Real Wealth Is . . .
The conventional view of wealth is money, possessions, and property. But the real wealth of a nation consists of the contributions of its people and nature. So, we need what we haven't had: an economic system that gives visibility and value to the work of caring for people and our Mother Earth.
Riane Eisler at the Australia 21 Resiliency Conference, February 2010
Some people in the U.S. think that the next generation will be the first to NOT surpass the current generation’s wealth–and by that they mean the accumulation of money, possessions, and property. However, we have to ask, were we really wealthy? Financial wealth can disappear, like the credit swaps and derivatives did, in a matter of seconds.
What many are discovering is that the current financial wealth system often comes at the expense of our children, our families, communities, and the planet. They are waking up to a new definition of wealth. We need an economic system that make it possible to have healthy food, good housing, enriching schools, natural and recreational space, and a sense of community.
Study after study shows that what people truly find most valuable are relationships, meaning, service, and a sense of purpose. But the current economic system does not support or give value to caring for people, starting in early childhood, and caring for our Mother Earth. We can, and must, change this! We can have an economic system that meets everyone's material needs and makes it possible for us to have time and energy for our children, our communities, and ourselves.
