of money is root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains." -1 Timothy 6:6-10.
SLW! Digest
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 70: Tom Sine, author of 'Live Like You Give a Damn: Join the Changemaking Celebration' and New ChangeMakers blog. [6/1] || Champion of Simple Living
Legacy SLW! Blog--Young Activist Minimalist Team--SLW! eNews 6/5/15
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Spirit of Simplicity:
Quotes & Art for Simpler Living and Global Justice
More ART
6/10--Many denominations have a volunteer youth corps, placing high school and
college graduates into places of need for one or two years. The U.S. government's
Peace Corps (overseas assignments) and VISTA program (Volunteers in Service
to America-stateside placement) do not restrict by age.
Last Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast Episodes
Legacy Podcast-- The Common Good Episode 73 :: Hal Brody: An Up-to-the-Minute Report on Solar Energy
Costs, technologies, rebates, and policies change rapidly around solar energy. If you haven't updated yourself since 2014, you're likely not aware of how affordable and convenient it is. This episode's interview with Hal Brody lets the sun shine on all of these issues. Every day the sun sends more energy to Earth than what we use globally in a year. But our technology has lagged in using it. How about today? Is solar energy still more expensive or does it now compete in price with carbon energies?
Legacy SLW! Blog--New SLW! Weekly: Interfaith Power and Light 6/24/15
6/11--Most service agencies (like Lutheran Social Service or Catholic Charities)
and service clubs (like Lions) welcome and need volunteers. Over 250 fraternal
organizations, such as Thrivent Financial, plow their profits back into our communities and congregations by giving challenge grants and encouraging volunteerism.
SLW! Spring '24 ALERT!
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 71: Jessie Schiele of Jerusalem Farm, KC [6/15]
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews: Northwest Earth Institute 6/30/15
6/12--NGO's - "non-government organizations" (like Red Cross) - can be very
effective in meeting social needs. Some, like Habitat for Humanity, are heavily
volunteer driven. Some, like Big Brothers and Sisters, are very personal
and one-on-one.
Legacy Resource--Voluntary Simplicity Study Action Guide: Foreword // Preface
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 72: John Seager of Population Connection, Part 1 [7/1]
6/13--Learn how to say NO, Thanks. Most volunteer work is meaningful. But most
organizations will ask for more and more. We have to set our own limits.
Legacy Resource--Voluntary Simplicity Study Action Guide: Procedure, Resources, Action Project // Introduction
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 73: John Seager of Population Connection, Part 2 [7/15]
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews, 6/16 // Tom Sine, author/futurologist
6/14--Non-conform Freely Celebration--Flag Day. Fly an Earth flag to show that our allegiance is first to Earth, then to a country, culture or civilization.
When the neighbor child comes to the door selling posters or overpriced holiday wrap, send a contribution directly to the person in charge at the school or church. That way, your contribution supports the program (not just a fraction of it after the fundraising company has its cut) and is tax-deductible. Express your concern to the PTA or official that business interests may be taking advantage of the kids. Offer to help raise funds another more direct way.
Legacy Podcast-- The Common Good Episode 74 :: Paul Taylor: How Much Is Enough? A Vital Question for the Common Good
When an economy HAS to grow in order to be strong, it cannot answer the questions raised in this podcast: How much is enough? And how does living with a sense of enough affect the quality of our lives and the lives of others? Earth, our planetary home, has strong opinions about how much of what she produces is for each of us. Our choices about enough put us between what the growth economy says and what the ecospheres say. What does an economy of enough look like? How can we encourage one another in choices of sufficiency when we're often told that we deserve more? When all around us we're being lured into nicer, better, and greater? What happens to poverty and wealth in a world where everyone takes only their portion? This podcast lets you in on one person's choices about enough and more, sufficiency and excess. PLUS, our guest raises a haunting question that grows out of the biblical story of manna, the food for the people of Israel while they were in the desert after leaving Egypt. Here's the question: Even though the Bible clearly states that a container of manna is to be in the Ark of the Covenant as a perpetual reminder of enough, why do we never see so much as a symbol of it in centers of Judeo-Christian worship? Don't go away.
Lee met Paul initially when they attended an event led by Faith and Money Network, Inc., part of the Church of the Savior in Washington, D.C. Paul has chaired the board of Faith and Money Network for awhile. Along the way, his wife, Cara, and Lee's, Juanita, developed a wonderful relationship, and that too facilitated our getting together. Paul and Cara live just outside of Sacramento. It was on one of our visits that Paul wondered aloud why houses of worship did not have in them a symbol of Enough?
6/15--Mid-month Sabbath: take a break, catch up on the latest nudges, or relish these Alternative Giving QUOTES and ART
SLW! Spring '24 ALERT!
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 75 :: Jean Diaz, Exec. Dir., San Diego Community Land Trust
With the average house in San Diego in 2016, selling at over $500,000, and with almost 800 San Diego homes selling for over $2M in 2015, just what does 'affordable housing' mean? (Just to compare: the average home in Cleveland, OH, sells for around $80,000.) What level of income is needed in San Diego to become a homeowner? When the Market does not, and cannot, provide houses affordable to people in the workforce, what alternatives are there to paying rents that continue rising? Is renting your only option, and therefore paying all your housing money to someone else who does own? Stay with us for this episode of The Common Good Podcast because we're talking with the executive director of one non-profit that defines 'affordable housing' in a way that many people in the workforce can become homeowners, not just in San Diego County, but all across the country.
This podcast updates us on the community land trust model of making homes available for ownership at 20%-or-so below the market rate. I've been on the board of the SDCLT since its inception, chairing it for at least three years, so I believe in this model of housing. The reasons will become clear as I talk with Jean Diaz, who became Ex. Dir. in 2013.
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simple Living NUDGE - Weekly Edition, 6/5/16
6/16--[Fundraising items that are useful and carry a message are available from
Earth Care. Their program for children includes environmentally friendly
products... greeting cards and wrapping paper made of recycled paper at a
discount, such as Northern Sun, Jim Morris T-shirts, EarthShirtz and Social T's.]
EcoMall.com, 'A Place to Help Save the Earth,' searches hundreds of sites that carry green products.
(Third Sunday)--
Father's Day (MF)
Prayer for Father's Day: O God, bless fathers to care for their own offspring and those who care for orphans and others' offspring in need. And bless those who choose not to have children to help curb overpopulation for the health of Mother Earth and survival of all her inhabitants. Amen.
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 74: Glen Gersmehl of Lutheran Peace Fellowship [8/1]
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest, 6/8/16
Return to Table of Contents
Week Three
More Alternative Giving
6/17--Reflect. "Keep your lives from the love of money, and be content with
what you have; for he has said, 'I will never leave you or forsake you.'"-Hebrews
13:5
Last Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast Episodes
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 75: Jim Goetsch of Friends of the Third World [8/15]
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest, 6/15/16 -- Jessie Schiele of Jerusalem Farm, KS
6/18--Translate your environmental tithe into cash. How much money have you
saved so far by conserving resources? Give that amount to an environmental
organization, preferably a grass roots Christian one.
Legacy Resource--Voluntary Simplicity Study Action Guide: On Biblical Justice
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 76: Celebrating Ugly Food with Amy Beveridge of Bethel Lutheran Church, Templeton, CA, and with Gale McNichols-Oliver and Emily Wilson of GleanSLO [9/1]
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 6/19/16
6/19--Jesus washed others' feet and instituted the Great Meal as symbols of
community. As a national community, our extravagant lives impact negatively
on people around the globe. Besides prayer and almsgiving, what other ways
can we work for Eco-Justice?
Legacy Resource--Voluntary Simplicity Study Action Guide: Session 1: A Closer Look
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 77: Fighting for Clean Water with Paula Wansa of Bethel Lutheran Church, Templeton, CA, [9/15]
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest, 6/22/16
6/20--Consider "giving of ourselves" by volunteering time for groups that help
the truly needy... tree planting, public education/information, protest letters
and boycotts of polluters, lobbying governments, restoring housing, developing
rooftop and community gardens. "Giving of ourselves" includes our special
skills, like writing, carpentry, sewing, making music. What activity has
little or no value in our lives? TV? Movies? Could we reduce some entertainment
to allow more time for volunteering?
World Refugee Day [ un.org/en/events/refugeeday ]
Legacy Podcast-- The Common Good Ep. 76: Celebrating Ugly Food & Fighting for Clean Water
- Part 1: Celebrating Ugly Food / Gleaning with Pastor Amy Beveridge, Gail McNichols-Oliver and Emily Wilson
Exploring the intersection of food, water & faith in a time of drought, every Sunday in August, Bethel Lutheran Church (ELCA), Templeton, CA - Speakers, film, music, worship, fun! + Ugly Food Banquet.
- Bethel Lutheran's Ugly Food Project promotion items (media releases, bulletin inserts, etc.) Plus an extended conversation with Gail McNichols-Oliver, a founder of GleanSLO, and Biblical reflections by Pr. Amy in light of Jesus' feeding the multitudes.
- Part 2: Fighting for Clean Water with Paula Wansa
VIDEO--Thirsty for Justice: The Struggle for the Human Right to Water [ vimeo.com/87513817 ]
6/21--First Day of Summer
"God loves a cheerful giver." -2 Corinthians 9:7. Jesus calls all who would follow him to a joyful life of carefree unconcern for possessions: "Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you."-Matthew 5:42.
SLW! Legacy Blog: One Way to Solve Our Beggar Dilemma
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 78: author, blogger, speaker, podcaster James Howard Kunstler [10/1]
6/22--Jesus experienced a slow and painful death for our sakes. The possibilities
for new relationship with God and others that he invites us to can be lived
out NOW with Creation. Pledge to help bring about reduction in the negative
environmental impact of our companies, churches or schools.
COMING--SLW! Blog/eNews/Summer '24 ALERT!
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 79: author, blogger, speaker, podcaster Lee Van Ham on his latest book, From Egos to Eden, Vol. 2 of his 3-part OneEarth series, to be released Feb., 2017 [10/15]
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 6/26/16 -- Planning Alternative Christmas Events Early; Coming in July: Money & Goods
6/23--Jesus went through hell for our sakes. Are we willing to follow his example?
Take personal responsibility for breaking the cycle of addiction to
overconsumption. Pledge to raise your children in an environmentally sensitive
way and to set a good example for them.
Legacy Resource--Voluntary Simplicity Study Action Guide: Session 2: The Matthew 25 Theme
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Ep. 77: From Egos to Eden
Author Lee Van Ham gives us a preview of 'From Egos to Eden: Our Heroic Journey to Keep Earth Livable,' vol. 2 of his Eden for the 21st Century trilogy, due out Feb. 6, 2017.
6/24--Alternatives' gift card & envelope
"We Honor Christ's Birth by Continuing His Work" helps when we give gifts in other peoples' names. Check with them before giving, or give to groups they already support or have said they would like to support, groups you can support with a clear conscience.
Blog by Lee Van Ham: Let's Think & Act Jubilee // A Mighty Wind Can Carry Us into a Different Paradigm
Legacy Podcast--The Common Good Episode 78 :: Susan Taylor
Susan Taylor of Just Money Advisors on Relating to Money in a Toxic Culture and Parenting Children about Money
6/25--At the mid-point of the year, do you feel more free from the burdens of
"stuff" separating us from others, from God, from ourselves? How many of
the ideas were you able to try? Seriously. How many can you continue? How
can we share our experience with others in a friendly, non-judgmental way?
We can be living testimonials to a simpler, more God-pleasing life.
Coming--SLW! Summer '24 ALERT!
For more information this week:
Spirit of Simplicity QUOTES: 6. Alternative Giving
Spirit of Simplicity ART: Alternative Giving
Return to Table of Contents
Week Four--Planning Alternative Christmas Events Early
6/26--Many churches and groups organize Alternative Christmas events in the
fall. Alternatives' How to Organize an Alternative Christmas Community Festival and Planning an
Alternative Christmas Workshop might help. The three basic plans can
be used singly or combined.
#1. Offer information about worthwhile organizations and encourage people
to give a monetary gift in someone else's name. Most people consider it an
honor to receive a "gift" that makes a difference.
Contact Alternative Gifts International (800/842-2243 or AltGifts.org)
Legacy Podcast series--SLW! Episodes 80-83: WHOSE Birthday? - Inspiring Reflections (with discussion questions), Fun Activities, liturgical cycle A (Gospel of Matthew) | TEXT
6/27--#2. Sell to or give to others crafts and clothing from artisans of non-industrial countries.
Your family and friends get beautiful gifts at reasonable prices.
Third World artisans get a fair price for their work since volunteer fairs and shops
don't take a large share. Contact: SERRV International (SERRV.org);
Ten Thousand Villages (TenThousandVillages.com); Friends of the Third World
(FriendsOfTheThirdWorld.org) and Sharing the Dream (SharingTheDream.org).
SLW! Digest
Legacy Podcast series--SLW! Episodes 80-83: WHOSE Birthday? - Inspiring Reflections (with discussion questions), Fun Activities, liturgical cycle A (Gospel of Matthew) | TEXT
6/28--#3. Organize an Alternative Christmas Workshop at your church. Several
churches might work together. Go beyond gift-giving to the purpose of celebrating
Christmas. Give people other ways to celebrate. Use support
materials like Unplug the Christmas Machine and Leader's
Guide to Unplug the Christmas Machine Workshop, also in audio. (See December.)
Last Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast Episodes
Legacy Podcast series--SLW! Episodes 80-83: WHOSE Birthday? - Inspiring Reflections (with discussion questions), Fun Activities, liturgical cycle A (Gospel of Matthew) | TEXT
- #82: Christmas Eve/ Day [12/1]
6/29--Non-Conform Freely Celebration: RETIREMENT
Time to get deeper into the fray
Homer's heifer celebration
Retirees make hospital possible
Washboard band scrubs myths about the aging
Rite to retire
The gift of a lifetime
Grandpa's room
To obtain materials on Alternative Gift Markets, see To Celebrate, pp. 44-46.
To shop by mail for Third World Crafts, contact those on June 27th
and read excerpts from The Conscious Consumer
: Promoting Economic Justice Through Fair Trade. [ fairtraderesource.org/uploads/2007/11/conscious-consumer-excerpts.pdf\ ]
Become familiar with FairTradeFederation.org (formerly Fair Trade Resource Network).
Also see Treasury of Celebrations, pp. 285-286.
Legacy Podcast series--SLW! Episodes 80-83: WHOSE Birthday? - Inspiring Reflections (with discussion questions), Fun Activities, liturgical cycle A (Gospel of Matthew) | TEXT
- #83: Christmas Season - Epiphany [12/15]
Blog by Lee Van Ham: Let's Think & Act Jubilee // Jubilee of Release for Women
6/30--Coming in July: Money & Goods // Green Business || Green Investing || Green Products || Personal Finance, Credit & Debt || Economics QUOTES
Heifer Project International (Heifer.org) provides livestock and training
to needy families in 100+ countries. Their Gift Catalog offers clothing and
crafts. Their World Ark receives gifts in others' names.
