2015.06.01 13:00 - Small changes add up

The Guardian for this meeting was Aphrodite Macbain. The comments are by Aphrodite Macbain.

Qt Core: Hi Aph
Aphrodite Macbain: Hi Qt
Aphrodite Macbain: Hi Mari
Aphrodite Macbain: Hiya Bruce
Qt Core: Hi Bruce, Mari
Beautifulmarira Resident: hello
Beautifulmarira Resident: things have changed here very much.....
Aphrodite Macbain: Yes!
Aphrodite Macbain: Hello Elan
Beautifulmarira Resident: it's been a long time since I was able to get on SL
ElanVitalo Resident: Hello!
Bruce Mowbray: Heya, Aph, Qt, Mari, and Elan.
Beautifulmarira Resident: lots of changes everywhere!!!
Aphrodite Macbain: I don't think I've met you Marie
Aphrodite Macbain: and I've been here 5 years!
Aphrodite Macbain: welcome back
Beautifulmarira Resident: I was here oh, about a year ago, very short time,
Aphrodite Macbain: Sorry I missed you. :-)
Beautifulmarira Resident: I lost my job and place to stay, had to pack up my stuff and store with a friend

Aphrodite Macbain: I'm sorry to hear that
Aphrodite Macbain: You know then, that these conversations are recorded and put on the wiki?
Beautifulmarira Resident: yes I know
Aphrodite Macbain: Hello Raffi!
Bruce Mowbray: Heya, Raffi.
ElanVitalo Resident: Hi, Raffi.
Aphrodite Macbain: wonderful to see you again
Beautifulmarira Resident: I'm getting back on my feet now, job and place to stay!!! happy me :)
Aphrodite Macbain: yayy Mari!
Qt Core: hi Raffi
ElanVitalo Resident: Yayyy!
Raffila Millgrove: hello Pabsters.
Aphrodite Macbain: Hi
Aphrodite Macbain: How have you been Raffi?
Raffila Millgrove: oh fine thanks Aph.
Aphrodite Macbain: I wonder, did everyone here get my email about today's proposed topic?
Bruce Mowbray: I did.
ElanVitalo Resident: Me too.
Raffila Millgrove: Yes.
Qt Core: i did
Beautifulmarira Resident: oh what topic?
Aphrodite Macbain: I suggested we might continue our discussion from last week

Aphrodite Macbain: What would you do if you had all the time and money you needed?
Beautifulmarira Resident: oh lovely thought
Aphrodite Macbain: and what kind of world might you want to help create?
Aphrodite Macbain: Does that summarize it properly Qt, Bruce?
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, an excellent summary.
ElanVitalo Resident nods, agrees.
Aphrodite Macbain: smiles at Elan- you probably have the best memory Elan!
ElanVitalo Resident nods, agrees.
Aphrodite Macbain: also a sense of humour rare in a robot
Qt Core: well, i was less utopian in my view (being able to change the world) but yes ;-)
ElanVitalo Resident listens for more from Qt.
Aphrodite Macbain: so does Aph
Qt Core: and he ask for more while i'm saying i was saying less... ;-)
Bruce Mowbray: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: Is there such a thing as perfect world do you think?
Qt Core: no, it may be only the wrong wall colour instead of world hunger but no
Aphrodite Macbain: laughs
Bruce Mowbray: "Perfection" is always imaginary.... as in the "perfect circle"...

