| At A Glance | | | | activities are accounted for within the realm of such |
| The time has come to avoid the wasteful use of | | | | notions as The Gross National Product (GNP). |
| Earth Resources (ER), both renewable and non | | | | Clearly, this form of national accounting and this way |
| renewable resources. Given the precarious state of | | | | of measuring changes in human welfare must change. |
| the world, this imperative is not just a choice but our | | | | The new system should include a number of social, |
| only destiny. | | | | human and spiritual factors that are also central to |
| Today's economics is no longer economical. | | | | any notion of human welfare and/or human |
| Economics contributes little to create the conditions | | | | transformation and change. |
| to properly manage our households (local and global). | | | | Similarly, we must involve ourselves in changing the |
| Also, the language of economics, and its policy | | | | traditional notions of what constitutes a "good" or a |
| proposals end up wasting a huge amount of scarce, | | | | "lucrative" business. The architecture and the ultimate |
| precious, and very strategic resources for the | | | | aim of business will have to shift and turn towards |
| present generation and for future generations as well. | | | | well defined and agreed notions of longer-term |
| Economics is not responding to its true meaning and | | | | sustainability at all levels of our existence - i.e., |
| real etymology: manager (ment) and steward (ness) | | | | individually and collectively. |
| of our `household` (eco). | | | | A new notion of what constitutes the engine of |
| In most instances, economic activities have created | | | | business is to be embraced. This proposition should |
| significant inequalities and immense human poverty | | | | not be confused with an-anti business stand. Progress |
| around the world as one of the results. This is | | | | has already taken place odn several fronts. For |
| happening at a moment in human history when we | | | | example, we are beginning to see changes when |
| demonstrate a much lesser ability to embrace and | | | | approached by the notion and practices of the |
| sustain more equitable and just economic and social | | | | so-called Social Corporate Responsibility and Social |
| systems. | | | | Entrepreneurship. |
| The world is ready for a major change in course. | | | | In this context, therefore, the nature and purpose of |
| And, such a change must be based on a totally | | | | profitability are to be redefined. |
| different set of values. In particular, to stop the | | | | In other words, the alchemy of economics and |
| present wastage of natural resources requires that | | | | business do require fundamental changes now. |
| we diligently focus on the role of such values/virtues | | | | In the future, nothing is to be wasted. |
| as frugality and temperance. These will become the | | | | This is why technology and technological change |
| most important foundations to, and the basis for, a | | | | must respond to the above mentioned need to |
| new and unique global strategy to eliminate poverty | | | | change our styles of life, and it must assist us in |
| and enhance our human collective welfare. | | | | moving to newer frontiers of both economics and |
| The time has come to be guided by, and bring into | | | | business. |
| practice, economy. | | | | When we refer to our style of life we are referring |
| We must be wise and highly conscious of how | | | | here to all those aspects that are affecting us as |
| appropriation, use and management of all ER are to | | | | individuals and as a human collective at large. An |
| be changed. For the moment we witness excesses, | | | | example of the former are the changes induced by |
| lavishness, waste and extravagance everywhere | | | | the consumption of superfluous commodities. An |
| -including developed and lesser developed countries. | | | | example of the latter is a change in life style due to |
| The current system only benefits a few people and | | | | global warming and ozone layer depletion. |
| castigates the greatest majority of those inhabiting | | | | But, these changes may in addition involve global |
| this planet. | | | | peace and human security, just to name two out of |
| This is the only planet we have and we all belong to | | | | many more changes needed. |
| it. There is only one world and we have to make | | | | When, after a thorough analysis of more than 100 |
| sure we do not disintegrate it as a home for all life, | | | | wars and conflicts, Oxford University and The World |
| including that of humanity itself. | | | | Bank find that the main source of conflict and war |
| This is not an ideological statement. | | | | are rooted in economic disputes and inequalities, it |
| Existing empirical evidence is now overwhelmingly | | | | has become essential to redirect economics and |
| telling. | | | | business towards peace and human security rather |
| The world is approaching the seven billion people's | | | | than to the opposite. This is why many people are |
| mark, with half of its population struggling to attain a | | | | seeing that the conflict in the Middle East is all about |
| decent state of material existence, with more than 1 | | | | the appropriation of natural resources and not really |
| billion people going hungry every night. Women, | | | | about religion. |
| children and the elderly are suffering a great deal as | | | | Temperance calls for restraint and moderation under |
| they constitute the bulk of the poor on the planet. | | | | conditions of material scarcity. |
| Furthermore, environmental destruction is reaching | | | | In many ways all economic and business activities |
| alarming levels, with weather conditions becoming | | | | demand moderation today. This temperance is to |