Legacy Resource--Voluntary Simplicity Study Action Guide: Session 3: Christmas--For I Was Naked And You Clothed Me
Legacy Podcast--TCGP #79: Candace Vanderhoff, Water Conservation/Reclamation (1/1)
MORE LEGACY BLOGS
June '17
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 6/26/17--SURVIVAL #6
SLW! Weekly Digest, 6/22/17
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 6/19/17--SURVIVAL #5
SLW! Weekly Digest, 6/15/17 -- Peter Sawtell, Eco-Justice Ministries
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 6/12/17--SURVIVAL #4
SLW! Weekly Digest, 6/8/17
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 6/5/17---SURVIVAL #3
SLW! eNews #69, 6/17 -- Iowa State Senator Rob Hogg, author of 'America's Climate Century'
SLW! Monthly Digest 6/17 - Complete
June '18
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 6/22/18--Scam Alert!
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 6/15/18--Bill Ryserson of the Population Institute and Population Media Center, part 1
NEW--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 6/8/18
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 6/1/18
June '19
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 6/22/19--A Reminder of White Privilege
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 6/15/19: eNews #93--OverPopulation Update
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 6/8/19--SLW! Podcast: Carrie Radloff, Working for Environmental Progress in the Politically Regressive Midwest
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 6/1/19--Eco-Justice Climate Crisis/Extinction Series
June '20
Simpler Living Nudge--eNews #105 6/15/20--Who Are the Looters?
Simpler Living Nudge 6/1/20--SLW! Podcast Ep. 0620
June '21
Simpler Living Nudge 6/15/21--eNews #117: SLW! Podcast Ep. 0621--Carrie Radloff: MidWest Environmental Activism
June '22
Simpler Living Blog 6/15/22--eNews #129: Dealing with Inflation
Return to Table of Contents
Month 7*
Economics QUOTES & ART
Money & Goods
Week 1--Green Business
7/1--Meditate on the many kinds of abundance in life. "I came that they may
have life, and have it abundantly."-from John 10:7-18. "The pastures of the
wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy."-from Psalm 65.
"The mountains and the hills before you shall burst forth into song."-from
Isaiah 55:6-13
SLW! Blog/eNews/ALERT
Legacy Podcast series--SLW! Episodes 84-85: Walter Brueggemann
on Money & Possessions
- #84: Six Theses [1/1]
- #85: brief Biblical survey [1/15]
The Common Good version follows tomorrow.
7/2--A Green Business is a company that strives to make a profit while making
the Earth and its people a top priority. It takes responsibility for the
short- and long-term effects of its products. It may have a Code of Ethics
like the Ceres Principles.
Voluntary Simplicity Study Action Guide Session 7: Independence Day: I Was a Stranger And You Welcomed Me
The Common Good Legacy Podcast series
Also see SLW! Episodes 84&85 immediately above.
7/3--One of the best sources for information about Green Business is Green America's (formerly Co-op America) National Green Pages: A Directory of Products and Services
for People and the Planet. Discover thousands of socially and environmentally
responsible businesses. Find hundreds of tips to save you money, improve
your life and protect the planet. Meet the green businesses that are rewriting
the rules of commerce... and succeeding. Call 800/58-GREEN or visit GreenAmerica.org. A Green America membership includes a worthwhile journal.
SLW! Quarterly Digest
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 86: film producer and author *John 'Affluenza' de Graaf [2/1] || Champion of Simple Living
7/4--Non-Conform Freely Celebration: Independence Day. Immigrants? Refugees? Illegal aliens? Celebrate the Fourth by welcoming strangers.
Treasury of Celebrations, pp. 170-172
To Celebrate, pp. 133-136
Bulletin Insert
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 87: community organizer and author *Cecile Andrews [2/15] || Champion of Simple Living
Legacy SLW! Blog--Second Half Starts Now July 9, 2014
7/5--Are garage sales a good thing? Signs of frugality? Promoting reusing? Sharing
good stuff with folks who can't afford new stuff? A good fund-raiser for
worthwhile groups? What is the intent? To simplify our lives or just to clear
out a bunch of stuff we're tired of so we can load up on what's new and exciting?
Floating Sabbath: take a break, catch up on the latest nudges, or relish these Economics QUOTES & ART.
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 88: Nancy Pearlman, Exec. Dir. of Educational Communications and its numerous environmental programs [3/1]
Legacy SLW! Blog--Social Media Post #10 -- Marketing Plan Checklist July 13, 2014
7/6--Is it better to buy in quantity at warehouse markets for economic stewardship,
or to support the local small business? Yes. We wrestle. Living more simply
is not simple.
Guest Blog: Eco-Justice--Four Theological Affirmations (7/3) [ eco-justice.org/E-200703.asp ]
Legacy Podcast--TCGP #81: Learning Resistance and Alternatives from Zapatistas and Jubilee's Mexico Partners (3/1)
7/7--Worth investigating - The E. F. Schumacher Society (SchumacherCenterForANewEconomics.org) promotes the ideas of Schumacher's classic Small Is Beautiful: Economics As If People Mattered and implements those ideas in practical programs that link economics, ecology and culture.
The Shelton Green Alpha Fund has no money invested in fossil fuels and lots invested in wind and solar. The fund went up 100% last year. The money I invested in it in 2015 and 2016 has now quadrupled in value. --Rita Swan
Legacy Podcast--TCGP #82: Kelly Siefken: How Sacramento Food Bank Distributes Food (Where the Food System Fails) and Helps Families Become Self-Sustaining (4/1)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Thank the Rich July 20, 2014
7/8--"One's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions."-from Luke
12:13-34. What do I own that is not necessary for the activities I find most
meaningful? What would I do with my free time if I only had to spend half
as much time working? (from Trek)
For more information read Living More with Less, pp., 73-98 (Money).
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 89: Lacy Cagle, Education Dir. of Northwest Earth Institute on its new course 'A Different Way: Living Simply in a Complex World' [3/15]
Return to Table of Contents
Week Two
Green Investing
7/9--When investing, be aware that some mutual fund companies, families of mutual
funds, insurance companies and other investment companies have "green" funds,
"socially responsible funds" or at least "social screens." These screens
are criteria that companies must meet before the investing company will invest.
Guest Blog: Eco-Justice--Stretching the Notion of Neighbor [ eco-justice.org/E-200710.asp\ ]
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 90: Author, blogger, speaker, coach *Susan Vogt on her Lenten disciple of 'Love Your Enemy' [4/1] || Champion of Simple Living
7/10--The most common screens are no tobacco, alcohol or armaments. Other screens
deal with hiring practices, employee conditions, etc. Some companies announce
their screens to attract investors. Other companies keep their screens quiet
not to scare investors away.
SLW! Quarterly Digest
Legacy SLW! Podcast series--Hazel Henderson of Ethical Markets Media
The Common Good version follows tomorrow.
7/11--Many people feel that the only thing that matters is the financial return,
not their consciences. They fear that such screens will mean lower returns.
The irony is that companies with screens have been keeping up with and in
some cases out-performing those that have none! Socially responsible investing
may also be profitable.
7/11-Non-Conform Freely Celebration: World Population Day--blogs, podcasts, more!
Legacy Podcast--TCGP #83: Hazel Henderson of Ethical Markets Media: Reforming Economies to Work for the Wellbeing of All Creatures (5/1)
Also see Episodes 91&92 immediately above.
7/12--The number of green funds and families of funds is increasing. Some of the oldest and best known are Pax, Calvert, Working Assets and Parnassus. You can deal with these funds directly.
Focus on Reparations. Recommended by colleague Andy Loving
Hope Enterprise Corporation/Hope Credit Union
4 Old River Pl A, Jackson, MS 39202 // (601) 944-1100 // hopecu.org
Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast Ep. 0721--Matt Brennan: An Advocate for Your Congregation and Nonprofit on How to Install Solar Power
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly: Site Problem Resolved 7/13/15
7/13--One of the best sources for information on green investing is Greenmoney
Journal: Socially & Environmentally Responsible Business, Investing
and Consumer Resources (GreenMoneyJournal.com).
Guest Blog: Climate Change is About Greed
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 93: Dietician Adrienne Raimo of OneBiteWellness, coordinator of The Minimalists, Columbus, OH [5/15]
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly: Laird Schaub, Fellowship for Intentional Community 7/16/15
7/14--More resources - The Clean Yield: Principles and Profits Working
Together (CleanYield.com); NEFE.org (National Endowment for Financial Education);
and The Pocket Change Investor (available free online at
Good Advice Press. [ goodadvicepress.com/pci.htm\ ]
Relish Economics QUOTES
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 94: Iowa State Senator Rob Hogg [ robhogg.org ], author of America's Climate Century, available in paper and Kindle editions.
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly: So Much Help! 7/24/15
7/15--To pay less income tax, keep your taxable income as low as possible and
give away as much as possible. Some taxes can be sheltered or delayed. The
income is not claimed until retirement when, supposedly, your income (and
tax bracket) is lower.
Guest Blog: The Politics of Racial Cleansing and Erasing History
Legacy Podcast--TCGP #84: Patricia St. Onge: Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Peoples Coming Together for OneEarth Living (6/1)
7/16--Saving for retirement? Security is more than money. In old age, friends,
family and faith provide comfort. Network now! Put relationships in your
account, not just funds.
Relish Economics ART
Legacy Podcast--Episode 95: Peter Sawtell, exec. dir. of Eco-Justice Ministries [6/15]
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews! #47 -- Earth Mama 7/29/15
Return to Table of Contents
Week Three: Green Products
7/17--The tenth commandment is against covetousness, the inner lust to have,
which leads to stealing and oppression. Might the 11th Commandment be: Thou
Shalt Not Tempt Thy Neighbor. What can we do to discourage coveting, such
as not buying, wearing or displaying expensive things?
Guest Blog:
The Great Commission is Not the Purpose of the Church
Legacy Podcast--TCGP #85: Lee & Jerry: Actions for a Better World in a Time of Climate Change and U.S. Extremism (7/1)
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews, 7/1/16 -- John Seager, Population Connection
7/18--Seventh Generation: Products for a Healthy Planet (SeventhGeneration.com, 800/456-1177) is based
on the Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy, "In our every deliberation,
we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations."
SLW! Quarterly Digest--updated weekly
Legacy Podcast series--SLW! Episodes 96 & 97: *Shane Claiborne, of The Simple Way and Red Letter Christians || Champion of Simple Living
7/19--The X Generation, the 13th Generation, may be the first generation in
America's history not to have more prosperity than the preceding generation.
X'ers may not have the disposable income to buy and consume and... Maybe
they're lucky! Maybe they won't have all the temptations that recent generations
have had... the peer pressure to be the best, to spend the most, to conquer
the world. (Continued)
Colleague organization for young adults: The Minimalists
Legacy Podcast series--SLW! Episodes 96 & 97: *Shane Claiborne, of The Simple Way and Red Letter Christians
- Part 2, Episode 97 on his latest book 'Executing Grace: How the Death Penalty Killed Jesus and Why It's Killing Us.' [7/15]
7/20--This seems to be a generation ripe for Voluntary Simplicity. The less they spend, the less they have to make. And THEY'RE STILL OK! They're no less important than the spendthrifts who preceded us. In fact, they have an even greater chance to do something really important because they won't be burdened with all that stuff. They have great prospects... and hopefully less baggage.
Another Colleague organization for young adults: Becoming Minimalist
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 98: Vicki Robin, co-author of Your Money or Your Life [8/1]
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 7/5/16 -- July: Money & Goods -- Green Business; Green Investing; GreenProducts; Personal Finance, Credit, Debt; World Population Day, July 11
7/21--Simple Living Network sponsors a range of resources, including on-line communities at SimpleLivingForum.net.
Guest Blog: Patheos--The Privilege of Denial
Legacy Podcast--*SLW! Episode 99: Order of Lutheran Franciscans [8/15] || Champion of Simple Living
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest, 7/8/16 -- World Population Day, July 11
7/22--Beware of collections. The appeal, the "beauty" of collections is that
we pay for the items but never use them. Collecting is an additional source
of income for manufacturers. Collectors bought over $30 million of the Elvis
Stamp from Post Office Philatelic stores for collections, not to deliver
mail. (Continued)
SLW! Blog/eNews/ALERT
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 100: Reformation Scholar and ELCA Bishop Guy Erwin [9/1]
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 712/16 -- Interfaith Power and Light Voter Reflection Guide
7/23--Collectors hope that an item's value will increase in the future. It may...
to other collectors! As long as we perpetuate the myth that rarity gives
worth, collectors are safe. Baseball cards, comic books... without the need
to possess, even if the item has virtually no intrinsic value, the system
falls. Collecting gives false security... financial and psychological.
Blog by Lee Van Ham: Let's Think & Act Jubilee // Loving Money; Loving Earth
Legacy Podcast--TCGP #87: Enrique Morones: Advocate for Migrants, Immigrants, and Keeping Borders Humane (9/1)
7/24--Non-conforming freely may happen both privately and publicly. Consider
some non-mainstream media. Investigate Simple Living YES!: A Journal of Positive
Futures Center for a New American Dream at NewDream.org or PODCASTS.
Break Forth into Joy!
Beyond a Consumer Lifestyle
A Modern "Christmas Carol"
(with apologies to Charles Dickens)
MAIN SEGMENT
Video
Script
Study/Action Guide
Return to Table of Contents
Week Four--Personal Finance, Credit & Debt
7/25--Use credit cards wisely. Have only one. Use it only for purchases that
you can pay off at the end of the month. Then do it! Be aware that credit
cards vary in annual fees, monthly interest, late charges. Preferably, use
a debit card, which takes money from your account.
Break Forth into Joy!
Beyond a Consumer Lifestyle
Freedom & Possessions (part 1)
Video
Script
Study/Action Guide
7/26--For long term debt, such as a home mortgage or car purchase, consider
your options. The first is always "don't go into debt." Find a simpler house,
a simpler car. Consider borrowing from relatives or from yourself (such as
cash value in a life insurance policy). Never use a credit card.
Break Forth into Joy!
Beyond a Consumer Lifestyle
Family & Children (part 2)
Video
Script
Study/Action Guide
7/27--Avoid credit card cash advances. They have no grace period. Interest begins
accruing immediately. Credit card "checks" are a form of the dreaded
cash advance.
Break Forth into Joy!
Beyond a Consumer Lifestyle
Local & Global Connections / Taking Action (part 3)
Video
Script
Study/Action Guide
7/28--Beware of credit card promotions! One huge credit card processor proclaims
"Simplify your life in the New Year!... Consolidate your holiday bills...
It's definitely time for a break - from high interest, from holiday bills,
from seasonal stress - from the everyday. Get the break you deserve.... With
fewer bills to pay, you could end up with extra time and money on hand each
month." Except for short-term "promotional rates," their typical account
pays over 17% interest. Then came a notice that, among other increases, the
late payment fee increased from $10 to $20!
Break Forth into Joy!
