In response to Roxanne's thoughts:
> Perhaps the concept of the global village could be explored. What
>does that image conjure up in our thinking about "community"? Or our
>relationships with our neighbours and the strangers who are merely
>friends we've yet to meet? How does a striving for balance in our
>individual lives contribute to the creation of more harmonious
>communities? What does balance in our individual lives mean?
I think there are important links between the "global
village" (cheezy as the phrase is), local communities, and our individual
lives. I can't help but think of the oft-said phrase: "Think globally,
Act locally."
Personally, becoming committed to change in my individual life
(a committment I made -after- I became an activist) has been a wonderful,
challenging, empowering experience. There really are lots of things we
can change in our lives to make them more "balanced," with a number of
good side effects. The personal choice to become a vegetarian or vegan,
for example, is a huge one, and it has been said to be one of the
biggest consumer decisions one single person can make in favour of
the conserving the environment. There are other choices--like growing
some of your own food, tending a compost, becoming part of local co-ops,
re-thinking how you get around town (any bike afficianados out
there?)--that not only do a little toward ecological health, but also
help *you* maintain your "balance" and health. I'm realizing that
finding ways to "walk the talk" of ecofeminism in my daily life makes me
feel better, stronger, more able to be an effective individual in
struggles for wider change.
Another point to make is that these changes that are possible
within an individual's life often, by their nature, connect to others
within our communities. Again, being part of a real community, one that
works together, contributes both to personal health and development and
allows for effective community action.
Juniper
