Global Doughnut Days 2024 – A Day to Remember!

Korean version available here:
https://www.neutinamu.org/page/s2/s1.php?cf=view&seq=200814&pg=1&search=subject&searchstring=%EA%B8%80%EB%A1%9C%EB%B2%8C


Date  November 6, 2024 — Global Doughnut Days

Neutinamu Library joined communities from over 30 countries around the world in taking action for a new economic paradigm—Doughnut Economics—centered on the wellbeing of all people and the planet.

At first glance, “Global Doughnut Days” might sound mysterious or hard to grasp. But on this day, 150 people from 12 local groups active across Yongin—along with curious neighbors and public officials from Gyeonggi Province and surrounding cities—gathered at Neutinamu Library to find out what it was all about.

📎 [Introducing the Participating Communities (Korean)]

The library was transformed. Every table and chair was ready to welcome guests. Large screens and TVs were installed on each floor, and colorful displays showcasing local community activities filled the space. From early morning, the scent of delicious food prepared by the “Neighborhood Heroes”—our senior citizen volunteers—filled the air, adding to the festive mood. At the entrance, large, cheerful doughnut boxes and fresh produce from eco-friendly farmers greeted visitors with joy.

At 4 p.m., we hosted our online session as part of Global Doughnut Days—an opportunity to introduce our work to a global audience. There was a touch of nervous excitement in the air as we went live.

We introduced:
AVIAS, a group of refugee artists from Uganda, and their creative collaboration with Breeze Between Us, a Yongin-based self-support group for families of children with autism

Songol Surisuri, a brand new local resource-circulation center

Y-DONUT, our team developing a cooperative board game inspired by Doughnut Economics

Collection Busking, a creative collaboration with market vendors in Paju

🎥 Watch the videos from our online session:

• Breeze Between Us: https://youtu.be/aw3ZxWZpiWo
• Songol Surisuri: https://youtu.be/71Es6FzzawE
• Collection Busking in Paju: https://youtu.be/fjsR4rJ9D6Y

After the session, we gathered for a warm community dinner, starting with heartfelt introductions of our Neighborhood Heroes who prepared the food. Then came a round of community spotlights, featuring:

• Neutinamu Makers
• Yongin Climate Action
• Suji Forest Garden
• Grasshopper Farmer
• Little Neutinamu
• Yongin Citizens Fund

Though we were unable to connect smoothly to the keynote speech by Kate Raworth due to technical issues, the community forum that followed—featuring former KAIST professor Maeng Sung-hyun and economist Hong Gi-bin from the Global Political Economy Institute—gave us space to reflect on what it means to be human in the era of AGI (Artificial General Intelligence), and what we must prepare for.

It was a six-hour celebration that affirmed the power of community and the power of connection.
On November 6, the library overflowed with joyful movement and warm laughter.
Trust in our neighbors—those who walk alongside us toward the same vision—filled every corner.
And gently, quietly, new plans and dreams began to bloom.

As always, Neutinamu Library will continue to take each step forward with our neighbors, toward a world where all beings can thrive.

 
* Neutinamu Library is a citizen-powered, independent public library located in Suji-gu, Yongin, South Korea. Privately funded and rooted in community care, it serves as a public space for learning, connection, and local action.