Beyond a Consumer Lifestyle
Testimonials
SLW! Videos
Script
Study/Action Guide
7/29--Debt is the companion - the Enforcer - of the addiction of overconsumption.
Debt is a monster, a mobster that would control your life! Avoid debt by controlling consumption.
Earth Overshoot Day
On 7/29, humanity will have used nature's resource budget for the entire year, according to Global Footprint Network, an international sustainability organization that has pioneered the Ecological Footprint. The Ecological Footprint adds up all of people's competing demands for biologically productive areas -- food, timber, fibers, carbon sequestration, and accommodation of infrastructure. Currently, carbon emissions from burning fossil fuel comprise 60% of humanity's Ecological Footprint.
Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity's annual demand on nature exceeds what Earth's ecosystems can regenerate in that year. Over the past 20 years, it has moved up three months to July 29, the earliest ever. This means that humanity is currently using nature 1.75 times faster than our planet's ecosystems can regenerate, equivalent to 1.75 Earths. Humanity first saw ecological deficit in the early 1970s. Overshoot is possible because we are depleting our natural capital, compromising the planet’s future regenerative capacity.
Ecological Footprint Pioneer Wackernagel Fills Us In--Episode 31 of the GrowthBusters podcast
In seven months humanity has burned through the resources it takes the Earth a full year to replenish. This is overshoot, and yes, it is a very big deal. In 2021, Earth Overshoot Day fell on 8/22.
In this in-depth conversation with Global Footprint Network founder Mathis Wackernagel, find out how we know when Earth Overshoot Day falls, how and why we're operating in ecological deficit, what it means for us and our children, and what -- if anything -- we can do about it. Listen at
https://www.growthbusters.org/in-deep-earth-overshoot-day-2019/
or search for GrowthBusters on your favorite podcast app.
7/30--Saving for kids' college education? Spend time with them now, help them
develop. Then don't pressure them to be a part of a "get-ahead" system that
may leave them stressed out and in debt.
Economics QUOTES
Economics ART
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 101: Writer, speaker Paul K. Chappell from the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation [9/15]
Worthwhile Read--Jubileo! the news and updates from OneEarthJubilee.com
Wisdom from Andy Loving and from partners in Mexico
[ https://oneearthjubilee.com/2022/06/28/june-2022-jubileo-news-updates/ ]
7/31--Consider barter, community loans, exchanging services and goods, prepaying
your mortgage to free up cash, and even alternative currencies like that
in Ithaca, NY.
Call for Whose Birthday? 2024 Submissions
Guidelines
Index of past issues
Legacy Podcast--TCGP #88: Paul K. Chappell from the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation: Distinguishing Violence from Aggression in Living & Teaching Nonviolence (10/1)--Also see Episode 101 immediately above.
For more information this week:
Spirit of Simplicity QUOTES: 7. Economics
Spirit of Simplicity Art: Economics
April is Financial Literacy Month
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Worship Alternatives: Art
More ART
Return to Table of Contents
Save Net Neutrality! Day of Action (7/12/18)
Battle for the Net
Fight for the Future
Hear Democracy Now! 7/11 -- Battle For the Net: Mass Day of Action Aims to Stop Trump's FCC from Destroying Free & Open Internet
Former FCC Commissioner on How Greater Media Consolidation is a Threat to Democracy and Free Speech
Everyone Can Stand up for Net Neutrality
Watch John Oliver's stunning rant!
Also, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on the dangers of Network Consolidation (Sinclair Broadcast Group)
MORE LEGACY BLOGS
July '16
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 7/26/16
SLW! Weekly Digest, 7/22/16
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 7/19/16
SLW! Weekly Digest, 7/15/16 -- Population Connection, part 2
July '17
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 7/26/17--SURVIVAL #10
SLW! Weekly Digest, 7/22/17
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 7/19/17--SURVIVAL #9
SLW! Weekly Digest, 7/15/17--Shane Claiborne, part 2
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 7/12/17--SURVIVAL #8
SLW! Weekly Digest, 7/8/17
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 7/5/17--SURVIVAL #7
SLW! eNews #70, 7/17 -- Shane Claiborne, author of the classic 'Irresistible Revolution' and newer 'Executing Grace: How the Death Penalty Killed Jesus and Why It's Killing Us'
SLW! Monthly Digest 7/17, Complete
July '18
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 722/18 -- More Allies / Brown Berets
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 7/15/18 -- John Dear, pace/nonviolence activist, author, part 1
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 7/8/18 -- Peace Is NonViolent Action!
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 71/18--Bill Ryserson of the Population Institute and Population Media Center, part 2
July '19
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 7/22/19--Break Forth into Joy! Beyond a Consumer Lifestyle: A Modern 'Christmas Carol'
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 7/15/19--eNews #94: Getting Ready Early for an Alternative Christmas Festival/Workshop
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 7/8/19--SLW! Podcast: Michael Patrick 'White Eagle' O'Connor
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 7/1/19--Thoughts About Independence Day
July '20
Simpler Living Nudge 7/15/20--eNews #106: SLW! Podcast Ep. 0720--As This World Ends, the Light at the End. . .
Simpler Living Nudge 7/1/20--Free Speech, Not Hate Speech
July '21
[none??]
July '22
Simpler Living Blog 7/15/22--eNews #130: SLW! Blog Goes on Pause
Return to Table of Contents
Month 8*
Personal Choices, Happiness, Fulfillment
Sustenance QUOTES || ART
Week One: Work, Stress & Health
8/1--Several paths lead to Voluntary Simplicity. In secular "downshifting" one
may take a different job with a smaller income and less stress. Then move
into a smaller house in a rural area, grow some vegetables, gain control
of credit cards and pay off debts. That's downshifting to increase personal
happiness.
Non-Conform Freely Celebration
International Child-Free Day
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 102: Keghann Jarchow of the Sustainability Program at Univ. of So. Dakota [10/1]
Legacy SLW! Blog--New SLW! Podcast Launched 8/8/13
8/2--Christians try to live more simply for some of the same reasons. But there's
more... to be in touch with God and to help others. Simplicity is a way of life
of integrity, living as a disciple of Jesus, walking our talk.
SLW! Alert!
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 103: Kathy McGinnis of The Institute for Peace & Justice [10/15]
Legacy SLW! Blog--Two Types 8/4/13
8/3--"Be still and know that I am God!"-Psalm 46:10. Take a few minutes each
day for meditation and prayer, with or without devotional material. Be silent,
be still, be open to what God may be telling you.
Legacy SLW! Nudge/eNews--Solving the Climate Crisis with No-Growth Economics
Legacy Podcast--TCGP #89: Sr. Shirley Fineran: 21st Century Slave Trade--Helping Victims Recover from Human Trafficking (11/1) ]
Legacy SLW! Blog--Deep Change 8/11/13
8/4--Moderate the Work Ethic. Learn how it so permeates our thinking and interaction
with others, especially our children. It can be a killer!
SLW! Quarterly Digest
Legacy Podcast series--SLW! Episodes 104-107: WHOSE Birthday Is It, Anyway?
#104: Pre-Advent (11/1)
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Podcast Ep. 1: Getting Acquainted 8/13/13
8/5--Let's listen to our bodies and minds. Don't ignore mental, physical or
spiritual symptoms. Pain means something. Years of stress may be stored up
before symptoms appear. And then WHAM! Reduce stress by exercise and
verbalization of feelings. Physical activity alone is not enough. Speak out
loud, even if to yourself, while exercising.
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Spirit of Simplicity:
Quotes & Art for Simpler Living and Global Justice
More ART
Relish Sustenance QUOTES
Legacy Podcast series--SLW! Episodes 104-107: WHOSE Birthday Is It, Anyway?
#105: Advent 1&2 (11/15)
Legacy SLW! Blog--SACRIFICE 8/16/13
8/6--Peace Day/Hiroshima Day
Treasury of Celebrations, pp. 172-174
To Celebrate, pp. 136-139
Use Gifts of Peace Packet.
How to Fold a Paper Peace Crane#4-A548
Legacy Podcast series--SLW! Episodes 104-107: WHOSE Birthday Is It, Anyway?
#106: Advent 3&4+Christmas Eve (12/1)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Episode 2: 5 Life Standards 8/19/13
8/7--Working ten hour days and feeling really productive? Or feeling accused or "not good enough"? It's all stress. The body doesn't distinguish between "positive" and "negative" stress. We can't eliminate stress. We can moderate it. Learn the basic techniques of massage. Find a partner who can give a decent back rub.
Relish Sustenance ART
Legacy Podcast series--SLW! Episodes 104-107: WHOSE Birthday Is It, Anyway?
#107: Christmas Season/Epiphany (12/15)
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Podcast Ep. 3: Saga of Simply Enough 8/25/13
8/8--Here's something so many can agree on! So many issues keep people apart.
Here at Simple Living Works! we hear from many different people - all excited, or
relieved, or cautious but interested - that there really is a group working
on the over commercialization of Christmas. Thank you to all the editors
of magazines and so many others who have helped us get out the good news
of Simple Living! Encourage your editor to run an article about Alternatives.
Guest Blog--Patheos: Social Jesus: Systems of Sacrifice (part 1)
Legacy Podcast--TCGP #90: Ulrich Duchrow: Importance of Radicalizing Our Reforms So We Create a Culture of Life (12/1)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Positive Feedback! 8/28/13
Return to Table of Contents
Week Two: Support
8/9--Living more simply can be lonely. Others in our families, in our church,
in our social circle may think we're weird. Find another Simple Liver. Maybe
start a support group or study circle. This site has guidelines and
recommendations of several excellent study guides.
International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
Legacy Podcast--TCGP #91 (Bonus Episode): Derek and Nancy Casady of The Climate Mobilization on Confronting Climate Crises
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews #35 -- Seattle Recharge 8/5/14
8/10--Simple Livers connect for support... by social media, mail,
phone, e-mail, face-to-face through the Simpler Living Community Network.
Visit SimplerLivingWorks.org >> Volunteers.
Guest Blog--Patheos: Social Jesus: Systems of Sacrifice (part 2)
In honor of the 500th+ anniversary of the Reformation:
Thy kingdom come:
What do you expect as you pray the words 'your kingdom come' from the Lord's Prayer? You might be thinking about a blessed promised future in heaven. You might be thinking ahead to the very next line of the Lord's Prayer, considering God's 'kingdom' as whenever and wherever God's will is being done.
Legacy Podcast--TCGP #92 (Bonus Episode): Richard Lawrence, author of Light, Bright, Damn Near White for Black History Month (Feb.)
Legacy SLW! Blog--How Many HITS for You Today? 8/13/14
8/11--There's a great hunger for help with simplifying. If you could speak about Voluntary Simplicity or if your group wants a presentation or display, contact lifestyle ministry of your denominational hunger program. Check out the emphasis of your denominational Women's Organization.
Reader NUDGE: Start a peace jar. Put your loose change in a jar. When it is full, decide as a couple or a family where the money is best used to promote peace.
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 108: Walter Brueggemann on Abundance + More (1/15)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simple Living Humor? What's That? 8/19/14
8/12--For information on living in community with others, consider Communities magazine - Life in Cooperative Culture. Hear SLW! podcast episode 49 with Fellowship for Intentional Community
Guest Blog--Patheos: Social Jesus: Systems of Sacrifice (part 3)
Legacy Podcast--TCGP#93 (Bonus Episode): Don Hall of TransitionUS
Legacy SLW! Blog--Raves for 'Tony and Shane Uncut' 8/22/14
8/13--7 Golden Rules for Good Health - 1. Eat breakfast. 2. Eat nutritious snacks
moderately or not at all. 3. Get seven to eight hours of sleep per day regularly.
4. Maintain ideal weight. 5. Exercise aerobically at least three times per
week. 6. Use alcohol in moderation or not at all. 7. Don't smoke.
SLW! Digest
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 109: Richard Heinberg of The Post-Carbon Institute (2/15)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simple Living Works! eNews #33 -- Why Are Danes So Happy? 8/23/14
8/14--Simplify-organize-delegate - in that order! -from Simply Organized.
Guest Blog: Sojo--
'The Strange Theology That Rejects Masks But Embraces Guns' by Shane Claiborne
Legacy Podcast--Episode 110: author/educator Mark A. Burch
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews #34 -- Amazing Response! 8/23/14
8/15--"Time is NOT money" - Doris Janzen Longacre. Many programs about time
management and organizing our lives urge us to get the most out of every
minute. Why? Who's telling us that we must continually strive to do more,
work faster, get better organized, be the best? Those "values" drive us to
be "successes," to make lots of money, regardless of the effect on family
and Creation. Christian discipleship calls us to make good use of God's gifts,
to be stewards of Creation, to put relationships above buying, maintaining
and protecting more stuff.
Simple Living Works! VIDEO, part 1: 5 Life Standards
Legacy Podcast--TCGP#94 (Bonus Ep.): MediCare4All Calif.
Legacy SLW! Blog--New 'Simply Advent' eResources 8/27/14
8/16--We may need to be better organized and to make better use of our time
to benefit others and ourselves. But why? If it's to acquire and consume
more things, it's bound to be disappointing. Meaning comes from relationships
with God, the Earth and other people, not from stuff.
SLW! Alert!
Legacy Podcast series--Susan Taylor of Just Money Advisors on her new book 'What About Our Money?'
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly 8/8/15
For more information this week:
Living More with Less, pp. 140-171
(Homekeeping); pp. 269-288 (Strengthening Each Other).
Spirit of Simplicity QUOTES: 9. Sustenance
Spirit of Simplicity Art: Sustenance
Return to Table of Contents
Week Three: Transportation & Travel
8/17--Many organizations offer educational tours to learn first hand about economic
and social conditions in developing countries. Contact your denomination's
office of Global Mission or the Center for Global Education at http://www.augsburg.edu/global/. Consider Trips of Perspective offered by Faith and Money Network or Delegations to Southern Mexico with Jubilee OneEarth Economics
Guest Blog: World Population Balance--Shaming Sustainable Population Advocacy Must Stop
Legacy Podcast series--Susan Taylor of Just Money Advisors on her new book 'What About Our Money?'
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly -- Steve Beumer, Champion of Change 8/14/15
8/18--Practice "Eco-Tourism." Take the Earth, the ecology, into account when
traveling... the people, plants, animals, terrain, air and water. Step out
of the "bubble" that most Americans travel in. Shed expectations about food,
language, etc. Investigate TransitionsAbroad.com: The Guide to Learning, Living and Working Overseas.
Simple Living Works! VIDEO, part 2: Do Justice!
Legacy Podcast series--Susan Taylor of Just Money Advisors on her new book 'What About Our Money?'
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly -- Submit to 'Whose Birthday?' + Fall Resources 8/23/15
8/19--Small groups, big adventures with Intrepid Travel
Simple Living Works! VIDEO, part 3: Learn from the World Community
Legacy Podcast--TCGP Ep. 96: Bonnie Tarwater of the Church for Our Common Home (6/1)
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews #59, 8/1/16 -- Lutheran Peace Fellowship
8/20--What price am I willing to pay to swim against the tide? What am I able
to do while riding the bus that I cannot do while driving a car? What feelings
do I have as I ride the bus? Investigate modes of alternative transportation.
