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Newsletter August 2009
A systemic disconnect: Money and happiness
The current economic crisis provides the opportunity to look at personal and group values in the context of our role in the world and our relationship with the planet. What exactly is the connection between money and happiness at a psychological and a systemic level?
We know that well-being and wealth are not one and the same. The relationship between them is not directly proportional, but is complex. During our course The Economics of Happiness Tim Kasser will be discussing with participants this relationship and exploring how individuals and societies can develop a strategy toward realising wellbeing independently of material wealth.
Participants will also be joined by Karma Ura, Per Espen Stoknes and Nic Marks to discuss happiness, psychology, and how we measure and understand them within social transformation.
Interested more new economics? Click here for information about another course we are running Growth and Consequence: Rethinking our economic future.
Last chance to join the series Walking with the Earth Pilgrim
There has been an unprecedented demand for Walking with the Earth Pilgrim with Satish Kumar. This has resulted in three such courses in the past year. This September is the last in this series of Earth Pilgrim courses.
As well as spending time with Satish at Schumacher and on Dartmoor, participants will be joined by fellow faculty member Stephan Harding to look at the amazing area of gaia theory. Christopher Lloyd will discuss a holistic historical perspective of earth. Together, these three teachers will make this a very rich pilgrimage to a deeper understanding of ourselves and the planet.
There are a handful of places left on this course for those who want to join Satish and colleagues on Walking with the Earth Pilgrim, click here for details.
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Radical change needed: Schumacher College responds
Thank you for all those that have responded to our email about our new course on the fundamentals of a whole world view – Ecoliteracy: First principles for radical change. We are delighted that so many of you agree with us that it is a timely addition to our programme. Those who want to join this exciting new course in these urgent times , please click here
Sheila Dillon joins Andrew Whitley at Schumacher to address a new food culture
Due to popular demand, we have asked Andrew Whitley to return to Schumacher to once again share his deep knowledge of bread and the politics of this and other fundamentals of food production and consumption in Baking for a New Food Culture.
This year Andrew will be joined by Sheila Dillon who many of you will know from the BBC Food Programme where she has worked for 20 years, first as reporter, then producer and now presenter.
Sheila’s investigative work has won many awards, most recently for her documentary on the history of the American meat industry. In the late 1980s and 90s, she and Derek Cooper covered the breaking scandal of BSE, the rise of GM foods, the growth of the organic movement, the birth of the World Trade Organisation and irradiation at a time when those subjects were uncommon on news reports. Recent programmes on the chocolate industry, fishing practices and food prices carry on the tradition. She is also the creator of BBC Radio 4’s first interactive grocery show, Veg Talk.
For more information on Andrew, Sheila and Baking for a New Food Culture, click here
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Memorial Celebration for our dear friend and colleague Brian Goodwin
2pm on Sunday 20th September, Dartington
If you would like to attend the Memorial Celebration in person on 20th September, please RSVP by email to let us know: briancelebration@dartington.org. Please email by Friday 4th September to allow us to plan our seating and catering accordingly.
Thank you to those of you who have already paid tribute to Brian on our website. Please do contribute a message on the memorial page. Other tributes can be sent to briancelebration@dartington.org or mailed to us at the address at the base of this email. If you would like your tribute to be displayed at the memorial please ensure we have your contribution by 4th September.
Totnes Community: What’s your message on climate change to the UK government?
Wednesday, 16 September, 2009
From 6th – 18th December 2009, governmental representatives from 170 countries will meet in Copenhagen to develop a new climate agreement. This could radically affect how we all live as we adapt to climate change.
Schumacher College will be sending a message to the UK government representatives going to Copenhagen. We invite members of the local community to air their voices and contribute to this message by joining us at St John’s, Totnes on 16th September to participate in a world-cafe style discussion.
