MANIFEST

In 2010 schreef de Finse afdeling van het Wereld Natuur Fonds het manifest ‘The Politics of Happiness’. Het manifest beschrijft hoe we ons leefpatroon kunnen aanpassen ten gunste van onze planeet én ten gunste ons geluksgevoel. En hoe politieke beslissingen hier invloed op kunnen uitoefenen. Welzijn en duurzaamheid kunnen prima samengaan:

“Human well-being and the well-being of the environment are closely interdependent. The diversity of nature forms ecosystems that offer ecosystem services. These include nutrient cycling, soil formation, climate regulation and the production of natural resources such as food, potable water and raw materials. Ecosystem services also comprise cultural services such as beauty, spirituality and free time. Together they make life on our planet possible. “

“Human activity causes both direct and indirect changes to ecosystems. Due to the interdependent nature of the relationship, these changes affect human well-being. Human activity also has an impact on other species and on ecosystems as a whole. The well-being of people and the planet is dependent on the well-being of ecosystems. We have reached a point at which increasing raw material-intensive consumption no longer produces well-being in the Western world. On the contrary, it endangers the well-being of ecosystems, people, other species and our future generations.”

“Happiness and quality of life must be sought through new ways and places of sharing that consume fewer natural resources.”

“This manifesto describes how a less hectic rhythm, participation, meaningful shared activity, the creation of a new culture of well-being and the creation of deeper human relationships can make the achievement of happiness both possible and fair.”