Relish Sustenance ART
Relish Sustenance QUOTES
Bill Ryerson of the Population Institute and Population Media Center
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 8/5/16
8/21--A Creation Awareness Center (Green Congregation Program) is your church building, grounds, programs and people. A church that becomes a Creation Awareness Center makes
the celebration and care of the Earth a dimension of its total ministry! Visit WebOfCreation.org.
Simple Living Works! VIDEO, part 4: Cherish the Natural Order
Bill Ryerson of the Population Institute and Population Media Center
- TCGP #97: Part 2--Reducing Population Using Methods that Work (7/1)
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest, 8/8/16
8/22--Care of the Earth is highlighted in worship. Adult and Sunday School classes
are offered on environmental issues. Members are encourage to reduce, reuse,
recycle and restore. Area environmental concerns are discussed and acted
upon. Church building and grounds are kept up to reflect energy efficiency
and environmental concern. And, in many other ways, church members are encouraged
and empowered to act as caretakers of God's Earth in the church, their homes,
the community and the world.
John Dear of Pace e Bene: Campaign NonViolence, author of 'They Will Inherit the Earth: Peace and NonViolence in a Time of Climate Change'
Worthwhile Commentary: Bill Maher--Let the Population Collapse
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 8/12/16
8/23--Your congregation becomes a Creation Awareness Center by: A. Assessing
your church's current involvement in Earthkeeping, B. Sending interested
representatives to meetings to explore with resource persons and with each
other about how we can make this vision come true, C. Creating a priority
in church for celebrating God's ongoing creation, and for making environmental
concerns an important part of our ministry, D. Working on areas within the
church building and the life of the congregation that need improvement, E.
Reviewing the environmental assessment again to measure progress and to point
up needs.
Simple Living Works! VIDEO, part 5: Nurture People, Not Things
John Dear of Pace e Bene: Campaign NonViolence, author of 'They Will Inherit the Earth: Peace and NonViolence in a Time of Climate Change'
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest, 8/15/16--Friends of the Third World
8/24--When planning a public event - a worship service, a concert, a meeting, a convention - follow environmental guidelines so that your event is a witness to care of Creation. And say so, for example, using the recycled logo on the event program.
Guest Blog: YES!--The Best Medicine for My Climate Grief
Legacy Podcast--SLW! #115: Grace Gyori, from imperialism to liberation (8/15)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 8/19/16
For more information this week:
Living More with Less, Transportation and Travel, pp. 172-187
Treasury of Celebrations, pp. 167-170
To Celebrate, pp. 126-129
Return to Table of Contents
Week Four: Homes & Buildings: Construction, Energy Generating, Appliances
8/25--When some folks retire, they build a new, larger house, "just in case
the kids come to visit." When others retire it's to show the world what status
they have achieved during their working years. Ask, "How much space can we
justify taking up now that we're alone?" Then downsize! Isn't it cheaper
and MORE JUST to pay for motel rooms when the kids come than to maintain
a palace for those few visits?
SLW! Alert!
Legacy Podcast series--SLW! 116-119: Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest, 8/22/16
8/26--Women's Equality Day
(To Celebrate, p. 140). In the United States, August 26th, Women's Equality Day, marks the anniversary of women's right to vote, won in 1920. International Women's Day, a day to honor women, is celebrated throughout the world. Set on March 8, the day commemorates a march of women garment and textile workers in New York City in 1857.
Recommended Book (paper/electronic/audio)--The Triumph of Injustice: How the Rich Dodge Taxes and How to Make Them Pay
Legacy Podcast series--SLW! 116-119: Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 8/26/16 -- Easy-to-share Nudges for Sept: Non-Conform Freely
8/27--When considering renovating, building new or adding on, consider alternative
construction, such as the geodesic dome, straw bale or rammed earth home.
One of the best sources for information and the latest, most efficient technology
is RealGoods.com -- Off-Grid Living since 1978 (800/762-7325).
SLW! Digest
Legacy Podcast series--SLW! 116-119: Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 8/5/17--SURVIVAL #11
8/28--Raise the roof! The goal of Habitat for Humanity International (800/HABITAT or Habitat.org)
is to eliminate inadequate and poverty housing as a witness to the Gospel
of Jesus Christ. Also, Fuller Center for Housing from the founder of Habitat.
Simple Living Works! VIDEO, part 6: Non-Conform Freely
Legacy Podcast series--SLW! 116-119: Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest, 8/8/17
8/29--Like to save some money on your energy bill every month? There are some
relatively inexpensive ways you can add to or change your heating system
- called retrofitting - that can save. If you need a new furnace or plan
to build a new building, there are big ways you can save. Consider living
"off the grid," independent of the power company. To learn more about alternative
power sources to supplement what you already have, investigate Real
Goods' Solar Energy Sourcebook at RealGoods.com.
Simple Living Works! VIDEO, Bonus Segments
07 Mission
08 Live Justly
09 Celebrate Responsibly
Legacy Podcast--TCGP #99: Jay Moses: Interfaith Church (9/1)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 8/12/17--HEALTH #1
8/30--Typical North Americans buy four-bedroom houses for two people. Why? "Because
we can." Imagine the surprise of friends and relatives when a family of four
moves into a smaller house and a parent takes a job at half salary so that
they can spend more time together. Why? "Because we can!"
Study Guides worth reading: Six Weeks to a Simple Lifestyle.
Simple Living Works! VIDEO, More Bonus Segments
10 Influence
11 Q&A
12 Testimonials
Legacy Podcast--TCGP #100: The Casady's at the Calif. Climate Crisis Summit (10/1)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 8/19/17--HEALTH #2
8/31--He asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" - from Luke. When, if ever,
do I come face to face with poor people? How does that happen? What values
and beliefs are reflected by where I choose to live? (from Trek) The
question is both WHO is my neighbor and HOW to be a neighbor.
Legacy Podcast--TCGP #101: Jubilee Circles in Mexico (11/1)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 8/26/17--HEALTH #3
BONUS Legacy SLW! Blogs
SLW! Weekly Digest, 8/22/17
SLW! Weekly Digest, 8/15/17--SLW! Podcast Ep. 99: Order of Lutheran Franciscans
SLW! eNews #71, 8/17 -- Vicki Robin, writer, speaker, social innovator, co-author of the classic Your Money or Your Life
SLW! Monthly Digest 8/17, Complete
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 8/22/18
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge/eNews 8/15/18 -- Grace Gyori, from imperialism to liberation
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 8/8/18 -- Good-bye to July & August?
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 8/1/18 -- John Dear, part 2
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 8/22/19--Native American Presidential Forum coincides with Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 8/15/19--eNews#95: Solving the Climate Crisis with No-Growth Economics
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 8/8/19--Latest Podcast: Lori Payer, leader of Strong Women of the Four Directions
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 8/1/19--'Jubilee Circles' Now an Audiobook
Simpler Living Nudge 8/15/20--eNews #107: SLW! Podcast Ep. 0820::Leaving Superpower Ways for Earth-Size Living
Simpler Living Blog 8/15/21--eNews #119: SLW! Podcast Ep. 0821--Brenda Wyss: Feminist Economics Is Creating Just Systems That Meet Current Crises
For more information this week:
Living More with Less, Homes, pp. 118-139; Meetinghouses, pp. 230-244.
Worship Alternatives: Other Times/Hunger
Spirit of Simplicity Art: Celebrating Other Times
Return to Table of Contents
Month 9*
Non-Conform Freely
Week 1: Media Literacy
Media QUOTES
9/1--Most of us know so little about something so powerful and pervasive in
our lives: the media. We're familiar with print media (magazines and newspapers),
electronic media (television, radio, cable and the internet) and other media
(telephone, billboards, direct mail). But do we recognize its effect in our
lives, our families, our society, our world?
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Spirit of Simplicity:
Quotes & Art for Simpler Living and Global Justice
More ART
Classic SLW! blog--Vision of the Future: Why might this generation's parents give the next generation permission not to have children?
Legacy Podcast--TCGP #102: Fair Trade in Schools and Congregations (12/1)
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Podcast Ep. 4 : Beyond a Consumer Lifestyle -1 9/3/13
9/2--We think of media as ways to receive information or entertainment. But
the powers of commercialism see the media first and foremost as ways of
delivering customers to advertisers. Through those eyes many other common
items become media - anything that can carry a logo, a name - clothes, buses,
sports stadiums. An average American sees 16,000 commercial impressions per
day!
Guest blog--103 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice
Legacy Podcast--Simpler One Earth Living Ep.01/19: Jimmy Marcelin of Safe Harbors: Immigration and Borders: Horrors, Opportunities, and Needs (01/19)
Legacy SLW! Blog--WASTE 9/7/13
9/3--Media Literacy is an attempt to educate people about the power and techniques
of the media. It includes the effects of advertising on our desires and the
impact of violence on our behavior.
SLW! Quarterly Digest
Legacy Podcast--Simpler One Earth Living Ep.02/19: Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement: Why a moratorium on farm animal confinements? (02/19)
Legacy SLW! Blog--His Brain. Her Brain. 9/13/13
9/4--Media Literacy is directly connected to Simple Living. True meaning and
fun in life come from relationships with self, friends, family and God. Stuff
is a burden, a barrier, that prevents us from cultivating those relationships.
Advertising is largely a powerful and devious obstacle to living more simply.
Advertising tries to create needs in us that we don't have. To get us to
buy things we really don't need... stuff that gets in our way of finding
real meaning and happiness in life, stuff that uses our time, money and energy
but gives little in return except the desire for more.
Guest blog--Patheos: Messy Spirituality--Progressive Like Jesus
Legacy Podcast--Simpler One Earth Living Ep.03/19: Chuck Collins of the Inequality Project (03/19)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Episode 5 : Beyond a Consumer Lifestyle -2 9/19/13
9/5--A helpful resource about the media is We Know What You Want.
Learn about Screen-Free Week (formerly Turn Off TV Week).
Non-Conform Freely Celebration: LABOR DAY (MF)
Legacy Podcast--Simpler One Earth Living Ep.04/19: Banker Pat Trahan (04/19)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simplifying Fall Festivals 9/22/13
9/6--Contact Media Literacy groups for your own development, for the protection
of your family, for the educating of your friends. Visit MediaLiteracy.com
[ and Univ. Oregon Media Literacy ].
Guest Blog: A Society Beyond Consumerism
Current SLW! Alert
Legacy Podcast--Simpler OneEarth Living Ep.05/19: Steven Cornett, Regenerative Farmer (05/19)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Submissions for Whose Birthday? 2013 9/25/13
9/7--Center for Media Literacy, the largest producer of media literacy teaching
materials in North America (800/226-9494 or MediaLit.org). The Media Education Foundation (800/659-6882 or MediaEd.org) provides educators and others with video resources toward the development of a critically minded, media-literate public.
National Grandparents' Day (Sunday)
Legacy Podcast--Simpler OneEarth Living Ep.06/19: Carrie Radloff, environmental activist (06/19)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Fall Plans 9/27/013
9/8--Center for Science in the Public Interest (cspinet.org) fights alcohol and tobacco billboards. Citizens for Media Literacy promotes citizenship in the age of mass media.
Imagine if everyone knew how to read. Twenty percent of the world is illiterate and almost two-thirds of the illiterate are women.
Take a moment to reflect on what reading means to you. What are some of your reading memories? How does reading contribute to your self-confidence, your ability to succeed, your joy, and your ability to learn?
Every 9/8, on International Literacy Day, Population Media Center (PMC) celebrates successes and acknowledge tremendous need. In some countries, literacy rates--from young adults to the elderly--are still well below 50 percent. Women are disproportionately illiterate. PMC focuses on girls' education because we know it's one of the best paths out of poverty and subservience. The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 4 includes literacy for all young people and the opportunity to learn how to read for all adults who are not literate. Everyone deserves the right to read.
PMC's Work on Girls' Education
Legacy SLW! Blog--Living Fair Trade 9/30/13
For more information this week:
Spirit of Simplicity QUOTES: 8. Media
Spirit of Simplicity ART: Media
September holidays include: First Monday-Labor Day
Return to Table of Contents
Week 2: Advertising & Public Relations
9/9--Advertising can give us information to meet our basic needs... food, shelter,
etc. Objectionable ads create false expectations and needs that are really
wants or desires. Are we really better people because of the beverage we
drink? Will we be sexier if we buy a certain kind of car? Will we be more
popular or successful if we wear certain kinds of clothes or perfume?
OneEarth Jubilee Blog: The Mass and Holy Communion: Personal Salvation or Earth’s Sacrament of Life
Legacy Podcast--Simpler OneEarth Living Ep.07/19: Michael O'Connor, Native artist/activist (07/19)
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews #36 -- Tom and Christine Sine of Mustard Seed Associates 9/4/14
9/10--When watching TV, ZAP the commercials (mute the sound). No need to be
assaulted by aggressive car and soda pop commercials. Some consider ads "the
price of admission." That's exactly what advertisers want you to think. The
air waves belong to the people. We owe advertisers nothing!
Guest blog--Patheos: Why I Am a Progressive Christian (part 1)
Legacy Podcast--Simpler OneEarth Living Ep.08/19: Strong Women of the Four Directions (08/19)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simple Living MUSIC 9/10/14
9/11--Avoid wearing commercial logos which attempt to convey status and promote
overconsumption. Fingernail scissors will cut embroidered logos off of sweaters.
Only wear messages that convey values that you truly believe
in. Be the Message!
Non-Conform Freely Celebration/Commemoration: Sept. 11 - 9/11
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.09/19: George Gastil (09/19)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Feeling Bullied by Consumo? Ask Slim. 9/14/14
9/12--If a national magazine carries an article that criticizes the tobacco
industry or questions smoking, one large tobacco company that also owns food
companies will pull its FOOD ads from the magazine.
Guest blog--Patheos: Why I Am a Progressive Christian (part 2)
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.10/19: Margaret Bullitt-Jonas (10/19)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Submit Now to 'WHOSE Birthday?' 2014 9/18/14
9/13--Some advertisers are trying to capitalize on our desire for simpler lives.
An expensive luxury car is hyped with a picture of the shiny vehicle and
the word "Simplify." A national restaurant chain uses the slogan "Simplify
your life. Eat out more." The Masters of Doublespeak!
Relish 'Spirit of Simplicity' QUOTES: 8. Media // Relish 'Spirit of Simplicity' ART: Media
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.11/19: Lee Van Ham previews his newest book: A Birth Story Able to Reverse Our Planet's Perils (11/19)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Latest SLW! Podcast 9/25/14
9/14--In the name of "research," some advertisers - without our permission or
even our knowledge - place cameras in grocery stores to photograph our eyes
as we shop. When we look at cereal, for example, a camera records our reaction
to various boxes and even measures the length of time we focus on each box.
This "research" helps advertisers decide what sells.
