Right Relationship: Economy, People and Earth

Many Quakers are seeking a way of living that is in right relationship with the Earth. Current global patterns of human consumption have put ecosystems worldwide in peril a because of climate change and other impacts. We seek ways to minimize our individual contributions to these broad patterns, to set an example for collective action and to advocate for change.

In this workshop we will explore how we can gather our spiritual and intellectual forces to move individually and collectively toward an economics that recognizes the ecological limits of our finite planet Earth. Through the lens of Quaker testimonies and the notion of right relationship, we will examine the relationship between the economy and ecology. We will consider what the economy is for, how it works, how big it should be, what is fair, and how the economy should be governed.

Up to 45 minutes each day will be spent on silent worship or worship sharing. The remaining time will be spent on lectures, experiential activities and discussion of readings that will be provided to participants in advance. Lectures, experiential activities and discussions will draw upon material that explains or explores the science, economics, spirituality and ethics that underlie the global economy as it is now, and as it could be with a more Earth-conscious approach.

The book Right Relationship: Building a Whole Earth Economy will be a key inspiration for the workshop. Queries that use the book and other sources as a point of departure will be used to guide worship sharing and discussion. Additional readings will look at the science of climate change, ecological footprint, human use of net primary productivity and recent work on science-based planetary boundaries on human activities; the morality and ethics of the economy, contrasting the underpinnings of today's dominant economics with those of ecological economics and other alternate points of view; and Quaker testimonies and other spiritual frameworks, as reflected in the writings of George Fox, John Woolman, Kenneth Boulding and others.