Urban downward mobility

One of my favorite publications is Geez Magazine. It is a great swamp of thought from those who don't fit into a "normal" church setting and yet are still drawn to this crazy religion we call Christianity. One topic that frequently comes up is that of downward mobility. Many of the contributors are Mennonites, a group which is especially good at simple living. So there are many practical suggestions on how to go about simplifying your life in order to share more of the world's resources with others.

Now Geez and the Mennonites are inspiring (see the More-with-Less cookbook by Doris Janzen Longacre for an introductory manifesto) but they also advocate moving away from the city and getting back to the land. There is nothing wrong with getting back to the land, but it is not for everyone. Moreover, I find that the city is an ideal place for some good old-fashioned gospel-inspired helping out the poor. There are poor people in the country too; it's just that poverty looks different in the two places. So how can we practice downward mobility in the city?

Vegetarianism is one idea. So is buying second-hand or going on buy nothing sprees. Eating as locally as possible is another idea, although it can get expensive if you are not careful. Giving up your car for transit or bicycle is something you can do if you are lucky enough to own a car. Sacrificing unnecessary square footage and trimming your power bills are more options. I would love to hear more; if you have any ideas please share!

So the next day...

The day after I make this vow, I went out and bought boots. Not strictly necessary! Not horribly expensive but not cheap either. So I know that footwear was not included on my list of no retail products, but I feel like I cheated anyway.

So there's my rather self-indulgent confession.

New Challenge

Okay--I have a new challenge for myself. I will abstain from adding anything to my wardrobe unless it is

a) handmade
b) second-hand
or c) fair trade

with the exception of socks, shoes, and underwear.

This is mostly because I am becoming disillusioned with the current economic system. I'm not just talking about the recession; I mean we have to start doing things differently or the whole system is going to stop working some day. So this is where I am starting.

Wish me luck!