Guest Blog: Eco-Justice--The Amazon Ignited
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.12/19: Ruth Ann Angus: Yes We Can PeaceBuilders (12/19)
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews -- DIY 'Whose Birthday?' + Fall Resources + 'Alternative' Ph.D. Dissertation 9/1/15
9/15--Are you a "news junkie?" Most commercial news broadcasts and talk shows
stress the sensational. Too much stimulation from them can develop cynicism,
even paranoia. Yes, we need to be informed, to protect ourselves. But moderate
the input from commercial broadcasts and consider the alternative press,
including public and independent radio and TV, especially Free Speech TV, LINK TV and Democracy Now! with Amy Goodman. Giving up something for Lent? Give up some media input... news and entertainment (wherever the line between them may be)... a-news-ment?
Hispanic Heritage Month, 9/15-10/15
Yom Kippur 2024 begins in the evening of Wed., 10/2, and ends in the evening of Fri., 10/4.
Non-Conform Freely Celebration: Yom Kippur (MF)
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly 9/9/15
9/16--The Media Foundation (800/663-1243 or Adbusters.org) sponsors Buy Nothing Day and publishes
the irreverent magazine Adbusters: Journal of the Mental Environment.
The Center for Media and Democracy (PRWatch.org) publishes PR Watch:Public Interest Reporting on the PR/Public Affairs Industry.
Current SLW! Alert!
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.01/20--David Hoferer: Birds, Insects, Big Ag and Spirituality (01/20)
Legacy SLW! Blog--World Community Cookbooks Updated -- SLW! Weekly 9/21/15
Return to Table of Contents
Week 3: Alternatives to TV, Video Games, Movies, Gambling
9/17--Is there any difference between watching a concert by the Three Tenors
or a game at the Three Rivers stadium? Professional sports, movies and the
fine arts may be on different spots on the entertainment continuum, but they're
on the same line, as long as there's a passive audience. A Beethoven symphony
is engaging to some. So is a hard fought hockey game. And they may represent
the same thing... struggle between good and evil. Let's support the Arts
by DOING the ARTS ... drawing, writing, dancing, reading aloud. If we feel
incompetent, let's take a class. (Continued)
Relish MEDIA ART
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.02/20--John Michno, new Jubilee staffer (02/20)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Do-It-Yourself 'Whose Birthday?' -- SLW! Weekly 9/27/15
9/18--Amateurs and professionals are on a continuum too. The difference is not
between "good" and "bad" art and entertainment but between passivity and
involvement. Passive entertainment makes money for somebody else, so it's
promoted. Active entertainment takes no more time but takes our energy. "The
system" is designed primarily to keep us passive, to let professionals do
the work while we pay them outrageous salaries. Non-conform freely. Reduce
passive entertainment; increase active arts.
9/18-24/23--Recycle Awareness Week
THE CAMPAIGN NONVIOLENCE ACTION WEEK -- 9/18-26/21 -- With 3000+ actions this was our biggest week of actions yet.
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.03/20--Dave Gardner, GrowthBusters and World Population Balance (03/20)
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews #60, 9/1/16 -- Celebrating Ugly Food
9/19--Play non-competitive, communications games with your family, such as Everyone Wins: Cooperative Games and Activities. (See 1/21 for story telling games.)
Relish MEDIA QUOTES
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.04/20--CoronaVirus: A Devastating Natural Disaster with a Message--Live Differently (04/20)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 9/5/16
9/20--Alternatives can help equip you to present children with alternatives
to TV, to be prepared for weekly family fun time, to help develop your child's
social conscience, to help develop your child's spirituality and interpersonal
skills.
Guest blog--Patheos: Thoughts on an Imperial God
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.05/20--Life with Covid-19: Heading toward a More Ecological World (05/20)
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest, 9/8/16
9/21--International Day of Peace ('Peace Day')
The International Day of Peace ('Peace Day') is observed around the world each year on 9/21. Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution, Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace.
Getting Ready Early for an Alternative Christmas Festival/Workshop
Refuse to be sucked into the fall hectics. Begin planning a less-consumer holiday season a little at a time. Use SLW! free online resources.
Peruse SLW! Advent-Christmas-Epiphany Article Index
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 9/12/16
9/22--"But seek first God's kingdom and God's righteousness and all these thing
will be given to you as well." -Matthew 6:33.
Start SLW! Non-Consumer Christmas Campaign early this year.
SLW! Legacy Podcast 'WHOSE Birthday?' mini-series #1, Episodes #6-11
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest, 9/15/16--Fighting for Clean Water
Worth investigating:
FAIR.org: Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting
Environmental News Network at ENN.com
'Living on Earth' on National Public Radio or LOE.org
Link TV: Television without borders, your connection to the world at LinkTV.org, DISH TV 9410 or DIRECTV 375
'Enviro Close-up' with Karl Grossman (EnviroVideo.com) on Free Speech TV
Free Speech TV: What Democracy Looks like at FreeSpeech.org, DISH TV 9415 or DIRECTV
Alternative free news sources: AlterNet.org, CommonDreams.org, ReaderSupportedNews.org
Nancy Perlman of Educational Communcations, Inc. produces Compendium newsletter, plus radio and TV programming. Visit EcoProjects.org
SierraClubRadio.com
9/23--First Day of Fall/Autumn
Treasury of Celebrations // To Celebrate, p. 143).
Getting Ready Early for an Alternative Christmas Festival/Workshop
Refuse to be sucked into the fall hectics. Begin planning a less-consumer holiday season a little at a time. Use SLW! free online resources.
Read a Festival Guide
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 9/19/16
9/24--If you find gambling "fun," set a limit of what you would normally spend
for an evening's entertainment. If you're given free chips as an incentive,
spend them (and any winnings) and no more. The addiction of gambling is no
"better" than any other addiction, legal or illegal.
Getting Ready Early for an Alternative Christmas Festival/Workshop
Refuse to be sucked into the fall hectics. Begin planning a less-consumer holiday season a little at a time. Use SLW! free online resources.
Read a Workshop Guide
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest, 9/22/16--Easy-to-share Nudges for Oct. on FOOD
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Spirit of Simplicity:
Quotes & Art for Simpler Living and Global Justice
More ART
Return to Table of Contents
Return to Table of Contents
Week 4: Marketing
9/25--Most marketing tries to create constant dissatisfaction and personal
inadequacy. We need one more thing - THIS thing - to be happy. Ooops. Didn't
work? Then try this. "A satisfied customer is not." (from Fool's Gold)
Getting Ready Early for an Alternative Christmas Festival/Workshop
Refuse to be sucked into the fall hectics. Begin planning a less-consumer holiday season a little at a time. Use SLW! free online resources.
Submit an item for the new edition of 'Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?'
Rosh Hashanah will begin in the evening of Wednesday, 10/2/24, and ends in the evening of
Friday, 10/4/24.
First Day of Rosh Hashanah (MF) (Jewish High Holy Days)
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.06/20--Pandemic Shows Food System Broken, Opens Door to Better Choices (06/20)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 9/26/16
National Rivers Day. Support nonviolent actions aimed at protecting rivers, watersheds, and the creatures that depend on them (including us).
9/26--Beware of Spin. The purpose of public relations is to interpret events
in the best interest of the client (a company, group or government) that
the firm represents... not necessarily the public's best interest. "Spin
doctors" are generally public relations people who "put a spin" on an event,
to get the public to see the event in their client's best interest. We can't
avoid all spin, all interpretation. Be aware of their purpose. Then beware.
World Contraception Day
Start SLW! Non-Consumer Christmas Campaign early this year.
SLW! Legacy Podcast 'WHOSE Birthday?' mini-series #2, Episodes #32-35
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Monthly Digest 9/17, Complete
9/27--Some pet food is marketed not for the benefit of the pet but for the "tastes"
of the owner. Beware of owner-driven pet food advertising. If you have a
pet, consult with a veterinarian or a pet store owner you really trust.
Blog by Lee Van Ham: Let's Think & Act Jubilee // Collapse Underway! What Does That Mean to You?
Start SLW! Non-Consumer Christmas Campaign early this year.
SLW! Legacy Podcast 'WHOSE Birthday?' mini-series #3, Episodes #57-59
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews #72, 9/17 -- Reformation Historian Bishop Guy Erwin
9/28--Help prevent pet overpopulation. If you join your local ASPCA, make your
membership specifically for the spaying and neutering of pets.
Take care of your pet if you have one. Pets are not people. They are God's
Creatures too. But with people starving around the world it's no better to
be lavish with pets than with ourselves. Everybody needs to live more simply,
including our pets!
Guest blog--Patheos: The Gospel of American Jesus
Start SLW! Non-Consumer Christmas Campaign early this year.
SLW! Legacy Podcast 'WHOSE Birthday?' mini-series #4, Episodes #80-83
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 9/5/17 -- HEALTH #4
9/29--Petition your governmental representatives to make advertising a non-deductible business expense.
SLW! Quarterly Digest
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.07/20--As This World Ends, the Light at the End... (07/20)
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest, 9/8/17
9/30--Jean Kilbourne (JeanKilbourne.com) has produced videos (Killing Us Softly, Calling the Shots and Pack of Lies) and gives illustrated lectures on the cumulative impact of advertising on attitudes, values and behavior.
MediaWatch.com challenges racism, sexism and violence in media.
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 9/12/17 -- HEALTH #5
SLW! BONUS Legacy Blogs
SLW! Weekly Digest, 9/15/17--Paul K. Chappell of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 9/19/17 -- HEALTH #6
SLW! Weekly Digest, 9/22/17
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 9/25/17 -- HEALTH #7
Other holidays in September/October include:
First Day of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur (MF) (Jewish High Holy Days) (Treasury of Celebrations, p. 177-178; To Celebrate, p. 144)
Sukkot: (MF) Festival of Booths (Treasury of Celebrations, To Celebrate, p. 145)
For more information this week:
Worship Alternatives Art
Worship Alternatives Contents
[ Guest Blog--TreeHugger: People are Eating Less Meat and Doing More Home Cooking ]
Return to Table of Contents
Month 10* // Month 10*
Sustenance
Week 1: Food
10/1--Reflect on Luke 12:22-32 or Matthew 6:25-33. Don't worry about what you'll
eat or what you'll wear. That sounds like encouragement to live more simply.
Voluntary Simplicity Study/Action Guide Session 8: Halloween--I was Sick and You Visited Me
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.08/20--Leaving Superpower Ways for Earth-Size Living (08/20)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Champions of Simple Living Today 10/5/13
10/2--Learn about the power of "cheap food." Resist using foods that deprive
other countries of food and have little or no nutritional value, such as
coffee. Caffeine is an addictive drug. Other beverages, like fruit juice,
can be just as socially inviting.
Start SLW! Non-Consumer Christmas Campaign early this year.
SLW! Legacy Podcast 'WHOSE Birthday?' mini-series #5, Episodes #104-107
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.09/20--So Much We Learn from Outsiders: Immigrant Advocacy (09/20)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Fundamentalist Does Not Equal Evangelical 10/7/13
10/3--Reduce your consumption of red meat by 10%. It takes many gallons of water
and many pounds of grain to make one pound of beef for our table.
Wes Howard-Brook Will Teach Us More about Biblical Jubilee at October 16 Gathering of Circles. Register for free 90-minute Zoom event with Lee@jubilee-economics.org.
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.10/20--Scott Klinger: Maximizing Justice Over Profits Is Possible (10/20)
Legacy SLW! Blog--CONSUMO Must Go! 10/31/13
10/4--Vertical integration of food is the process in which the most powerful
resource becomes monopolized. The people who sell the food also control
distribution, processing plants and production. We can vote against it with
our dollars by shopping at Farmers Markets, by supporting community-based
agriculture, by refusing to buy out-of-season fruits and vegetables.
Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and the environment
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.11/20--How Empowering Women Changes the World (11/1)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Let Jesus Come, Let Santa Go 10/9/13
10/5--Consider fasting one regular meal time or one day per week. Use the discomfort
to deepen awareness of poverty. Offer the savings to the poor.
Please join in an hour with filmmaker Michael Johnson
and his forthcoming documentary "Prairie Prophecy"
on the regenerative agriculture and land use work of
Wes Jackson and The Land Institute, Salina, Kansas.
Saturday, October 5th, 9-10am Pacific time.
Meeting ID: 898 9809 4475
Passcode: 379822
Legacy and more recent OneEarth Jubilee Blogs by Lee Van Ham: Let's Think & Act Jubilee // The Collapse of Civilization Created by Egos
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.12/20--Will O'Brien: Peace on Earth and the Politics of Christmas (12/1)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Indigenous People's Day (instead of Columbus Day) 10/12/13
10/6--Help supply soup kitchens by gleaning unsold produce from grocery stores.
Find out if you have a local Food Bank. Visit SecondHarvest.org: The Nation's Food Bank Network.
Who do they help? Can you help too?
Relish SUSTENANCE QUOTES
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.01/21--Grace Dyrness: Planning Economic Revitalization WITH Poor People instead of FOR Them. Wow!
Legacy SLW! Blog--Episode 6: Whose Birthday? -1 10/14/13
10/7--What "bottom line" do I use to decide what something is worth? Do I eat
my food slowly and reflectively, or do I most often eat on the run? How could
I buy more of my food from farmers in my area? (from Trek)
Relish SUSTENANCE ART
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.02/21--Economist Barry Shelley: Economic Assumptions and Initiatives for Change
Legacy SLW! Blog--UNPLUG the Christmas Machine 10/18/13
10/8--Food Co-ops like Blooming Prairie provide nutritious food. If you don't
have a retail store in your area, you may have a buying co-op which takes
orders once a month and delivers the following week. Be cautious of some
"health food stores."
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.03/21--Mike Little: Faith and Money Network
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--Alternative Radio Podcast (David Barsamian)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Self-Starters Needed! 10/21/13
Return to Table of Contents
Week Two: Recipes (from Developing Countries) & Food Preparation
10/9--Cook with the World Community. Investigate recipes from other countries,
especially developing countries. Obtain at least one alternative cookbook,
such as the Mennonite's World Community Cookbook series: More-with-Less Cookbook;
Extending the Table; the more recent ones Simply in Season and Simply in Season for Children. Hear an interview with the series editor on SLW! Podcast
SLW! ALERT
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.04/21--Arborist Robin Rivet on Reversing Climate Crises through Informed Tree Actions
Legacy SLW! Blog--Episode 7: Whose Birthday? -2 10/23/13
10/10--Vegetarians come in several flavors: those who eat no red meat; those
who eat no meat; and Vegans, who eat no animal products (no milk, no eggs).
Contact The Vegetarian Resource Group: Vegetarian Journal at vrg.org,
or EarthSave.org: Personal Food Choices: Global Results.
World Mental Health Day
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.06/21--Carrie Radloff: Midwest Environmental Activism
Legacy SLW! Blog--Abstract Expressionist Halloween 10/26/13
10/11--Reduce processed food by at least 10% at each meal. Cooking "from scratch"
takes more planning and time but is more nutritious and fun when done together.
