Short Announcements
for

Life, Money & Illusion

discussions


Below you will find several short introductions to the "Life, Money and Illusion" discussion and related topic. You are welcome to adapt any or all of these for your local event.

The more places and ways in which you introduce the topic, the more interest will be stirred up.

Spring 2010 announcement
Short announcement re. economic uncertainity.

Other announcements:
89 Words:
131 Words:
176 Words:
184 Words Climate Change hook
186 Words Press Release format
241 Words To the Editor
279 Words Interesting Times - Asking for help to organize event.
555 Words For Students
Longer 900 word article.

Colour poster
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89 Words:

"Life, Money & Illusion"
A discussion about our changing times

We are faced today with an enormous challenge.
Human beings fill the Earth, yet, our tradition is to grow more.
We must change direction and pursue a new goal,
a steady state relationship with our planet.

Join Mike Nickerson, author of "Life, Money & Illusion: Living on Earth as if we want to stay" for a talk and discussion about the options from which we can choose our future.

Place
Time:

More information at:
http://www.SustainWellBeing.net/LMI/Welcome.html

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131 Words:

"Life, Money & Illusion"
A discussion about our changing times

"Life" refers to the biological processes by which living things maintain themselves over time; "Money" refers to the present economic ideology that says that as long as the volume of money changing hands increases, all will be well. "Illusion" refers to the fact that these two perspectives are directly opposed in terms of how they would solve current problems.

Mike Nickerson, author of "Life, Money & Illusion: Living on Earth as if we want to stay" will be at ((town)), at ((Address)) ((Date)) ((Time)) .

Please join us for an informative talk and discussion about the prospects for securing the future and reasons for expecting that we will choose well. More detail at:
http://www.SustainWellBeing.net/LMI/Welcome.html

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176 Words:


"Life, Money & Illusion"
A discussion about our changing times

There are two different views about being successful in our changing times. One, the "Life" perspective, says we need to preserve and enhance ecosystems and communities, the other, the "Money" perspective, says we need to continuously expand production and consumption. These two approaches differ significantly on how they would deal with today's most serious problems.

Mike Nickerson author of "Life, Money & Illusion: Living on Earth as if we want to stay," will be in ((town)), at ((Address)) ((Date)) ((Time)) for a talk and discussion on these different approaches to the future.

"It is odd," says Nickerson, "at a time when our biggest problems are the result of our size, that our leaders maintain that further growth is the solution. Like adolescents approaching adulthood, our society clings to its carefree past. Since most adults have been able to make that transformation successfully, there is good reason to believe that our society will also find a mature state."

For more information, see:
http://www.SustainWellBeing.net/LMI/Welcome.html

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184 Words:

Living on Earth as if we want to stay

With huge public concern about climate change,
everyone is singing the green tune. More than ever, it
is important to understand what the lyrics mean.

Climate change is a symptom, the problem is
that the growth phase of the human story is drawing to
a close because collectively, we are overwhelming the
Earth's ability, both to provide natural resources, and
to absorb our waste. Continuing efforts to expand the
material economy are self-defeating.

Is it proper, now that our biggest problems result
from our size, to hold growth as a goal?
Would it be better to focus on securing necessities
for everyone within the carrying capacity of the Earth?

It is a Question of Direction.

For a discussion about how we can change
society's underlying goal, come to the ((place)) ((Date &Time))
for a presentation and discussion about Mike Nickerson's
new book "Life, Money & Illusion; Living on Earth as if
we want to stay" and the Question of Direction
program, which the book introduces.

More about the topic can be found at: http://www.SustainWellBeing.net/LMI/Welcome.html

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186 Words:

Press Release

On ((Date and Time)) ((Place)) ((organization)) will host Mike Nickerson for a discussion about his new book "Life, Money and Illusion; Living on Earth as if we want to stay."

"Life, Money and Illusion" addresses civilization's coming of age. Climate change and the depletion of fossil fuels are among the issues that confirm this maturity. They are problems that result from our size and cannot be solved by further growth. Like a child who has grown up, all further progress must be through refinement, rather than physical expansion.

While it is easy to see that human activity is disrupting the Earth, it is harder to change our course to avoid trouble. For tens of thousands of years more people and more effective tools enabled us to overcome countless problems. As a result, our society evolved customs, and built institutions that aim to stimulate further growth. "Life, Money & Illusion" is about these cultural mechanisms and how they can be adapted to secure our future. Join Mike and others on Thursday, April 26 at 7:00 pm to hear more about living on Earth as if we want to stay.

http://www.SustainWellBeing.net/LMI/Welcome.html

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241 Words:

To the Editor:

Resolving Climate Change requires a new goal.

Now that politicians of all stripes are singing
the green tune, our task is to make sure that they
understand the lyrics.

It needs to be made clear that the growth phase
of the human story is drawing to a close, that
collectively, we are overwhelming the Earth's ability,
both to provide natural resources, and to absorb our
waste. Continuing efforts to expand the material
economy are self-defeating.

Is it proper, now that our biggest problems result
from our size, to hold growth as a goal?
Would it be better to focus on securing necessities
for everyone within the carrying capacity of the Earth?

It is a Question of Direction.
We do not have to grow until we drop!
The first step toward resolving Climate Change is to
question the present goal. Broad public discussion about
goals is essential if we are to meet the challenge of our times.

As a species, the human family has grown up.
We have reached a mature size capable of seriously
damaging our planet. It is critical that we take
responsibility for our strength and set our sights on
living well, within planetary limits.

For more detail see "The Challenge and the Goal" at: http://www.SustainWellBeing.net/LMI/Welcome.html
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Mike Nickerson has coordinated the Sustainability Project since 1985 and is the author of:
"Life, Money & Illusion; Living on Earth as if we want to stay"
He will be speaking at ((place)) ((date &time))