On Sunday, September 25, the Rye Quaker Group invited Graham Ellis, eco activist, to give a talk to the public about sustainability and living a simpler life. The expectation was a few individuals would attend but in the end people were streaming in and eventually some had to sit on the windowsill. The meeting was introduced by Harvey Gillman (a Quaker).
Graham explained that he lived 36 years totally off grid within a community, building structures from harvested timber, recycled material and own grown food as well as only catchment water. He founded the eco village, green society in Hawaii.
Returning to England where he was born and settling in Rye with his family, he found that everything was somewhat different. While realising that it is not as easy to live off grid here, Graham still feels that much can be done by the individual to save CO2 emissions, by consciously thinking how to live more simply and minimalist. It is about building alternatives to the current socio-economic systems, such as sustainable agriculture, public transport, community finance and forestry. But any new structure,” he suggests, “won’t take root and survive without deeply ingrained values to sustain them.”
The shifting consciousness that is happening slowly can influence personal life, music, art and storytelling. Graham says: “My one focus is to build a community – without a community and network, life is nearly impossible for an individual. It is important to be able to exchange help and share resources.”
Other activities he suggests are “shop in charity shops, don’t buy disposables, choose environmentally friendly companies, drive slower, eat less processed food, reuse, refuse, recycle, repair and regenerate, plant trees, grow vegetables. Coffee grinds, leaves, grass, manure and apples are a good source for compost, sustainability begins with using the resources you already have.” Surprisingly, liquid soap uses five times as much energy to produce than a bar of soap that lasts seven times longer.
The audience was told that many people have vinegar at home, very good to clean most surfaces and reducing the amount of plastic packaging and using it means fewer chemicals introduced into the water. A listener suggested that for air spray one could use water mixed with rosewater, stopping toxic chemicals in the air. It was also put forward that there are now many shops which do refills if you bring your own container. Of course, it is more expensive and not everyone can afford that, especially now.
Another person told the group that in Melbourne, where he lived, there was one day where traffic was stopped in the whole town, households and shops were able to put out any items they did not need any more and people walking through the streets took anything they wanted which sounds a great idea. Graham did acknowledge: “I can’t do all of it but I can choose some that is possible. The norm has to change and the society with it.”
Finally, he quoted writer Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world, indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”
Graham Ellis is available to make presentations to other groups if interested in a ‘Sustainable Living Forum.’ Call: 07733 433004. He also teaches juggling!
Image Credits: Heidi Foster .