There are countless organisations working for environmental protection and social justice. In their respective fields, they can sometimes achieve notable successes. In many cases, however, the focus is on the symptoms rather than the causes. After decades of efforts, many have to realise that they have achieved only partial success. The general negative development can usually not be stopped or significantly influenced.
Forest protection, for example, is important. But what use is that if the economic order demands limitless growth with limited resources at the same time? The same applies to the protection of wildlife. Here, too, it is ultimately economic constraints that put the saw in our hands with which we cut off the branch we are sitting on. But more and more people are noticing this too: boundless growth overwhelms us. Increasing material prosperity does not necessarily make us happier.
Equilibrism demands more than just reforms. After all, who would lavishly renovate a broom closet when the whole house is dilapidated and built on sand to boot? It is time to build a new building on a stable foundation before the old one collapses. The tried and tested can certainly be taken over. Fundamentally, however, human beings must once again see themselves as part of nature and respect its laws.
The goal of Equilibrism is a complete paradigm shift with regard to ecological and social issues. To this end, the concept deals with the most important challenges of humanity in an overarching way:
- Ecological alternatives as well as efficiency and new structures in all areas of life
- Natural circular economy
- Sustainable monetary and land management
- Global citizenship
The detailed fundamentals were jointly described by the association’s founder Eric Bihl and Volker Freystedt in 2005 in a non-fiction book: (Equilibrism – New concepts instead of reforms for a world in balance). The work provides detailed insights into backgrounds and possibilities and is intended as a design aid for a model project.