Background
In June 2007, Riane Eisler, internationally renowned author, social activist and attorney, came to Portland, Oregon to speak about her new book, The Real Wealth of Nations: Creating a Caring Economics, at the Unitarian Universalist Association's annual General Assembly (GA). Many know of Riane because of her earlier and ground breaking work, The Chalice and the Blade: Our History and Our Future. For many this work about past cultures — which honored men and women equally — and the contrast to our patriarchal society today gave voice to a deep knowing that a more egalitarian and humane world is possible.
The Real Wealth of Nations asserts that we need a new economic system based on the values of a more gender-equal society, one that encourages relationships of partnership rather than domination. Our current system acknowledges only a market economy and is based on competition for scarce resources rather than abundance for all. A caring economics acknowledges all the market systems that support our lives: those of government, illegal activity, volunteer and community building, the use and care of the natural environment, and most important, households, where caring activities sustain human life.
In response to Riane’s work and inspired by her visit, a group of women
started meeting to encourage the study and practice of these ideas. A
first step was to form book groups, create a website, and develop a study
guide for The Real Wealth of Nations. As the culmination of the first
round of study, Riane was brought to Portland again in October, 2007.
Over 400 people came to hear her speak along with a panel of Portland
individuals who are already working for more caring practices in the
area of food supply, education of youth, a local currency, and sustainable
community practices.
After this October event the planning group for this project enlarged to include 10 individuals who are planning a series of ongoing community meetings to draw together those people who are already working for, or who are interested in promotion of a local caring economics. The goal is to make visible what is already occurring in Portland and to support this work by giving a voice to those involved in this campaign and a way for them to meet with others to generate more ideas, projects, and involvement.