Aphrodite Macbain: perfection is only to be striven for
Raffila Millgrove: it's kind of funny in a way that we would focus on the idea that having a lot of time/money we'd be able to do "more" or "bigger" to change the world. Personally I feel like being a world citizen means changing it in very small ways every day....that it's the accretion of small acts of individuals that adds up.
Beautifulmarira Resident: love the new bell!!! mindfulness.... if only we could all achieve that then we wouldn't hurt each other cause we would feel that hurt deep in our hearts
Aphrodite Macbain: I like that Raffi - it is more realistic but still hopeful
ElanVitalo Resident: I know people who have moved to Hawaii from Ohio because they thought the weather would be "perfect" there --- and moved back after only a year . . . We need contrasts, apparently.
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Qt Core: and is more engaging/immediate... so it make us feel more guilty when we (i) don't do it.
 Bruce Mowbray: Leibnitz did not say this world was perfect -- but he did say that it was the best "possible" world...
Aphrodite Macbain: Could you say more Qt. I don't quite understand
Bruce Mowbray: I tend to agree with him, but for different reasons.
Bruce Mowbray listens for more from Qt.
Raffila Millgrove: i have thought on this topic for many years because we have a game in our family... that we inherit an enormous amt of money--and we've been thinking/talking about it for 20 years..... what would that be like? we realize it's a huge responsibility and not very fun really. I realize i don't really want to be that person who gets all the money and has to decide how to use it.
Qt Core: the acts Raffi speaks about can be done now, without winning the lottery, so we (i )can feel guilty when i don't do such things
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Aphrodite Macbain: we don't need lots of money to make life better but it helps if we are not homeless or starving
Beautifulmarira Resident: being homeless makes you understand what is really important....... like kindness........... and love.
ElanVitalo Resident thinks another way to ask this question (less personalized, perhaps) would be to ask what the biggest challenges are that money could help to solve.
Aphrodite Macbain: yes mari! you only realize this when you need others
Aphrodite Macbain: which most of us do....
Beautifulmarira Resident: money doesn't solve problems it creates them
Aphrodite Macbain: It can do both I think.
Qt Core: (same as an heavy hammer)
Raffila Millgrove: being comfortable about money and having good health and freedom where one lives.. i finally accepted that I already have all i need for myself and i can be ok to change the world thru my children.. thru small acts. I taught my children for example to nod and smile at homeless and say hello and not fear to be somehow hurt for doing so.
Beautifulmarira Resident: ha, how can it do both... the creation of money and industrialism has ruined the world
Aphrodite Macbain: Yes Raffi. What we need more of is empathy for others, creative imaginations and a capacity to see what is around us
Wol Euler: evening all
Qt Core: i wonder if with barter (no money) big project/achievement would be reached
Bruce Mowbray: Heya, Wol!
Beautifulmarira Resident: raffi, can they go beyond that? can you teach them to sit and talk with the homeless, hear the stories??? understand what brings them to the streets.....
Qt Core: Hi Wol
ElanVitalo Resident: Hi, Wol!
Aphrodite Macbain: What would you change in the world if you could?
Aphrodite Macbain: Hi Wol
Aphrodite Macbain: and what would you do to change it?
 

Aphrodite Macbain thinks, perhaps the first thing I'd do is get the name of Wol's lingerie store

Wol Euler: I'll give you the landmark

Aphrodite Macbain: great. :-)

affila Millgrove: I think there are so many things we'd all agree on changing.. like ridding world of hatreds.. but that's the problem.. money isn't the answer to most of the problems that face the world. It's people and how they view themselves and others.
Beautifulmarira Resident: YES!!!!! Raffi I agree
Bruce Mowbray: Heraclitus -- "Character is destiny."
Beautifulmarira Resident: money can't solve the problem
Aphrodite Macbain: Heraclitus seems to have believed in karma
Beautifulmarira Resident: who is Heraclitus?

Aphrodite Macbain: an early Greek philosopher Marie
Bruce Mowbray: Heraclitus was an Athenian philosopher... fellow who said, "You can't step into the same river twice."

Qt Core: yes, talking on a society level, the big money win was for a "on a personal/single level" utopia
Raffila Millgrove: unfortunately true. change is in the hearts/mind. and how do you reach those? only one person at a time.. that you are kind or try to be patient and listen.
Bruce Mowbray: Can money do anything to build character?
Beautifulmarira Resident: not in my experience Bruce
Bruce Mowbray: Not education, then?
Aphrodite Macbain: Money may help us consider what we need rather than what we want
Beautifulmarira Resident: heart education, maybe
Qt Core: i doubt that, in this field it can "only" give you access to a good instruction
Aphrodite Macbain: educating the heart as well as the mind....
Aphrodite Macbain: this is now happening in many schools - prompted a great deal by the Dalai Lama
Beautifulmarira Resident: Aph have you ever lost everything, and I mean everything. It changes the way you look at stuff
Raffila Millgrove: i used to think "education" but it seems that even with all the info...and science and knowledge--that if people feel strongly about something--they will reject information that doesn't match their own value system. (reply to bruce.)
Bruce Mowbray: Thanks, Raffi. I tend to agree.

