About
I share a determination with other like-minded individuals and organisations to bring about a glocal (globally-conscious local living) coexistence that benefits everyone and, naturally, involves responsible stewardship of our environment. My background is in behavioural science and language. My first school was in Baghdad, Iraq. After high school, I was accepted into Prahran School of Art to do sculpture, but opted for Behavioural Science (psychology and sociology) at La Trobe University. I dallied with Community Administration (South Australia Institute of Technology, Aboriginal Task Force) and then, in 1988 started a life-long year career in teaching English language to non-native speakers (TESOL, University of New England), teaching at universities in Thailand, Japan, Europe and Australia. I have distanced myself from the academic industry and now teach privately. However, most of my time involves self employment (both paid and unpaid) at home and voluntary community work. As I age, I’m being labelled ‘retired’, but I don’t think of myself that way at all. The core of my activities is advocacy of the different facets of sustainability – environmental, demographic, social (human) and economic.
I am inspired by the ultimate goals of the Free World Charter and The Zeitgeist Movement’s RBEM (Resource Based Economic Model) and the Degrowth movement. However, much work is to be done before those lofty goals may come to fruition. For example, Australia, like all regions of the world, needs to become as self-sufficient as possible before its overseas resource requirements can be accurately and efficiently estimated. To these ends, at home (literally and domestically) I advocate, support and practice the utilization of technology to free humanity from drudgery, and to ‘get off grid’, within reason by supporting a distributed economic and energy system. That also means redirecting support from the debt-based monetary system and the detrimental food and energy industry to more positive systems such as mutual credit, slow food and fashion and renewable energy.
I believe my household also serves to demonstrate how a high quality of life can be achieved with minimal cash flow. Through share-housing, it is a small-scale experiment and pilot study in cohousing, which is testing micro-economic methods for harmonious, fair, transparent cohabitation. It has been both an invigorating and challenging experience for me to be lessor (landlord), housemate and employer.
I formed Equanimity Foundation in January, 2011 as an investigation into how foundations work (I’m very DIY!) and by 2020 I had learned much more of the many models for philanthropic community initiatives. The size and significance of my activity doesn’t warrant a legal entity, so I closed it. I now have a personal fund for philanthropic work and have supported local activities such as an electric vehicle conversion start up company and a bridging house-boat home loan. I have numerous Sponsored Activities listed that I think are worthy endeavours, were there more time and money.
To donate or bequeath estate, I recommend EVA (Ecovillages Australia). Only donations from those who have a debt-free roof over their heads, please!
Artwork by Simon Cole
Copyright © 2021
Hello – look forward to contact however intermittent.
Hi Lillian – love to connect up again – Satya
Hi Simon. You have a typo here and on your acknowledgements page
Thanks Bro. What’s the typo on this page?
You can’t just make up words, ie “glocal”, and think the world will accommodate you bro. It is an oxymoron I would think you are aware. Sorry if you think I am hacking here, just want to help 😛
Thanks for the comment. It’s not a well-know word, but one that is used by back-to-basics advocates of global sustainability. I’ve added an explanation.
It is not in the online dictionary, so therefore it is not a word. The back to basics advocates are a diverse group of people amongst whom are some theists that might question “responsible stewardship of our environmet”.