About
About Make Wealth History
Make Wealth History is an exploration of sustainable living in the real world. The lifestyle of the western world is unsustainable – environmentally, economically, and socially. We are living beyond our means, and sharing the earth’s resources unequally. To restore some balance, we need to learn to use less, want less, and be more generous.
That’s a tall order, especially in an economic system that is based on the idea of constant growth, so we’re looking out for good ideas, wherever they may be found.
Make Wealth History is mostly here on the blog, but we like to keep our activist edge sharp too – see our campaigns and actions page for more.
About the authors:
We are Paul Williams and Jeremy Williams. We’re brothers, and we grew up in Madagascar and Kenya.
Paul lives in Canterbury, UK, where he is studying biodiversity and conservation at the University of Kent, as part of the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology.
Jeremy studied cultural studies, international relations and journalism, and now divides his time between freelance writing and programme development. He lives in Luton (UK) with his wife Louise, is a member of Transition Luton, a regular contributor to climate change website Celsias.com, and a friend of Breathe, a network for simpler living.
For all enquiries please email jeremy {at} makewealthhistory.org
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Book Reviews Worth Reading (Part 1) - The Irresistable Revolution by Shane Claiborne « Kaiblogy →
September 11th, 2008 → 4:37 pm[...] Reviews Worth Reading (Part 1) – The Irresistable Revolution by Shane Claiborne Jeremy Williams at Make Wealth History posts this helpful review of Shane’s book. I like the review because [...]
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P2P Foundation » Blog Archive » 20 proposals to get beyond the crash →
November 12th, 2008 → 1:41 pm[...] Jeremy Williams‘ blog “Make Wealth [...]
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Blogroll » 20 proposals to get beyond the crash →
November 13th, 2008 → 2:19 am[...] Jeremy Williams‘ blog “Make Wealth [...]
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A unique opportunity to make wealth history « MAKE WEALTH HISTORY →
November 27th, 2008 → 3:22 pm[...] About [...]
sam lee
April 4, 2007
I quite agree. It’s a good plan, and something of a challenge. It’s the only way things are going to work though
Phil Whittall
June 18, 2007
I think this site is great – so encouraged to see other Christians really engaging with this issue and all it’s spin offs. Keep it up fellas
Robert Daoust
August 19, 2007
One question I have: instead of being 6 or 9 billions individuals aiming at voluntary simplicity, why not aiming at being 600 or 900 millions individuals all living as wise millionnaires?
John Steinsvold
September 26, 2007
The following link, takes you to a “utopian” article, entitled “Home of the Brave?” which I wrote and appeared in the American Daily which is published in Phoenix, Arizona on March 14, 2006.
http://www.americandaily.com/article/12389
John Steinsvold
lushbooks
November 25, 2007
The books of E.F. Schumacher may be great resources that mirror your ideas on this blog. Check out “Small is Beautiful”
victoria Hall
December 9, 2007
I was so thrilled when I discovered your site that I nearly tripped running upstairs to tell my husband about it! AS North American Christians we often feel alienated on environmental issues. Like yourselves we believe good stewardship is part and parcel of a lifestyle of “loving our neighbor as ourselves.” Keep up the great work, we are encouraged by your efforts!
Tracey Smith
April 12, 2008
Hi fellas,
Loved looking through your site today and it’s great to meet others of the mindset of positively embracing living with less!
I put together InterNational Downshifting Week which encourages people to ‘slow down and green up’ and extols the virtues of it.
Wishing you well on your quest!
TS
x
Jeremy
April 13, 2008
Hi Tracey, funny you should show up, I was just preparing a post on International Downsizing Week. I’ll let you know when it’s up.
Thanks for stopping by!
Tracey Smith
April 13, 2008
Taken from the tune of the ‘Twilight Zone’,
“Do do, do do, do do, do do….!”
Do yell if you need, want or urgently desire any further info…
TS
x
crossmyts
May 6, 2008
My name’s Will and I am totally new to this world of blogging. I’ve been searching around lookin for interesting topics and this blog fits the bill. I am adding your blog onto my blogroll. That would make you guys my FIRST official addon to the blogroll. I know nothing about living a sustainable lifestyle. But I promise that I will continue to reference this site to make serious steps towards one. I have been thinking about such topics for quite some time now, it’s nice to see them being put into words for me. If you ever get a sec, right now my blog is mostly Film/TV show reviews. If that is your cup of tea, check it out. It promises to morph over time. In the meantime, good luck with this valiant effort.
Beth Gladstone
September 18, 2008
Just wanted you to know we linked out to you today: http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2008/09/18/starbucks-trades-in-fair-trade-for-shared-planet-worth-your-m/
Any links back are appreciated.
Beth Gladstone
September 19, 2008
Hi,
I just wanted to let you know that we linked to your site today on WalletPop.com, AOL’s hub for personal finance, which is the #1 money destination on the Internet. Here’s the link: http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2008/09/18/starbucks-trades-in-fair-trade-for-shared-planet-worth-your-m/
We’d appreciate any links back you can give us — adding us to your links page or referring to this write-up.
