Daniel Quinn Weighs In
Mr. Culture Change himself, Daniel Quinn, who wrote Ishmael and
other even more advanced books critiquing civilization, seemed a logical
person to inform of our new endeavor. Hereís how it went in August 2001
from Arcata:
Dear Mr. Quinn,
We are launching Culture Change, an outgrowth of 13 years of
activism for cleaner air and water. Culture Change is really a name
change from Auto-Free Times magazine (called "witty" by
the BBC which links to our website).
A greeting or an endorsement from you would be a big boost to our
effort and for culture change perhaps!
We figured out that our 11-year campaign for a national paving
moratorium is too limited a concept or too mind-blowing for some. But
almost everyone can get behind the ideas of (1) cultural change having
been significant and exacting high costs, and possibly (2) a change in
culture, or rather, a change of cultures, as the best key to unlock
sustainability, justice, etc.
My own background is that of an oil industry observer who helped phase
out lead for the U.S. EPA. I was called "The Oracle" by Chevronís
vice chairman. I have gotten far away from that, learning from an
underground culture of mostly young folk who are of the
"do-it-yourself" movement of artists and activists...
Cordially,
Jan C. Lundberg
*****
Dear Jan,
...See what you think of this as an endorsement:
I heartily endorse the goals of Culture Change.
Unless our culture changes (and very dramatically), our kind faces a very
brief future on this planet (and will take down millions of other species
with us). But culture change is itself a resultóof mind change. When
minds change, cultures change automatically. When minds donít
change, however, weíre limited to passing ever harsher, ever more
exacting new laws for people with old minds to break. Changing
minds is something we can all collaborate on as we go about our daily
lives, whether weíre executives or flunkies, teachers or students,
judges or prison inmates, rock stars or bus drivers, world leaders or
homeless wanderersóand every mind counts (because you never know what that
mind will get up to!).
In the "News & Information" section of our
web site we announce
noteworthy events and organizations like yours
Best regards,
Daniel Quinn
Daniel Quinnís most recent work is The Holy.
Read our review of his latest book.