Aphrodite Macbain: I have come close to it Marie- I understand what you mean
Aphrodite Macbain: you go back to essentials: what do I really need to be happy?
Aphrodite Macbain: wb Qt
Beautifulmarira Resident: what do I need to stay alive this cold night, more like, forget happy
Beautifulmarira Resident: happy comes later
Aphrodite Macbain: Raffi- how would our ideas change then Raffi?
Aphrodite Macbain: perhaps safe and sound might be primary needs. What were Mazlow's Hierarchy of needs?
Bruce Mowbray: I think Mazow felt that "self-actualization" might require education.
Raffila Millgrove: that is the question.. how do they change? that is what i asked in beginning. i think they don't really.. over all time.. that there will be Us vs Them. Power struggles, evil. Greed. etc. I think.. that "change" will never come. sorry to be so pessimistic. I find it freeing really to just accept it and make a peaceful small world to live in where i am.
Beautifulmarira Resident: agree :)
Beautifulmarira Resident: small we all are
Aphrodite Macbain: But there have been massive changes over the centuries-(not all for the good but many)
ElanVitalo Resident: "You build a small peaceful world and they will come."
Beautifulmarira Resident: hahaha
Aphrodite Macbain: from where?
ElanVitalo Resident: :)
Beautifulmarira Resident: :-)
Bruce Mowbray: Bloom where you're planted.
Aphrodite Macbain: In some ways we have built a small peaceful world here in PabLand
Bruce Mowbray nods, agrees.
Beautifulmarira Resident: got to go, real life calls
ElanVitalo Resident: Bye for now, Mari. Good to see you again!
Aphrodite Macbain: take care Marie- please come back
Raffila Millgrove: yes. i am sure it affects all who have been exposed.. to rest up and take it easy with others.. to not push and shove people into wall etc..

Probably the only place in sl.. that I know of--that takes time and is kind to everyone no matter who or how strange they might seem at first.
Raffila Millgrove: my comment was about Pab.. that it is small world that seeks to be peaceful and kind.
Aphrodite Macbain: yes
Bruce Mowbray nods.
Aphrodite Macbain: It seems kindness is an essential part of a liveable world
Qt Core: in past weeks there were days where i was grouchy and in the end noticed how better i felt... just forcing myself to smile at the bartender
Aphrodite Macbain: attitude is everything...
Bruce Mowbray: :)
ElanVitalo Resident: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: I like Raffi's idea of making a better world through small gestures, kind words
Aphrodite Macbain: rather than having a huge project
Aphrodite Macbain: some people are able to take on more than others, have the skill, patience, people skills to make big changes
Aphrodite Macbain: others can keep throwing pebbles into the ocean
Raffila Millgrove: it is funny because now we have all this money... to spend on change and i guess we have to hire someone to give it away sensibly. that's what my family decided. give away in bits to small charity.. around world.. that will help local economies.. mostly giving to women to handle as worldwide they handle money better....
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Wol Euler: nice, raffi
Qt Core: microcredit ?
Raffila Millgrove: yes
Aphrodite Macbain: like in India
Raffila Millgrove: that is exact word QT.. ty. couldn't remember it.
Raffila Millgrove: they have small charities worldwide.. giving little loans. helping people buy chickens and so forth. to help the poorest get a handle on... survival. water, food, homes.
Aphrodite Macbain: It means empowering otherwise powerless members of society
Raffila Millgrove: yes. that is how we decided to give away our inheritance.
Raffila Millgrove: in little bits all over world for microcredit....
Aphrodite Macbain: the challenge is to prevent the powerful from wanting to prevent this.
Wol Euler nods.
Qt Core: so on a personal level keeping up with your current job/home/lifestyle ?

Aphrodite Macbain: say more Qt? Keeping up?
Qt Core: not changing home, buying a Ferrari, Armani and so on

Aphrodite Macbain: ah- being wise in your own spending?
Qt Core: no, just don't spend more than your current level
Aphrodite Macbain: buying only things you really need
Qt Core: well this was the question
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Qt Core: ok
Qt Core: that is maybe go to the one step up level of home/car but nothing more

Aphrodite Macbain: Good for you Raffi
Raffila Millgrove: we decide: one family at a time. and the mother will do her best to help family achieve
Raffila Millgrove: we studied up on it... to see results. has excellent results.

Raffila Millgrove: I really studied this. it was one of core questions of my life. i went to NY as a rich person for ten days.. twice .. to see what it is like. i found out.. it's awful.. that no one .. treats you the same.. that i couldn't trust people.. they were closed to me. i never knew this. i am ok now that i will never be rich.
ElanVitalo Resident: :)
Raffila Millgrove: right. we decide to travel .. to modestly improve where we live and that everyone needs to keep working on a job they love... that was how we finally figure out how to be seriously rich...
 

