Posts Tagged ‘alastair mcintosh’

how to build a community

tim posted this 22nd November 2008 5:01pm

Alastair Mcintosh was a great speaker at the Do lectures. A real diamond of a gentleman, bringing some people to tears with his heartfelt stories. His communication was more than enough to send me to the book shop to buy the Shumacher briefing number 15 entitled ‘rekindling the community.’ it’s an incredible book and one i believe that will change lives through doing. in the book there’s a page entiltled “how to build a community.”

here’s what it says:

 

  • turn off your tv
  • leave your house
  • know your neighbours
  • greet people
  • look up when you’re walking
  • sit on your stoop
  • plant flowers
  • use your library
  • play together
  • buy from local merchants
  • share what you have
  • help a lost dog
  • take children to the park
  • honour elders
  • support neighbourhood schools
  • fix it even if you didn’t break it
  • have pot lucks
  • garden together
  • pick up litter
  • read stories aloud
  • dance in the street
  • talk to your mail carrier
  • lsiten to the birds
  • put up a swing
  • help carry something heavy
  • barter for your goods
  • start a tradition
  • ask a question
  • hire young people for odd jobs
  • organise a block party
  • bake extra and share
  • ask for help when you need it
  • open your shades
  • sing together
  • share your skills
  • take back the night
  • turn up the music
  • turn down the music
  • listen before you react to anger
  • mediate a conflict
  • seek to understand
  • learn from new and uncomfortable angles
  • know that no one is silent though many are not heard
  • work to change this
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Posted in by the way, environment, life, the DO lectures / 2 Comments
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