Barrie has been deeply committed to triathlon over the past 20 years (give or take a year or two). He has been a factor in triathlon gaining acceptance as an Olympic sport and has been equally committed to developing triathlon at the youth and recreational level. Barrie is also a relentless optimist, something which, at times, be a difficult pill to swallow, for those of us who have been as relentlessly cynical about life. Over the past couple of years though I've been forced (mostly by my wife) to work at halt my transformation into a miserable old sod.
As a result, I've been more receptive to his message and even tried to incorporate some of the wisdom he imparts in his weekly e-mail newsletter into my own life. This year Barrie's mantra has been "if you aren't passionate about something you're just existing". This mantra was one of the reasons I started this blog -- I love to write and this is a great outlet (even if there's no one reading it).
One of Barrie's jobs is to act as the race announcer for the World Cup triathlon series. The last stop was in Tiszaujvaros, Hungary. Barry mentioned this race in last weeks newsletter, not because of the race but the small town on which the World Cup tour converged. His insight into the place and it's people were remarkably similar to comments Chopra made during an interview last week. First, Barrie's thoughts on Tiszaujvaros and then a comment about the Chopra interview.
"Last week I was in a small Hungarian city 200km from Budapest. The city is poor with post-communism cement buildings where most people have no more than 800 square feet to live. Yet, each day when I was out for my power-walk, I would see hundreds of people lining the river banks, fishing, reading, having their suppers and smiling. The town has no BMW cars, few vehicles made in the 21st century and yet tens of thousands of people were out volunteering and supporting the World Cup Triathlon. The athletes consider it one of their favourite stops on the circuit. Before I left town I had a chance to speak to an older man in his broken English. "Tell me about life in your town and country." I asked him. "I have healthy children, a job that allows me to buy food for my family and I enjoy fishing on the river with my friends." he said. I could see the legitimate contentment as he spoke and we watched the end of his son's football (soccer) game."
Chopra made very similar comments about a vacation to Cuba. He mentioned that although the people were very poor, they were also quite happy. Where ever he went Chopra saw people gathering to talk in cafes; crowds gathering around musicians to watch and dance; or families and friends out out for an evening stroll, enjoying each other's company.
What the people of Tiszaujvaros and Cuba had in common was that their societies place a much higher emphasis on creating highly social communities. Family, friends and social events are fundamental characteristics of each. Their comments reminded me of the week my wife and I spent in Montalcino on our last vacation. The locals there shared many of the attributes that Barrie and Chopra witnessed. Meeting friends for a lingering lunch. Meeting friends at the local bar for coffee in the morning and a drink at the end of the day. Or going out for a stroll and a gelato with family in the evening. In the week we were there we actually got to know a half dozen locals. It was an eye opening experience.
Both Barrie and Chopra lament that our society has lost much of the social traditions show in many other parts of the world. Chopra's contention is that consumerism has largely displaced socialism in our societies. Barry was making a similar observation. Curious in its coincidence. I wonder if we are capable of reverting to a more social society. I also wonder what impact that might have on the environmental movement.
1 comment:
You might like to read 'Healthy Money, Healthy Planet' that takes the view that the underlying causes of issues such as consumerisim is the need to keep the money-go-round going. That what is required by our current monetary system is an expanding debt (otherwise the whole house of cards comes down) and then of course that new money has to be spent on something, hence the role of consumption. Except the order of things is that the demand is created (we get told we need X, Y and Z) so we refinance our mortgage, take on more debt and go spend.
http://www.craigpotton.co.nz/products/published/books/booksocial/healthymoneyhealthyplanet
For me it comes down to finding other ways of measuring 'winners' other than the highest rate of economic growth. Until then we consumers (either individuals or governments consuming weapons etc.) need to continue to spend, and spend, and spend.
If we could change the measures of what is important (e.g. Genuine Progress Indicators such as http://www.pce.govt.nz/projects/wealth.pdf) then our reliance on consumption to show progress might be reduced.
Although the question is, what causes an individual or nation to switch away from the idea of ever expanding economic growth as being the primary measure of wealth and success. It maybe that it takes an economic shock to do that, plenty of candidates looming for that role.
I am sometimes optimistic that we can make that shift without an economic shock, then I travel out of my little world and see the myopic focus of nations such as Singapore on economic growth and 'winning' that race is all. It makes you wonder though, when does the race finish? When does the peloton cross the line???
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