Aphrodite Macbain: I watched a program on food waste the other day.
Aphrodite Macbain: It is shocking how much we waste

Aphrodite Macbain: This couple lived for 6 months I think from food that was thrown out
Bruce Mowbray: Some cities are making it illegal for grocery stores to throw away edible food.
Qt Core: food waste is the main topic at the world agronomist association at Expo (i went there today)
Wol Euler nods.
Aphrodite Macbain: tell us more Qt.
Bruce Mowbray: Excellent, Qt!
ElanVitalo Resident listens carefully...
Aphrodite Macbain: Italy is already the home of the slow food movement
ElanVitalo Resident nods.
Qt Core: there were several info panels about how much waste we create, let say more than 70 kg each of us in western countries compared to11 in Africa and that this is going to increase as with social changes (yes, even the women going to work) preprocessed/prepackaged/mono portion food will increase this
Qt Core: so we need (both male and female) to learn to plan meals before going grocery shopping
Aphrodite Macbain: We often buy more than we need and the rest goes rotten in the fridge or gets thrown out when it reaches the best before date
Bruce Mowbray: A lot of food is also wasted in restaurants.
Aphrodite Macbain: I suspect the people who plan meals the best are the poor who have to make ends meet
ElanVitalo Resident: Eating lower on the food chain seems wise -- less meat, more grains and veggies. Less agricultural land taken up to feed livestock.
Qt Core: that is something i haven't really learned yet
Aphrodite Macbain: meal planning?

Qt Core: advance meal planning
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Qt Core: i don't go very far
Aphrodite Macbain: I put in an order every week to an organic grocery store which sort of encourages me to think a week ahead
Bruce Mowbray: Heya, Xir.
ElanVitalo Resident: Hi, Xir.
Aphrodite Macbain: Hello Xiri
Xirana Oximoxi: hello everyone:)

