Out-Growing Consumerism 5:
What We Must Do

 5 minute read | Part 5 of a 5-part Series| Also published at PermacultureNews.Org

Self-determination is the ability to re-parent ourselves: to learn new ways of being that may be very different from the ways we learned as children. 

This is difficult, uncomfortable work, but it broadens the path for the feet that follow, making it easier for all of us to out-grow not only consumerism but also all the forms of separation and alienation from each other and from nature that have befallen us.

This article follows on from “Out-Growing Consumerism: School, Screens, and Our Kids.”

​Out-Growing Consumerism 4:
School, Screens, and Our Kids

​4 minute read | Part 4 of a 5-part Series | Also published at PermacultureNews.org

​What too many ​children learn at school is not to take risks and not trust ​their own thinking. When digital data-harvesting ​enters the mix, ​it becomes the perfect recipe for producing compliant consumers.

This article continues on from “Out-Growing Consumerism 3: Living a Self-Determined Life.”

Out-Growing Consumerism 3:
A Self-Determined Life

4 - 5 minute read | Part 3 of a Series | Also published at PermacultureNews.org

The consumer culture has an easy path which leads us to behave like dependent juveniles for our entire lives.

The alternate path—more difficult but very worthwhile—leads to increasing self-determination and self-reliance, which is very bad for the growth economy.

That’s why no profit-focused corporation will ever fund government policies to encourage the public to behave like this.

This article continues on from “Out-Growing Consumerism 2: An Act of Subversion.”

​Out-Growing ​Consumerism 1:
​What Should Never Have Been for Sale

​4 minute read | Part 1 ​of a Series​ | Also published at PermacultureNews.Org

​There’s a subtle mantra playing in the background that we’re so accustomed to, we no longer notice it:

​“Consume something. You’ll feel better.” 

Having monetized everything else, in order to keep growing the consumer economy now needs to monetize the space inside your head.