Make menu planning and shopping a social event, instead of a chore.
International Day of the Girl
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.08/21--Brenda Wyss: Feminist Economics Is Creating Just Systems That Meet Current Crises
Legacy SLW! Blog--Help to Convince, Then to Promote 10/28/13
10/12--Serve and take only what you and your household can eat. Go back for seconds
if you're still hungry. Focus on flavor, not quantity. Try to throw nothing
away. Develop clever ways of using left overs. Proudly eat chicken backs!
Non-Conform Freely Celebration: Indigenous Peoples'
Day (Columbus Day)
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.09/21--Eric LeCompte: Forgive Us Our Debts--Woes and Wins in Canceling Student Debt
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews #37--Fall Festival Helps 10/1/14
10/13--Research indicates that a typical in-home American father has only three
minutes a day of direct conversation with his child. Also, an American couple
that are still married only have five minutes a day of meaningful verbal
exchange.
SLW! Quarterly Digest
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.10/21--Encuentro: A U.S./Mexico Conversation on Living the Alternative Worldview We Call OneEarth Jubilee
Legacy SLW! Blog--Is Simple Living Libertarian? 10/9/14
10/14--We can learn more about community by doing meal preparation and clean-up
together. Vow to eat at least one meal a day together. Often we allow the
school, the community, the TV, even the church to take away our common meal.
Worthwhile Colleague Organization-- Becoming Minimalist (Joshua Becker)
COMING
10/15 | International Day of Rural Women
10/16 | World Food Day
10/17 | International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Legacy SLW! Blog--What Might a Prophet Look Like? 10/15/14
10/15--We Americans now eat a great deal of expensive convenience food - at home
or in restaurants. Many of its nutrients are processed out. We work more
hours so we can afford more expensive food that's fast so that we can work
more to buy more expensive, hollow, highly processed food. Can we find ways
to stop the cycle?
Worthwhile Podcast series: 'What Could Possible Go Right?' with Vicki Robin and the PostCarbon Institute
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.11/21--Lauren Van Ham: Radical Inter-religious Cooperation Is Working to Save Life on Our Planet
Legacy SLW! Blog--'Extending the Table' World Community Cookbook Updated 10/19/14
10/16--Non-Conform Freely Celebration: World Food Day (Treasury of Celebrations, pp. 188-191; To Celebrate, p. 146). Contact U.S. National Committee for World Food Day at WorldFoodDayUSA.org.
Legacy ALERT, Fall '23
SLW! Legacy Blog--Alternate End Times 10/25/14
For more information, read Food and Celebrations, Treasury of
Celebrations, pp. 57-69; To Celebrate, Chapter 4, pp. 71-86;
Living More with Less, pp. 245-268 (Eating Together).
Other October holidays include: Second Monday-Indigenous Peoples'
Day; Columbus Day (To Celebrate, p. 145)
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Spirit of Simplicity:
Quotes & Art for Simpler Living and Global Justice
More ART
Return to Table of Contents
Week Three: Sustainable Agriculture, Organic Farming
10/17--Shop at Farmer's Markets. Eat mostly fruits and vegetables that are in
season in your area. Most Americans are far removed from the source of their
food and from the people who grow it. Our food travels an average of 1300
miles to reach our tables.
Legacy Nudge: A New Way to Avoid the Military/War Tax
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.12/21--Della Duncan, Renegade Economist, Tells about Doughnut Economics and Other Economic Models Being Put to Work
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Three-Fold Sharing Plan: A-C-E 10/29/14
10/18--Children's Sabbath. Children's Defense Fund (ChildrensDefense.org)
publishes CDF Reports and sponsors Children's Sabbath. Take a stand
for children in worship services, educational activities, community service
and advocacy efforts.
Start SLW! Non-Consumer Christmas Campaign early this year.
SLW! Legacy Podcast 'WHOSE Birthday?' mini-series #6, Episodes #116-119
Legacy Simpler OneEarth Living Podcast--Ep.01/22--Chuck Collins on the Industry That Protects Wealth and How It Hurts Everyone
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews #49 -- Paul Canavese on Pope Francis' Encyclical and US Visit 10/1/15
10/19--Top 10 reasons to buy organic: 1. Protect future generations, 2. Prevent
soil erosion, 3. Protect water quality, 4. Save energy, 5. Keep chemicals
off your plate, 6. Protect farm worker health, 7. Help small farmers, 8.
Support a true economy, 9. Promote biodiversity, 10. Taste better flavor.
Call for Whose Birthday? 2024 Submissions
Legacy Enough! blog. What was hot in 2011?
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly 10/9/15
10/20--We are endangered by the pesticides that have been banned in this country
but exported to and used in poor countries. Write a letter to a government
official protesting the dumping of toxic chemicals in Developing World markets.
Legacy and more recent OneEarth Jubilee Blogs by Lee Van Ham: Let's Think & Act Jubilee
Legacy Enough! blog. What was hot in 2012?
Legacy SLW! Blog--Author David Shi -- SLW! Weekly 10/20/15
10/21--Investigate sustainable agriculture; also sustainable economic development, which is opposed to perpetual economic growth. Investigate Jubilee OneEarth Economics.
Read Food and Celebrations, in Treasury of Celebrations.
Legacy Enough! blog. What was hot in 2013?
Legacy SLW! Blog--WHOSE Birthday? #27 -- SLW! Weekly 10/26/15
10/22--Biodiversity protects our food supply. Famines can result from monocultures.
Extinction is forever. Contact SeedsOfChange.com: Organically Grown Seed (888/762-7333)
and Seed Savers Exchange at SeedSavers.org.
For more information read Living More with Less, pp. 245-268 (Eating Together).
Legacy Enough! blog. What was hot in 2014?
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews #61, 10/1/16 -- author, blogger, podcaster, social critic James Howard Kunstler
10/23--Landmines make farming a very dangerous business in many parts of the
world, particularly Southeast Asia. Petition the federal government to work
for the elimination of the use of landmines that cripple, maim and kill
civilians.
Legacy Enough! blog. What was hot in 2015?
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) is committed to helping children thrive in an increasingly commercialized, screen-obsessed culture, and is the only organization dedicated to ending marketing to children.
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 10/5/16
10/24--Non-Conform Freely Celebration: United Nations Day--Treasury of Celebrations, p. 191; To Celebrate, p. 146
Non-Conform Freely Celebration, Oct. 24--Take-Back-Your-Time Day: Improving lives by eliminating the epidemic of overwork
Legacy Enough! blog. What was hot in 2016?
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest, 10/8/16
Return to Table of Contents
Week 4: Gardening
10/25--Worth Reading: To Till It and Keep It: New Models for Congregational
Involvement with the Land (715/294-2831). Or other resources from EarthMinistry.org
Relish SUSTENANCE QUOTES
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--Center for a New American Dream // All Simplify-the-Holidays resources
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 10/12/16
10/26--A weed is called "a plant out of place." A weed is in the eye of the beholder.
Guest blog--Our Nation in Grave Danger
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--Creation Justice // CAPSULES: News and Opportunities for Christians Doing Creation Justice
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest, 10/15/16 -- Lee Van Ham, Exec. Dir. of Jubilee OneEarth Economics; speaker, blogger, podcaster; author of 'Eden in the 21st Century' trilogy, previews vol. 2, 'From Egos to Eden: Our Heroic Journey to Keep Earth Livable.'
10/27--Organic gardening involves the use of natural herbicides and pesticides.
Composting vegetation from the garden and the kitchen (no meat!) builds up
the soil. Low maintenance composters work slowly. Adding worms and natural
enzymes speeds up the process.
Non-Conform Freely Celebration: Reformation Sunday
500th Anniversary SLW! Podcasts:
Order of Lutheran Franciscans
Reformation Historian Bishop Guy Erwin
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 10/19/16
Blog by Lee Van Ham: Let's Think & Act Jubilee // Changing Climate + Growing Population = Collapse
10/28--Gardening in an urban environment can be accomplished successfully in
the total absence of land. Create rooftop gardens, especially on office
buildings. Usually there's plenty of space, plenty of sun and access to water.
Relish SUSTENANCE ART
40% of All Food in America Is Wasted! Visit: SaveTheFood.com
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest, 10/22/16
10/29--Subscription farming is a cooperative effort between a farmer and a group
of subscribers. The subscribers put up the capital for the crop and help
in the busy season. In return they get their share of the crop each week
during harvest.
SLW! Quarterly Digest
Guest Blog/Podcast: GrowthBusters: Sharing the Journey to Sustainability
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 10/26/16
10/30--"Where your treasure is, there your heart will also be." -from Matthew
6:19-21. Do my gadgets make me more or less fully human? What makes something
designed to help me cross the line into weighing me down? (from Trek)
Guest Article--The End of Growth by Richard Heinberg
Worthwhile Guest Podcast: The Overpopulation Podcast
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Monthly Digest 10/17, Complete
10/31--Non-Conform Freely Celebration: Halloween (Treasury of Celebrations, pp. 192-196; To Celebrate, pp. 147-150).
Blog: Abstract Expressionist Halloween
Reformation Day, 10/31 (To Celebrate, p. 150).
Legacy SLW! Weekly Digest, 10/22/17
SLW! BONUS Legacy Blogs
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 10/25/17 -- HEALTH #11
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 10/18/17 -- HEALTH #10
SLW! Weekly Digest, 10/15/17 -- Kathy McGinnis of The Peace & Justice Institute
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 10/11/17 -- HEALTH #9
SLW! Weekly Digest, 10/8/17
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 10/4/17 -- HEALTH #8
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 10/22/18--Simplify the Holidays & Advent Conspiracy
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge (eNews #85) 10/15/18--WHOSE Birthday? part 2: Non-Commercial Christmas Campaign podcast mini-series
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 10/8/18
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 10/1/18 -- Bonus Episode: Casady's at the Calif. Climate Summit
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 10/22/19--Collapse of Capitalism or Change of Business Model?
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 10/15/19--eNews #97: A New Way to Avoid the Military/War Tax
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 10/08/19--SLW! Podcast Ep. 10/19--Margaret Bullitt-Jonas–Are Faith Communities Mobilizing for the Climate Emergency?
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 10/01/19--Unplug the Christmas Machine
Simpler Living Nudge 10/15/20--eNews #109: SLW! Podcast Ep. 1020--Scott Klinger: Maximizing Justice Over Profits Is Possible
Simpler Living Blog 10/15/21--eNews #121: SLW! Ep. 1021--Encuentro: A U.S./Mexico Conversation on Living the Alternative Worldview We Call OneEarth Jubilee
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews #73, 10/17 -- Meghann Jarchow of Sustainability Program, Univ. So. Dakota
For more information this week:
Spirit of Simplicity QUOTES: 10. Faith
Spirit of Simplicity ART: Faith
Spare: [ Thom Hartmann book series The Secret History of. . . ]
Return to Table of Contents
Return to Table of Contents
Month 11*--More Celebrating
Celebrating QUOTES
11/1--Let's Talk About Christmas! How are we going
to celebrate Christmas this year? What is really most meaningful? Who's going
to do what? Are we willing to spend less on ourselves and give more to the
truly needy? Ask your family, relatives, friends questions like these. Write
down your decisions and post them.
Voluntary Simplicity study/action guide Session 9: Thanksgiving--I was Hungry and You Fed Me
Legacy SLW! Blog--Episode 8: Whose Birthday? -3 11/4/13
11/2--For help, use "Let's Talk About Christmas!" Worksheet. Consider using the widely read resource, the annual Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? Timeless past editions are available online.
Prepare for International Buy Nothing Day (adbusters.org). Yes, it's the day after Thanksgiving!
Quarterly Digest
Legacy SLW! Blog--How We Celebrate Says a Lot About How We Live 11/9/13
11/3--Simplicity is a disciplined life - disciplined, not punished or deprived or joyless. We are given great freedom to care about all of God's Creation, rather than nurturing the perversions and idols that our society has created and worships - our "stuff." Stuff exists to meet our needs. But if we spend
our time, energy and money nurturing it instead of our relationships with God, others and ourselves, it will own us, control us and ultimately destroy us and the Earth.
SLW! Month 11 ALERT
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--EarthTalk/E-The Environmental Magazine
Legacy SLW! Blog--A Mustard Seed Advent 11/12/13
11/4--The Jesse Tree -- Many meaningful symbols help us focus on preparations
for Christmas during Advent... the Advent wreath, Chrismons, and the Christmas
tree. When so many commercial symbols try to distract us from the real meaning
of the season, the Jesse Tree is a lesser known but also powerful, visual
focal point. (Continued)
Lee Van Ham OneEarth Jubilee Blog--How to Talk about Population amid Collapse
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--Earth Island Journal (Earth Island Institute): Latest News // Current Issue
Legacy SLW! Blog--Free SPANISH Resources 11/16/13
11/5--At the beginning of Advent (no later than four weeks prior to Christmas)
cut a branch from a lilac or forsythia just above a bud and place it in a
vase filled with water. Make the cut clean and at an angle. A vase filled
with clear glass beads and water will provide support for the Jesse Tree.
Maintain a water level above the cut and the Jesse Tree will blossom by
Christmas. Lilacs, regardless of their blossom color, will bloom white when
forced this way. (Continued)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Episode 8 NEW: Whose Birthday? -3 11/18/13
Free Classic Alternatives' Christmas Resource:
Adult Discussion & Activity Guides, such as
11/6--Isaiah foretells the end of the Assyrian rule over Jerusalem as God "hack(ing)
down the thickets of a forest with an ax," razing it to stumps. The Israelites
- David's line - had been so razed. Then comes the promise in Isaiah 11:
1-2, from which the Jesse Tree gets its name - "A shoot shall come out
from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots."
And from that line will come the Messiah... a new branch from a stump...
a branch stronger and more fruitful than the original tree. (Continued)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Episode 9: Whose Birthday? -4 11/22/13
Free Classic Alternatives' Christmas Resources:
Adult Discussion & Activity Guides, such as
11/7--The Jesse Tree is beautiful by itself. But it can also hold ornaments,
symbols of the season of Advent, the season of waiting... a scroll to remember
the prophecies... a dove to remind us of the peace that comes with Messiah...
a crown for David's son, Solomon... a rose with twelve petals, one for each
of Jesse's sons from whom sprang the twelve tribes of Israel. (Continued)
Free Classic Alternatives' Christmas Resources:
Adult Discussion & Activity Guides, such as
Legacy SLW! Blog--New from Earth Mama 11/26/13
11/8--As we hang the ornaments - usually one per day - we tell the related story.
The prophecies come to life with the appearance of blooms - new life from
an old branch - as they did with the birth of Jesus Christ. For more information
about possible designs of the ornaments, contact your public or church library.
