Lifeplace learning and research

Introduction

Billed as one of the most import meetings of world leadership the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit of 2009 can be seen as a lost opportunity to respond to a building ecological and human calamity. Making an evaluation one commentator on writing on islamonline.net assessed the Copenhagen Accord as falling 'massively short of the ambitions many people' (Ahsano 2009). The Revd John Marsh, moderator of the general assembly of the United Reformed Church, expressed his dismay at the outcome of summit (URC 2009), while Andy Atkins, executive director of Friends of the Earth, called it: 'toothless declaration' that would not stop rise in temperatures and as a result millions of the world's poor would starve and die as climate change accelerated.

Atkins concluded, 'We need a profound change of approach from the world's wealthiest countries to secure a genuine, strong and fair agreement.' (Hennessy et al, 2009)

I would suggest that there can be no political will in the wealthiest nations until its citizens are overwhelmingly prepared to support significant changes to their own lifestyles; not only to lifestyles but make significant changes in their values, which will lead to less resource demand. This requires a profound change in thinking on ecology, being, economics and rights to resource use and space.

Lifeplace^TM learning is a way to radically reassess personal, local and global needs, based on simple principles and theories, some of which have well established histories, and various religious roots. It seeks to overturn consumerism and other recent influences and pressures that continually assert themselves in our lives as "modern living". I hope you will enjoy working your way through this book, contemplating the various issues that are raised. As you go, I hope it will bring you great pleasure and a sense of relief, that life could be so much better if we approach it in the right way. The intended outcome is not only that you personally find ways to reduce your own greenhouse gas emissions, in a way that government leaders seem unable, but that you will be able to "walk tall" knowing not only that you can live enjoyably with minimal resources, but that you can also advise and demonstrate to others how and where to live happily.

The context of "Lifeplace" in learning and its trademark