Meet the DEAL Community

Chagford UK

Currently a parish councillor in Chagford, very interested in sustainability, green energy sources and alternative economic solutions.  

Llanfyllin

Living remotely in Wales, post covid, I've been thinking about Community Resilience Community Sufficiency, and Low Tech solutions to issues faced. Wales is full of remnants of agrarian society/economies. Almost everything was taken from the land and produced and consumed locally. Im interested to see what can be reinvigorated and what still works in today's civilization. The following is taken from my CV: A resourceful and technically proficient project manager with a diverse background in IT, Post Production, AV, Events, and Installations. Skilled in managing both internal operations and externally facing projects, I have successfully collaborated with clients across the globe in various verticals and industries. With a strong enthusiasm for automation, I am a logical thinker who brings extensive experience to streamline processes and drive efficiency. # Low Tech   # Community Sufficiency # Community Resilience          

Longueil Sainte Marie, France

San Diego, CA

Looking for practical ways to help our economy and lifestyle transition to a sustainable, regenerative, and healthy relationship within our communities and ecosystem.

Cromer, North Norfolk

Now 83, I am a long time campaigner against nuclear weapons, roads, etc.     BSc Psychology and Social Anthropology from UCL in 1965. MPhl in local consultation about roads from UEA in 2000.    Several years as a Special Needs Teacher in 80s and 90s Long term member of the Green Party, locally active for over 10 years. Published a political fable on Kindle ‘The Roar of the Wind through the Trees’.  Self-published after lockdown, ‘It’s All Up To Us Now’ The ABC of Democratic Failure in the UK and What Civil Society Can Do About It’ (ISBN 978-1-9196037-0-4).  It traced the way monetarist policies had allowed capitalism to destroy our democracy and our services and led to corruption, incompetence and disregard for the law or human rights. Given the environmental and social crises, it concluded that only civil society – public and experts together – could tackle the crises in time to avert catastrophe.  It called for the development of formal grass roots policies for a public manifesto to be voted on and a Government of National Unity directed by Citizens Assemblies.  The first vital step is to get the public involved, contributing their vast knowledge and values and learning what the real dangers and possibilities are in contrast to current government and media’s versions.  At this late stage our lives ae going to have to change so much that the public must understand why and lead the way. Doing the work will educate us, empower us and teach the values of co-operation and tolerance.  While a public manifesto voted on by significant numbers will by itself put huge pressure on any government in power to comply.  The book pointed out that strikes could bring the country to a standstill, but without a clear vision of where to go they would achieve nothing.   Now working with the Citizen Network to put on a series of webinars on ‘farming food and wildlife’ to promote the widespread conversations needed.  Our fifth is planned for 21 September at 6.30. We will then use that information along with lots of existing reports ignored by governments, and the work of Diem25 the grassroots European movement, to form principles and policies to be commented on and contributed to, by anyone.   We started with ‘farming, food and wildlife’ because food is of vital interest to everyone, because current practice is a major factor in our problems; and because there are already so many good initiatives providing solutions. Solutions known for decades. Our role is to bring all this knowledge and action together into formal policies.  We will make use of the many helpful expert reports which have been ignored by government as well as the grassroots policies developed across Europe by Diem25 (Democracy in Europe Movement).    It is clear that all policies, including governance, need to be radically changed, and that funding is essential to them all. I very much hope you will join us in this work, to describe the sustainable economy we need AND how to use the present one to get us there without market disaster. In the webinars so far, UBI has been mentioned and Anna Pick has given Positive Money’s recipe for change, but the public must be thoroughly informed on all aspects, or they will not engage with developing policies or trust the manifesto.    For example – given the ignorance about how near we are to tipping points that will make environmental disaster inevitable, and the way wildfires are destroying trees which have been seen as a major tool to mitigate problems, must we now focus more on stopping human activity?  Would a moratorium on all unnecessary human activity until carbon levels are significantly reduced be the wisest thing to do and is it possible? Or would paying people to stop work, a generous UBI, be enough or better, to enable people to stop work, support voluntary work and give people time to engage with decision making? However detailed a public manifesto, there will be lots to decide in this very unpredictable era.  Given the freedom of Brexit – can we go ahead with either of these policies or will it lead to market disaster?  Could quantitative easing pay for UBI?   We really need your help.  

Connecticut

Owner of 145 year old family manufacturing company.  I have experienced the transfer of productive wealth to personal wealth by the investment community and the growing divide between the ultra-rich and the rest of humanity. I have seen Rachel Carson's fears for our planet come to fruition during my own lifetime. I have seen the United States move from a fragile Democracy to a full on Oligarchy which has, by design polarized my fellow countrymen and pitted good people against each other.  Those who benefit from exploiting the planet and its people have successfully gamed the system, undermined our citizens trust in legitimate science and instilled fear of "others" taking away their standard of living.   I found a possible solution to ALL of the problems we are facing in a regenerative economy not based on GDP growth.  As soon as the goal changes from short term, exploitation to long term sustainability, the incentive is gone to influence our political system.   I confess I have small hope that we can affect the change necessary to save the country and the planet in time for my grandchildren but I am willing to try my best to help. 