| ever more unstable and unpredictable. Global warming | | | | unfold within a system that is just, self disciplined, |
| and ozone layer depletion are major manifestations | | | | compassionate and prudent. But, it is important to |
| of this destruction, affecting all aspects of our lives, | | | | understand that compassion is not just giving |
| including material advancement, health and nutrition, | | | | something to someone. Compassion is an ability to |
| emotional stability, and spiritual evolution. All are | | | | become the other without losing one's own identity. |
| intermingled. | | | | In addition, a compassionate person must be |
| Also, we witness war and conflicts on most | | | | committed to resolve the problem of the other. This |
| continents. Some of these conflicts have been | | | | commitment is essential and should be set explicitly all |
| lingering for decades. These conflicts affect those | | | | the time. |
| who are at war with each other, and who directly or | | | | To move towards this new paradigm, it is essential |
| indirectly, affect the large majority of people on | | | | that we all experience all forms of interdependence |
| earth. Just think about the global threat imposed by | | | | and that we recognize that we now live a collective |
| nuclear weapons; these weapons are and will impact | | | | existence. Individual materialism must be over. The |
| every creature alive today. | | | | single pursuit of individual welfare does not |
| Not less important is to be fully aware of how the | | | | necessarily amount to net gains in collective welfare. |
| western style of life (and now many in the eastern | | | | This is obviously true in a situation characterized by |
| too) creates much stress and higher and higher levels | | | | the waste of earth natural resources. |
| of toxicity, which is invading most institutions and | | | | The self realization of interdependence and collective |
| organizations, nationally and internationally. | | | | existence are key, and this Appeal calls for the |
| All of the above is the result of promoting | | | | necessary changes in education, health, agronomy, |
| unnecessary and wasteful consumption, adopting | | | | ecology, governance, etc., all of which are now taking |
| imprudent avenues for money creation and | | | | us away from a better collective future. |
| allocations, and accepting stressful ways of creating | | | | The poor will greatly benefit from the macro |
| debt at all levels (banking and credit). | | | | strategy suggested above, though some important |
| The virtues of frugality and temperance are two | | | | conditions are to be met: expanding their |
| important states of being and becoming. | | | | empowerment, ensuring security, and opening new |
| These two states of being must not be sought out | | | | opportunities from saving Earth Resources. |
| just as mere propositions to be advocated for, but | | | | I am appealing to all the leaders around the world: in |
| they should be embraced as states of being to be | | | | politics, the armed forces, unions, religious institutions, |
| self-realized, both individual and collectively. | | | | non governmental organizations, indigenous peoples, |
| Frugality and temperance are states whose | | | | spiritual movements, science, etc. |
| influences are immersed in the nature and scope of all | | | | How long can we continue polluting the land, water |
| forms of human interactions. Therefore, their | | | | and air? |
| self-realization will only happen when we are willing to | | | | How far can we go destructing the ozone layer? |
| experience a total reorganization of our habits in | | | | How much longer will we continue destroying our |
| relation to both ourselves and others (at the same | | | | biodiversity? |
| time). | | | | Possible Next Steps: |
| Thus, if we are to practice economy, it will demand | | | | 1. The creation of a World Commission on Frugality |
| major changes in those life styles, and these changes | | | | and Temperance (WCFT), based on regional and |
| may become a major source of great resistance, at | | | | national commissions. These commissions should |
| least, at the beginning. Such changes will need to be | | | | incorporate actors from all walks of life. |
| compatible and coherent with new forms of | | | | 2. The drafting of a Global Plan To Save Earth |
| economics and economic development. | | | | Resources (GPSER) with specific country actions. |
| As we self realize frugality and temperance we will | | | | 3. The allocation of 100 trillion dollars into new forms |
| progressively find real net increases in material and | | | | of education, science, governance, monitoring and |
| spiritual welfare. The net savings of these natural | | | | technology that will shift the people's minds and |
| resources will be embedded in a new form of | | | | awareness towards frugality and temperance and |
| economics, which will benefit all, over space and time. | | | | collective welfare. |
| This shift is similar to that requiring us to move from | | | | 4. The elimination of the existing economy of war |
| the economics of war to the economics of peace. | | | | and the economy of more materiality, with attention |
| Such a shift necessarily demands the self realization | | | | to be given to the total eradication of poverty and |
| of peace before we attempt to promote such a | | | | the full protection of the natural and human |
| shift. Otherwise people will see no benefit from | | | | environments. |
| peace and its embodied economics. | | | | 5. The immediate elimination of all forms of waste |
| For the moment, we only count increases in net | | | | and excessive consumption in the use of our |
| material welfare when we expense and use these | | | | resources. |
| resources. This is due mainly to the way these | | | | |