Building Healthy Economies

 

Chapter Seven Questions: Here are some things to ponder. You don't have to answer them all, but answer the ones you care about most or add in your own sentiments.

 

“Study and examine all but choose and follow the good.”

-Ras Tafari

 

1. Were you surprised by any of the statistics on stress and depression?
2. Do you agree with the “possible causes” of stress, depression, and obesity put forward by this chapter?
3. What is the role of exercise for you?
4. Have you ever had any problems with stress or depression?
5. What did you think about table 8.1?
6. What is your take on the summer facilities model?
7. Before reading this article, what did you know about declining testosterone levels? What information was new? 
8. Which of the ideas on “building community” can best fight stress and depression?
9. Do you think a time bank could help you in your life?
10. How large of an impact do you think time banks can have on the stress and depression of elderly, isolated people?  

Tell us how you feel about these thoughts. There were several questions within the chapter too. If you feel compelled to answer any of them instead of the ten above, do so. Share all of them with your friends and family and get your community involved in the solutions to our world.

Creating Opportunities for the Common Man and Building Healthy Economies

 

“Yes sir, my friends, the meek can only inherit the earth when the John Does start loving their neighbors. You’d better start right now. Don’t wait till the game is called on account of darkness. Wake up, John Doe, you’re the hope of the world.”

-John Doe from the movie Meet John Doe

Chapter Three and Four Concerns

What do you think about these ideas? Start some comments about these ideas and how should they be implemented? Do you have any further ideas we can grow on?

• CREATING WALKING AND BIKE TRAILS-Reflect on the role of the car in American communities. Then look at successful approaches to creating more walking and biking paths. 
• TOWN BASED FUN-Tell how semi-public recreational facilities made for bright summer days in Europe. Then, imagine how that model can work in communities here.
• BOSTON ARTS AND BUSINESS COUNCIL MODEL-Look at how shared housing can be a big plus for young, old and the communities they live in. Then reflect on a number of challenges with regards to this.
• MAXIMIZING LIFE THROUGH EDUCATION-Look at how application of the main points in education can be a boost to communities, including making “every village a university”  through town based learning.
• SUPPORT LOCAL FARMING-Not only do they support local economies and health, but can provide fresh fruit to local schools.
• TIME BANKS AND THE LOCAL ECONOMY-Consider some ways that time banking can contribute to local life and be a part of healthy, local economies. 
• PROVIDING THE 5 BASIC NECESSITIES OF LIFE-Give everyone access to free housing, food, clothes, air, and water? Simple housing like tiny homes, Merton style stackable units, or Japanese locker apartments. Free no frill jeans and t-shirts and winter jumpers. Universal soup kitchens for business owners and the homeless to meet each other. Plus protection from profiteering on water and air. If you want more you work for it, but as a species we should provide the basics for one and another.

“Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, and the hopes of its children.”

~President Eisenhower

Share this discussion with your friends and get you community involved!