Free Classic Alternatives' Christmas Resource: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas video and study/action guide
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--Frugal Rules: Freedom Through Frugality
Legacy SLW! Blog--Explaining Santa to My Granddaughter 11/29/13
Return to Table of Contents
Week 2: Preparations
11/9--For our widowed fathers who live far away we produce a simple video Christmas
card. While our children are home for Thanksgiving, we take an hour and put
together a 20 minute greeting on tape. We use parts of Whose Birthday
Is It, Anyway? We sing some carols, including
Carols with Justice. We avoid anything showy. (Continued)
SLW! Quarterly Digest
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--The Good Stuff: your dose of what's working in the world from The Story of Stuff Project!
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews #38 -- new 'WHOSE Birthday?' online and podcast 11/1/14
11/10--For a video Christmas card, we try to model the things that are important
to us, things we really do and believe in - like delivering poinsettias as
a fund-raiser for the Battered Women's Shelter - not things we want others
to think we do and believe. The sound isn't professional, the production's
not slick - no editing, no special effects - but it's us! It is relatively
easy and a lot of fun. Everybody gets their say, though not everybody gets
their way.
Free Classic Alternatives' Christmas Resource: Let's Get off the Christmas Roller Coaster audio // script
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--Frugalwoods: Financial independence and simple living featured on PBS NewsHour, Sun., 3/11/19
Legacy SLW! Blog--Light Shines in Deepest Night 11/6/14
11/11--Veterans' Day--Classic SLW! blog: Non-Conform Freely Veterans' Day
Read and use this Advent--The Liberating Birth of Jesus: A Birth Story Able to Reverse Our Planet's Perils by Lee Van Ham. Read more here. // SLW! Podcast #1120: Lee's new book: The Liberating Birth of Jesus
Invitation to Read and Sign OneEarth Jubilee Covenant for the 2020's
Legacy SLW! Blog--Alternate Veterans Day, 11/11 (11/8/14)
11/12--View, share and discuss Alternatives' classic video
The Celebration Revolution of Alexander Scrooge: A Modern 'Christmas Carol'. // Discussion Guide
Relish CELEBRATING ART
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--Live Simply (Third Way Cafe)
Legacy SLW! Blog--O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 11/12/14
11/13--"We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish... all ate and were
filled." -from Matthew 14:13-21. Do I miss the chance to do what I can because
I can't do it all? (from Trek)
Relish CELEBRATING QUOTES
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--Lutheran Peace Fellowship: Simple Living Resources // SLW! Podcast
Legacy SLW! Blog--Celebrating Thanks-a-weenie 11/18/14
11/14--For your church or group consider using one of the following. Focus on an appropriate or interesting theme. (Dates are given only for reference.)
Guidelines for Alternative Giving
Models for Prayer and Worship
Resource Packets
Bulletin Inserts
Calendars
graded Activity Guides
Legacy SLW! Blog--Come Ye to Bethlehem 11/22/14
11/15--ChurchWorldService.org distributes the exceptionally attractive Global Calendar
and greeting cards of color pictures of people from around the Earth.
MORE--For your church or group consider using one of the following. Focus on an appropriate or interesting theme. (Dates are given only for reference.)
Guidelines for Alternative Giving
Models for Prayer and Worship
Resource Packets
Bulletin Inserts
Calendars
graded Activity Guides
Legacy SLW! Blog--Podcast #33: Susan Vogt, Meg Cox, Art Simon, Betsy Taylor 11/24/14
11/16--Start saving Sunday comics to use for wrapping paper for gifts. Recycle
Christmas cards by cutting at the fold. Write a personal message on the back
and use as a post card. Save envelopes.
MORE--For your church or group consider using one of the following. Focus on an appropriate or interesting theme. (Dates are given only for reference.)
Guidelines for Alternative Giving
Models for Prayer and Worship
Resource Packets
Bulletin Inserts
Calendars
graded Activity Guides
11/24/23--World Vasectomy Day (WVD.org) is an international awareness event held in many countries across the world. Its main goal is to raise global awareness of vasectomy as a male-oriented solution to prevent unwanted pregnancies. November is Men's Reproductive Health Month.
Legacy SLW! Blog--God Is Coming! (11/27/14)
For more information this week:
Month 2
Voluntary Simplicity Study Action Guide Session 4: Valentine's Day: I Was in Prison And You Came to Me
Worship Alternatives: Advent/Christmas/Epiphany
Spirit of Simplicity QUOTES: 3. Celebrating
Spirit of Simplicity ART: Celebrating Advent & Christmas
Return to Table of Contents
Week 3:
Unplug the Christmas Machine (Leader's Guide)
11/17--The Christmas Pledge
Believing in the true spirit of Christmas, I commit myself to:
Remember those people who truly need my gifts
Express my love in more direct ways than gifts
Examine my holiday activities in the light of my deepest values
Be a peacemaker within my circle of family and friends
Rededicate myself to my spiritual growth
SLW! ALERT
Legacy SLW! Blog--Advent Conspiracy -- SLW! eNews 11/1/15
11/18--Make a Plan. Set small and specific goals. Want to minimize Christmas
preparations? To feel more relaxed this holiday season? To spend more relaxed
time with the children this Christmas? Want to give less commercial gifts?
(Continued)
The Thom Hartmann Hidden History Series
The Hidden History of Guns and the Second Amendment
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--NorthWest Earth Institute's discussion course ebook, Sustainability Works: Rethinking Business As Usual // Change Is Our Choice: Creating Climate Solutions // Voluntary Simplicity // SLW! Podcast
Legacy SLW! Blog--New SLW! Blog Index--SLW! Weekly Digest 11/9/15 // Worth Revisiting: WHOSE Birthday? by Richard Rohr, Tony Campolo and Meg Cox
11/19--Look at your goals and think of one, two or three activities that will
help you accomplish them. Unless you are assured of other people's cooperation,
it's best to focus on activities that you can do by yourself. (Continued)
Red Shawl Day--Wearing Red Shawls to Bring Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples
The Thom Hartmann Hidden History Series
The Hidden History of the Supreme Court and the Betrayal of America
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--PostConsumers: Find the Satisfaction of Enough
Legacy SLW! Blog--WHOSE Birthday? Podcast Series, part 1--Simple Living Works! Weekly 11/18/15
November holidays include: Fourth Thursday-Thanksgiving Day
Treasury of Celebrations, pp. 178-188
To Celebrate, pp. 155-160
Bulletin Inserts
11/20--Next describe these activities in simple written sentences - what you
are going to do and when it should be done, for example: Goal:
I want to simplify my gift giving. Activity 1: I will write letters
to Aunt Carol and Aunt Rebecca suggesting that we give gifts only to the
children and mail those letters by October 1. (Continued)
Free Classic Alternatives' Christmas Resource: Let Jesus Come, Let Santa Go! Workshop
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--Share Spend Save: Money+Meaning (Nathan Dungan)
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simple Living Works! Weekly 11/26/15 // Worth Revisiting: WHOSE Birthday? by Lyle A. Miller and Sandi Baete
November holidays include: Fourth Thursday-Thanksgiving Day (MF)
Treasury of Celebrations, pp. 178-188
To Celebrate, pp. 155-160
Bulletin Inserts
Friday after Thanksgiving-Buy Nothing Day on 'Black Friday.' (MF)
11/21--Share your plan with your family. Choose your time carefully. Wait until
they are in a relaxed and accepting frame of mind. Be nonthreatening. Unless
the other family members have done a lot of thinking about Christmas, introduce
the topic gently. Take the time to explain your reasons for wanting to make
changes. Once they know your sincere motives, they are likely to be more
supportive. Finally, talk to others as soon as possible. Many like to plan
for Christmas early.
Quarterly Digest
Lee Van Ham OneEarth Jubilee Blog--New Creation Follows Collapse/
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews #62, 11/1/16 -- 'WHOSE Birthday?' Podcast series
11/22--Brainstorming is fun! It requires withholding judgment on any idea, letting
ideas come out from other ideas. Linear thinkers may be more goal oriented
and circular thinkers may be more creative. Both are necessary. A balance
of both is optimal
Prepare for Non-Conform Freely Celebration: Friday after Thanksgiving-Buy Nothing Day ('Black Friday')
Worship Alternatives: Advent/Christmas/Epiphany
Lee Van Ham OneEarth Jubilee Blog--A New Economy Based in Spirituality and Earth/
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 11/5/16
11/23--Simplicity is the greatest peace making tool we have in the war between the have's and the have-not's.
Non-Conform Freely Celebration: Thanksgiving
Read and discuss Isaiah 58 as part of your preparation for observing Thanksgiving.
Latest UPDATE from Jubilee OneEarth Economics
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--Simplicity Collective - Let us be pioneers once more (Samuel Alexander)
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest, 11/8/16
Return to Table of Contents
11/24--A Birthday Gift for Jesus - When we celebrate a birthday,
we are careful to give what the person really wants or needs. Is there any
doubt what Jesus wants from us? He insists that in order to give to him,
we must find him in the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the
sick and the imprisoned. By helping to provide a goat for a farmer in Honduras,
a decent home for a family in rural Mississippi, or food for those who are
victims of war, we can give Jesus a birthday gift he really wants.
Contact organizations listed in Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? for more information on how to give money, time and skills to those in need.
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Spirit of Simplicity:
Quotes & Art for Simpler Living and Global Justice
More ART
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 11/12/16 -- Post-Election Survival Guide
Week Four: Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?
11/25--Use Alternative's Christmas Budget Worksheet (Cost Analysis Form), to estimate how much you spent
on each item last Christmas. Then total it. This is private. Don't feel guilty
about how much you spent or proud about how little. Decide what percentage
of that amount your family is willing to give to truly needy people this
year. We recommend 25%. You may decide on 10% or 50%. (Continued)
Classic Alternatives' Resource: What Does Jesus Want for Christmas? pageant + Carols with Justice
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--Simplicity Parenting (Kim John Payne): because it is a beautiful world
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest, 11/15/16 -- 'WHOSE Birthday?' part 2
11/26--Now we may feel we have just as many things to buy and people to buy for,
but with less money. We have several options. We can drop some folks or
activities from the list. We can buy less expensive items. We can draw names
instead of everyone giving something to everyone else. Or we can practice
Alternative Giving. That's done in various ways. The first is deciding how
much of last year's budget to give away and to whom.
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--Smart and Simple Matters podcast (Joel Zaslofsky of Value of Simple: Liberate Your Time, Money and Talent) // SLW! Podcast
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 11/19/16
11/27--Say to yourself, out loud while looking in a mirror. "I'm OK. I'm enough.
I don't have to prove how good or strong I am by using my purchase power.
I don't need to own or show-off my stuff to be accepted or loved. I'm forgiven
for my past waste and extravagance."
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--Teach Peace Now
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest, 11/22/16
11/28-Giving Tuesday
The Thom Hartmann Hidden History Series:
The Hidden History of the War on Voting: Who Stole Your Vote and How to Get It Back
The Thom Hartmann Hidden History Series:
The Hidden History of Monopolies: How Big Business Destroyed the American Dream
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 11/26/16
11/29--Surprise is a key element of gift giving. To avoid bad surprises, do not
rely on mind reading. Instead, help your family members and friends select
appropriate gifts - and also reveal some fascinating personal preferences.
Ask each person in your gift exchange circle to fill out the
questionnaire.
(Continued)
Relish CELEBRATING ART
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--TreeHugger: Finding a Greener Future
[ http://www.treehugger.com ]
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Monthly Digest
11/30--Voluntary simplicity is not Scroogism. Gift giving IS appropriate,
especially if it is not just habitual, not based on catalogue shopping and
mall hopping. Add meaning to your giving by giving appropriate gifts... gifts
based on information about the recipient, not what interests the giver or
what the giver would like to receive.
Relish CELEBRATING QUOTES.
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews #74, 11/17 -- Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?
11/30--Cyber Monday: Another marketing ploy to tempt us to focus on wants and desires instead of needs--ours and others.
For more information this week:
Advent:
Treasury of Celebrations, pp. 198-206; To Celebrate, pp. 27-48.
What Does Jesus Want for Christmas? pageant + Carols with Justice
Let's Get off the Christmas Roller Coaster audio
More Worthwhile Colleague Organizations
Simple Living: the Good Life (Janet Luhrs) - Time, Finances, Home-Work, Health
Simple Times (Debi Taylor-Hough): Saving Your Time, Money & Sanity
BONUS SLW! Legacy Blogs
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 11/25/17 -- 10 Tips #4
SLW! Weekly Digest, 11/22/17
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 11/18/17 -- 10 Tips #3
SLW! Weekly Digest, 11/15/17
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 11/11/17 -- 10 Tips #2
SLW! Weekly Digest, 11/8/17
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 11/4/17 -- 10 Tips #1
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 11/22/18
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 11/15/18 (eNews #86): WHOSE Birthday? part 3
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 11/8/18: Post-Mid-Term Elections
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 11/1/18: Small Jubilee Circles Bring Changes in Mexico
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 11/22/19--Rooted and Rising
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 11/15/19--eNews #98: SLW! Podcast Ep. 11/19: Lee Van Ham--The Liberating Birth of Jesus: A Birth Story Able to Reverse Our Planet’s Peril
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 11/08/19--Lee Van Ham's new book
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 11/01/19
Simpler Living Nudge 11/15/20--eNews #110: SLW! Podcast Ep. 1120--How Empowering Women Changes the World
Simpler Living Blog 11/15/21--eNews #122: SLW! Podcast Ep. 1121--Lauren Van Ham: Radical Inter-religious Cooperation Is Working to Save Life on Our Planet
[ Activist Carrie Radloff maintains a 'one-stop shop' GoogleDoc of environmental webinars. With COVID and the cold, events and educational programs have moved online, and finding and keeping up with all of them can be challenging, so this makes it easier for people to stay informed and engaged. ]
Return to Table of Contents
Month 12*
Responsible Celebrating
Celebrating QUOTES
Week 1: Advent
12/1--Begin using
Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? Use the calendar of your choice every day, the Biblical reflections each week and the services and other activities as appropriate. Some editions have an audio version. Review the User's Guide.
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Worship Alternatives: Art
More ART
Guest Resources--Advent Conspiracy
World AIDs Day
Legacy SLW! Blog--WHOSE Birthday Is It, Anyway? 2013 12/3/13
Ten Tips for a Simpler, More Meaningful Christmas
12/2--Tip #1. Plan ahead. Instead of going on auto-pilot the day after Thanksgiving,
hold a family meeting to decide what the group really wants to do and who's
going to do what. Use Alternatives' "Let's Talk About Christmas!" Worksheet to guide your discussion.
Worship Alternatives: Advent/Christmas/Epiphany
Walter Brueggemann's Advent Reflections 12/5/13
12/3--Tip #2. Avoid debt. Refuse to be pressured by advertising to overspend.
Use credit cards wisely. Avoid cash advances. They have no grace period,
interest accumulates immediately.
Non-Conform Freely Celebration: First Sunday in Advent
Relish 'Celebrating' ART
Peace Podcast from John Dear on Apple and Google
Author of 'They Will Inherit the Earth: Peace and NonViolence in a Time of Climate Change' -- SLW! #114: Part 1 // TCGP #98: Part 2
Legacy SLW! Blog--Joan Chittister's Advent Reflections 12/7/13
12/4--Tip #3. Avoid stress. Give to yourself... a peaceful space, for example.
