Living the Change: Inspiring Stories for a Sustainable Future (Free Full Documentary)

Happen Films・2 minutes read

The current economic system is unsustainable on a finite planet, leading to over-exploitation, climate change, and environmental degradation, requiring urgent action to prevent dire consequences. Transitioning to regenerative agriculture and embracing permaculture principles can help combat environmental issues, fostering sustainability, community connections, and personal values for positive global change.

Insights

  • Leaving at least 80% of known fossil fuels in the ground is crucial to combat the ecological crisis and prevent the collapse of the current growth-dependent system on a finite planet.
  • Sustainable farming systems like Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) offer solutions by providing stability for farmers, preventing food waste, fostering healthy ecosystems, and regenerating the land while sequestering carbon and supporting biodiversity.

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Recent questions

  • How does overconsumption impact the environment?

    Overconsumption leads to resource depletion, deforestation, and waste streams, contributing to environmental degradation and climate change. The current system's growth-dependent nature drives excessive consumption, resulting in the exploitation of natural resources and unsustainable practices. This over-exploitation poses a threat to the planet's finite resources and biodiversity, necessitating urgent action to shift towards more sustainable consumption patterns and reduce the environmental impact of human activities.

  • What is regenerative agriculture?

    Regenerative agriculture is a holistic farming approach that aims to restore and enhance the health of ecosystems while producing food sustainably. By focusing on building healthy soils, diverse crop systems, and integrating animals into farming practices, regenerative agriculture seeks to regenerate the land, sequester carbon, and support biodiversity. This method contrasts with conventional agriculture by promoting nutrient cycling, reducing fossil fuel use, and fostering a balanced ecosystem that benefits both the environment and food production.

  • How can individuals contribute to environmental balance?

    Individuals can contribute to environmental balance by growing food, supporting ecologically healthy food production, and reducing meat consumption. By engaging in sustainable practices like gardening, voting for environmentally friendly food production methods, and adopting plant-based diets, individuals can help combat environmental issues such as deforestation, resource depletion, and climate change. These actions promote harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, fostering a healthier planet for future generations.

  • What are the benefits of local currency systems?

    Local currency systems like LOAVES in Ashhurst promote community connections, support local businesses, and encourage economic resilience. By using alternative currencies that circulate within a specific community, individuals can strengthen local economies, reduce dependence on global markets, and foster a sense of belonging and cooperation. These systems help build a more sustainable and resilient economy by encouraging local trade, supporting small businesses, and enhancing community relationships through shared values and mutual support.

  • Why is composting important for environmental sustainability?

    Composting plays a crucial role in environmental sustainability by returning organic waste back to the soil, reducing landfill waste, and promoting soil fertility. Through practices like windrow aerobic composting and hot composting, organic materials can be transformed into nutrient-rich soil amendments that support plant growth and ecosystem health. By diverting food scraps and biodegradable waste from landfills, composting helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve resources, and promote conscious consumption habits that contribute to a more sustainable future for the planet.

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Summary

00:00

Unsustainable Growth Threatens Humanity's Future

  • The current system is growth-dependent and unsustainable on a finite planet, leading to an inevitable collapse.
  • Deforestation, resource over-consumption, waste streams, and climate change are results of over-exploitation and over-consumption.
  • Leaving at least 80% of known fossil fuels in the ground for a century is crucial to combat the ecological crisis.
  • The global economic system is accidental, behaving as if in a fantasy world, and is damaging to people, the environment, and the economy.
  • Unsustainability poses an existential threat to humanity, requiring urgent action to prevent dire consequences.
  • The dominant culture's mythology and economic system are no longer effective, leading to a crisis in meaning-making and understanding life.
  • Economics is at the root of environmental degradation, over-consumption, and unsustainable growth.
  • Interest in the money system drives endless growth, leading to the exploitation of natural resources and environmental degradation.
  • Fossil fuel energy is essential for the current system but is finite, leading to a decline in energy return on investment and potential collapse.
  • Sustainable farming systems, like Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), offer solutions to growing food quality while caring for the environment.

