Plenty? Festival explores ‘degrowth’. So, what is it, and why does it matter?
What is Degrowth? A Beginner's Guide
There is an urgent need to transform our everyday life, to respond and work WITH the fragile Earth on which we all rely on to exist - where the resources are limited, and depleting fast. Yet, with the correct care and nurturing, the Earth has the potential be plentiful. De-growth is a set of ideas and a social movement that emphasises the re-organising of the economy around both human needs as well as the health of the Earth, rather than capital interests.
Our current economic system relies on the logic that only continued economic growth will increase equality for societies. When the economy doesn’t grow, this is known as a 'recession'. And we've all heard the negative connotations associated with it.
However, this system is failing to address the many critical issues of our time, including climate change, inequality, poverty, hunger, species extinction, land theft, the privatisation of water and other energy systems that are integral to our basic needs. When the economy grows, often, so do these issues.
Economic prosperity is measured through GDP (Gross Domestic Product) – what does and doesn’t count within this model is an important consideration! Damage to our environment caused by waste or fossil fuel production – doesn’t count. The fundamental work that sustains life, whether teaching children how to read or healing acres of soil - doesn't count*.
Think about the number of everyday examples whereby this system of 'economic growth' is failing us; increasing food banks, the negative impact of the cost of living and energy crisis on our own lives as well as the communities we are a part of.
Essentially, DEGROWTH is an alternative strategy that has the potential to STABILISE economies while achieving essential life-giving social and ecological goals.
To break it down, the degrowth model can be grouped into nine basic principles:
The Principles of Degrowth*
- Sustainability - Never deteriorate supporting ecosytems;
- Circularity - Waste not, want not (reuse and recycle);
- Cooperation - Focus on people and the planet, not profit;
- Useful production – What is NOT needed, should NOT be made (reduce unnecessary production)!
- Sharing – Sufficiency for all, excess for none!
- Local Production – Produce local, consume local;
- Work-Life balance – Work less, play more;
- Relational good – Less 'stuff', more relationships;
- Joie De Vivre – If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your economy!
(source: https://explore.degrowth.net/degrowth/values-principles/)
So what does this mean?
In contrast to current society where GDP is the indicator of prosperity:
- Degrowth advocates for social and environmental well-being to replace GDP.
- Degrowth supports reducing levels of production and consumption, in order to conserve natural resources and minimise environmental damage.
- Degrowth focuses on production that achieves happiness, well-being, and thriving ecosystems, instead of corporate profits and excess consumption.
In essence, DEGROWTH seeks to develop an economy that satisfies the basic needs of everyone, whilst remaining within planetary boundaries.
Further reading/resources
The Principles of Degrowth
* Source: https://explore.degrowth.net/degrowth/values-principles/)
Demystifying Degrowth
* Source: https://explore.degrowth.net/d...
Degrowth Symbolism - The Snail
Very often you’ll see the snail associated with this work, that’s because the snail is one example in nature where the growth of a snails shell is limited, it is an optimum size rather than continuing to grow. It’s also used as a metaphor for valuing a culture of slowing down, and a culture of minimalism rather than the bigger, better and faster culture of economic growth.