For further details click here
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Frank Cook
Our great friend Frank Cook died on Wednesday 19th August. Those of you who have met Frank will know that his spirit and enthusiasm was extraordinary. Frank Cook was an MSc student at Schumacher College 2007-2008. He had a particular zest for plant knowledge but also a special warmth, bringing people into this and other amazing areas of his life. His influence at the College has been well beyond his studies with his contribution to our kitchen, garden and his general ethos now a well established part of College life.
You can read further details and more about Frank’s very unique work on his website www.plantsandhealers.com/
In Frank’s words – Peace to you
Certificate in Sustainable Horticulture recruits the next generation of food producers
Applications for the new Dartington Certificate in Sustainable have exceeded expectations. The high demand for this new course reflects the urgent need for new ways of approaching food production in the UK and across the world.
Just this month the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Hilary Benn said “We need a radical rethink of how we produce and consume our food. Globally we need to cut emissions and adapt to the changing climate that will alter what we can grow and where we can grow it. We must maintain the natural resources – soils, water, and biodiversity – on which food production depends.” (DEFRA News Release, 10 August)
A partnership between Duchy College and Dartington, the certificate will be run, in the main through practical experience on three pioneering horticultural projects on the Dartington Estate. These are the nationally renowned 21st Century Dartington Hall gardens; School Farm, a community-focused market garden developing low carbon growing technology and working to organic standards; and the forest garden around Schumacher College.
Schumacher College looks forward to welcoming students on this pioneering certificate in September. For more details about the programme, click here.
School for Social Entrepreneurs opens in Devon, at Schumacher College
Dartington and The School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) are delighted to announce the opening of the latest branch of the SSE here in Devon. The SSE in Devon will be based at Schumacher College.
The SSE provides support to pioneering individuals who are acting entrepreneurially for social benefit and positive change, rather than for personal profit. As part of its rapid growth in the UK, and with recently secured funding from the Office of the Third Sector at the Cabinet Office, a Devon SSE is being set up by a coalition of county wide organisations, led by The Dartington Hall Trust, of which Schumacher College is a part.
To read more of this story, click here.
Courses open for booking
Don’t forget: For many of our winter courses there is a discount for a limited number of participants until the 1st of September.
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Walking with the Earth Pilgrim
14 – 18 September 2009
Earth Jurisprudence and Community Resilience: Learning from Africa
21 – 25 September 2009
Ecoliteracy: First principles for radical change
5 – 16 October 2009
Exploring Ethnobotany: Plants as healers
19 – 23 October 2009
Closing Loops, Opening Minds: Educating for a greener future
2 – 6 November 2009
Purpose and Profit: How holistic thinking can remake business
9 – 13 November 2009
Growth and Consequence: Rethinking our economic future
23 – 27 November 2009
Baking for a New Food Culture
30 November – 4 December 2009
Science Meets Spirit: The search for meaning
4 – 22 January 2010
The Economics of Happiness
1 – 19 February 2010
After Copenhagen: Opportunities and challenges
1 – 19 March 2010
Green Design in Practice: Building an earthship
19 – 30 April 2010
Click here to book your place(s) using our on-line booking system
Associated articles and websites
Schumacher College uma sala de aula viva IM Magazine
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Lomborg Caught off Guard by Pawlyn’s Robust Argument for Restorative Design Treehugger (Michael Pawlyn teaches on biomimicry at Schumacher College)
The launch of Riversimple’s urban hydrogen car (blog by Paul Roberts past participant and Facilitator at the college)
Associated events
(NB these are not Schumacher College events)
All Our Futures 2: Getting real – investing in our future – by design
15 – 17 September, 2009
Centre for Sustainable Futures
University of Plymouth, UK
Landscapes of the Mind
Does our psychological health depend on our relationship with nature?
25 – 27 September 2009
The Eden Project, Cornwall, UK
Schumacher College
(E) admin@schumachercollege.org.uk
(T) +44(0)1803 865 934
www.schumachercollege.org.uk
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.