Jeanette Fitzsimons speaks to Quakers
Former Green Party Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons gave the first of her public “Enough: The challenge of a post-growth
economy” lecture series, organised by the New Zealand Society of Friends, on Sunday. The same lecture, organised by
Quakers around the country, will be given at various Tertiary institutes in the coming weeks.
The lecture focused on moving to a steady state economy, a model supported strongly by New Zealand Friends. Fitzsimons,
a sustainability expert, spoke of how continued growth on the current economic model is not possible. “Our earth is
full, and there isn’t another one to move to”, she said.
But, she argued, life can still be good if we plan for a steady state economy – the “Economy of Enough”.
The cost of not doing this is for our country and our world to arrive at one or more of the physical limits without
being prepared for the outcomes. The effect of this scenario would be uncontrolled chaos.
But, she argued, life can still be good if we plan for a steady state economy.
The next public lecture by Fitzsimons will be at 6.30pm on Tuesday 14th May in Lecture Theatre 1, Rutherford House,
Pipitea Campus, Victoria University in Wellington.
The Religious Society of Friends, known as Quakers or Friends, gathered in Waikanae from 10th -13th May for their annual
gathering (Yearly Meeting). Over 80 Friends were present, coming from as far as Kaitaia in the North, and Dunedin in the
South. Two special guests were Hiroko Koibuchi representing Quakers in Japan, and Wilma Davidson, representing
Australian Quakers.
Also present were Louise and David Tinsley, and Josephine Rado, from the U.K. They are all specially invited Quakers who
are here as Resident Friends at the Auckland and Wellington Friends Meeting Houses.
Christchurch Quakers at the gathering told of the ongoing effects of the 12,500 aftershocks following the two big
earthquakes in 2011 and 2012. They shared photographs of the empty site where their Meeting House had been. Christchurch
Friends also read accounts of the harrowing experiences of Quakers living in condemned houses (drafty, cold and damp),
whilst getting no information – let alone any other assistance – from the Earthquake Commission, or their insurers.
A group New Zealand Friends have the task on maintaining contact with Quakers internationally, and they reported to the
gathering on their work. New Zealand is in the regional group of Asia and the West Pacific. This work encompasses
Quakers from India to Japan, and down to Australia and New Zealand. The work of this group is constrained somewhat by
the large distances involved, and by Quakers’ increasing concern about the environmental cost of all travel, especially
international.
The Quaker Yearly Meeting is planning for exciting new developments to strengthen its life as a religious body. There
will be focus on supporting young people in Quaker service, and in living according to their principles.
ends