Melbourne

Luke is one of Australia’s leading environmental designers. He has been championing sustainable and regenerative design for over two decades, and has applied his passion and expertise across a wide range of award winning projects.  Nature based systems are Luke’s driving force. He sees everything through a wide ecological lens and believes this is a springboard to poetic design. Since 2008, Luke has been developing/evolving his “Elastic Loop” process driven design, procurement and occupation methodology.  He believes the industry can restructure and recalibrate to meet the wicked problems facing the industry. Luke’s systems thinking lens extends to water and food resilience. In 2005 – 2009 he developed an educational program for industry and councils on the holistic integration of rainwater collection and stormwater abatement. 

UK

Leading on sustainability for the organisation responsible for making the UK's nuclear waste permanently safe, sooner. Our mission to protect people and the environment involves application of the waste hierarchy and circular economy principles as well as major infrastructure development, and our impact will be felt by communities and society for multiple generations.

Dudelange, Luxembourg

I am a retired entrepreneur that uses this time to leave a better world at least through some concrete holistic CAREE projects. (Construction/Architecture/Renewable/Energy/ Environment) My target approach is to join Science (Thermodynamics, 2nd Law about Energy) and the Doughnut Economy in projects destined to transform the LOCAL Ecosystem Environments (Building, Agriculture, Mobility, Water, Infrastructure and Personal) These 2 target objectives are complemented by a proprietary General Purpose Tech AI tool for Ecosystem and Compliance Management.  "AI" for me means "Applied Intelligence" Using the term "artificial" is nonsense and does not fit with the Doughnut either.   You can access a summary presentation via my LinkedIn profile. The detail presentation showing the various projects has not been published yet, except to a few friends. We an discuss that later and see where 

University College London

Hi All, I'm a student and activist at University College London. Running a student society, I seek to create events at UCL that discuss Doughnut Economics, raising the profile and thinking about the political transition required. Personally, I am a big fan of constitutional reform. I have experience working for cooperatives, engaging with New Economics thinking and working in sustainable communications. Feel free to reach-out!

BC, Canada

I'm an ethical marketer and communicator who cares about the 'how' of transitioning to a new economy. I help businesses do marketing in ethical, non-sleazy ways that help them move their businesses beyond growth-based marketing and operations. I recently went back to school after 20+ years and I'm currently completing my thesis on how the language and terminology of 'degrowth' affects the likelihood of transitioning to a new economic and social way of living. Communicating our environmental predicament - both getting better at it, and tackling disinformation - is what keeps me up night. I'm a Scot, currently living a beyond-growth lifestyle in British Columbia, Canada, as part of a community that has all the hallmarks of a post-growth society.     

UK

Cairo, Egypt

I am someone that believes in the power of humanity to change the current paradigm into a new design that better fits our present and future generations.   #universalincome 

Devon, UK

As a one-time principal advisor for all learning in the Royal Navy and the Executive Officer for NATO's Communications and Information Services Agency (NCSA/SHAPE Mons Belgium) I have acquired the highest level Learning/Analysis, learning delivery and strategic planning skills, particularly in the areas of STEM and Sustainability initiatives.  I have now retired from teaching and have decided to start my own business as a contractor to deliver these skills singularly or in combination to any college, university or employer who needs them. I remain a keen volunteer and mentor for Devon's Ukrainian Refugees, Loughborough university's Future Black Talent Programme, as a Co-Opted Governor for the Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust (Primary Schools), an EAUC Sustainability Champion, a Women in STEM Ambassador, and a keen advocate for the development of the Doughnut Economy model overseen by a new type of leadership (Transpersonal Leadership as described by John Knights in his book 'Leading Beyound the Ego' (2018)).

United Kingdom

I’ve spent my life as an IT and Management Consultant and have become increasingly morally conflicted. I haven’t worked out how I can help this vital transformation but I am convinced of its merits. I am perhaps most interested in understanding more about the relationship between the levels of wealth inequality and the negative impacts on the environment and finding ways to inspire business leaders and entrepreneurs to ‘lead better’. The cuckoo of GDP chasing is the same as businesses only chasing profits or at least relegating all other objectives to a subservient motivator. 

Durbuy

Hampshire, UK

Passionate about food system transformation and sustainable diets and nutrition. Having worked for many years in international food marketing, I recently educated and re-trained Sustainability, food system challenges and Circular Economy. I'm interested in helping food businesses re-think their models  to ensure they are helping people and planet to thrive. Member of the future food movement and volunteer at the social entreprise The Pantry Partnership in Salisbury - re-distributing industry fresh produce waste to those most in need in communities.     

Edinburgh, UK

I am a strategy and delivery specialist, keen to mobilise change, improve equity and inclusion, and build more connections in our relationships at work and in the community. My experience includes advising on organisational development initiatives; providing mentoring, coaching, and training to staff and young people; designing and delivering complex health change programmes at a national level in England; and working with qualitative and quantitative data to evaluate impact.  #organisationaldevelopment #equalitydiversityandinclusion #mentor #communitydevelopment #transformation #facilitation #community #co-creation 

Weston-super-mare

Nairobi

Dreaming and visioning of an Alternative Future that cares for people and planet before profit. 

Pardubice region, Czechia

Clinton, Massachusetts, USA

I read EF Shumacher's Small is Beautiful and Danielle Meadows The Limits of Growth in early 70's part of my extra curricular education while pursuing a B.S. degree at the University of Houston.  They were transformative and ever since (I'm 71 in 2023), have striven to live in the confines of the doughnut.  I'm working towards my solar powered small house in Clinton MA, where I hope to die listening to a healthy bird population thriving in a well maintained forest ecosystem.   

Bedford, UK