When you step back from the trees and see the forest you realize that the problems in the economy are not just another “bump in the road” but the signs of the end of an era. In the last 20 years we have seen the collapse of communism, 9-11, and the failure of capitalism. We are in a season of birthing a new era and economy and the forerunners are looking into the future and moving into what they see. It is impossible to get back to the way things were, in spite of the pundits reassuring us that Humpty Dumpty CAN be put back together again. We have entered into a new era and when we realize this and adjust our lives we will be better prepared for the future.
Ian Graham of Kitchener is an example of a forerunner who has perceived the “season” we are in and has moved into it. He is the only son of a man who ran a successful insurance business but decided to move to Manitoulin Island and get off the grid. He bought a property with no hydro, but it did have a waterfall. He built a hydro-electric system to generate electricity for their satellite TV, lighting, and some of the heating. He was a forerunner – living a forerunner life.
Ian followed his father’s innovative lifestyle and applied this same creativity to his love of music. He was traveling the country as a singer and musician and realized that one of his greatest expenses was fuel. He began investigating alternatives and settled on buying a diesel van which he could run on discarded vegetable oil (deep fryer oil). The research and the conversion took some time but the benefits of driving for free outweighed the time spent. Even though his fuel costs are zero, he has recently installed a hydrogen cell which uses electricity to convert water into hydrogen, a clean and powerful fuel for diesel or gas engines. A typical forerunner, he is interested in finding new and better ways to do things.
In the old economy, jobs have been more important than innovation, efficiency, impact, and effectiveness. We have avoided change in order to keep things the way they have always have been (safe), and it has backfired on us. Our intervention in the natural process of change has brought us to collapse. In a truly free market, innovation and creativity are rewarded, not seen as threats. The new economy will dramatically change our lifestyle and our values. Consumption has been the engine of growth; however, that has proven to be counter-productive in the big picture. Oil companies create jobs but healthcare costs skyrocket. Conservation will drive the new economy. Through reduction of consumption a new economy will emerge. Ian Graham has reduced his consumption, and the net result for him has been the freedom to make other choices. The less it costs him to live, the more freedom (time and money) he has to do what he wants – innovate, create, and build.
Ian has begun growing his own food in his basement and outdoors. He has been converting his recording studio to solar power. He has built his solar panels and innovated a sun tracking system to improve efficiency. He has been able to do most of this through cooperating and networking with other like-minded forerunners who have helped, advised, and cheered him on.
Getting off the grid means reducing our dependency on others for the important things in life. Most of our life we spend working for what we need to live. By being self-sufficient, we can create more freedom, money, time, and choices in which to live our life. The new era will reward conservation and innovation and penalize unbridled consumption. The sooner we learn this the better off we all will be.
For Ian, this has been a journey of discovery and problem solving. He was helped by others who were themselves on this journey. You may choose to get off the grid in some other way, but whatever it is, there is likely a group of people who can help you reach your goal to make your life more free, safe, and efficient in the new economy.
In the meantime, I would like to inspire you with the potential of moving into this new economy through a film which we consider at the Forerunner Project a “Forerunner Classic” and an award winner at our Forerunner Film Festival last fall – Garbage Warrior. Michael Reynolds has been building “out-of-box” sustainable housing for 30+ years. He is a forerunner who looks at life quite differently than most. He is a very interesting person with interesting values and ideals. We are considering bringing Mr. Reynolds to Waterloo Region for the Forerunner Inspire Festival in November, so please send us your comments, and suggestions.
Recommended viewing: Garbage Warrior – ask your local video retailer or visit the film site at: http://www.garbagewarrior.com/
Paul Weigel
Your comments and suggestions are needed. Email me: paul@paulweigel.com or visit our web site at www.theforerunnerproject.com