Thanks for your time.
Sincerely,
Beth Pinsker Gladstone
Editor of WalletPop.com
Dan Factor
October 19, 2008
I think this blog demonstrates a high level of miserabilism.
Why can’t we help the developing world reach our standard of living instead of cutting back our own?
Jeremy
October 19, 2008
It’s very simple Dan – if everyone on earth had the same lifestyle as the average American, we would need the equivalent of five earths to provide the resources. Since we only have the one, there isn’t enough oil, wood, water, food for everyone to live like we do in the West. That is unfortunately a fact.
As to the miserabilism, I beg to differ. Personally, I think there’s nothing miserable about cutting back our own lifestyles. We live stressed, fraught, unhappy lives. Slowing down and being less preoccupied with possessions is good for us, and not something to be lamented.
Alexandra Bloomfield
November 21, 2008
Hi me and my best friend are doing some course work about poverty and we were hoping that you could send us some free stuff so that we could try and help younger years at our school about poverty
Thank you
If you could send use some stuff then here is the address
Alexandra Bloomfield
Care of Miss Tickell
Horbury School a Specialist Language Collage
Wakefield Road
Horbury
Wakefield
WF4 5HE
SteveH
January 9, 2009
This argument for unsustainability is whats unsustainable.
I’ve yet to see such nonsense pushed by anyone other than spoiled rotten westerners. Particularly those with a childlike envy toward the inequality produced by naturally creative human lives.
This isn’t about the planet or resources and never has been. Its about people who reject the wonderful competitiveness that is absolutely natural to all forms of life.
Jeremy
January 10, 2009
Steve, the first line of your comment shows you have no idea what sustainability is about. On that basis I’m going to assume replying to your comment in any detail will be a waste of time. Thanks for stopping by all the same.
Tara
January 16, 2009
Enjoyed your site. I see these ideas gaining ground slowly, but at the same time I feel it is an uphill battle against the “growth at all costs” economics that the world has been following for decades. Any hope that we can break that trend? Do you see signs of a shift in mentality? By the way, there is an excellent 20 minute video you might have already seen and might want to link to: http://storyofstuff.com
thesheikhdown
March 10, 2009
Do you folks believe in the forced redistribution of wealth? Do you believe the government should be the arbiter of ownership, or that people should just learn to do it under their own volition?
Are you merely trying to influence people into being more generous, or are you advocating generosity at the behest of government?
Jeremy
March 10, 2009
Not a coercive redistribution, no. But there is a role for government to reduce inequality – that’s the basis for progressive taxation of course. That’s anathema in the States and enough for people to brand Obama a socialist, but it’s quite normal for people in Europe, especially Scandinavia.
It’s both government and individuals ultimately, because you need individuals to vote for a government who have progressive tax ideas. Like the US just did, in fact.
Lance E. Schultz
February 9, 2010
It is the ruthless audacity and arrogance of puny man to ever suggest he could possess the power even intentionally to materially impact the environment. Such an individual must surely be convinced they are wiser than God. Read Isaiah 24. I’ll give you a clue. The fate of the world is already decided. The earth will be COMPLETELY laid waste and totally plundered. Why don’t you believe what He tells you in His word? Do you not believe His exact words. God CANNOT lie. The Grand Global Priesthood of Environmental Witchcraft is authored by the Father of Lies. Satan REQUIRES his followers worship the earth goddess (GAIA). Read below.
Revelation 21
The New Jerusalem
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
Believe the God of Heaven and Earth. Trust the Spirit of all Truth which is the Word of God.
http://www.green-agenda.com
Andrea Muhrrteyn
August 8, 2010
Hi,
Thought you may be interested in the following. Its an Amicus Curiae before the South African Constitutional Court, more specifically in Support of a Radical Honesty Population Policy Common Sense Interpretation of the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act, with among others the following arguments:
[I] E. Ecolaw 101: Laws of Sustainability: Ecological Social Contract
III: POPULATION POLICY COMMON SENSE PRINCIPLES
A. Thou Shalt Not Transgress Carrying Capacity Prophets
B. Eco-Numeracy: Exponential Functions and Carrying Capacity
C. Tragedy of the Commons: Limited World, Limited Rights
D. Overpopulation: Resources Scarcity and Resource War Violence
E. Demographics and Violence: Youth Bulges
F. Population Pressures, Resource Wars and National Security
G. How and Why Journalists Avoid the Population-Environment Connection
It argues that Ecolaw 101, or sustainability is the sine qua non for all other rights; and hence
any legislation or jurisprudence such as the TRC Social Contract, which professes to advocate on behalf of human rights, peace and social justice, while ignoring their ecological basis – a stable human population at slightly less than the eco-systems carrying capacity – is endorsing and practicing legal dishonesty and hypocrisy; i.e. fraud. It is legislation and jurisprudence deliberately indifferent to the laws of sustainability, advocating misery.
PDF of Amicus avail at: http://www.scribd.com/doc/34551212/
List of Authority Evidentiary Documentation for Amicus: http://www.scribd.com/document_collections/2308879