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Newsletter April 23, 2009
Big figures, but how can we transform the economic system with ‘small is beautiful’?
In his famous book, Small is Beautiful: Economics as if people mattered, E.F. Schumacher brilliantly articulated the need to align economics with natural resources.
Thirty-six years on, our economic systems pay scant attention to natural resources and ecological systems. Instead, they are driven by exponential financial growth. We are now in the midst of arguably our worst economic crisis for several decades.
As the recent G20 London Summit has showed, our world leaders continue to attempt to address our economic crisis from within the existing economic system. After the Summit, the media coverage triumphantly reported on the US$1.1 trillion programme of support to help the world economy through the crisis.
However, the natural resources that the current system relies on continue to be depleted in the pursuit of economic growth. Our current crisis lies in our economic system’s benchmark value being money, and not our real, tangible resources. What values do we urgently need to cultivate in order to bring about economic, ecological and social sustainability?
This is the subject matter to which E.F. Schumacher earnestly devoted himself, and that which will be considered during our one week course in June, Small is Beautiful Revisited. Come on this course and meet inspirational people who continue to honour the ideas of E.F. Schumacher. George McRobie, friend and colleague of Schumacher will be joined by David Boyle, associate of the new economics foundation and Satish Kumar, of Schumacher College and Resurgence.
Learn more about the course Small is Beautiful Revisited, 1 – 5 June 2009
Exciting Employment Opportunities at Dartington Schumacher College
New Economics Fellow
£38,000 – £40,000 – Initially fixed-term two-year post
To develop a new MSc and post-graduate certificate and to contribute to our Outreach, Short Course and Open Learning programmes. We require an experienced and creative educator with a demonstrable track-record of research, published work and consultancy. This post holder will be a member of the senior management team of the College.
Lecturer in Holistic Science
£27,300 – Permanent
To support our MSc in Holistic Science and to contribute to our post-graduate certificates, Outreach, Short Course and Open Learning programmes. We require a creative educator with experience and understanding of chaos and complexity theories.
Living Classroom Educator (part-time)
£23,000 (pro rata) – Initially fixed-term one-year post 0.5
To develop and support the integration of innovative and sustainable land practices into the learning experience of students and participants at the college.
For more information about any of these positions, visit www.dartington.org/jobs or call +44 (0)1803 847021.
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New course details on-line: Valuing Diversity
This is a truly pioneering area of work, the holistic approach of biocultural diversity brings together many themes present across Schumacher College courses. This course responds to the pressing need to maintain, and in many cases restore, the biocultural complexity on which the planet, and humanity within this, relies.
Gary Martin is Director of The Global Diversity Foundation, responsible for establishing long-term ‘observatories’ of cultural and natural diversity around the world. Gary argues that maintaining diversity in an increasingly globalised world is not only a basic human right, but an act of supreme collective intelligence. During the first week of the course, participants will explore contemporary concepts and practical issues in the fields of biocultural diversity and ethnobiology. Stephan Harding will take up these themes within the context of Gaia theory and the biosphere.
Juan Mayr Maldonado was Minister for the Environment in Colombia and now works with a number of multilateral agencies to protect indigenous territorial rights and cultures. He will look at participants’ experiences of culture, tradition and biocultural diversity. He will present the case of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and explore with participants, through his sessions, the indigenous story and mechanism for adaptation and re-adaptation.
Read new course details about Valuing Diversity: Learning from ecosystems & cultures (July 2009)
Extract on-line: The Science of Leonardo by Fritjof Capra
…there are surprisingly few books about Leonardo’s science, even though he left voluminous notebooks full of detailed descriptions of his experiments, magnificent drawings, and long analyses of his findings. Moreover, most authors who have discussed Leonardo’s scientific work have looked at it through Newtonian lenses, and I believe this has often prevented them from understanding its essential nature. more
Fritjof Capra, the highly respected physicist and systems theorist has taught on a number of courses at Schumacher College in the past. He returns this summer to teach our course Learn about the course – Living Networks: From Leonardo to Lovelock & beyond (May 2009).
Read an extract from The Science of Leonardo.
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In the news: Electric cars, but what about electric vans?
There has been much in the news recently about the British Government subsidy of electric cars. Potentially of more immediate benefit would be subsidising the purchase of electric vans. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, the UK is a leader in the field with 3 independent manufacturers in production. Secondly, daily use and routes for vans are often a known quantity unlike passenger vehicles. The advanced lithium iron battery technology is already used by these manufacturers and it provides both good distance and speed over conventional deep-cycle lead batteries. It is this technology that will be rolled out to passenger cars by 2011. A subsidy for businesses to adopt electric vans now would both jump-start the green new deal market and directly support the UK manufacturing sector.
Dartington has recently purchased a Mega electric van for use by the Cider Press Centre, the on-site craft and shopping village. Prior to buying the vehicle a ‘needs assessment’ found that the limited distances and speed requirements match the capabilities of the Mega van. The van services commercial business on the Dartington estate and in local area of Totnes. In June an existing on-site water-wheel will be reconditioned, providing 100% renewable electricity for the Mega van (as well as providing power for buildings). A vast improvement on using national grid electricity, projects like this further improve financial and environmental savings.
‘In the news’ today comes from Jon Rae, Sustainability Co-ordinator at Dartington Schumacher College. His remit is to promote sustainability across the Dartington Hall Trust through the land, energy provision and staff activity.
Forthcoming courses
Nourishing the Soul: Archetypes, myth & meaning Final few places remaining!
5- 15 May
Living Networks: From Leonardo to Lovelock & beyond Final few places remaining!
18- 29 May
Small is Beautiful Revisited
1-5 June
Biomimicry: Nature as mentor, model & measure
8-12 June
Walking With the Earth Pilgrim Sorry this course is full!
15- 19 June
Science, Cosmology & the Future
29 June- 10 July
Valuing Diversity: Learning from ecosystems & cultures
13- 24 July
Purpose and Profit: How holistic thinking can remake business
9-13 Nov
Click here to book your place(s) using our on-line booking system
Click here to book by post or fax
Open Evenings
Open Evening with Julian David/Jules Cashford
6 May| Schumacher College, 8pm
Open Evening with Thomas Moore
13 May | Schumacher College, 8pm
Open Evening with Fritjof Capra
20 May | Totnes, Venue and Time TBC
Dartington Schumacher College
(E) admin@schumachercollege.org.uk
(T) +44(0)1803 865 934
www.schumachercollege.org.uk
Dartington Schumacher College is an initiative of The Dartington Hall Trust, a registered charity, bringing ideas on sustainability to life.
Schumacher College is part of the Dartington Hall Trust, a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and as a charity (company no. 1485560, charity no. 279756). Registered office: The Elmhirst Centre, Dartington Hall, Totnes, Devon TQ9 6EL, UK.