Wol Euler: hello xira
Qt Core: my main sin: buying salad as it is healthy then not eating it as it is not tasty ;-)
Aphrodite Macbain: mine too Qt :)
Qt Core: Hi Xira
Bruce Mowbray: I love salads!
Qt Core: maybe growing it would be better - it lasts longer when still attached to the earth ;-)
Aphrodite Macbain: We are talking about how to make a better world Xiri. One idea was to not waste food and to just buy what we need and can eat.
Xirana Oximoxi: ahhh thanks Aph!.. very good idea
Bruce Mowbray: another idea was to make micro-loans to women in poor countries.
Bruce Mowbray: or micro-grants.
Aphrodite Macbain: yes- helping people manage their money
Aphrodite Macbain: North America is the biggest waster - of food but of other things as well
ElanVitalo Resident nods.
Aphrodite Macbain: Perhaps that's what I could do if I had lots of money -- facilitate andpay for a food recycling program
Qt Core: http://www.lesoste.it/dett.asp?id_doc=47427
Aphrodite Macbain: grazie
Raffila Millgrove: when we researched we found that micro-grants to women have the best success ratio of the small project kind of solution.
Raffila Millgrove: and this is worldwide.. they have various versions of this worldwide.
Bruce Mowbray nods.
Aphrodite Macbain wonders how disruptive the scheme is to family relationships-jealous husbands etc.
Xirana Oximoxi: yes..I have also read about it being a great way to improve the situation...and only women are trust to spend the money correctly
ElanVitalo Resident nods.
Raffila Millgrove: they also have small grants to villages etc for clean water.. to get clean water or to put in sewage systems .. all those little projects seem to pay off really well.
Aphrodite Macbain: who is giving these grants Raffi?
Raffila Millgrove: even places like China have this small grant thing to help people get some pigs or clean up water situation.
Aphrodite Macbain: "a chicken in every pot"
Raffila Millgrove: each country.. it is different but all over. there are the small.. charity or even small govt agencies.. overseeing the micro grants.
Raffila Millgrove: and those that give to women show high rates of success.. that women do handle it better.
Aphrodite Macbain: I wonder why
Wol Euler chuckles.
Xirana Oximoxi: :)
Bruce Mowbray: Perhaps because women comprehend first-hand the basic needs of home, hearth, and children.
Aphrodite Macbain: I wonder if they are better accountants :-)
Bruce Mowbray: TY, Aph and everyone. Bye for now.
Aphrodite Macbain: Bye Bruce
Aphrodite Macbain: thanks for coming
Raffila Millgrove: you know if we were very important people then maybe we would know big ways to help . but we're not. so i feel more comfortable to give away the money in ways i understand it will get to those who need it and they will work out local solutions on how to use it best...
Wol Euler: bye bruce, and bye everyone else, I will be off too
Xirana Oximoxi: bye Bruce! take care:)
Aphrodite Macbain: Bye Wol
Aphrodite Macbain: sleep well
Wol Euler: Raffi, I admire what you and your family are doing.
Xirana Oximoxi: bye Wol :)
ElanVitalo Resident: I do too, Raffi.
Aphrodite Macbain: what agency do you go through Raffi?
Raffila Millgrove: guys. i feel bad because i am telling you what we decide after 20 years.. of talking about the inheritance. it is a way to learn and study and think and care.. but guys.. There is no money. it is like our talk today.. we are pretending what to do for change with money.
Aphrodite Macbain: nods. I agree with you Raffi.
Qt Core: ok, let's go buy lottery tickets ;-)
Raffila Millgrove: and yes i did and continue to do it for Real.. in small ways with very small monies.. here in America.
ElanVitalo Resident nods.
Aphrodite Macbain: We can all achieve a lot if we decide to
Raffila Millgrove: I support Nurses for Newborns for example. nurses that go on own time to help families very poor with new baby on how to take care of baby. bring diapers and help new moms learn about baby.
Raffila Millgrove: that is example of one of my real charities.
ElanVitalo Resident: Wonderful.
Xirana Oximoxi: really nice and useful, Raffi!
Raffila Millgrove: small amount of money will buy gas or diapers. that iis local example. of real money we give every year.
Raffila Millgrove: hehe. i wish we had the real inheritance.. in a way.. cause we finally did figure how to spend it.
Aphrodite Macbain: I support about 10 charities right now- health, political, medical, arts related, etc but I always feel it's never enough
Raffila Millgrove: and finally we are ok not to be rich... too
Raffila Millgrove: lol
Raffila Millgrove: hugs to you all. gotta run.
ElanVitalo Resident: TY, everyone.
Qt Core: bye
Aphrodite Macbain: bye Raffi- thanks!
ElanVitalo Resident: Bye for now.
Raffila Millgrove: ty Aph. i really like how this pavilion feels. my first time at a meet in it.

Aphrodite Macbain: come again- please
ElanVitalo Resident: Thanks, Aph.
ElanVitalo Resident: Interesting session today.
Qt Core: one of the good things coming out of Expo:  http://carta.milano.it/preamble/
Aphrodite Macbain: bye Elan
Raffila Millgrove: feels simple. refreshing.. clean. really like it!
Aphrodite Macbain: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: it likes you!
Raffila Millgrove: i would never guess from a photo i would like it.. but sitting in it.. wow i really enjoyed it.
Xirana Oximoxi: bye Raffi :)
Raffila Millgrove: bye xiri.
Aphrodite Macbain: the pavilions will change raffi
Raffila Millgrove: bye Aph
Aphrodite Macbain: this is one submission by Bleu
Raffila Millgrove: yes i know..
Aphrodite Macbain: kk
Xirana Oximoxi: yes...from a photo is not possible to get the feeling of being here
Raffila Millgrove: yes i checked it.. i know we vote somewhere at the end of it.
Aphrodite Macbain: have a look at the art gallery when u can
Aphrodite Macbain: they are all displayed there
Raffila Millgrove: totally. this photo thing is not a good idea for voting.. gotta sit and meet and experience in each.
Aphrodite Macbain: yes- it is only there as a reminder
Xirana Oximoxi: I go too... have a nice evening/day all
Aphrodite Macbain: we will discuss each build at the end of each term
Aphrodite Macbain: bye Xiri
Qt Core: Bye Xir
Xirana Oximoxi: bye :)
Aphrodite Macbain: Thanks for being the inspiration to this session Qt!
Aphrodite Macbain: Bye for now
Qt Core: ty (a little shocked when i saw the email ;-)
Aphrodite Macbain: he he
Aphrodite Macbain: hope that was OK
Qt Core: but i liked it got pretty real and not utopian
Aphrodite Macbain: no- I think we are a pragmatic lot
Aphrodite Macbain: :-) arrivaderci
Qt Core: :-) ciao