22:27

Supporting Regenerative Agriculture for Sustainable Food Systems

  • A group of people supports a farmer at the beginning of the season to ensure the farmer has an outlet for their harvest.
  • Members receive a weekly box of fresh, healthy foods harvested just before delivery.
  • This system provides stability for farmers, preventing food waste by distributing produce that may not meet supermarket standards.
  • Farmers aim to create healthy soils, plants, and animals, fostering a balanced ecosystem.
  • Regenerative agriculture involves a diverse farming approach, including tree crops and livestock, to close nutrient loops sustainably.
  • Animals are essential for a healthy ecosystem, contributing to pest control and fertility cycles.
  • Holistic grazing, inspired by large herds in Africa, involves moving cattle daily to mimic natural grazing patterns.
  • The farm focuses on reducing fossil fuel use by integrating animals into perennial grass pasture systems.
  • Regenerative agriculture aims to produce food abundantly while regenerating the land, sequestering carbon, and supporting biodiversity.
  • A forest garden system on the property includes diverse plant species, providing resilience and abundance throughout the year.

40:06

"Permaculture lifestyle fosters community and sustainability"

  • Various factors like ideology, economic systems, and cultural influences create a sense of disconnection and longing for wholeness in individuals.
  • Materialistic influences in society can lead individuals to prioritize consumerism and greed to compensate for missing relationships.
  • Transitioning from a corporate lifestyle to a simpler one in New Zealand led to a realization of broader issues like climate change and resource depletion.
  • Research into permaculture revealed an integrated approach to living that contrasts with the fragmented nature of current society.
  • Embracing permaculture involves attracting wildlife and birdlife by letting nature thrive without control.
  • Permaculture extends beyond food production to include collaboration, localization, food resiliency, and networking.
  • Living a permaculture lifestyle feels more rewarding and reduces the desire for excessive material possessions.
  • A couple living in a small space with a baby find it beneficial for maintaining closeness and ease of supervision.
  • Creating a local currency system like LOAVES in Ashhurst promotes community connections and supports local businesses.
  • TimeBanking values everyone's time equally, regardless of skills or qualifications, fostering a sense of equality and community support.

56:57

"Children learn cooking skills with TimeBank volunteers"

  • Children participate in growing produce, which is then used to make different dishes like kale chips and broad bean dip.
  • The cooking sessions aim to teach children basic cooking skills.
  • TimeBank volunteers are crucial for the cooking sessions to run smoothly.
  • Volunteers are compensated with one credit per hour from the school TimeBank credit system.
  • Building a system, especially with local currency, requires time and effort for acceptance.
  • Overconsumption is a significant issue in society, impacting the economy and the environment.
  • The concept of waste is relatively new, with items historically being repurposed rather than discarded.
  • The Repair Cafe initiative brings together local experts to repair various items for free, fostering community connections.
  • The Repair Cafe offers repair services for electrical appliances, clothing, wood, furniture, and bicycles.
  • The initiative not only focuses on fixing items but also on building community connections and a sense of belonging.

01:12:15

"Composting for Sustainability and Environmental Harmony"

  • Windrow aerobic composting returns waste back to the soil, with 45 businesses on the Why Waste collection using wheelie bins, some having up to five, collected weekly for composting.
  • Composting reduces landfill waste, with food scraps and biodegradable waste making up over a third of landfill content, producing harmful methane when not composted aerobically.
  • Hot composting aims to produce biologically heated hot water, emphasizing the importance of composting in building soil fertility and promoting conscious eating habits.
  • Planting native trees and restoring ecosystems are vital for environmental balance, with a focus on harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
  • Individuals can contribute by growing food, voting for ecologically healthy food production, and reducing meat consumption to combat environmental issues effectively.
  • The speaker advocates for personal lifestyle changes to align with environmental sustainability, emphasizing the impact of individual choices on the planet's future.
  • The vision for the future involves renewable energy, evolving into a different system that prioritizes sustainability, community, and alignment with personal values to create positive global change.
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