Don't assume that things have to be the same way they've always been. For
more on stress, see August.
Voluntary Simplicity study/action guide Session 3: Christmas: For I Was Naked And You Clothed Me
Patheos--Progressive Christian blogs
Legacy SLW! Blog-- Episode 10: Whose Birthday? -5 12/11/13
12/5--Tip #4. Draw names rather than everyone giving something to everyone else
in your giving circle. Set a ceiling for each recipient.
SLW! Quarterly Digest
Worthwhile Colleague Podcast Ralph Nader Radio Hour
Legacy SLW! Blog--Advent Abundance! 12/13/13
12/6--St. Nicholas Day (To Celebrate, pp. 34-40). Tip #5. If you
need a symbol for giving (in addition to Jesus and the Wise Ones), learn
about St. Nicholas. Santa Claus has been completely taken over by commerce.
Read, share, use Alternatives' "St. Nicholas: A Puppet Play" or "A Saint Nicholas Day Celebration."
Non-Conform Freely Celebration: Second Sunday in Advent
Legacy SLW! Blog--Tom Sine's Advent Reflections 12/17/13
12/7--Tip #6. Give appropriate gifts. Get to know the recipient. Give what they want to receive, not what you want to buy. For help, use the "Appropriate Gift Questionnaire"
Voluntary Simplicity study/action guide Session 11: Alternatives National Christmas Plan
Legacy SLW! Blog--Bill McKibben's Advent Reflections 12/18/13
12/7-15/23-Hanukkah (Jewish Festival of Lights) (Treasury of Celebrations, pp. 196-197; To Celebrate, pp. 161-162)
12/8--Christmas Is More Than Gifts and Glitter - The effort to celebrate a simple Christmas is led by a small, ecumenical nonprofit group originally called Alternatives. Organized in 1973 to protest the commercialization of Christmas, Alternatives (now Simple Living Works!) provides encouragement and support for those who want to celebrate Jesus' birthday. The group emphasizes relationships and traditions over things, hoping to avoid stress and debt.
Legacy SLW! Blog--Ron Sider's Advent Reflections + Free eBook 12/19/13
For more information see Month3* and Month 11* and read Living More with Less, Celebrations, 188-208.
Other holidays in December include
12/7-15/23-Hanukkah (MF) (Jewish Festival of Lights) (Treasury of Celebrations, pp. 196-197; To Celebrate, pp. 161-162)
15th-Festival of the Virgin of Guadalupe (To Celebrate, p. 162)
Return to Table of Contents
Week 2: More Advent
12/9--Tip #7. Give alternative gifts. Give 25% of what you spent last year to the truly needy... individuals or groups locally, nationally or internationally. For help, use Alternatives' Christmas Budget Worksheet (Cost Analysis Form).
Legacy Guest blog--Eco-Justice: O Come, Emmanuel
Legacy SLW! Blog--Episode 11: Whose Birthday? -6:: FINALE 12/20/13
12/10--International Human Rights Day. Contact your denomination's Human Rights Association
and find out what they do. [ Learn about the UN's Declaration of Human Rights. ]
Simpler Living Blog/eNews
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--GodSpace (Christine Sine) // SLW! Podcast
Legacy SLW! Blog--Michael Crosby's Alternative A-C-E Reflections 12/21/13
12/11--More Tip #7. Buy crafts and clothing from developing countries at alternative
gift markets, not from commercial importers, so that the artisans receive
a fair price for their work. For more, see June.
Relish Celebrating QUOTES
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--Living Lightly (Susan Vogt on living more simply but abundantly): 365+ Days of Give-Aways -- Finding good homes for no longer needed items rather than just putting them in the trash // SLW! Podcast //
SLW! Podcast: Lent
Legacy SLW! Blog--Megan McKenna's Alternative A-C-E Reflections 12/23/13
12/12--Yet More Tip #7. Give of yourself, not just "stuff" - a coupon book for
future services (such as baby-sitting or an "enchanted evening") or something
baked, sewn, handmade, composed, etc. For more, read "Gift Giving" in
Treasury of Celebrations, pp. 39-56, or To Celebrate, Chapter
3, pp. 49-70
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--New Changemakers: Join the Changemaking Celebration! (Tom Sine)
Legacy SLW! Blog--George Johnson's Alternative A-C-E Reflections 12/24/13
12/13--More on Giving of Ourselves... giving something more meaningful than stuff
for the giver and the receiver - giving ourselves, not our money or things
bought with our money, but our time and our special skills. (Continued)
Non-Conform Freely Celebration: Third Sunday in Advent
Worthwhile--Living on Earth:
PRI's Environmental News Magazine
Legacy SLW! Blog--Displacing Santa from the Top 12/24/13
12/14--Baking, sewing, woodworking, composing poetry or playing music. The point
is not just to find a substitute for a thing-gift at Christmas but to build
and strengthen a relationship that will nurture and be nurtured all year
long. (Continued)
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--Resilience is a program of Post Carbon Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the world transition away from fossil fuels and build sustainable, resilient communities.
Legacy SLW! Blog--12 Days of Christmas START on Christmas Day 12/25/13
12/15--Hand-made coupon books for promises of time or services at the convenience
of the receiver, not the giver, are both generous and well received. Coupons
for child care, for a special meal, for lawn mowing... you name it.
SLW! Quarterly Digest
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--Simple Living Forum
Legacy SLW! Blog--40th Anniversary: Non-Sentimental Journey 12/28/13
12/16--Tip #8. Give children ONE thing they really want, rather than so many
gifts. If need be, pool funds.
SLW! ALERT
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--The Forum for Sustainable
and Responsible Investment
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews #39 -- Send a Message! Be the Message! 12/1/14
Return to Table of Contents
Week 3: Yet More Advent
12/17--Tip #9. Take turns opening the gifts around the tree, so that each gift
can be admired and each giver thanked. To avoid the emphasis on gifts, don't
put them under the tree until after attending worship service on Christmas
Eve or Christmas Day.
Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? #34 online edition for 2022
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--Charity Navigator
Legacy SLW! Blog--Remember 'Joy Is Like the Rain'? 12/8/14
12/18--When I was a child many of the relatives would gather on Christmas Eve
for a grand meal. Then we would gather around a tree that always reached
to the ceiling. It was surrounded by a mountain of gifts. Everybody gave
something to everybody else. With little fanfare I would start ripping into
all my stuff. It seemed that no one paid much attention to what others were
getting. After an hour or so it was over. (Continued)
Non-Conform Freely Celebration--International Migrants Day #WithDignity
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--Beyond Pesticides
Legacy SLW! Blog-- SLW! Podcast #34 -- Daniel Berrigan, William Sloane Coffin and more! 12/11/14
12/19--One year I asked my dad if we could go to church on Christmas Eve. He
agreed. But I didn't ask until Christmas Eve. When we got back, the others
were pretty unhappy. We had changed the plan. We hadn't considered the group.
Now, after we all go to church, we gather for some favorite foods. We take
turns opening our gifts with considerable fanfare for each one. Though we
are only four, it is more meaningful than when there were a dozen!
Non-Conform Freely Celebration--Las Posadas Treasury of Celebrations
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--EarthShare
Legacy SLW! Blog--Reflections from Institute for Peace and Justice 12/14/14
12/20--Tip #10. Make changes slowly but persistently. Don't try to change everything
and everybody all at once. The resistance will make you feel defeated and
lonely. For more help, read the classic Unplug the Christmas Machine,
especially Chapter 9: "Christmas Revival",
or "Getting Started" in Treasury of Celebrations, pp. 70-87.
Non-Conform Freely Celebration: Fourth Sunday in Advent
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--Appalachia--Science in the Public Interest
Legacy SLW! Blog--Going to Church on Christmas Eve 12/19/14
12/21--First Day of Winter (To Celebrate, p. 163)
Legacy Guest blog--Eco-Justice: Christmas Is NOT Cute
Real Goods|Solar
Legacy SLW! Blog--Episode 35: Susan Briehl, Jill Miller and more! 12/22/14
12/22--We have much better symbols of Christmas and giving than Santa, who has
been completely taken over by commercial interests to sell us more stuff.
We have Jesus giving himself to us and the Three Wise Ones giving gifts to
Jesus. We have St. Nicholas, who gave gifts to the needy. Let's not confuse
our children with stories about Santa. Let's tell the real stories of our
faith.
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--The Simple Way
Legacy SLW! Blog--'Tis the Season 12/28/14
12/23--One Christmas my mother bought a new plastic Santa to put on the top of
the tree. I didn't think much of it. When my Dad saw it, he quietly insisted
that it come down. After all, he was Sunday School Superintendent. Mother
replaced Santa with a Christmas star. That incident had a profound effect
on me. As greedy as I was as a youngster, I got the point that we celebrate
Jesus' birth, not the coming of Santa Claus.
SLW! ALERT
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--Intentional Communities
Legacy SLW! Blog--Having an Epiphany for New Years 12/30/14
12/24--Share memories and stories besides gifts and food. Play Alternatives'
"Christmas Game."
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--Fellowship for Reconciliation: FOR-USA
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews 12/15 // WHOSE Birthday? podcast series
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Worship Alternatives: Art
More ART
Return to Table of Contents
Week 4: Christmas
begins (12 days till Epiphany)
12/25--Christmas Day (birth of Jesus observed). Treasury of Celebrations, pp. 207-225.
Worthwhile ColleagueOrganization--Pax Christi-USA
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest 12/8/15 // Worth Revisiting
12/26--First Day of Kwanzaa. For more information read To Celebrate, pp. 163-164.
Boxing Day (Canada)
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--The Sanders Institute
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest 12/15/15 // WHOSE Birthday? Podcast, part 3
12/27--Keep your tree and decorations up until Epiphany, 1/6/23, when the Wise Ones arrive with their gifts.
SLW! Quarterly Digest
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--Transition Towns USA
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest 12/22/15
12/28--Holy Innocents. Read, share, use Alternatives' "Remembering the
Holy Innocents: A Service for December 28th." And
A Poem for Holy Innocents Day, Dec. 28
The Holy Family escaped the slaughter by their Flight into Egypt, a good time for us to think and talk about immigrants and welcoming the stranger.
Graphic from Alternatives' collection Spirit of Simplicity:
Quotes & Art for Simpler Living and Global Justice
More ART
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--Earthlight
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! eNews #63, 12/1/16 -- 'WHOSE Birthday?' Podcast series
12/29--There are three levels of working toward justice.
1) Symbolic acts, like giving up a meal, help change us though they do not alleviate another's hunger. Education and worship are largely symbolic acts. Though they don't make any thing, they feed our spirits and minds. Symbols are powerful!
Legacy Guest blog--Eco-Justice: US Shutdown and the Innocents
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--New Internationalist: Magazine and books
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 12/5/16
12/30--2) Sharing our resources of time, money and energy are small steps to alleviate another's situation.
Relish Celebrating QUOTES and ART
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--Seeds of Hope
Legacy SLW! Blog--SLW! Weekly Digest, 12/8/16
12/31--3) Systemic change, which is more complex, requires recognition of a need for change by communities and governments. It requires conversation, negotiation, a commitment to cooperation, and constant pressure from caring people.
Non-Conform Freely Celebration--New Year's Eve
Worthwhile Colleague Organization--Salt of the Earth: online resource for social justice
Legacy SLW! Blog--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 12/12/16
BONUS SLW! Legacy Blogs
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 12/26/16
SLW! Weekly Digest, 12/23/16
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 12/19/16
SLW! Weekly Digest, 12/15/16
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 12/25/17 -- 10 Tips #10
SLW! Weekly Digest, 12/22/17
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 12/18/17 -- 10 Tips #7
SLW! Weekly Digest, 12/15/17
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 12/12/17 -- 10 Tips #6
SLW! Weekly Digest, 12/8/17
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge, 12/5/17 -- 10 Tips #5
SLW! eNews #75, 12/17 -- Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? parts 3&4
SLW! Monthly Digest 12/17, Complete
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 12/22/18
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 12/15/18 (eNews #87): WHOSE Birthday? part 4
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 12/7/18: Year-end Giving under the New Tax Laws
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 12/1/18: Fair Trade in Schools and Congregations
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 12/22/19: Planning for 2020
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 12/15/19--eNews #99
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 12/08/19--Ruth Ann Angus, Yes We Can PeaceBuilders
Simpler Living Weekly Nudge 12/01/19--Advent Conspiracy
Simpler Living Nudge 12/15/20--eNews #111: SLW! Podcast Ep. 1220--Will O’Brien: Peace on Earth and the Politics of Christmas
Simpler Living Blog 12/15/21--eNews #123: SLW! Podcast Ep. 1221--Della Duncan, Renegade Economist, Tells about Doughnut Economics and Other Economic Models Being Put to Work
SLW! Nudge 12/22
Simpler Formats for 2022 and beyond--Simpler Living Weekly Nudge becomes monthly. New subscribers, send NUDGE to SimpleLivingworks@yahoo.com
SLW! Blog/eNews/ALERT. To subscribe send BLOG to SimpleLivingworks@yahoo.com.
Subscribers to SLW! Podcast and The Common Good Podcast (TCGP) have received 'Simpler OneEarth Living' Podcast, which I produced and co-hosted. Lee Van Ham of Jubilee OneEarth Economics contributed interviews. This makes good sense since the missions of both SLW! and Jubilee OneEarth Economics are so complementary and the two work together closely. The podcast is on pause after the 01/2 episode. All 250+ episodes are still available through the index at SLW.org, window #3 and also in the Daily Nudge, one at a time.
Your comments on these changes are welcome.
Peace, Gerald 'Jerry' Iversen, SLW! Chief Activist
Return to Table of Contents
*In the spirit of non-conform freely, we choose to use month numbers instead of traditional names because the names are inaccurate (the ninth month, September, means '7'?!) and they honor gods and emperors from the warring ancient Roman culture. For more, read Weekly Nudge 8/8/18
On-Going Boycotts (Wikipedia)--notable current boycotts:
boycotts of Trump products
boycotts of NRA supporters
NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE -- To find out what boycotts are currently in effect, get Green America's Boycott Action News, (800/58-GREEN or GreenAmerica.org). It gives names, addresses and phone numbers of the organizers and the targets, and the reasons for the boycott.
SPARE Nudges
Guest blog--Eco-Justice: Solidarity Means Social Distancing
[ http://www.eco-justice.org/E-200313.asp\ ]
Legacy Guest blog--Eco-Justice: Get Ready for Earth Day
[ http://www.eco-justice.org/E-200228.asp\ ]
Legacy Guest Blog: Jubilee OneEarth Economics/Casa Jubileo--Pushing Back on Extreme Wealth in a Time of Hyper-Capitalism (Chuck Collins) [was 3/8]
Legacy Podcast--SLW! Episode 42: Clyde Griffith of NewCelebrations.com [4/1]
IMAGE: Spirit of Simplicity: Voluntary Simplicity #1-A3386
Return to Table of Contents
Page updated 10/28/24
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