Sisters of the Holy Cross > Work for Justice > Issues > Ecological Economics > Shift of Mindset/Values Reflection

Shift in Mindset and Values: A Call to View the World Differently

Making the transition from our present growth-driven market system to ecological economics will require transformation in our personal lives and in social policy. The first, most basic change will be a shift in mindset and values - from an ethic of exploitation to an ethic of right relationship.

This will entail moving:

from a focus on material goods to holistic well-being; from excess to sufficiency; from exclusion to inclusion; from competition to cooperation; from pursuing privilege to serving the common good; from the pre-eminence of humanity to the reverence of all life.

From A Call to Integrate Faith, Ecology and the Global Economy; Faith, Economy, Ecology, Transformation; Used with permission.

Resources

Articles

"The New Economy Movement" from The Nation magazine

Article excerpt: The idea that we need a “new economy”—that the entire economic system must be radically restructured if critical social and environmental goals are to be met—runs directly counter to the American creed that capitalism as we know it is the best, and only possible, option. Published by The Nation, http://www.thenation.com/

"A Planetary Crisis is a Terrible Thing to Waste" from Yale Environment 360

There are striking similarities between the current economic and ecological crises — both involve indulgent over-consumption and a failure to consider the impacts on future generations. But it’s not too late to look to new economic and environmental models and to dramatically change course. Published by Yale Environment 360, http://e360.yale.edu/

Reflection materials

Reflection: Shift in Mindset and Values

Making the transition from our present growth-driven market system to ecological economics will require transformation in our personal lives and in social policy. The Congregation Justice Committee provides this reflection to help us consciously begin to make this shift in mindset and values.

Reports

Human Well-Being at the Heart of Economics

This briefing paper, from the Center for Concern, discusses the failure of neo-liberalism and the systemic breakdown of our current economic development model, a model which placed economic growth as primary and social and ecological well-being as subordinate. It argues that in order for us to move out of our current economic, environmental and care crises, we must restructure our current economic and social policies to ensure human well-being.

ISSUES:

Social and Economic Justice

Ecological Integrity

Democracy, Nonviolence and Peace