When it's been one of those weeks, and I have had a few lately with Victory Community Centre now being under significant financial pressure.... I go to someone like Paul Hawken and look again at what is happening around the world.  Check out this video and watch all the way through.... and be inspired.  I am.  It got me thinking about how could we duplicate this with efforts and organisation in NZ?  Is there someone with the video ability, could research the Charities Commission website and work with me to activate the list of all the community based organisations we have?  In Nelson alone I know of about 200 at least.  
Meanwhile - enjoy this -  https://youtu.be/w5L7XIjV4Jw​ 

"....this book shows that to construct an economic system that can help us meet the enormous challenges we face, we must give visibility and value to the socially and economically essential work of caring for people and nature."
So says Riane Eisler - President of the Center for Partnership Studies and Founder of the Caring Economy Campaign.
Author of "The Real Wealth of Nations".  I first read her "Chalice and the Blade" about partnership systems, versus the current domination systems, and was so inspired by here way back in 1980's.  She has gone on to write numerous other titles of considerable gravitas, and this one has just jumped out at me at the local library.  Let the restructure begin is my call.  
So a few links for you to follow - caringeconomy and my favourite online bookstore link to - The Real Wealth of Nations

I am VERY keen to hear from any and everyone who has found themselves a victim of the ongoing government funding cuts in the public or community sector. 

I will be raising this issue in my role as CAN member at Community & Whanau network meeting THIS next Wed - 12 noon at Trafalgar Pavilion. 
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This is the voice I will be bringing to Council. AND soon -whatever the outcome of tomorrow will be.    I CAN bring this voice and I will.

I'm thinking there are four main sectors in our socio-economic system
Government
Business and corporations
Community - that's sport and recreation; arts and heritage; and health and social services.
Households -  tenancies of which there many more now; home owners and investors.

I am sadly old enough now to have noticed a very distinct pattern in the days since I first voted - that was 1971 or thereabouts.  I acknowledge this is a  simplistic way to frame it, yet I still can't help but to continually observe it.  
When there is a national led government, there is continual spending on the Think Big, Muldoon style activities - sure infrastructure is important, but not at the expense of lots of other things.  

There is continual erosion of government services and there is the subsequent impact on the community.  All of this gets right down to household level and that's where the inequality has developed significantly.  In the 1990's we had exactly this.  Continual erosion of government services, restructure after restructure which has massive impacts on employment, and then the subsequent demise of the community sector (except for guess what - sport and recreation.  

​National and also local governments continually invest in the infrastructure to build, build, build.  They forget how much it takes to maintain the people to run them and the resources to maintain them.    So now after nearly 9 years of this government, we have continued and growing inequality - all based on the same pattern of activity.  They call it neo-liberalism, and the market forces.  Guess what and who has grown the most out of all of this.....  business/corporations.   I'm now believing that actually this government want to privatise nearly everything they possibly can, which erodes .....democracy.  So we  are pleased to announce that less than 50% are actually voting.  Let's just make Council a Board and call it a day!

Do you remember this  item in Nelson Mail just a few months ago - 4 August?

Big celebration for Mayor Reece and Housing Minister Smith thinking they are making a difference.  They sure are, and it's not a good difference for people who live in Nelson and just want to find something affordable, secure and somewhere they can call home.
Really BAD news for anyone dreaming for some new opportunities for an affordable home.

"The Ocean Lodge site will be developed by Wakatu Incorporation for an estimated 39 various-sized apartments from studio, one and two bedroom apartments and penthouse options.  
The development, which will house 39 apartments ranging from $470,000 to $1.4 million, falls under the Government's Special Housing Area programme."

So just to highlight how this kind of supply helps us.....the 1 bed apartments begin at $470,000.  

There is NO requirement in this SHA programme for affordability.  So guess what, investor interest is HIGH and will continue to push the current prices in our area UP, UP and UP.  

One local resident, "Longman has rented in the area for two years with his wife and six chickens but said the idea to purchase one of the Ocean Lodge lots would not fit with his work/lifestyle choices at the moment."   Surprise!
Will this offer some different choices for anyone currently living nearby as a new quality home to live in.  UNLIKELY. 

Who will benefit from this overall?  
1.  Developers, who get to fast track a high end penthouse style of accommodation at relatively high prices.
2.  Investors who can afford to purchase.
3.  Government will get some spin for their own voters, because of all the "employment" for the time they are there, and all the business interests who will get to "click the ticket" and  improve their already relatively high incomes.

I wonder how many candidates in the upcoming elections know about their own thinking style?   Knowing where I fit within this model has been really helpful to understand how I make decisions, what they are based on, and why I get frustrated with others....
Check out this wonderful site.  I was introduced to this a while ago, and recently invited in a facilitator to give us 2 hours of training.   
http://www.herrmann.co.nz/what-is-whole-brain-thinking/
​

I am doing some roadside WAVE SIGNS sessions this week... 
Please feel free to join me in support.....
Monday 8.15 - 8.45am - On corner of Hampden St & Waimea
Wednesday 8.15 - 8.45am - inward bound side outside Auckland Pt school among daffodils.
Friday 8.15 - 8.45am cnr Beatson Ave and Waimea - top of Railway Reserve.

Hope to see you there. Bring hooters, hats and whistles or your own sign to add a sense of celebration!

You'll see a couple of quotes from the Living Wage website below.

They explain the difference a living wage makes - much better than I can.

I feel heartened when I read stuff like this. As a result of local activism, Nelson City Council is (at long last) showing a genuine interest in the Living Wage concept. 

​I want to be on Council to make them follow through.

Now - here are those quotes from www.livingwage.org.nz 

"The difference a Living Wage makes is both perception and reality.  It is real for the workers who can describe the material and psychological benefits of a decent wage; it is real for the businesses that described changes to work practice and behaviours.  The difference is also perception for this small but important group of businesses which undertook to become accredited because they believe they can make a tangible difference not just to individuals and their workplace but to the economy of New Zealand as a whole.  As one employer put it: …Henry Ford did it; he made it so his employees could afford the car. You want to talk about actual growth and progress, you can’t have one without the other… I just don’t think you can have growth without growing people’s wealth; growing people’s earning potential - and that money will get ploughed back into the economy."

"This early study of the impact of the Living Wage on businesses and their workers presents a heartening tale of the positive impact on effected workers and their families because being paid adequately has enabled these employees to pay for the basic costs of living; it has reduced stress; and, it has enhanced their ability to participate in their cultural activities and, therefore, their communities.  The businesses adopting the Living Wage have described productivity benefits following accreditation as they have re-focused their attention on ensuring their scarce and valued human resources are utilised as efficiently as possible. They report that costs have been contained to date and, in one instance, even the price of the licence fee had been recovered. "