Degrowth Group Assembly Process

Consumption

About

Working group formed for the International Conference on Degrowth 2014.

What are the potentials and limits of individual self-providing and life-style changes for the transformation towards a degrowth society?

Papers

H. Aoki and Kawamiya, N., “Primary Energy Analysis: A New Approach beyond Extant Growth Theories”, in Fourth International Conference on Degrowth for Ecological Sustainability and Social Equity, Leipzig, 2014.PDF icon Degrowth2014_Aoki_PrimaryEnergyAnalysis(handout).pdf (927.15 KB)PDF icon Degrowth2014_Aoki_PrimaryEnergyAnalysis(ppt).pdf (1.29 MB)PDF icon 3485.pdf (385.75 KB)
C. Apostolidi, “Is there still no alternative? Self-management under a degrowth perspective: a comparative approach between two case studies in France (Fralib) and Greece (VioMe)”, in Fourth International Conference on Degrowth for Ecological Sustainability and Social Equity, Leipzig, 2014.File Degrowth2014_Apostolidi_Is there still no alternative? Self-management under a degrowth perspective: a comparative approach between two case studies in France (Fralib) and Greece (VioMe).pptx (260.36 KB)PDF icon 3759.pdf (233.66 KB)
viviana asara and Kallis, D. Prof. Gior, “The Indignados movement: between prefiguration and creation of alternatives”, in Fourth International Conference on Degrowth for Ecological Sustainability and Social Equity, Leipzig, 2014.
C. Ax, “Growth vs Degrowth - Do we rally have the choice?”, in Fourth International Conference on Degrowth for Ecological Sustainability and Social Equity, Leipzig, 2014.PDF icon 3594.pdf (36.8 KB)
R. Bakshi, “An Economy of Permanence and Rethinking Value”, in Fourth International Conference on Degrowth for Ecological Sustainability and Social Equity, Leipzig, 2014.PDF icon Baks.pdf (216.46 KB)
G. Barbas Baptista, “Learning and building knowledge for degrowth: communities of practice and peer production across scales and beyond roles”, in Fourth International Conference on Degrowth for Ecological Sustainability and Social Equity, Leipzig, 2014.PDF icon 3734.pdf (86.53 KB)
G. Barbas Baptista, “Scaling up collective action and advancing knowledge on degrowth from the grassroots”, in Fourth International Conference on Degrowth for Ecological Sustainability and Social Equity, Leipzig, 2014.PDF icon Bapt.pdf (227.61 KB)
stefano bartolini, “GREAT RECESSION AND U.S. CONSUMERS’ BULIMIA: DEEP CAUSES AND POSSIBLE WAYS OUT”, in Fourth International Conference on Degrowth for Ecological Sustainability and Social Equity, Leipzig, 2014.PDF icon 3406.pdf (437.88 KB)
stefano bartolini, “Do people care for a sustainable future? Evidence from happiness data.”, in Fourth International Conference on Degrowth for Ecological Sustainability and Social Equity, Leipzig, 2014.PDF icon 3409.pdf (311.7 KB)
stefano bartolini, “Happy for How Long? How Social Capital and GDP relate to happiness over time”, in Fourth International Conference on Degrowth for Ecological Sustainability and Social Equity, Leipzig, 2014.PDF icon 3365.pdf (365.62 KB)

Participants

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Results from Leipzig 2014

Proposals for the Transformation

  • Reformation of the standardization processes (p.e. ISO) so that marginalized (especially in the global south) are more effectively involved.

  • Create time and space to build communities (= alternatives to shopping).

  • Mainstreaming of critical thinking across all school subjects towards consumption habits, social practices, social status and advertisement.

  • Discuss basic needs and fulfillment.

  • Teach different social-ecological models.

  • Expand teaching of self-providing.

  • Establish space for children to discover how to make/do things.

  • Create a marketing watch organization with an official mandate to restrict advertisement.

Visions

  • Everyone should get the possibility of “full” awareness about consumption impacts.

  • Find alternative fulfillment for psychological drivers of buying.

Controversial issues

  • One single sustainability label (“single score label”) ?

  • Base education on communal decision of what is liked and needed?

  • Make advertisement spaces public so that everyone can publish ads?

Ideas for Action

  • Ad-busting.

  • Spend a year without buying new stuff (contact: ben[at]goodmatters[dot]net).

  • Inform about manipulation practices.

Open Questions for Research

  • Should advertisement only be restricted or prohibited entirely?

  • What can we learn from the tobacco case?

  • How can we make long-lasting and high-quality products the new normal?

Results from Barcelona 2010

Here you can find the results of the GAP at the Degrowth Conference 2010 in Barcelona that are particularly relevant for this working group. More