Chapter 1: FAQ
This first chapter of the manual details the basics of appropriate living. The introduction, shaped as a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) provides fast, clear insights into all aspects of appropriate living. What is appropriate living? Appropriate living means living in a way that shows special consideration for the environmental, ethical, cultural, social and economic impacts one makes on one's community.
Who lives appropriately today? To answer this question, we can do an extrapolation of the national information available on ecologic footprints, Gini coefficients, sweet water transportation footprints, and cultural indexes. When we analyze the combined data, we see that not a single country attains a score that falls into the margins of appropriate living. The margins of appropriate living are distinguished by 0% greenhouse gas emissions and an average score on the remaining indexes. However, we see that some population groups have the right mental orientation, with examples such as the concept of Ahimsa or Brahmacharya, but that do not yet succeed fully in their practical execution.
How can we live appropriately? Using a simple list, we can drastically change the technologies we commonly use in our daily lives. This includes changes in food production, heating and cooling, and transportation, et al. The list and measures are discussed in detail in chapter 2.
Why does it matter? The simple answer is that any lifestyle that does not take into account its environmental, ethical, cultural, social and economic impacts creates problems for other people and for the fauna, flora and ecosystem services we depend on for our survival. More precisely, global warming alone has killed over 150,000 people (2000 est.). Factoring in fatalities caused by pollution, the killing of many fauna and flora species (which often results in their extinction), and other problems such as resource theft or depletion, we can easily state that by living a non-appropriate lifestyle, whenever we buy and use certain products, we consume excessively high amounts of resources and thus contribute to the killing. As no one wants to be or become such a person, it is clear that we must change our habits immediately, with or without government help.
What will it cost us financially? Nothing. Instead, when carefully put together, the changes you introduce will actually gain you financial profits and/or reduce your daily amount of work. Some of us will benefit by changing our job or profession to something we find more exciting or meaningful.
Can we do a payed job supplying services to others to allow them to live appropriately? Making a profession out of a specific skill to help others to live their life appropriately is indeed a possibility. However, in order to do so, one must attain the required skills, experience and/or qualifications. As very little schooling regarding sustainable construction is already present in traditional schools, we may assume that anyone wanting to make his profession out of supplying a speciality service or product, will need to be schooled. Appropedia has herefore a list composed from the educations given in different subjects, taught at the appropriate technology villages. Another possible option is the taking of a volunteer work to become skilled in a profession. Appropedia. More in-depth information is mentioned at chapter 5. Depending on the profession, set up of a shop is also again possible through these AT villages.