Place-based Environmental and Social Accountability
The set of moral values that our current debt-based monetary system tries to satisfy can be boiled down to the maximization of monetary value. This has led to a situation where more money is made trading “money assets” (through stock market investments and other tools of the trade) than through trading goods and services.
In contrast, our ethics and moral values are focused on how we work together as a collective to accomplish an outcome that is greater than what we could accomplish on our own.
Bioregional Sovereignty, then, is about placing the stewardship of the ecosystem that serves a group of people above individual interests. We willingly do this because we all desire a thrivable future, within the bioregion we all call home.
Values
Kinship: Cultivating a deep sense of connection and interdependence among all living beings within a bioregion; recognizing that we are all part of the same ecological community and sharing a common vision of an abundant future. Bioregional Sovereignty values kinship by fostering a sense of responsibility and care for the well-being of all species and ecosystems within the bioregion.
Solidarity: Standing together in unity and support for one another within a bioregion; emphasizing the recognition that the challenges we face, including ecological crises, are best addressed collectively rather than individually. Bioregional Sovereignty encourages solidarity among denizens, promoting cooperation and mutual aid in working towards shared visions of the future and addressing common issues.
Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings and experiences of others, including other species and ecosystems; fostering a deep connection and respect for the natural world; make decisions that prioritize the well-being of the entire bioregion, ensuring caring and regenerative practices.
Cooperation: Working together harmoniously and collaboratively for the benefit of the bioregion as a whole; addressing complex social and ecological resilience with collective action, knowledge sharing, and shared, deliberative decision-making.
Non-violence: The commitment to transcend historical conflicts and address emergent challenges without causing harm or destruction, extending to both human-human interactions and human-nature interactions.
Altruism: Selfless concern and action for the well-being of others; focussing on the collective good and the long-term health of the bioregion, once individual health and well-being is accomplished; making decisions and taking actions that benefit not only oneself but also future generations and the broader biotic community, embodying a sense of stewardship and intergenerational responsibility.
Regeneration: Recognizing that our current systems and practices have caused significant harm to ecosystems and that addressing social and ecological crises requires transcending sustainability towards active regeneration. This includes regenerative food production, reforestation efforts, habitat restoration, and the adoption of regenerative resource management practices.
Mindfulness: Cultivating present-moment awareness, mindfulness, and self-reflection as pathways to personal growth, inner peace, and conscious decision-making, recognizing the importance of self-care for sustainable change.
Integrity: Upholding honesty, transparency, and ethical conduct in all interactions and endeavors, maintaining high standards of integrity in personal, business, and community practices.
Gratitude: Cultivating an attitude of gratitude and appreciation for the blessings in life, recognizing the interconnectedness of gratitude and well-being, and promoting acts of gratitude as a way to enhance personal happiness and foster positive relationships.